Abstract: Apparatus and methods to animate and impart life-like qualities and actions to an animal-type puppet. The apparatus having a tail which when pulled or released causes, via a linkage, one or more appendages, such as arms, legs or wings, of the puppet to become remotely animated. The appendage comprises a remotely actuated, cantilevered lever or pivotal rocker arm which moves through a generally curved path or pivotal arch in response to longitudinal movement of the tail.

Abstract: An animated drawing board includes a series of stacked sheets arranged in a common frame. The front sheet is a transparent panel having an erasable front surface. An opaque sheet having at least one aperture positioned in a predetermined position such as two apertures positioned at the location of the eyes of the figure to be drawn is disposed behind the transparent panel. A support sheet having a track guide aperture disposed behind the aperture is positioned behind the opaque sheet. A set of plates slightly larger than the track opening in the support sheet can be adhered to a track member slidingly received in the track guide aperture to form a slidable mount for a band of opaque material containing a feature of the figure such as an eyeball. A rear lever positioned to one side of the frame is attached to the rear plate of the slidable mount.

Abstract: An arm-mounted device for producing a puppet-on-the-arm illusion includes a fake at least partial forearm and hand member in the form of a glove having a hand portion and wrist and partial forearm portion extending therefrom, and a connector member operable for attaching the fake member directly to the forearm of a puppeteer next to the elbow thereof in a cantilevered fashion. Once the fake member is so attached to the puppeteer's forearm, the forearm is bent upward and a forearm-length puppet slipped over the hand and forearm of the puppeteer, the fake member will then define an extension from an upper portion of the puppeteer's arm so as to create the illusion of a glove-covered hand and forearm supporting the puppet on the puppeteer's forearm proximate the elbow thereof.