13. Animation apparatus, comprising: a figure to be animated and means including at least one drive unit for driving a part or segment of the figure to be animated; control means for directly transmitting electrical control signals to control said at least one drive unit in response to manual activation; a processor; a memory connected to the processor for storing control signals and issuing the control signals to said at least one drive unit for automated activation of the figure; and a digital to analog converter for converting signals output by said processor into digital form and an analog digital converter for converting signals input to said processor into analog form, and further comprising a superposition system for superimposing sub-control signals on said control signals, said sub-control signals being either manually generated via the control means or read-out from sub-routines made up of said control signals stored in said memory in order to modify the manner in which the figure is animated by the control signals which are directly transmitted to said drive unit from said control means.
13. Animation apparatus, comprising: a figure to be animated and means including at least one drive unit for driving a part or segment of the figure to be animated; control means for directly transmitting electrical control signals to control said at least one drive unit in response to manual activation; a processor; a memory connected to the processor for storing control signals and issuing the control signals to said at least one drive unit for automated activation of the figure; and a digital to analog converter for converting signals output by said processor into digital form and an analog digital converter for converting signals input to said processor into analog form, and further comprising a superposition system for superimposing sub-control signals on said control signals, said sub-control signals being either manually generated via the control means or read-out from sub-routines made up of said control signals stored in said memory in order to modify the manner in which the figure is animated by the control signals which are directly transmitted to said drive unit from said control means. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for connecting the system to drive units of a plurality of puppets.