Hello all! This is my first post and first venture into puppet making, so any help is most welcome!

I want to try and do a puppet of No-Face, the tall dark spirit with a white face mask from Spirited Away". The following video shows a number of shots of No-Face though-out the movie, just to give you an idea of how he moves and his anatomy. Now, I have a few ideas on how to tackle this...the first that comes to mind is to create a white face mask with a black cloth attached to it flowing out to create the body, and the mask is to be attached to a pole so I can slip under the black cloth and animate the face by moving the stick around. My worries with this method is that I won't be able to see through the cloth, and that the face on the end of the stick limits how much animation I can give it, ie, I can't tilt the face.

Another method is a rig similar to how they did Big Bird, a mesh cage (I think that's how they did it?) which straps onto my shoulders to bulk out the body and I hold one hand up to animate the face, and my other hand becomes No-Face's hand with fishing wire linking the other arm up so when my arm moves, so does the fake. The plus side is a greater range of animation with the face/neck, but I will get sore arms (unless someone has a way around holding your arm up in the air for a few hours, cos I want to go to a convention) and I have no idea how to construct such a rig.

So basically, I don't know which method is best, so if anyone could give me some advice or suggest an alternative I would be very greatful! 

No-Face video ----->

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https://youtu.be/KYEnPj_VaHA

A back-pack type puppet might work out. ( http://puppetco-op.org/page21.htm ) Use black window screen mesh in the area you have to look through.
Holding your hand up would get quite tiring. You might want a support with a simple hinging mechanism controlled by rope extended to your hands.
 Good Luck, rocky

Lets see................ I agree with Rocky you could build it much like a walk about stage or strolling stage is built. Grey Seal puppets just recently finished a parade puppet that is pretty neat! Use black see thur scrim for the area you need to see thur.



http://greysealnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/two-parades-three-different-kinds-of.html

Look at images of parade puppets
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=25657,25907,26637&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=parade+puppets&cp=10&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=DC22TMTPHYGClAeLseztBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CDMQsAQwAQ&biw=1680&bih=776

Rocy gave a good link to Puppetco


http://gis.net/~puppetco/

Here is a PDF download on giant walking puppets that might help.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CDAQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peacenews.info%2Fmedia%2Ftools%2Fdownload.php%3Fid%3D23&rct=j&q=a%20guide%20to%20making%20giant%20puppets%20.pdf&ei=qTq2TP6qDsGBlAeWrLnvBQ&usg=AFQjCNF-dyOQLKmw83iY5jvFk2rw3I8r5A&sig2=WuWJjhVr_UvcEb8rZcp5mw&cad=rja

Oooh, I like this idea. But me, I'd be tempted to find some sort of material that was goopy-looking and moving. I have no idea what that would be, I just like the idea of it

Hope to see some pics of what you end up making!

Oh wow, thanks for everyone's replies! What a friendly forum! :D

Ah yes, I will be documenting this puppet, I need to anyways if I'm to enter any Cosplay competion, which requires proof that you made the costume.

What fantastic ideas! I have a a question about "srim" and "black window mesh", is this flywire? Or some kind of fabric?

@ Na; I'm with you on the globby floaty material, I think I need to find some very light fabric so it hangs in the air a bit then catches up to me when I move, some type of cotton I imagine, though I don't know much about fabrics.

Scrim is a type fabric.................. I've never used it but it is popular in theater
http://www.rosebrand.com/product743/Sharkstooth-Scrim-FR.aspx?tid=19&r=1

I guess you could use any type black gauze or muslin................check at you local fabric store.

I forgot Welcome to Puppets and stuff................. I got so excited I thought you were one of us LOL well now you are!

'Scrim' is a special fabric used in theatres. It allows the light to show through from behind, but is opaque (ie. completely NOT see through) when it isn't lit. You can usually find reasonably cheap replacement fabrics that do the same job, but any theatrical hire place should have something on hand as well.

Go to:
http://www.theatrecrafts.com/glossary/glossary.shtml
Type scrim into the search box. You'll get a good definition.

Black window mesh I assume is like what you use in tutus?

I don't know what 'globby floaty' material to use either. For some strange reason I have images of latex... (If you watch Farscape, there is one episode in particular where the characters have melting faces...)

Ah, thanks for the welcome and the defining of scrim!

@ Na; wouldn't latex be heavy? I have no idea really, I've never used it before but the nearest thing to a fabric like that would be something shiny with rubber, like spandex...