If I was a mad scientist in Carpathia and had a look around to what would be logical to animate (as servants, guards or helping hands), I´d go for small trees, furniture (yes, like in Beauty&Beast), all mechanical things I could lay hands on (like in Transformers) and statues (saints, gargoyles, etc.). If I needed a private army of my own, I´d go for larger trees, machines, vehicles (like in Rhea M) and the like.