Puppet RE-Creation Troubleshooter

[scarylarrywolf]

One thing I always seem paranoid about when creating a puppet is the lingering question of whether I will be able to re-create it after it wears out. I would really like some reassurance from any tips you guys have about recreating your puppets to look like their originals. Some of the horrors I face are:

* Will the same materials be available to me next time I need to make a character like this? (for instance, I can't find the same type of fabric for two of my puppets, and can't find pastel Easter eggs for their eyes anymore)

* Can I create the same symetry/asymetry in the new puppet as there was in the old one? (I inevitably have trouble lining the eyes up symetrically, and eyebrows and noses always give me trouble)

* How can I make mechanical improvements while retaining the original outer look?

How do you all cope with these problems? Feel free to add you own re-creation inquiries on this thread and maybe we can all help each other out.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

One thing I always seem paranoid about when creating a puppet is the lingering question of whether I will be able to re-create it after it wears out. I would really like some reassurance from any tips you guys have about recreating your puppets to look like their originals. Some of the horrors I face are:

* Will the same materials be available to me next time I need to make a character like this?

I've fallen in to the habit of buying 3 - 5 times the amount of fabric I actually need if I think there is even a chance I might have to one day duplicate a character. That's not always an option for some people financially, but it's worked well for me. I still have pieces of special materials and furs that I bought 5 - 10 years ago. I also keep pretty detailed patterns, which help if you have to go back and remember how you did something years later.

* Can I create the same symetry/asymetry in the new puppet as there was in the old one? (I inevitably have trouble lining the eyes up symetrically, and eyebrows and noses always give me trouble)

You can try working with calipers, which look like curved tongs and are available at most art supply stores. These are very handy for measuring the distance between two points on a puppet's head (like the cheek and the eye for example).

* How can I make mechanical improvements while retaining the original outer look?

I think it depends on the mechs you're adding and the puppet itself. If you want to retain the exact look of the puppet you may not be able to add as many mechs as you like.

A lot of puppet builders have pointed out to me that it's virtually impossible to ~exactly~ reproduce a character, unless you build multiple ones at the same time or use molds. I always freak out when new versions of old puppets get made, but eventually calm down and learn to live with (and love) them.

 

[Yahnke]

scarrylarry,
i was reading an interview with henson, i believe it was on this website..or maybe is was in a book about him...anyway...he said it was a nightmare re-creating puppets. He had the same challanges you did. He said everytime they would re-create a character it woul look a little different. If memory serves me correctly he used bert and an example? so....best way is probably is to make a quality puppet and treat it right...and then mourn your loss when you have to re-make it!

 

[Ryan]

scarrylarry,
i was reading an interview with henson, i believe it was on this website..or maybe is was in a book about him...anyway...he said it was a nightmare re-creating puppets. He had the same challanges you did. He said everytime they would re-create a character it woul look a little different. If memory serves me correctly he used bert and an example? so....best way is probably is to make a quality puppet and treat it right...and then mourn your loss when you have to re-make it!

I'm dreading haveing to remake some of my old characters. I started making puppets with just hot glue, no sewing. So having to remake them fully seen kinda freaks me out. I'm afraid they aren't going to look the same. I'm thinking of usuing things like the original eyes and clothes, and using thme on the new puppets. Also, I didn't save any of the patterns (if you ant to call them that, but they really weren't patterns) so it'll also be hard that way.

 

[Ryan]

scarrylarry,
i was reading an interview with henson, i believe it was on this website..or maybe is was in a book about him...anyway...he said it was a nightmare re-creating puppets. He had the same challanges you did. He said everytime they would re-create a character it woul look a little different. If memory serves me correctly he used bert and an example? so....best way is probably is to make a quality puppet and treat it right...and then mourn your loss when you have to re-make it!

I'm dreading haveing to remake some of my old characters. I started making puppets with just hot glue, no sewing. So having to remake them fully seen kinda freaks me out. I'm afraid they aren't going to look the same. I'm thinking of usuing things like the original eyes and clothes, and using thme on the new puppets. Also, I didn't save any of the patterns (if you ant to call them that, but they really weren't patterns) so it'll also be hard that way.

 

[DPuppets]

Not sure if I understand why you can't. If you building a puppet from a patteren then you should make copies of the patteren. If I am building a head like Grey Seals do...I will take it all apart after glueing just so I have a patteren. I always dye extra fabric...so if I need to rebuild a puppet for a client. I have one character that I have rebuilt 4 times over the past 7 years. And everytime they come out looking the same. I alway make sure I have everything on paper including rod arm size, cloths and so on. Every puppet has it own folder with pictures and samples of everything that goes into it. I take pictures of the building process just as a reminder. It is alot of extra work...but...have not had a problem rebuilding any puppet that we have built. The only way I see where there is a problem is craving foam like piggy first was. But...again pictures and measurements would help in that.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I think Larry's specific problem is that he didn't build his puppets with an eye towards duplicating them years later, but that's right...you can dismantle the puppet and make new patterns, provided that you have enough skill to do this and be able to resassemble the old puppet again (if you want to). It does take a certain amount of skill to do successfully.

 

[Ryan]

It's the same thing for me. I had no idea that the puppets I made as tests puppets would be my favorites and be the stars of some of my shows. They really were just crude test puppets, so I had no intention of making other ones.

 

[DPuppets]

I know we don't think about it. But remember it always seems that that the character that you think that is not going to be big...is the one who is in your shows. If I am going to spend time in creating a puppet...I just want to make sure I can do it again by making I have everything written and pictures. You just never know when your big break might come and you need to rebuild any of your puppet characters.

 

[scarylarrywolf]

Originally my problem was not looking ahead and anticipating rebuilding my puppets. I guess part of my trouble is still not documenting every detailed particular step.

The calipers for symetry sounds like a very useful idea, and I'll started taking picture for reference of each step of creation. Thanks for all the tips and support you guys.