Go wild this Halloween with a DIY Animal Muppet costume that’s loud, bold, and totally unforgettable—perfect for fans of the wild Muppet drummer!

Create your own wild and wacky Animal costume with this step-by-step tutorial! It’s perfect for creating a DIY Halloween costume this year.

When it comes to the Muppets, you may be tempted to stick with classic Kermit and Miss Piggy costumes, but adding Animal to the mix takes your Muppet costume game to a whole new level. He’s loud, lovable, and trust me—this wild drummer steals the spotlight every time!

This costume DIY is perfect for trick-or-treating, costume parties, or even cosplay at your next con.

Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!

Why You’ll Love This Project

This DIY Animal Muppet costume is hands-down one of the most fun and creative Halloween projects we’ve done. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it reuses materials you may already have—like that sad pool noodle in the garage or leftover felt from last year’s craft binge.

It’s a showstopper with big impact and very little stress (well…except for the feather explosion in the kitchen). Whether you’re making it for a kid or want to make an epic Muppets Animal costume for adults, it’s surprisingly lightweight and super comfy to wear.

We are always super pumped for Halloween! Planning costumes each year usually begins in August, if not sooner.

But here’s the thing—I thought I was taking a break from costume building this year. I had snagged a clearance Star Wars costume haul last November and thought that I had the all-clear to take a break from the epic costume creation.

Little did I know that, soon enough, I would be pulling out the hot glue gun and bin of felt material to make Muppet costumes. At least I didn’t have to use paper mache!

Who is “Animal” Anyway?

Animal is a wild and crazy drummer, full of electric mayhem, from the Muppet Show, and played by Frank Oz.
The tv show was created by Jim Henson and was later turned into a Muppet Movie.
Animal was said to take after some of hard rock’s favorite drummers like the Who’s Keith Moon.
He could be seen on Sesame Street with the rest of the characters, like Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and the Swedish Chef.
Animal has been a guest star on many Walt Disney Company productions and in Hollywood Studios, where he would often compete in a drum battle.

Animal Muppet Costume Details

I have to admit that making Muppets Halloween costumes was actually a dream of mine. I have been wanting to create Animal for years!

Last year, I had given this Plants vs. Zombies chomper costume to a friend. She asked if I wanted it back and at first I thought, no, just pass it on to someone new.

But then I realized the old chomper costume head I had made could totally be used to create Animal from the Muppets. So I stripped the chomper head down to its purple felt beginnings.

A few feathers, some foam, and an unhealthy amount of hot glue later, and BOOM—an Animal the Muppet costume was born! And let me tell you—he was a huge hit at school. One mom even asked me if it was store-bought (bless her heart).

Be sure to check out my Plants vs. Zombies chomper post to see how to create a round base for the head. That’s where we start this project.

How to Make This Animal Muppet Costume

This post contains affiliate links.

Supplies

Round head base (from this Plants vs Zombies Chomper Costume)
1/2 meter Black cotton fabric
4 pieces Orange felt (8×11)
2 pieces Red felt (8×11)
1/4 piece of a Pool noodle (or 2″ round flexible foam)
3 Styrofoam balls (3″ in diameter)
7 White foam board triangles (for teeth)
8″ Black Velcro
Black feather boa
Red feather boa
Orange feather boa
Scissors
Hot glue gun and lots of glue

Instructions

1. Create eyes by cutting 2 of the Styrofoam balls down to 2/3 their size. Wrap and glue orange felt around two pool noodle pieces (about 1”x4”) for the upper lip structure.

2. Wrap and glue two more pieces of orange felt around a large piece of pool noodle section (approx. 3”x30”) to form the lower jaw.

3. Wrap and glue a piece of red felt around the third ball of Styrofoam to form Animal’s nose.

4. Glue the foam board teeth onto the large bottom “lip” that you previously created.

5. Glue the black cotton to the bottom lip of the head base.

6. Glue Velcro to the inside of the top lip and to the inside edge of the top of the black cotton. This creates the inside of the mouth, where the top can be velcroed into place or removed for better visibility.

7. Glue the eyes and nose to the head. Cut a tongue shape from red felt and glue that into the mouth on the black cotton.

8. Add the feather boas everywhere—black for eyebrows, red and orange for fur. I cut some individual feathers to place around the head strategically as well.

9. Draw pupils onto the eyes with a black Sharpie.

Costume Finishing Touches

Didn’t he turn out fabulous?! I have to admit that my kitchen looked like I had slaughtered a few colorful chickens when I was done, but it was well worth it!

We paired the head with brown pants, an orange long sleeve t-shirt, and a chunky plastic chain from the dollar store, because obviously Animal needs to be chained up when he’s not drumming. And honestly, it was just the right mix of chaos and comfort!

Tips and Tricks

Use lightweight foam over Styrofoam to reduce head wobble, especially for toddlers.
Add a piece of mesh or tulle behind the mouth opening to help with visibility while still keeping the look seamless.
Dab hot glue in small dots to secure feathers without melting them or making a feathery glue bomb.
Reinforce your Velcro seams with extra stitches if you’re making this for an enthusiastic trick-or-treater.
Add a hidden strap inside the head to rest on top of the wearer’s head—this keeps the whole piece from slipping.
Store the finished head in a large plastic bag with air holes to avoid feather flattening before the big night.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to make Muppets costumes?
Start with a foam or felt headpiece and build your features using basic craft supplies like boas, pool noodles, and hot glue. Keep it lightweight and breathable.

How do I make a Muppets Animal costume for adults?
Use larger scale materials and add support straps inside the head. Pair it with bold clothing and accessories to match Animal’s wild style.

Can I make a toddler Animal Muppet costume?
Yes! Just scale down the head size and swap hot glue for fabric glue in delicate areas. Keep it lightweight and safe with no sharp edges.

What do I wear with the Animal head?
Brown pants, an orange shirt, and a toy chain complete the look perfectly. No need for anything too fancy, since the head is the show-stopper.

Is this costume okay for cosplay or conventions?
Absolutely! This Animal from the Muppets costume stands out and is comfy enough to wear for extended events.

Here you can see what it would look like when the mouth section is released from the Velcro for better visibility.

Whether you’re crafting a Muppet baby costume for your toddler or creating a DIY family group costume for Halloween, this Animal Muppet costume DIY is an absolute winner. It’s bold, wacky, and ridiculously fun to make—just be ready for your kitchen to look like a feather factory exploded.

Be sure to stay tuned for another Muppet costume reveal next week…this Beaker Muppet costume tutorial! What I love about these easy Muppet costumes is that the masks are super light to wear, yet create a dramatic effect with very little other detail needed.

What are your costume plans for Halloween? Do you have more Muppet costume ideas to share?

If you like this Animal Muppet costume tutorial, please help us by sharing on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!

No ratings yet