Puppets

A puppet is a doll or figurine used in movies or other performances to appear as a living character. Puppets are controlled by a puppeteer using their hand, wires, strings or mechanical interfaces. Puppets are often accompanied by ventriloquists, who are capable of throwing their voice or speaking without moving their lips in order to give the appearance that the puppet is speaking.

Fast Facts

1. Shadow Puppets: Typically made by the silhouette of the puppeteer's hands as they are held up to a bright source of light
2. Marionette Puppets: The puppet's limbs are hanging from a handle via strings and simulate lifelike motion when the handle is manipulated
3. Rod Puppets: Controlled by a unseen puppeteer typically positioned below the stage with thin sticks attached to the puppet's limbs
4. Hand Puppets: Fit over the hand of the puppeteer, motion is controlled by simple changes in the gesture of the hand
5. Sock Puppets: Hand puppets made from simple socks
6. Animatronic Puppets: Controlled by a mechanical framework under the puppet's skin, can be controlled by a puppeteer remotely
7. Ventriloquist Dummy: Typically features moving mouth and eyes controlled in order to simulate conversation
8. Finger Puppets: Very limited in motion, positioned at the end of the puppeteer's finger

Notable Puppets

• Kermit the Frog
• Elmo
• Cookie Monster
• Yoda
• Lamb Chop
• Howdy Doody
• Triumph the Insult Comic Dog

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