Animals

Choosing an animal theme to suit the setting

Start with what the animal means, not what it looks like. Reindeer, bears, penguins and owls are immediately associated with winter and Christmas, so they fit straight into the festive season. Butterflies, bees, ladybirds and hummingbirds suit spring and garden displays. Exotic species — giraffes, elephants, tigers, flamingos — are not tied to a season at all; they suit the character of the setting itself.

It is also worth considering whether a species already relates to the setting itself: beekeeping businesses choose bees, schools and nurseries prefer friendly-looking animals, and park managers and hotels tend to pick a motif that will stay on display for longer than a month.

Size and posture

The second decision is size and pose. A single large figure works as a landmark, visible from a distance. Several figures of the same species placed together look like a herd or a moment caught in action. Each design range includes animals standing, lying down and moving, so the same figure can either stand quietly beside a path or be clearly doing something.

Related design ranges

Reindeer and bears often appear alongside a Santa Claus figure, while insects and birds have a plant equivalent in Flowers and trees. The remaining design ranges — arches, fountains, baubles and sleighs — can be found under Freestanding figures.