Mini Billy Bob (Animatronic)

The Miniature Billy Bob animatronic was intended to be a computerized doll that was supposed to read, sing, or teach children (similar to the likes of Teddy Ruxpin). The doll was originally supposed to hit markets for 1986 but problems in manufacturing caused it to fall through.

History

In 1985 Creative Engineering would start creating a few dozen of Miniature Billy Bobs as a proof of concept for a children's entertainment toy. At some point in the process, they notice that the servos that would make the doll move would burn out quickly, and the process of making them was already expensive so they had to stop making them after the first few dozen.

Design

The design is supposed to capture the same appearance as the Original Billy Bob Animatronic but some detail is seemed to have been sacrificed to accommodate for its mechanics. Nothing of his design differs too much from the original but the eyes and eyelids are plastic glued onto the face.

Original 1985 Prototype

The original prototype of the doll had a different face sculpt, with his lower jaw being larger. His body had a more defined shape to it much like the Original Billy Bob Animatronic. His fur was also longer and the feet were much smaller than the later dolls.

Movements


Movement
Mouth
Head Up
Head Left
Head Right
Body Lean
Right Arm
Guitar Raise

Gallery

Rock & Roll
Smitty's Super Service Station
Learning/ABC
Candy
Ceramic base
Ceramic base w/ speaker
Simple stage with light up Billy Bob logo
Billy Bob that was on auction in January 2022
Billy Bob that was on auction in January 2022
Mechanism
Box of Miniature Billy Bobs at Creative Engineering in 2006

Videos


Link	Description
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q2KTeq62Uw	1985 Demo of the prototype
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN5plJzjrig	Rock & Roll Stage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5e-iNF8pRs	"Poo on You" (Parody of F*ck You) sung by Billy Bob
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INYM-E1JaAM	Aaron Fetcher's auction video describing the doll