Automata is where art meets engineering meets toys. Italian sculptor Amedeo Capelli carves every piece of his wooden automata toys, from the character sculptures to the gears that make them move. The scenes are simple, from hair blowing in the wind to a ghost watering flowers on a grave, but each character feels like they are alive. The automata in this video are laid out in fairly chronological order, so you can see how Capelli's figures grew in realism and complexity over time. The movements are simple (even though it's not simple to make them that at all), but it's the whimsical characters that make these so alluring. Even the monsters are cute! I believe I have found my favorite. I another video, Capelli shows us how he makes these.
You can buy some of Capelli's creations at his Etsy shop. each is one of a kind, but he also does commissioned works. See more of his ongoing projects at Instagram and at YouTube. -via Laughing Squid