Overview
- Walt Disney Imagineering published a behind‑the‑scenes video on June 10, 2026 that documents the creation and installation of the Scooter Audio‑Animatronic for Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.
- The team built a custom, miniature motion‑capture suit and recorded longtime Scooter puppeteer David Rudman so the animatronic could reproduce his exact gestures and mannerisms.
- Engineers used heavy 3D printing and short animation‑loop tests to iterate parts quickly and tune mechanics to millimeter accuracy so the robot matches the captured performance.
- The project concluded with a six‑week on‑site integration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that included testing in Central Shops, installation in Studio C, syncing the figure to the ride’s media and audio systems, and hiding a playful rubber‑chicken Easter egg.
- The work marks the first use of motion capture on a Muppet and points to a new workflow that blends live puppetry, digitized performance data, and rapid prototyping to make character figures move more like their performers.