this reminds me of a kids show i saw while i was in japan a few years ago called Pythagora Switch (or Pitagora Suitchi which is just so damn catchy).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxs6qGVVyng
it was actually probably one of the first things i looked up when i got back. the show itself is only about 15 minutes long, and the machines were all made using similar materials, but i could watch it for hours and hours. some of them took a while, and some were just seconds but some of the steps are just awesome! this show is also where you find the Algorithm March.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a8V5Ute3wg