Animal Actors on Location

Animal Actors on Location (formerly known as Animal Planet Live and other names) is a live stage show at Universal Studios Florida, and formerly at Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Japan. The show features multiple animals performing stunts and tricks.^[1]

Animal Actors on Location
Universal Studios Florida
Name	Animal Actors Stage (1990–2001) Animal Planet Live (2001–2006)
Area	Expo Center (1990–1999) Woody Woodpecker's KidZone (1999–2024) Hollywood (2024–present)
Status	Operating
Opening date	1990 (1990)
Universal Studios Hollywood
Name	Animal Actors School Stage (1970–2001) Animal Planet Live (2001–2007)
Area	Upper Lot
Status	Removed
Opening date	1970 (1970)
Closing date	January 8, 2023 (2023-01-08)
Replaced by	Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Universal Studios Japan
Name	Toto & Friends (2006–2011)
Status	Removed
Opening date	2001 (2001)
Closing date	2011 (2011)

Summary

The attraction is a live show featuring dogs, cats, birds, pigs, and other animals performing tricks onstage in a covered outdoor theatre. This show also integrates video segments and comedy from the human trainers. One of the trainers acts as the show's main host, explaining how the animals are conditioned to perform the tricks. Several of the animals are veteran actors of TV and film productions, many who were rescued from shelters. The show makes use of audience volunteers, primarily children, during several of its training segments. After the show, guests are invited to meet and pet some of the animals. The show's rotation of animals has varied throughout the years, including otters, horses, orangutans, and skunks.^[2][3][4]

Animal performers that have appeared throughout the attraction's run have starred as:

• Babe
• Beethoven
• Max in The Grinch
• Frank the Pug in Men in Black
• Additional animals in Evan Almighty, Meet the Parents and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.^[5][6][7]

History

The attraction opened in Hollywood as "Animal Actors School Stage" in 1970, in Florida as "Animal Actors Stage" in 1990, and in Japan as "Animal Actors Stage" in 2001. Both US versions of the attraction received an Animal Planet-sponsored theming from 2001 to 2006.

The Japanese iteration of the attraction was rethemed to "Toto & Friends", as part of the Land of Oz area in 2006, until being closed for the construction of the Universal Wonderland area in 2011.^[8] The Hollywood incarnation of the attraction, known as "Universal's Animal Actors," closed on January 8, 2023, alongside Special Effects Stage, and both will be replaced by Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.^[9][10]