Ok, I have been away FAR too long.  I just can't seem to find a simple construction for the type of rod puppet that I am building.  I am not doing a hand and rod but completely rod...does that make sense?  I'm trying to do the rod puppet that the rod comes out the back of the head for instance and one out of the back of the body.  I'm doing it in miniature form so that I can possibly control the entire piece myself.  Harrison is starting school in the fall and I wanted to volunteer my puppet shows.  Now that I live in Singapore, I don't have easy transportation.  I have to rely on the subway and taxis.  Therefore, I have created a miniature portable stage the size of a briefcase when folded up.  I'm still adding to the stage but promise to show it as soon as I complete it.  It's do or die for the next month.  I have to have this done before August.  If I don't set a goal, I won't finish it....I know me.

So, my question is...what kind of rod puppet is this specifically.  I also need to know the best option for attaching the head to the body.  There needs to be movement like a neck.  The innards are styrofoam covered by crepe paper.  I was thinking of using some round elastic that I had in my sewing case.  I wanted to know what the typical construction was.  The rest of the appendages are going to have a marionette type of construction to them.  I'm still deciding whether or not to make these just miniature sicilian marionettes that can be controlled with a single hand.  I have all the parts to put them together but just want to finish it off with the best solution that will last for many performances.  I'm so excited to use them.  I think they are turning out nicely and make me giggle.  The important thing is that Harrison is in LOVE with them.  If HE likes them, I know his class will, too.  He's my toughest critic.  Thank goodness I have him in my life. :D

Aloha,
Nikole

P.S.  I have really missed chatting with all of you on here.  I miss my puppet family.  I promise not to be gone for that long anymore.

I think I might be an idiot.  Is it Bunraku style of puppetry that I am thinking about?  Anyone with experience?  Best sources?

THANKS!

Sorry I keep adding to this.  Yes, it IS Bunraku that I am thinking about.  I finally found examples of what I had in my mind.  And I remembered older posts with great videos that I commented on.  I think I might need to really think about the neck choice for my miniature puppets.  I'm thinking that since I will be performing all of the puppets with usually no more than two on stage at one time, I might want to think of an idea where I can let go of the head rod of one puppet and it will stay put without falling over.  I don't want to be dependent on always having to hold onto the head rod.  It's a lot to think about.  But if I don't figure this out, I can't proceed with putting the other features on.  Like I said, I have all the other parts ready to go.  I really want to finish the head by adding the hair that I prepared and the hats.  I'm so anxious.  It's my favorite part to dress them.  I think that is why I like this style of puppetry so much....they look like little dolls.  It's the inner little girl in me I guess. 

Yes you did answer your question.    It would be Bunraku or Table Top puppetry. You have the right idea with the rod off the back of the head and then off the "hips". This should allow you to use the hip rod to make the puppet walk, but it would take two hands.  Not sure how to accomplish leaving the puppet standing with out you.  With marionettes we would have a "grid" above the playing area that had cords hanging from it with hooks.  We could easily hook the control of the puppet on this and then bring in another puppet.

Attach the head to the body with a cord.  With the scale you are working in you might be able to find cord that would be the size of the neck.  The problem with that is you have to prep for it and embed the cord into the head then you have to run the cord down into the body to embed it. You could try a smaller cord, which should be easier to embed into both and then cover that in a tube of fabric that is glued to the head and body.  You'll get sag in the fabric with that method though.

Let me explain how you embed the cord into the head.  Start from the bottom where the neck attaches to the head. Go up through the head to the top and out.  Make a knot in the cord and glue that knot to the top of the head.  If you use a pliable soft cord you can get a pretty flat knot. Since you are putting hair on it should cover that knot.  If you knot seems to big (if you are using a size that is larger to act as the neck) then you might need to create  a small "crater" in the top of the head to glue the knot down into so it is flush.

You should be able to do the same with the body. 

You might be able to get some ideas if you hop over to Daryl's BlogTV page and have a look at the tutorials I have been doing on making a Marionette.  http://www.blogtv.com/people/StiqpuppetsLive  Actually the size I am making over there is perfect for what you are doing. Even if you still stick with Bunraku, many of the things could be used I think.  For example the body construction.  Here is the link to the first part to make it easy to find http://www.blogtv.com/Shows/736892/buZEY2NGaeZxZ23DZ_

Thank you so much, Shawn.  You gave me a lot to think about.  Of course you are right about putting at the hips and not the back.  I'm glad I said something or else that would have been a bad mistake.  Thank you for clearing that up for me.  You are a puppet master! :D  I'm glad I chose to use styrofoam as my base because I will need to do the flush method you spoke of since one of the puppets only wears a head scarf that sits flush to the top of the head.  Styrofoam will be easy to bore into. 

I'll take pictures and videos when I complete the project.  I think it is already to late to do pictures in steps. 

Aloha,
Nikole

Nikole

Here are some good videos on E-How.com

http://www.ehow.com/video_2375865_what-bunraku-puppet-wrist-control.html

Billy D.

Thanks Billy for that awesome link!    I've missed you!!!  That video was great and even taught me how to CORRECTLY SAY the word.  I can't believe the way I've been saying it and I live in Asia....DOH! 

Aloha!
Nikole