Making of the NeverEnding Story puppets

[kittytoes]

Falkor was made to move like a Chinese dragon. His head was papier mâché, which was built on a small PVC support. His eyes were Styrofoam balls which were painted and glossed and hollowed out to accept red LED lights (lenses were made out of milk carton plastic). The switch for the lights was at the top of the support pole for the head. His head was covered in the fabric used for his whole body, with fur and glitter added. His eyelids and nose were made out of paper towel and his whiskers were wire covered in ripped paper towel (I seriously love Viva brand paper towels). His body was supported every 3 feet by a loop of PVC attached to an upright pole, which was tied into the fabric of his body. The second and fourth pole were where his front and back legs were attached. They were sewn separately and stuffed with fiberfill. His tail came off of the fourth pole, it had an additional piece of foam board to hold the tail upright and could wag side to side.



Morla was just shy of 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. I made her head, the artistic director made her shell (not pictured). Her head was made of foam board and cardboard with burlap inserts on a PVC stand. Her eyes were painted Styrofoam and moved up and down and her mouth was articulated. Two puppeteers worked her head, one controlling her eyes and the other her mouth.


Rock Biter wound up being close to 9 feet tall. His head and shoulders were papier mâché, and his head rotated on his shoulders, controlled by 2 puppeteers underneath. The platform he sat on was made of PVC and was moved into position on casters. His hands were separate puppets, worn by puppeteers. They were also papier mâché, one arm controlled the thumb and the other moved the index finger, which was attached to the other 3, so they moved together. When not worn, they were hung on the PVC supports.

More pictures in Flickr!

Comments

Wow!

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

These are SO fantastic, I just love them! You inspire me!

[kittytoes.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Ditto!!

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

YOU are such an artist!!! Gods, K, this work is astonishing!!!! Were folks fainting in the aisles, cuz damn.

[kittytoes.livejournal.com]

Thanks, pal! I did get a lot of wonderful compliments and considering that most folks were there for specific kids, I think that's pretty amazing. I did hear reactions to the puppets from backstage, that was nice.

[zoi-no-miko.livejournal.com]

Those look AWESOME. <3

[kittytoes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[twotone]

Eee, awesome puppets! You and the kids are superstars!

[pumabaerchen.livejournal.com]

It's nice to see how they where done, really cool ^-^