Which Animatronic Company Would You Use?

[MechaCory]

Let's say you were starting up your own themed restaurant, entertainment business, etc and wanted to have an animatronic company make some characters for you based off your characters. (Also, let's say you had a bazillion dollars to do this:)

Who would you go through?

Garner Holt, makers of the Studio C Chuck?
http://www.garnerholt.com

SallyCorp?
http://sallycorp.com/animatronics/productions.htm

CEI? Not sure if Aaron is able to build new mechs or just new cosmetics to retrofit RAE shows
http://robotsandgames.com/

Characters Unlimited? Seems to have the broadest range of animatronic
for the cheapest prices
http://www.charactersunlimitedinc.com/
(plus, they do a TON of customs based on even just a simple drawing:
http://www.charactersunlimitedinc.com/custom_characters.html)
they seem to mostly do general store/county fair/local business stuff; so
the product looks far from the polish of Garner Holt.

If you want to create a whole organic or futuristic environment, like Mars in Time Square or Rainforest Cafe, you would want these guys:
http://www.attractiondesignservices.com/what.html

If you want super duper high end cartoon character animatronics
youd go with these guys:
http://www.dreamation.com/

Another company that does animatronics for restaurants and theme parks:
http://www.advancedanimations.com/index2.htm

Finally, if you want *any* sort of professional animatronic humanoid robot be it cartoonish or realistic sci fi; these are your guys
(amazing stuff) http://www.robot-costumes.com/2009RobotCostumesUSA.html

Here's a list of the rest of the known animatronic companies in America:
http://www.casinovendors.com/suppliers/Entertainment-and-Special-Events/Entertainment/Animation-and-Animatronics

I'm curious what other companies their are?
(who made the Mac Tonight animatronic seen in some Mcdonalds?)

Also, who out there programs and does show tapes?

[MecanicalManagerie]

Garner Holt. No Question.

[Rapid T Rabbit]

Here is a 1990 video I recently posted showing the Care Bears Care-A-Lot Castle show at Dorney Park PA produced by Sally Industries which played there from 1988 to 1992.

The animation itself wasn't very lively but the music and vocals were terrific.
http://www.bobdbob.com/~rtrabbit/youtubelogo.jpg (http://www.youtube.com/v/VYgRHafvst8)

[dheineCECfan]

CEI, if Aaron wins $1,000,000.

[joshferrell]

Sorry Aaron but I must pick the Jim Henson studio first then you would be the second choice...

[menutia]

Sally corp for "cartoon" style characters and http://www.lifeformations.com/ for human characters. Another company, http://www.ctnetworks.com/VPProductions/ would be my source for show content.

[raebigc]

Creative Engineering all the way!!!

[Isabella Price]

Old thread, but just wanted to throw this in. Mannetron is the company that made the Mac Tonight animatronic for McDonalds.

http://mannetron.com/

[BeachBear'sGirl]

CEI, no question. It's not just about the animatronics but the way that they actually brought the characters to life and made them believable even through they were six foot tall animals.