anyone know how to do cable controlled movements, not animatronic, just a pulled wire.

You need to take a trip to the bike shop and get some brakes.   The cable used for brakes, is the basis of what you want.  It is a metal tube with a wire inside of it.  If you attach the metal tube to something solid it leaves the wire free to push or pull something you want to operate.

If you want to see this process in motion.  Get Dr Puppets blinking eye tutorial.  He uses it to make the eyes blink.

you can also use refrigerator tubing and light weight cable from a hardware store in place of the brake cable.  I'd go with which ever type is cheaper.