How to Make a Marionette Doll Operate
Marionettes have dazzled the stage for millenniums, literally, with some of the earliest string operated puppets appearing as early as 2000 B.C. in Ancient Egypt. During the 15th century, marionettes were incredibly popular, creating a treasured pastime, consisting of both crafting and bringing these puppets to life. From Pinocchio the wooden boy to the comedic Punch and Judy, the effortless movement of the marionette captivates audiences.
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Instructions
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1
Create simple walking movements by holding the handles in your hand, positioning the cross of the two handles in the center of your palm. Swish the puppet gently back and forth while moving it forward across the stage.
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2
Make your puppet run by following the walking movement, but increasing the speed and intensity of the swishing. Practice this so your puppets feet don't look too uncoordinated, unless you're trying to create a comedic scene, in which case the faster, the better.
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3
Position the crossed bars of the control at a slight angle, so it forms an X to dance your marionette across the stage by twisting the handles side to side.
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4
Move the arms by drawing the single panel connected to the arms by raising and lowering the corresponding end of the control. For example, to move the right arm, tug the right side of the control upward, and vice versa with the left.
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5
Practice regularly. The more you practice these basic movements, the easier it will become for you to add personality and life to your marionettes.
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Tips & Warnings
Combining the simple movements will allow your marionettes to move around the stage and interact with other marionettes. Over time, and with practice, you can learn how to control two marionettes, one on each hand.
Be careful early on not to entangle your marionettes strings. If this does happen, sit down and carefully take the strings off to disentangle them.
