Thanks Shawn.

Scoob, the opening extends from the base of his neck to upper/mid torso. I wasn't sure where to put it and there seemed as practical as anywhere. I think I need to maybe purchase a kit or pattern so I can see how puppets are "supposed" to be made. I'm pretty confident my puppet isn't technically brilliant. As an example, I hand sewed all my foam segments together rather than using the foam glue. Are there any patterns or kits you would suggest to really get your head around the do's and don'ts of puppetry?

Off to find out what on earth 'bunraku' puppets are!!

Thanks

Lizzie

Lizzie,
I am sure you find tons of info on Bunraku puppetry out there but essentially it is what you have made. I guess you could also call him a vent doll or dummy. Bunraku is actually associated with an Oriental style of puppetry where the puppet is full body and one or more puppeteer manipulates not only the mouth but the hands and feet also. Traditionally this is done with the puppeteers dressed all in black so you don't see them.

You have the entry point in the right place if you are going to be using your guy as a vent doll that sits on your lap. That is how I do it.

In regards to patterns, you can find one at Na's site School of Puppetry. There is also the Project Puppet series of patterns that are very good. Also Billy has some in his gallery that are freebies. Just find one of his post and click on the little camera icon under his name and avatar. Jay Tyson aka Dr Puppet has some great videos for only $5.00 a piece that you can download.

Welcome Lizzie! Your first puppet looks awesome! I look forward to seeing what else you come up with. My first puppet was quite a bit larger than any I've worked on since and required a more sturdy arm rod. I found steel rod in smaller diameters at local hardware/farm supply stores. We have a store called Farm & Fleet that I used. I'm not sure what the Aussie equivalent would be.

As for patterns I think Shawn has covered that pretty well. He already mentioned the Dr. Puppet videos which are TERRIFIC, but I'd also mention the Play Soup instructional DVD's http://www.playsoup.com/store/video.htm

They're not cheap but they are an excellent educational tool for this art form! Unfortunately the Australian dollar isn't quite as strong against the American dollar as the Euro or it would soften the blow some.

Well, whatever tools you use I'm sure you'll do fine. Your first effort certainly looks better than mine did! Good luck and welcome to the family! 

I'm really excited to see some Aussies on here! I bought more fur today for my next puppet (yes, I'm that keen!) as I can't source Antron fleece locally. It will be awesome to learn who your suppliers etc are.

You won't find antron here; it's only manufactured by one company in the world, and they're in the US. A while back I enquired as to how much a few yards of fleece would be to buy. The shipping far far outweighed the cost of the fleece itself. However, Spotlight carries many pill and non-pill fleeces which make for excellent substitutes. They're about the same cost as their low-end furs. (14.95 per metre if I recall correctly)

Having said that, perhaps some of the puppet sellers who offer antron will have lower prices than the manufacturer.

Thanks Shawn.

Scoob, the opening extends from the base of his neck to upper/mid torso. I wasn't sure where to put it and there seemed as practical as anywhere. I think I need to maybe purchase a kit or pattern so I can see how puppets are "supposed" to be made. I'm pretty confident my puppet isn't technically brilliant. As an example, I hand sewed all my foam segments together rather than using the foam glue. Are there any patterns or kits you would suggest to really get your head around the do's and don'ts of puppetry?

Off to find out what on earth 'bunraku' puppets are!!

Thanks

Lizzie

Oh I don't know. I think your puppet looks pretty fab! Most people will tell you anyway that there's no single way to make a puppet, and whatever works for you/your needs is what is best.

Bunraku puppetry is fab, you can find heaps of info at it at my site (School of Puppetry, link given in my signature). Although it can get confusing because whilst technically it refers to Japanese puppetry, many people also use the term to refer to Western rod puppets. I've seen a performance of bunraku by the official Japanese company, and it was amazing; also got the opportunity to learn how to make a bunraku head from a Japanese puppeteer in '08. You can find my workshop notes/pics at my blog (Puppets in Melbourne, link also in my sig. Go to the blog and search for 'bunraku' or 'UNIMA 2008')

You'll find a lot of useful info/patterns/theory at my School of Puppetry site. There's a really in-depth article on the basics of puppet design, which pretty much covers everything a beginner might want to know.

Lizzie,
I am sure you find tons of info on Bunraku puppetry out there but essentially it is what you have made. I guess you could also call him a vent doll or dummy. Bunraku is actually associated with an Oriental style of puppetry where the puppet is full body and one or more puppeteer manipulates not only the mouth but the hands and feet also. Traditionally this is done with the puppeteers dressed all in black so you don't see them.

Actually, most bunraku puppets - the Japanese ones - don't have moving mouths. Some do, but it's generally only for specific characters. It's not at all like vent dolls or muppets, but more like a rod or table-top puppet, where you're manipulating the puppet through rods. (Actually, a marotte is more like how the head is operated, since the head is on a stick and moved side/side and up/down using the stick control) Muppets usually have rods at the wrists, but bunraku puppets have rods at the elbows; feet, if male, are operated with small rods at the back of the heels, if female, there are no feet at all (instead the kimono is bunched up and moved to look like feet are hidden beneath). The head control stick is accessed at the back of the puppet through a gap in the clothing.

One of the reasons why I tend to call bunraku bunraku and every other rod puppet a rod puppet. Western rod puppets are nothing like bunraku.

Na,

Yes you are quite correct. I was thinking more along the lines of the western style of the art form.  You know I heard it refereed to as Overt Puppetry at one time. I've also heard it refereed to as Direct Manipulation Puppetry. When I think of DMP though I think more of a puppet with no rods. In other words it could be a doll that you manipulated by actually grasping the hands, feet, and head of the doll.

I've never heard of either of those terms. I agree with DMP though, it sounds more like using your own hands to manipulate the puppet. After all, rods are an indirect method - I learned from a friend here that the longer the rod/mechanism for operating, the more indirect the manipulation is. Which makes sense to me; but DMP as a name for rod puppetry doesn't.  ... ?

One of the things that annoys me is I often get into a mindset of categorisation, mainly out of trying to explain how things work to non-puppeteers. (Lots of people on Yahoo Answers keep saying muppets are "marionettes" and have strings) Strangely, I have a hard time avoiding slipping into it and need to keep poking myself to remember that it's more nuanced than that. I know it is, but because other people don't, and expect easy pigeon-hole answers, I tend to oversimplify.

Wow, thanks everyone for your feedback and suggestions. This really is an awesome site! I can see I have much research to do and look forward to checking out all the patterns and sites you've suggested.

Perhaps we Aussies could order a stack of the Antron Fleece to try and reduce or at least share the freight costs. I had read that the Antron Fleece was preferred as it did not show seams. Do you have any experience with the Spotlight stocked fleeces?

Shawn, he fits perfectly as a vent puppet! Only problem is my very poor skills! Need to start working on a manageable routine...

Thanks

Lizzie

Wow, thanks everyone for your feedback and suggestions. This really is an awesome site! I can see I have much research to do and look forward to checking out all the patterns and sites you've suggested.

Perhaps we Aussies could order a stack of the Antron Fleece to try and reduce or at least share the freight costs. I had read that the Antron Fleece was preferred as it did not show seams. Do you have any experience with the Spotlight stocked fleeces?

Yep, this place is pretty awesome. You'll find that most puppeteers are extremely willing to discuss and share.

Bulk ordering fleece is a good idea - I don't have any need for it though, but maybe the other Aussies around here might be interested. (Actually thinking on it, I know Jarrod Boutcher in QLD does use antron. He must order it somehow...)

I have not tried using antron myself, even though I did eventually get my hands on a bit. However, I found some Spotlight non-pill fleece in cream, and sewing that was fine (the pill fleeces are very hard to work with, because well, they pill. Everywhere). Very few seams are visible at all. I suspect antron will be better at it though, it's far softer and more giving (if that's the right word) in comparison. I guess it depends on budgets and personal taste. Many Americans here don't use antron either. As an example, here's a puppet I made using the Spotlight fleece: