Animal Actors on Location! Review

One of the oldest running shows at Universal Studios remains as charming as ever

The internet rules dictate that we can’t give a show featuring beautiful, giga-cute animals, kitties, and doggos a score lower than 8, so there you have it. Honestly, even without these rules in place, this show would certainly get Famvia’s recommendation. I mean, what’s not to like about it?

"Animal Actors" is a live stage show where our furry friends are the main stars, performing a variety of tricks in a presentation that lasts about twenty minutes. The show runs about three times a day, so make sure to check the show times before coming. If you have a soul, you will probably get a chuckle out of it. Kids love it, especially since some of them are invited to interact with the animals and have a great time doing it.

The Good

This live show takes place in a large theater with an impressive setting. Imagine something resembling an ancient Mayan ruin, complete with stone stairs, waterfalls, and lush greenery. That’s the main stage where our stars perform right before our eyes. No, I’m not talking about Indiana Jones - he is part of another show - but keep in mind that some of the animals featured in this attraction have appeared in movies like Men in Black, Marley & Me, and Night at the Museum.

The show is similar to Animal Kingdom’s Feathered Friends in Flight. Although that one is about birds only, Animal Actors bring out feathered friends, dogs, cats and sometimes monkeys as well to do all sorts of stuff. A cast member is always on stage to tell us a bit more about the training process, and show us how they make some animals obey commands and act like… well, actors. Dogs will stretch and sit down at simple commands, birds will fly over the audience and children will be brought to the stage to interact with the animals… and even have the chance to pet them and receive some kisses!

The internet rules also prevent me from saying anything bad about this attraction, but I am glad to say that there isn’t anything wrong with it. Just do not expect to come here to see dogs doing backflips, cats riding a Mech or pigs doing tricks on a skateboard like Tony Hawk. This show primarily focuses on how trainers teach animals various tricks commonly seen on television. Expect to witness dogs crawling, sitting down, and even playing dead.

I also love how unpredictable the show can be. The actors are, well, animals, so even if they don’t get a trick right the first time, we can’t help but clap loudly and cheer them on. This reminds me, however, of one time when I attended a similar show in California and two dogs shared the stage. Suddenly, one of them started barking and tried to bite the other one, which was enough for both of them to start jumping and going crazy at each other. Fortunately, neither dog got harmed, as the showrunners acted quickly to break up the fight. They became friends again right after, aww!

The Bad

You have to say goodbye to the cute doggos once the show is over.

Will Kids enjoy it?

Yes! This is a show featuring animals, and that’s probably enough to make your little ones glued to the action on stage. Everyone loves to see cats, dogs and birds being cute, right? You get that here and much more. Maybe your children will even be lucky enough to get called upon the stage to interact with the animals, so don’t forget to bring your cameras.

Oh yeah, sometimes after the show there is even a chance for a meet & greet with the actors, so keep an eye out for that.