To DC:  The maximum number of animations the majority of todays' professional ventriloquist would have on a figure would be: eyes, and raising eyebrows - perhaps winkers.

But if you think about the characters being used by today's pros, there are some of the characters being used have no animations at all.

It's not the puppet used nor the number of animations on a figure that makes a professional. It's how the puppet/figure is manipulated in synchronization with the skillful presentation of a creative, humorous dialogue conversation. Delivery is more important than mechanics