Tik-Tok

Tik-Tok is a robot puppet character seen in Return to Oz, based on the character created by L. Frank Baum.

Describtion
Tik-Tok is a round-bodied mechanical man that runs on clockwork springs which periodically need to be wound, like a wind-up toy or mechanical clock. In fact, he has his name because of the sound he makes when wound. He has seperate windings for thought, action and speech. Tik-Tok is unable to wind any of these up on his own.

Tik-Tok is not alive and feels no emotions. He therefore can no more love or be loved than a sewing machine, but as a servant he is utterly truthful and loyal. He describes himself as an "obediant servant" to Dorothy and gave her deference.

His legs are very stout and he speaks with his mustache. When Tik-Tok speaks, he has a monotonic, halting mode of speech: "Good morn-ing, lit-tle girl". He is the entire "Royal Army of Oz", ironic considering his generally helpless nature.

Trivia
In an interview which is included in the DVD's special features, Fairuza Balk (who played Dorothy Gale) described the Tik-Tok costume: An acrobat, Michael Sundin, was upside down inside Tik-Tok with his hands operating the robot's legs and his feet tucked in behind the head. He used a monitor inside the costume. Sean Barrett provided his voice, while Tim Rose controlled his facial and arm movements.