Abstract: An exoskeleton to support and move a large character costume and to transfer weight of the costume away from a performer's body. The exoskeleton includes a spine including an elongated and rigid vertical member and also includes a waist ring configured to extend about a waist of a performer using the exoskeleton in a spaced apart manner. A lower end of the spine is attached to a rear center portion of the waist ring. The exoskeleton includes a pair of leg assemblies each pivotally coupled on opposite sides of the waist ring. Each of the leg assemblies is spaced apart from a leg of the performer and extends below a foot of the performer, whereby weight is transmitted to a support surface. Each of the leg assemblies may include at least one passive assist mechanism configured to assist the performer in moving the exoskeleton with bipedal locomotion.

Abstract: A display system for a providing a three-dimensional effect with controlled reflections is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display system includes a display; and a beam splitter positioned between the display and the viewing location. The beam splitter transmits or reflects light based on a characteristic of the light. A physical prop is positioned between the beam splitter and the viewing location. The display is oriented to emit light toward the beam splitter and displays an image at least partially viewable in the viewing location through the beam splitter, such that the image is substantially un-attenuated by the bean splitter. Light reflected from the physical prop and further reflected by the beam splitter toward the viewing location is at least partially viewable in the viewing location. The display system is suitable to enable a substantially full brightness of the image to be viewable in the viewing location.