Animental

Archer, Danny

(Based on 4 reviews)
The magician/mentalist displays four laminated plaques each bearing various full color pictures of animal. Four spectators are asked to mentally select and remember an animal. No questions are asked, yet the magician correctly reveals all four selected animals. Very easy to do, yet extremely baffling. The plaques can be carried in your inside jacket pocket, and the animals are brightly colored making them extremely visible. Great for strolling, table hopping or parlor. This a new version of Telemental and has been extremely popular due to the fact that you can do this for an adults or children. Mentalism for kids has always been difficult to present but adults and kids love Animental and you will too.

Reviews

DonB!

Feb 28, 2014

As one reviewer said, you may want to make your own version of this, so I did. Let me explain why.

The cards are well made, and are visual from quite some distance. However, I was looking for a stronger ending, so I devised this plan:

Recreate the cards almost like they come, but rearrange some of the animals as follows (this can be done on a home computer):

In spots #1 (I will remain somewhat vague, so as not to reveal method to those that do not already own it) place any 4 animals.

In spots #2, place animals that all have something distinctive about them (Zebra, Camel, Flamingo, Skunk), so that you can ask that person to imagine something that "only that animal would be known for".

In spots #3, use animals that all have distinctive noises (Rooster, Cat, Elephant, Frog). Ask that person to imagine "what that animal looks and SOUNDS like".

In spots #4, I use a SWAN, a DOG, a GIRAFFE and a PARROT. Here's why: After the first 3 animals have been revealed, send those folks back to their seats while you "work even harder with the remaining person". Have this person stand facing the audience, while you remove an uninflated animal balloon from your pocket. Ask, "Was it a worm?". No. Comedy. Blow it up and ask, "Was it a snake?" No. Another small chuckle. Step behind the person, upstage from the audience, and twist the balloon into the mentally chosen animal (you already know which one it is).

Notice that all 4 animals for person #4 can EASILY be made from that animal balloon.

When finished, ask the person to loudly name their animal, and when they do, bring the balloon out from behind their back showing that it is made into their mentally thought of animal. Hand it to them and, with applause, send them back to their seat with this unique souvenir.

ANIMENTAL, the way it comes, is a great lesson in audience management, allowing the props themselves to fade into the background, and allow your personality to interact with the spectators.

It is a great routine, and one that can be modified in hundreds of different ways to suit your character and show.
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Paul Budd

Official Reviewer

May 06, 2011

This is my NEVER-LEAVE-HOME-WITHOUT-IT stand-by effect! I always have this one in my car! Love this trick! I find that, for kids ages about 8 - 15 it plays beautifully.......even plays well for adults, too. Buy this trick!
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Phil Tawa

Feb 15, 2010

It's a common principle but the animal cards are laminated for easy cleaning and it's mentalism you can do for kids. Just change the word from predict too guess. Good for a walk around/table/ street and platform. Worth the $15.00 price.
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Christian

Dec 14, 2002

This would at seem to be a perfect walk around mentalism piece for the restaurant performer. You get four laminated papers with animals printed on them. The lamination helps to avoid the mess that all those wet tables and messy fingers that handle your props cause. The method for this trick is an old one, and it comes around every year in a slightly different form.

As this type of trick goes, I think there are better versions out there. This one is almost too simplistic in its presentation. It does work and as I said the method has been around for a long time. If you are new to mentalism, it is probably worth your money. If you have been around the block a few times and have read your Jinx's from cover to cover, I would advise that you look for better variations of this or construct your own.

It is a nice entry level walk around mentalism piece, worthy of 3 stars out of 5.

Sergeant
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