Universal's Animal Actors
Universal Studios Hollywood · Upper Lot
Overview
Universal's Animal Actors was a live outdoor stage show featuring trained dogs, birds, and other animals performing tricks alongside handlers who explained how animal actors are trained and used in film and television production. The format mixed genuine animal-training demonstrations with comedic audience participation segments, giving families a lower-key, educational counterpoint to the park's ride-heavy lineup.
ParksLog verdict
A pleasant, unhurried change of pace in its day, remembered fondly by longtime visitors for its genuine animal-training demonstrations. Its 2023 closure made room for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which opened on the site in 2026, even if it marks the end of a long-running piece of its history.
About this experience
Live presentation showcasing trained animals and film industry animal work with audience participation and comedy.
Best for
- Guests who saw the show and want to relive the memory
- Animal lovers with a nostalgic interest in the park's history
- Fans tracking the Upper Lot's transformation into its next attraction
Tips
- The show's former site is now Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.
- It closed alongside the neighboring Special Effects Stage show as part of a broader Upper Lot overhaul.
- A similar show, Animal Actors on Location, runs at Universal Studios Florida only until November 2, 2026.
Details
History
Universal's Animal Actors ran in various forms at Universal Studios Hollywood for decades, evolving out of the park's original studio-tour emphasis on behind-the-scenes filmmaking work. It closed permanently on January 8, 2023, alongside the neighboring Special Effects Stage show, as part of a broader Upper Lot renovation. The site became Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a launch coaster that opened in September 2026.
Fun facts
- It closed permanently on January 8, 2023, ending a decades-long run at the park.
- Its former site is now Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which opened in September 2026.
- A sister show, Animal Actors on Location, runs at Universal Studios Florida only until November 2, 2026.