LAST WEEK WE saw that Ireland has some impressive impressionist talent in youngster Seán Burke, who stepped in to help out with Simon Cowell’s You Generation talent hunt.

Impersonating people or doing imitations comes naturally to us all. You always put on a funny voice to answer back to your Mam and if you can successfully imitate a friend then your slaggings are guaranteed to win you pints and accolades.

But did you know animals also get in on the act? Quite successfully too, we might add. We rounded up some of the best, freakiest animal imitators out there.

1. Camel that sounds freakily like Peter Griffin

This camel sounds eerily like everyone’s favourite giggling cartoon dad, Peter Griffin from Family Guy. No, honestly, it does.

YouTube/Kevin Slater

See?

The whole scenario begs the question: why oh why were they tickling that poor camel in the first place?

2. Puppy shouts “Elmo!”

This cute lil puppy really loves Elmo.

YouTube/N3OS3R

Ow, our hearts.

3. Goats yelling like humans

The classic, infamous impressionists of the animal world: the noble goat.

YouTube/RSVLTS

You have to admit, the screaming goat is equal parts terrifying and impressive.

4. Cat makes a decent machine gun

This cat decides not to use their vocal cords but instead do some performance, prop-based imitation work.

YouTube/LetsGetHumor

A commendable and unique effort from you, Machine Gun Cat.

5. Pug that loves Batman

What’s better than an adorable, smush-faced pug? A pug who enjoys the finer things in life, such as shouting and troubled comic book heroes.

YouTube/mrbaseball2217

Would you like to ride with Batman, pug?

6. Cat doing a stellar dog impression

This cat not only imitates the dog, but truly becomes the dog. A method-acting cat, if you will.

YouTube/TushiRIT

This is one step above impressionism, and moving into the territory of Oscar-worthy acting. Bravo, cat. We hope the Academy gives you the recognition you deserve this year.

7. The incredible lyre bird

The undisputed champ of animal impressions. The lyre bird has to be heard to be believed.

YouTube/BBCWorldwide

The lyre bird can imitate the calls of up to 20 different species – not just birds, but species. He also imitates the camera shutter from the documentary crew, a car alarm and the chainshaws of nearby foresters.

Winners are announced for the impressionist category of You Generation this Friday. We don’t know about you, but had the lyre bird had access to YouTube and a webcam, we’re pretty sure he’d have blown the competition out of the water.

Next week, You Generation are looking for talented male vocalists. As we’re a country that has given the world Boyzone, Westlife, Brian Kennedy and Daniel O’Donnell (ahem), we’re sure Ireland will excel in this category.

Start warming up those pipes and check out YouGeneration to enter. Entries open tomorrow, Friday 14th of June.

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