Behind the Scenes of a Puppet Fabricator

This is an introduction and career map going into some behind the scenes for stop motion film, television, and commercials.
Links:
1) "Paranorman Featurette": • ParaNorman Featurette:...
2) "A Glass for Santa": • A Glass for Santa | Da...
3) "A Glass for Santa, Behind the Scenes": vimeo.com/2597...
4) "Storyboard to Screen | The Shivering Truth": • The Magmafying Past: S...
5) "Fancy Footwork": vimeo.com/mana...
6) My website: emilydmyers.com/
7) My Instagram: / emily__animates

[@perkygrubb]

Wow. This is fascinating and must require a LOT of patience!

[@Piervietsky]

Best puppet tutorial i've ever seen

[@emilydmyers]

Thank you!

[@YuruLa]

I’m currently a general film college student on my way to senior year. I am just now realizing my passion and love for stop motion animation, watching this video really solidifies that passion and inspires me to create. Thank you so much for allowing artists to see the process of making the stunning art you’ve created and the films you’ve helped create! Thank you for sharing and I can’t wait to see much more jaw dropping work!

[@LorenzoVolpintesta]

Excellent video. Thank you for going into detail and for showing your behind the scenes material. This will make for an great point of reference for my future projects.

[@barbaravalente7646]

I'm a stop motion enthusiast and puppet aspirant, so this video really helped me! Thank you so much for sharing your experience, this video is excellent

[@emilydmyers]

Thanks Barbara! So happy it was helpful :)

[@ivan_petroff_offroad]

From Argentina🇦🇷 I send you a big hug❤. Wonderful how you explain it and what you show in this video. I admire you. Darlings❤❤❤❤🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷💫💫💫💫💫💫❤❤❤!!!

[@0bs01337]

I want to see more of the unique/oddball/once off mechanisms like the jaw and the smile

[@emilydmyers]

Ok, I'll try to make that happen! I love making "making of" tutorials!

[@Rhoadspc]

THANK YOU!! Sharing your experience in this field here in this video was such a gift, thank you for making this I’d love to learn more from you.

[@doktorerolbey24]

Do you cover the joints with anything before pouring silicone over the armature? Would the silicone seep into the joint mechanism and stiffen it when dried?

[@artmanstudios7037]

I would like to see more of where do you get all the parts to create these puppets?

[@a_n_i_m_o_t_i_o_n_s]

Thanks for sharing, that was very interesting... I want to learn more about casting and molding silicone resin at the moment.. but I'm especially inspired by the tiny intricate moving mechanical parts on some of those puppets from Paranorman, Patrick Zhung was it.. and the soldering hip blocks I'd like to learn..

[@emilydmyers]

Glad you liked it! I have a video on casting silicone for the skin of the puppet, which you can see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3OWhZ-qa6mXp8U . And I do a ball and socket video on hips here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZKQnGxjh7yEbas . And yes, Patrick Zung is a mad genius! Good luck with your puppet making!

[@a_n_i_m_o_t_i_o_n_s]

@@emilydmyers oweee thanks Emily I will check out your links, I appreciate you sending that info.. and I'm impressed you worked at Laika.. awesome.. that would be a dream job for me..

[@emilydmyers]

@@a_n_i_m_o_t_i_o_n_s Laika was pretty magical :) -- There are a few entry level jobs there right now in Rapid Prototype if you want to check that out.

[@a_n_i_m_o_t_i_o_n_s]

@@emilydmyers I think I'd be totally deluded to think I could start working at Laika or anywhere professional at the moment when I have no actual experience or training in the industry.. I just try my best at being creative at home as an indi. learning stop motion and realising I also need to learn more the craft side too, or I'm not going to progress..

[@emilydmyers]

@@a_n_i_m_o_t_i_o_n_s I hear ya! I like your work - subscribed to your channel to see updates.

[@aaronhoart]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for your video. I have been looking for this kind of tutorial for years. It’s very hard to find resources in my place.

[@emilydmyers]

You're welcome, glad it was helpful for you!

[@markkevin7245]

Hi there, really useful informative video… I wonder have you ever got to keep any of the props puppets from the films you have done? Cheers mark

[@emilydmyers]

Yes! But only when they said I could.

[@markkevin7245]

@@emilydmyerswhere do you get Cold foam from and is it expensive? I would love to see lots of mould making from sculpts. …. Step by step … and repeat … as the more different casts and mould you do the more helpful it would be … Thanks mark Also would you ever sell one of your puppets?

[@emilydmyers]

@@markkevin7245 The cold foam is bjb TC -266. You can find it here: bjbmaterials.com/tc-266-a-b/ . Says it's $70, which isn't too bad, but also kind of a commitment. I have a silicone body casting video in the works, but no mold making yet. That will be my next big project for sure though! You'll probably have to wait like a year before I put that out though, sadly. I've got so many projects on the back burner at the moment. If you can't wait that long, you can get some information on mold making through Kathi Zung's DVD, which you can find here: www.stopmotionstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=81&zenid=6199889f373cf210e550d00a15925265

[@markkevin7245]

@@emilydmyers thanks very much … foam may be too expensive .. I’ve made a full size Incredible Hulk mould and wanted to cast a suit with structure quickly … that other site is great I’m going to get there whole downloadable package

[@cesarini7287]

Where can I learn that to make those types of faces and bodies. Any books you recommend?

[@RenWilli]

Hello, I’m interested in animating I was just wondering what books you recommend? I need help understanding the mechanics of a puppet. As well as moving objects for a set. I really admire this form of animation and would love to know what someone with your experience recommends.

[@christoferfloyd2587]

I need to take your class in puppet making

[@emenro]

Howdy! You mentioned "Cold Foam" for casting. Where could I purchase that? Does it have a specific name? I've been researching the Stop Motion Gummy Trolli commercials done by Becky Sloan. I can't figure out what the sour worm puppets are made out of. I was wondering if you might know what the worm puppets are made out of? I really want to make something out of the same material.

[@TheDepredadora]

Hi, thanks for the info, is amazing, it helps a lot! Do you have more info about the hair? Is the subject the I love the most but the one is most difficult to find.

[@emilydmyers]

Thanks Maria! Here's a playlist of a bunch of hair tutorials that aren't mine: kzbin.info/aero/PLYgtK8jqtmmxy6d3NhBkLvsGcRhljJT4s

[@emilydmyers]

There's also this one I made on making hair ribbons. It's best to use light color hair because the glue can leave a flakey grain behind: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npLWgZh6bc-iaNE

[@TheDepredadora]

@@emilydmyers thanks! 😻

[@samemerson3630]

I'm an animation major in college right now but there are no courses here to teach puppet fabrication which is something I'm super interested in. Does anyone have recommendations as to how to educate myself in puppet fabrication outside of college as well as the process of getting a job in the field?

[@emilydmyers]

KZbin is a great place to learn processes. I also recommend Adeena Grubbs KZbin channel and Patreon for more puppet tutorials. Aardman Academy and Stoopid Buddy have online animation classes. If you did an animation class at Stoopid Buddy, that connection may be able to land you an internship there on Robot Chicken.

[@samemerson3630]

@@emilydmyers That's super helpful! Thank you!

[@gabrielflores3262]

What kind of silicone did you use for your arms?

[@emilydmyers]

GI 1110

[@thebest-zs8no]

So can you help me 🙏 i need to make characters for my show but i cant .. ineed it badly i can pay for it but who can help me

[@emilydmyers]

A custom puppet starts at about $10,000.

[@thebest-zs8no]

@@emilydmyers OK that's good where is this company to talk with them

[@emilydmyers]

@@thebest-zs8no The animation studios that I've mentioned in this video don't do individual commissions. If a network (Netflix, Adult Swim, etc) has picked up a show or film you've pitched, the network would reach out to these studios to discuss production. You could inquire about commissioning work from John Wright Modelmaking, which can at times accommodate custom puppet builds for individuals: www.jwmm.co.uk/