Alien Tiger Cow
Alien Tiger Cow is a full-body version of rock-paper-scissors played in a circle. On a count, each player strikes one of three poses: alien (fingers on head), tiger (claws bared), or cow (udders mimed). Players who choose the minority pose are eliminated. The exercise is a fast physical warm-up that generates laughter and group energy.
Structure
Setup
- Players stand in a circle with enough space to move freely.
- The facilitator teaches three poses:
- Alien: fingers extended from the head like antennae, a specific alien sound.
- Tiger: hands as claws extended forward, a growl or roar.
- Cow: hands miming udders below the chest, a "moo."
- Players practice each pose until they can produce it quickly.
The Game Mechanic
- On a count of three, all players simultaneously strike one of the three poses.
- Players quickly look around to see which pose is the majority.
- The minority pose or poses are eliminated. If one player chose alien while the rest chose tiger or cow, that player is out.
- Ties in minority are both eliminated.
- Play continues until one or two players remain.
The Physical Warm-Up Function
- The game requires full body commitment to the poses, which raises physical energy rapidly.
- The elimination structure creates stakes and keeps players engaged.
- The game's inherent absurdity gives permission for uninhibited physical play.
Variations
- Non-elimination: players do not leave the circle but simply score a point for each round they survive.
- Rock-paper-scissors logic is assigned to the three poses, making each beat intentional rather than random.
How to Teach It
How to Explain It
"Three poses: alien, tiger, cow. I'll show you each one. On my count, you pick one and go. We look for who's in the minority. Minority is out. Keep going until we have a champion."
Common Notes
- Demonstrate each pose with full commitment and make sure every player can reproduce all three clearly before the game begins.
- The elimination should happen quickly. Long deliberation about who is in the minority kills the energy.
- The game's real purpose is raising group energy, not competition. The facilitator should name this if players become overly focused on winning.
Common Pitfalls
- Players make their poses tentatively, making it impossible to determine who chose what. Commit fully to every pose.
- The elimination of the minority becomes contested and slows the game. Establish clear sight lines before playing.
- The game runs for too many rounds and the remaining players feel isolated rather than celebrated.
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Related Exercises
Elephant
Elephant is a high-energy circle exercise in which a center player points to someone in the circle and calls out an animal name. The targeted player and their two immediate neighbors must quickly form a three-person physical representation of that animal before the center player finishes a count. Different animals require different configurations: the center player forms the trunk for an elephant while the neighbors create the ears, or the center player mimes holding a fishing rod while the neighbors become the fish. Incorrect or slow responses send a player to the center. The exercise builds reaction speed, peripheral awareness, physical commitment, and comfort with looking foolish.
Bappety Boo
Bappety Boo is a focus and elimination exercise in which the person in the center of a circle points to someone and counts to a set number. The pointed-to player and their neighbors must complete an assigned physical task before the count finishes. Players who fail are eliminated or take the center. The game sharpens reaction time and group attention.
Evolution
Evolution is a high-energy physical warm-up game in which players begin as a simple organism and progress through stages of evolution by winning rounds of rock-paper-scissors against other players at the same evolutionary level. Players physically embody each stage (amoeba, chicken, monkey, human), creating a chaotic, noisy environment in which everyone is playing simultaneously. The game is self-organizing, requires no improv experience, and works well with large groups as an icebreaker. Evolution builds physical commitment, willingness to look foolish, and the social bonding that comes from shared silliness.
Bear, Fish, Mosquito
Bear, Fish, Mosquito is a full-body variation of rock-paper-scissors in which two teams face each other and simultaneously perform one of three creatures. Bear eats fish, fish eats mosquito, and mosquito bites bear. The losing team runs to avoid being tagged by the winners. The game combines quick decision-making with physical energy.
Whoosh
Whoosh is an energetic circle exercise in which players pass a sound-and-gesture impulse around the group with the option to reverse, deflect, or redirect using different sounds and movements. The exercise is typically played as a layered game in which new moves are introduced one at a time, building complexity and requiring players to hold multiple rules simultaneously. The exercise builds group energy, quick decision-making, and the habit of sending and receiving clear physical signals.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Alien Tiger Cow. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/alien-tiger-cow
The Improv Archive. "Alien Tiger Cow." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/alien-tiger-cow.
The Improv Archive. "Alien Tiger Cow." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/alien-tiger-cow. Accessed March 17, 2026.
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