Animatronic Cat

About the project

I’m gearing up for a high-profile cosplay appearance and want to wow the crowd with a life-size robotic cat—think full-grown panther rather than a small prop. Its core role is to put on a show: vivid facial expressions, fluid body movements, and synced sound effects that together create the illusion of a living, highly intelligent companion. What I need from you • Complete design and build of the cat’s frame, drive system and outer shell, finished to stage-quality standards. • An animation system that lets me trigger or pre-program multiple “moods”—happy, curious, annoyed, sleepy—using expressive eyes, movable ears, tail swishes, and subtle body shifts. • A sound module that plays purrs, meows and short vocal reactions in harmony with each physical action. • Simple interface (handheld controller, tablet app or onboard buttons) so I can switch routines during the event without opening panels or plugging in a laptop. • Safety-conscious wiring, reliable battery power for several hours of convention floor time, and quick-swap charging access. • Final delivery fully tested, with a short video walkthrough and clear maintenance instructions so I can handle minor fixes on site. Helpful experience includes animatronics, servo/motor control, microcontroller boards (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or similar), 3D printing or lightweight CNC work, realistic fur application, and compact audio solutions. Timeline is tight: I’ll need the finished cat shipped to me in time for a rehearsal two weeks before the event. If this challenge excites you, let’s discuss your concept sketches, parts strategy and milestones so we can bring this larger-than-life feline to the convention floor.

Skills required