Spirit Halloween's Top Five Animatronics

The 2023 Halloween season is in full swing, which means it’s time for everyone to visit their favorite spooky shop: Spirit Halloween. 

I look forward to visiting Spirit all throughout the year. It’s the best place to stock up on all of your Halloween essentials and get into the spooky spirit. However, the thing I look forward to most when visiting is seeing their newest animatronics.

Every year Spirit comes out with new animatronics and revives their past designs with upgrades. These animatronics are great for spicing up your yard for the holiday or for building a homemade haunted house. Each animatronic serves their own purpose; some are good for jump scares, others are good for adding to the haunted ambience. 

I have gone through several Spirit locations this year and browsed their online catalog. After combing through all of this year’s animatronics, I have cultivated a list of the best animatronics for 2023. 

Here are my top five:

 

1. Darling Dolly

Darling Dolly is hands-down my favorite animatronic that Spirit has produced with this year. She stands at a whopping 7 feet tall and has an ominous hunched posture that is off-putting to anyone in her presence. Additionally, her audio will no doubt make the hairs on your neck stand up. She giggles and cries in an unsettling manner and when you least suspect it, she lunges at you with a blood-curdling scream. Darling Dolly would certainly do a great job delivering jump-scares to those brave enough to pass her.

2. Spike

                                                                

This animatronic does not produce the most intense jump-scares; however, he does serve a great purpose in adding to a haunted ambiance. Spike is 3 feet tall and hangs from a rope attached to his back. He groans while twitching and writhing in such an unnerving manner that it makes your skin crawl. I think in the right setting – perhaps behind fog and a blacklight – he could be that finishing touch that ties the whole spooky scene together. 

3. Hell Spawn

Hell Spawn is another great jump-scare animatronic. During his resting state he appears to be about 4.5 feet tall, but don’t let his small stature fool you. Unsuspecting guests passing by him will quickly learn that he delivers quite the jump-scare. Hell Spawn leaps up to a full 8.6 feet tall when his trigger is activated. As he ascends, he releases a spine-chilling roar and shouts “Get out of my graveyard!” This animatronic is great for anyone looking to give guests a good scare.

4. Stilts 

Stilts is a 7.9 foot tall clown with an ominous backstory. His audio tells the story of his failed juggling career and he invites you to watch him perform. He also produces an evil laugh while waving his arms and rotating his head a full 360 degrees. His bloodshot eyes and sinister expression add to his overall maniacal energy. Stilts does not lunge or jump out at passing individuals. However, I think he would be great at the front of a haunted house or in a lawn to welcome guests as he is a magnet to anyone looking for a thrill. 

5. Killer Klowns from Outer Space

This animatronic does not produce any jump-scares and its audio is not particularly unnerving. However, I had to include it in my list because the 1989 film “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” is such an iconic staple in Halloween and horror culture. The animatronic stands at 7.2 feet tall and feels fairly accurate to how the clown is portrayed in the film. Additionally, his audio plays the iconic music and clown laughter from the film. I do not think people would be particularly afraid of this prop, but any fans of the film would certainly love walking by him on Halloween night.