there now has been discovered a simple , straight - forward apparatus for animating figures through the use of the apparatus and method of the present invention . the apparatus and method employ a plurality of collapsible , fluid chambers , and associated values controlling the fluid pressure in each of the chambers . at least two of the chambers are physically arranged so that the inflation of one such chamber and deflation of the other complimentary chamber causes all or a part of the figure to assume a different spatial position , dependent upon the level of inflation of each of the chambers . typically , at least two of the chambers are arranged so that the inflation of one such chamber exerts a physical force on the other .