PUPPET CONSTRUCTION

 

Aluminium Wire armature with aluminium foil
to fill large spaces.  Epoxy putty is used
to create 'bones' so the puppet only bends
where required.
A thin veneer of 'sculpy' polymer clay is used for the face. Foam is carved into the required body shape.
The rest of the polymer clay sections that are to be made hard are added.  Magnets are put into the shoes to help hold the puppet to the set during shooting.

    Cooking the puppet
The foam is added to the puppet, as are the
clothes.  Final polymer clay sections are added.
These remain uncooked and soft to assist
in animation.
The finished product
 

Each character has a set of mouth shapes

 

Lip Sync Software (Jlipsync) assists with breaking down
the mouths for the dialogue

 
White I found this method of construction adequate, next time I'll be using ball and socket armatures
as while these puppets look beautiful, they weren't as sturdy as they could be
and therefore made animating a little more difficult.

 

Tegan the Vegan is supported by
The ACT Government