Simulated Animals Replace or Supplement Wild and Endangered Creatures in Movies, Television and Print with Help from AnimatronicBear.com

Rio Vista, CA (PRWEB) April 7, 2008

This spring, Lowe's features a grizzly bear in their television and internet advertising. A live bear was used for key shots, but for more complicated actions a bear simulation was needed. Enter AnimatronicBear.com. The animal impersonators from AnimatronicBear.com bring bears, tigers and other animals to life blending state-of-the-art and traditional costuming and puppetry techniques.

Bears have been popular stars of stage and screen for decades. Who from the baby boomer generation doesn't remember 'Gentle Ben'? Or a few years back 'Bart the Bear' who actually had a "walk on" role in the Oscars?

The use of real animals in American advertising is strictly regulated by organizations like the Humane Society and the SPCA. Much like the restrictions imposed on actor minors, there is only so much you can do with an animal nowadays without incurring the wrath of the HSUS, the SPCA or much worse, PETA.

Since the days of Vaudeville and earlier, "animal impersonators" have made their own unique mark in the annals of Hollywood history. 'Peter Pan' aficionados know well the name George [Ali] Bolingbroke who played the dog 'Nana' in the early stage plays and in the 1st major studio silent film. Charlie Gemora brought life to the Martian in George Pal's 'War of the Worlds' and more recently, Janos Prohaska performed aliens for the original 'Star Trek' TV series and the occasional bear on 'Love American Style' and 'The Love Boat'.

These impersonations were clever and for the time period, effective. However, when 'Star Wars' raised the bar on special effects realism, an entirely new standard was born. Obvious "man-in-suit" creatures were no longer acceptable in serious productions. With the advent of CGI creatures, there has been less dependence on physical effects, costuming and makeup to realize animal and fantasy creations for films and television. Despite these advances however, there are still applications where a "main-in-suit" is appropriate. Well-done costumes, professional performers and tight camera work can simulate animal action which still fools the naked eye.

In California, professional mascot and veteran bear actor Matt Brady operates a company dedicated to the art (and science) of animal impersonation at AnimatronicBear.com.

Check them out at http://www.animatronicbear.com and http://www.bear-suit.blogspot.com.

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