Hero Animatronic Gizmo Movie Prop

screen used FOR GIZMO close up shots

Introduction

In Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), effects artist Rick Baker faced a familiar yet intensified challenge: Gizmo had to express a wide range of emotions—fear, joy, surprise—all while navigating complex puppet scenarios like facing down hoards of Gremlin attacks. However, given the technological constraints of 1989, there simply wasn’t a single puppet capable of handling every performance need. Thus, as many as 20 different Gizmo versions were created—each tailored for specific functions like multiplying scenes, falling through air ducts, or in wide shots where he could be reacting without visible controls.

The 2x Gizmo followed the same approach pioneered in the original Gremlins (1984) six years earlier, where an oversized puppet was built specifically for close-up shots that demanded stronger acting and emotional expression.

To bring this enhanced version of Gizmo to life, animatronics expert Mark Setrakian led the effort to scale up Matt Rose’s original design while integrating a sophisticated array of servos and linkages beneath the surface. The result was a fully animatronic face capable of a wide emotional range—blinking, frowning, smiling, and more—with articulated glove-style hands that allowed puppeteers to convey subtle, human-like gestures. This larger-scale puppet became essential for the scenes where Gizmo needed to show emotion, react to danger, or form a heartfelt connection with the audience.

Much like the oversized 2x Daffy mogwai created for the film, only one large-scale Gizmo puppet was built—and it reportedly cost in the range of a quarter million dollars to produce. While that represented a significant investment, the puppet proved indispensable, appearing in many of Gizmo’s most memorable scenes, including the pivotal Spider Gremlin battle. Given how prominently it featured in the final film, it was money well spent—but still a substantial line item in the production’s effects budget.

Restoration

This Gizmo puppet was originally sold through Propstore London and had been placed on public display around the city to promote the event. Unfortunately, the added movement and handling during this promotional tour took a toll on the puppet’s delicate foam latex skin. By the time it arrived back here, it was evident that restoration work would be necessary to preserve the piece.

After carefully assessing the damage, we entrusted the puppet to our friends at Tom Spina Designs. Their team, known for expertly handling screen-used props, was able to assess the damage and come up with a plan to preserve him for the future. Gizmo’s original electronics crate was reinforced, damaged areas on his head and hands were patched, and his expression was subtly adjusted for improved presentation. Most critically, his control cables were secured in place to prevent future strain on the fragile material. Thanks to their skilled efforts, this puppet was brought back to a stable and display-ready condition, preserving a vital part of the film’s legacy.

While Gizmo’s original expression from the set was certainly endearing, it leaned a bit too far into a “deer in the headlights” look. Tom’s team carefully adjusted the angle of his eyes and lowered the upper eyelids slightly, giving the puppet a much softer, more lovable appearance—one that better reflects the gentle personality fans associate with Gizmo.

Lastly, to ensure long-term preservation, the team added a subtle wooden lip to the top of Gizmo’s electronics crate. This allowed it to be fitted with a custom protective acrylic case, making it safe for display while still showcasing all the incredible detail of the restored puppet.

Final Photos

Screen Matched

Many people are surprised to learn just how extensively this 2× Gizmo puppet was used throughout Gremlins 2, as the filmmakers did an exceptional job concealing its larger size on screen. Through clever framing and set design, the puppet seamlessly blended in with smaller-scale props and backgrounds, making its increased proportions nearly invisible to the audience. This particular Gizmo was featured in several of the film’s most memorable close-ups—moments that required detailed emotional expression and subtle movement. Below are a few screenshots showcasing some of his key scenes.

Storyboards

One of the most fascinating aspects of the 2x Gizmo is that its use was planned from the very beginning of production.

As shown in the following pages from cinematographer John Hora’s storyboard binder, specific shots were labeled with “Scale: 2x Gizmo,” directly calling out the need for this larger, more expressive puppet. This detail not only highlights the intentional use of this specific puppet into key scenes, but also shows how important the 2x version was to achieving the emotional depth and visual clarity required in those close-up moments.