Building animatronic props has been one of Walter's primary specialties since the late 80s until the early 2000s. Using his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technologist (1969) from Ryerson University, Klassen forged his career in this design niche.
He created hundreds of specialized animatronics which have been key props in acclaimed feature films, including Tommy Boy (1995), To Die For (1995), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) and Are We There Yet? (2005). Usually consulted for scenes where animals (or in some case humans) could be harmed, Klassen would be tasked with replicating real creatures using motorized components that could be manipulated in a believable way on set.
