• (n. pl.) Puppets caused to perform evolutions or dramatic scenes by means of machinery; also, the representations in which they are used.
Fan`toc·ci'ni noun plural [ Italian , dim. from fante child.] Puppets caused to perform evolutions or dramatic scenes by means of machinery; also, the representations in which they are used. 
Fantoccini was a puppet play popular in Italy in the 15th century and in England and Germany in the 18th century.