Abstract: A complete system for animating external features of a full size walk-around costume designed for the entertainment industry is disclosed. The animation system comprises two major parts: the costume itself and the programming/playback system. The complete system is lightweight and portable and gives complete freedom of motion to a person inside a walk-around costume. The costume is made to simulate life by the inclusion of motors or other devices which move the eyes, the eyelids, eyebrows, the ears, the nose, and the mouth. The mouth movement is controlled by a radio signal which may be synchronized with a prerecorded audio track. To give maximum spontaneity to expression and to reduce the time required to program costume movements, all other external features are controlled by the dancer inside the costume, using newly developed pressure sensitive finger switches which are activated by bending a finger.