How To Make Articulated Tails

How to make articulated tails that can be used for fursuits or cosplay. Having a tail that moves naturally with your body can add a lot to a costume. Whether you are a cosplayer, a furry, or just curious, this video is for you!

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:52 Articulated tail base
6:07 Scaled tail
7:19 Fur tail
9:17 Pleather tail
9:51 Extra ideas

In this video, I show the full process of making an articulated tail. It is fully mechanical (not powered), and swishes as you walk or move your hips. I started by building an articulated armature, which I then covered with scales/fur. If you build your own thanks to this video, I'd be happy to see the result! It is probably the closest I have ever been to making a costume tutorial.
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[ridwanmujahid]

This lady: tails for cosplay that can move!

Furries: (rapidly taking notes)

[Firecat]

So basically like those old wooden snake toys. Good to know my theories were workable!

[metroidsax]

The tail that you showd us is perfect for someone who wants to do a Turanid Hormagaunt/Termigaunt cosplay, Thank you for doing this as I now Know how to do a Tyranid cosplay!

[Steampunk_Ocelot]

For the scales version, if you maybe used a printed fabric that roughly matched your scales it would disguise the gaps

[tinysmolgame]

Omg, anyone remember those wooden snakes you could get that would move like this? I remember using that as a tail way back in the baby stages of my cosplay days. This is basically a more advanced nicer version of that omg so cool.

[marilynalvarez-bryant]

The person that disliked was jealous they didn’t have talent

[iikeitornmx]

I’m not cosplaying and I’m not a furry I just honestly think this is cool and I want to make it then never use it again 😂

[miratarnish]

Splatoon cosplayer here, I've been trying to find a way to have moving hair tentacles without making them too heavy or lumpy, functionally similar to the lekku styles from Star wars. This might be a good solution if it can be head mounted!

[SexyJutsuLover]

As someone who plans to make a skeleton dragon costume, I appreciate this video! I was really stumped on how to make the tail without resorting to 3d printing or resin casting, but this looks much easier! Thank you!

[shiningfennec]

7:07 I keep rewatching that, the motion is so fluid! <3

[ninjacookie]

I made a tail with the foam segment method and used fleece for the cover. It works well and is easy to sew.

[Lycan_Lich]

so for the last couple of years I've been toying with a similar idea, I did not want to risk spending money on materials I couldn't afford especially with looming cons and everything I was focusing on at the time on top of the arthritis in my hands affecting my ability to do heavy tasks such as carving foam. I am SO glad you put this video because I've been able to sit down and figure out what my best option is for my dragon born going forward. I have thousands of sketches trying to figure out motion with just so many numbers all of the place and even some 3d motion renderings some where on my google drive. THANK <3

[Moon-unzl]

my actual audible reaction to seeing this:


"Oh.. My.. GOD."

*Clicks*

[YakoKitsune]

I felt in love when I saw one of your prototypes on Instagram, and I've always wanted to make a tail which would look realistic in movement, and that post gived me hope, so I've waited until you could teach us how to make them, and I'm very happy you did it! Thank you so much, your work is awesome, I'll keep be watching your projects in the future, so keep it up <3

[skapie]

Furries will DIE to get their hands on those....me too, honestly. It's pretty cool. 😄

[justsomeguywithoutamustach]

Youtube, for the 100th time, I'm not a furry!











But that dragon tail tho...

[vanegas]

I’ve seen all of your previous tails before—I never would’ve guessed it was the same person. You have no idea how much respect I have for you. :) I can’t wait to see more of your creations!

[lilyschronce]

Can I just say that I love your accent, I haven’t heard anything like it, but then again I haven’t been out of America. Also you have so much talent.

[AmandaKerrMunslow]

I used this as a basis for making something similar for my daughter for a dragon costume, though my stretchy fabric was black and green, and I scaled it all over and added folded faux-leather spines instead of plates on top. She was thrilled. Thank you so much for sharing!

[PockyNightmare]

9:38 i love how your parents (??) are just going on with their daily business xD