Fake Animal Stunt Props

Why do so many filmmakers and others in the entertainment industries need realistic, fake animal props?

  • Real animals cannot safely perform dangerous actions. Any scene involving an attack (like a mauling or bite), a death, extreme physical stress (like running a horse to exhaustion), fire, explosions, or close-quarters fighting must use a fake prop to ensure the well-being of the animal.

    Realistic fake props (especially animatronics) allow actors to safely interact with a creature in ways a live animal never could, such as being held, struck, or getting close enough for high-detail close-up shots of an action.

    • Live animals are unpredictable and time-consuming to train and manage. A fake prop will perform the exact action required, on cue, for as many takes as necessary. This is crucial for hitting precise action and actor’s marks.

  • A prop is an affordable essential for creating animals that don't exist (like a fantastical creature) or for performing actions that a real animal is simply not capable of (such as talking, complex human-like emotional expressions, or surviving a massive fall).

    Mixed with AI, editing spfx, and live action actors, having a prop during filming is a great way to tie the actors to the digital fx.

  • Real animals are subject to strict legal working hour limits (typically 4–6 hours), require rest periods, and often need duplicate animals for continuous shooting. A prop can be on set and ready 24/7, saving the production significant time and money on reshoots and scheduling.

    • Ethics and Legal Compliance: For scenes involving the handling of a dead animal (like a carcass in a horror or historical film), a realistic prop must be used to comply with animal welfare laws and to obtain the "No animals were harmed" certification, as proving a genuine carcass was ethically sourced is often impossible.

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Bat Props & Puppets on video

Video shown on the left presents an animatronic bat, video on the right shows a large collection of bat props being sorted live (at the time)