A flame simulator, comprising: an electrically driven motion engine (101, 301, 501) including a coupling member (102, 111, 113), wherein the motion engine generates chaotic motion at the coupling member in at least two dimensions; a hollow housing (102, 302, 502) having a sidewall defining a first end and a second end; a flame support wire (123, 322, 522) spanning across the housing and affixed to the housing sidewall, wherein the support wire is V-shaped so that a vertex of the support wire is near a midpoint of the housing, wherein the support wire is located at a position along the sidewall that is closer to the second end than to the first end; a movable flame body (121, 321, 521) magnetically coupled to the coupling member such that the chaotic motion of the coupling member is transferred to the movable flame body, wherein the flame body comprises a pendulum (121, 321, 521) having a hole (122, 323, 523) wherein the flame support wire passes through the hole allowing the pendulum to pivot about the hole on the flame support wire, the pendulum having a first end proximate to the first end of the housing and a second end proximate to the second end of the housing, wherein the pendulum further comprising a magnetic region (124, 324, 524) located on the first end of the pendulum and at a location that is influenced by the coupling member of the motion engine; and a flame-shaped silhouette (125, 325, 525) located at the second end of the pendulum, wherein the flame-shaped silhouette forms the visible surface of the flame body; and a light projector (107, 307, 507) emitting a spot of light towards the flame body. an electrically driven motion engine (101, 301, 501) including a coupling member (102, 111, 113), wherein the motion engine generates chaotic motion at the coupling member in at least two dimensions; a hollow housing (102, 302, 502) having a sidewall defining a first end and a second end; a flame support wire (123, 322, 522) spanning across the housing and affixed to the housing sidewall, wherein the support wire is V-shaped so that a vertex of the support wire is near a midpoint of the housing, wherein the support wire is located at a position along the sidewall that is closer to the second end than to the first end; a movable flame body (121, 321, 521) magnetically coupled to the coupling member such that the chaotic motion of the coupling member is transferred to the movable flame body, wherein the flame body comprises a pendulum (121, 321, 521) having a hole (122, 323, 523) wherein the flame support wire passes through the hole allowing the pendulum to pivot about the hole on the flame support wire, the pendulum having a first end proximate to the first end of the housing and a second end proximate to the second end of the housing, wherein the pendulum further comprising a magnetic region (124, 324, 524) located on the first end of the pendulum and at a location that is influenced by the coupling member of the motion engine; and a flame-shaped silhouette (125, 325, 525) located at the second end of the pendulum, wherein the flame-shaped silhouette forms the visible surface of the flame body; and a light projector (107, 307, 507) emitting a spot of light towards the flame body.