How to Use Body Language for Puppeteers

Making a puppet seem alive is more than just providing its voice and movements. The puppet's emotions are also portrayed by its body language. Certain poses and movements can signify specific emotions without the use of facial expressions or tone of voice and make it easier for the puppeteer to tell his story.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Make a puppet seem happy by opening its mouth. He should move fast, and bounce a little.

2. Use a slouching pose to make your puppet seem sad. He can shake his head to and fro if action is required.

3. Show surprise by having your puppet do a double take. This means he looks at something, looks away, and then suddenly turns back. At this point it helps if you let the puppet's mouth drop open.

4. Achieve angry body language as a puppeteer by making your puppet tense and stiff. Have him pace back and forth.

5. Slightly vibrating the puppet makes him shake with fear. Throwing the puppet's arms up in front of himself adds to this effect.

6. Placing the puppet's hands on its chin represents thinking. The puppeteer can also make him stroke his chin.

Tips & Warnings

• Try standing in front of a mirror and portraying these emotions. As a puppeteer, you can use the way your shoulders droop or your head tilts when portraying a certain emotion as a way for your puppet to communicate.