The Engineering Behind the Muppets

[@fuzzyscarfandmittens4772]

You also failed to mention that for Big Bird the actor can't actually see outside the costume or at least when Caroll Spinney was playing him he couldn't. They had a small TV hooked around his neck wired to the cameras so he could see where he was in respect to everything. Also his lines were often taped into the costume so he could read them.

[@OnyxLink]

Fun fact about Swedish Chef. His head and arms are played by separate actors. Usually one actor will play one arm and one arm, but in Swedish Chef's case one actor is playing both arms and the other is playing the head.

[@bobbookman739]

I always thought Big Bird was performed by a man that was over 7 feet tall.

[@Luke_DandoLuz4580]

You actually thought that?

[@Luke_DandoLuz4580]

I thought he was performed by a regular size man but on some stilts

[@carultch]

The original actor is 5'-10"

[@heloisayamaki9035]

Big bird too big❗️

[@runner4life1984]

Carol Spinney (1933-2019) was the original actor/ voice of Big Bird!

[@Mxyzptlksac]

Occasionally a second person will operate Big Birds left arm, from out of sight, if he needs to hold two or a large item. Theresa a way to get to it from behind him

[@stevenscottoddballz]

"Theresa a way"??

[@jaydenmanalo6057]

well actually, for the live hands one, you said one actor does both hands. well actually the puppeteer doing the mouth puts their other hand in one of the live hands. then, another puppeteer does the other hand. just so you know. love this video btw!

[@uninjack998]

The Ukulele Dude this is true but not always, for complex scenes, one puppeteer does the head and the other does both hands, for example frank oz did both Swedish chefs hands to enable smooth movement for the scene xxx

[@jaydenmanalo6057]

uni n jack oh ok thanks!

[@tinitunz]

There are exceptions. The Swedish Chef is one. But on average, most Live-Hand Muppets operate as Ukelele Dude said.

[@AdamAntiumtv]

You nailed it. This video is wrong in a few ways, so the fact that it's presented as fact kind of sucks. As for the objects, Jim Henson said it was simple editing. To have a character pick up or put down an object, it would be stuck to the hand in one shot, but then not in the hand in the next. It may have been magnets or velcro, but that wasn't discussed.

[@comprehendeth]

I had the same observation. Though they certainly could do it the way shown it's not common.

[@ginjaababe]

This is why I admire and respect puppeteers and voice actors so much! They work so hard to bring us joy! Voice actors and puppeteers are beautiful people! Thank you for making my childhood such a joy Jim Henson Work Shop. I salute all puppeteers and voice actors in the world!You are awesome!

[@ConcerningReality]

They are amazingly talented people 🙂

[@drew_thedrawer]

This is a very nice video, but please be aware that referring to the talented and hardworking muppet performers as “voice actors” is not a proper title. These people are ACTORS and PERFORMERS, putting every performance into their hands. They do so much more than a voice. These talented people bring characters to life, and as you already know, it’s very hard to do so. But please be aware that calling the performers “voice actors” isn’t a proper title for what these performers do.

[@ConcerningReality]

Certainly, they are very talented! Voice actor was one of the many names we referred to the puppeteers/actors/ performers in this video, as it is one of their jobs in bringing the puppets to life. I think it would be shortsighted for anyone to think theses actors aren’t amazing performers, even if we didn’t refer to them directly as that name :) here’s a link to our blog that we used as the script: shortsleeveandtieclub.com/the-engineering-behind-the-muppets/

[@writerpatrick]

Muppet performers are usually referred to as Muppeteers. Some puppets have a single operator and voice actor while some have two or more people. Gorgs for instance had someone in the puppet while another Muppeteer controlled the mouth and did the voice.

[@jeremyriley1238]

Indeed. With Big Bird, one person performs in the suit, and another does the voice acting (it's how Barney worked).

[@awsomeus101]

would you like to speak with the manger about your issue?

[@Gerald5000]

@@jeremyriley1238 Not true, a single Puppeteer has always done Big Bird at one time, except for the occassional additional right arm performer who are also puppeteers. There are no "voice actors" for Muppets. They're all Puppeteers and it's done live. Even when they sing, it's the puppeteer doing the singing. They don't bring in animated show voice actors or celebrities to do voices. Recently with the Dark Crystal series, the puppeteers were overdubbed by actors, which in uncharacteristic of Henson productions, but I suspect it was Netflix's decision to make the show more marketable by having actor names attached. Hup seems to be the only main character who got to keep his puppeteer's voice. Barney did have a voice actor whose job it was to only do the voice, I'm sure prerecorded. The suit performer would push down on a bar with his head to move the mouth.

[@weirdbeard2244]

There’s another way for Muppets to “grab” things that they showed in Secrets of the Muppets. They film the Muppet touching the object, then stop filming. They then glue the object onto the Muppet’s hand, switch camera angles, and resume filming. Afterwards, they reverse the steps.

[@SlashSpider]

It should be noted that Snuffelupagus all the weight of the puppet is held up by the performer's waist, not his back. This is why he's never had a back issue performing the character.

[@weirdbeard2244]

If so, they might have changed, because Jerry Nelson quit doing the character in the 70s due to back problems. Unrelated, but Frank Oz was offered the role of Big Bird, but had such a miserable time as the LeChoy Dragon (which Jim overdubbed) that he declined.

[@pecleveland]

Carrol Spinney is the best & original Big Bird!!!

[@ConcerningReality]

He is! So many great documentaries about him.

[@alexfreeman425]

Have you seen the documentary called i am big bird?

[@hankin6]

With the "hand" puppets, the one providing the voice usually works the mouth and one of the hands, while a second person controls the second hand; not one person controlling both hands.

[@ConcerningReality]

Yep, slight error on our part there 🙂👌🏻

[@pommorinspuppetsandprops6593]

Great video! Just one note. At 2'20'' you introduce Matt Vogel as "voice actor who plays Big Bird". So obviously he's not just the voice actor, but actor in general or simply the pupeteer who provides voice, body movement and everything else a "normal" actor does. I don't wanna be nitpicky, but I know puppeteers hate being called just "voice actor" as if this were the only thing they contribute.

[@pommorinspuppetsandprops6593]

Oops, just see that Andrew Lyon mentioned that point already four days ago.

[@ArtBoy54Productions]

0:53 actually, for hand and rod puppets mouth movements they wouldn't move the four fingers up and down, they would actually move the thumb up and down, because people dont do that" says one of Elmo's puppeteers

[@PoissonVisageStudios]

Actually almost all the time with live hand puppets, the main puppeteer performs the mouth and left hand and someone else does the right hand when it's required as well

[@hudsonruff9208]

One exception: Swedish Chef. Back when good old Jim Henson was still alive, he performed the chef's mouth and voice, while Frank Oz was the hands.

[@andyreacts]

Wonderful informative video! Thank you!

[@marcosomsen7066]

Great video about how the muppets like Kermit and Big Bird moving.

[@puppetshack4931]

Great explanations.

[@Btvstudio]

You needed to mention Carol Spinny when you talk about Big Bird, that man gave Big Bird life. Other than that, awesome job! Great voice!

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

No Carol Spinny has played Big Bird. But that is close to the name of a guy who has, though: Caroll Spinney.

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

@@HelloKittyFanMan. they know what he means

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

@@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95: You're not a mind reader. Run off and spend Christmas Eve and Day with your family now.

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

@@HelloKittyFanMan. i dont celebrate Christmas and you're right i'm not a mind reader

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

@@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95: That's sad. I'd hate to be in your shoes, not having such a wonderful holiday as this!

[@austenoliviawheeler3993]

•songs with singing characters •flags of many countries all over the globe/around the world •do/have/speak with accents [British/english, American, Texan/Texas/southern/western, Italian, Dutch, French, Russian and other languages] and say the same things people or characters say in England London and other countries around the world/all over the globe which is a reason they have/do/speak with any kind of accent within any language of any country you can look at on a world globe or map. •non-singing characters but singers singing songs in the background •the voices behind (voice actors and actresses). •segment songs/tune segments •theme songs and ending themes/closing tunes •animal and/or human characters (humans and animals) •talking vehicle, animal, food or/and object characters. •any favorite song/tune •flags of countries around the world (geography with a world tour). Nope! Not all kids’ TV shows/series/programs or Disney movies or um Disney movies with fairytales require those things, not all clips of them require them either (online videos) or VHS tapes or um… DVDs. •🇺🇸🌎🏴‍☠️🏁🏳️‍🌈🇦🇫🇦🇽🇦🇱🇦🇺🇦🇷🇦🇹🇧🇪🇧🇷🇧🇬 🇨🇦🇹🇩🇨🇱🇨🇳🇨🇴🇨🇮🇨🇷🇨🇰🇩🇰🇨🇿🇪🇬🇫🇮🇫🇷🇩🇪🇬🇷🇬🇳🇭🇺🇮🇸🇮🇳🇮🇩🇳🇱🇮🇪🇮🇱🇮🇹🇯🇲🇯🇵🇱🇹🇱🇺 🇷🇺🇵🇪🇸🇬🇰🇷🇪🇸🇿🇦🇸🇭🇨🇭🇸🇪🇹🇭🇹🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇾🇪🇧🇯🇧🇩 •🧸🦴🪁🪀🚂♥️♠️♣️♦️👾🎮🕹🏀🏈⚽️⚾️🏐🎱🎾⛳️🎰🧩🀄️♟🎴👩🏻‍💻🧑🏼‍💻👨🏻‍💻 •📕📗📘📙📖📚📓📒📔📝✏️✍️🖊🖋🔏✒️ •🎭🎨🥋🖌🖼🚛🤖👩🏻‍🎨🧑🏻‍🎨👨🏻‍🎨🖍 •🎶🎼🎵🎤🎧🎸🥁🎹🎻🎺 •📺 •🍿🎥🎞🎬📀💿📽📼🎦 •🏗🏚🏘🏡🏠🏭🏢🏬🏣🏤🏥🏦🏨🏪🏫🏩💒🏛⛪️🕌🕍🛕🕋⛩🛤🛣🗾🎑🏞🌅🌄🌠🎇🎆🌇🌆🏙🌃🌌🌉🌁 •⌚️📱💻⌨️🖥🖨🖱🖲📷📸📸🔌🔋🪫🔌💡🔦🕯⏱🧭📡⏲⏰🔭🔬📿🏺⚱️

[@JAbell1966]

You talk of Muppets but only really discuss the Sesame Street variety. There are a lot of other types of Muppets, some characters switch between types for certain purposes. There have been marionettes (the bicycle scene in the Muppet movie). There are costume characters that have the eyes, mouth and voice performed by a second puppeteer with a radio control rig (the Gorgs from Fraggle Rock). There are rod puppets (the traditional kind, rod puppets as referred to in the script you used are more properly known as rod-arm puppets), puppets like Rizzo the Rat and Pepe the Prawn or Fraggle Rock's Doozers fall into this category which are, essentially, puppets on a stick with triggers to operate the eyes and mouth. There are other simpler rod puppets like butterfly shapes on top of a long rod that flutter as the rod is bounced up and down or worms with a rod at each end to make them crawl like Oscar's pet, Slimey. Speaking of Oscar there is a clip in the video showing a costume puppet named Bruno which was built specifically to carry around Oscar in his trash can, it even has a special mechanic to allow the puppeteer to operate Bruno's mouth while both hands were busy with Oscar (not that Bruno ever really said much...). There are radio controlled puppets like Emmett Otter in the row boat scene. Then you have characters like Link Hogthrob and Dr. Teeth which switch between rod- and human-arm depending on the needs of a scene. There is a costume version of Piggy used for a roller skating scene in one of the original Muppet movies. Then there are the various "inanimate" object Muppets that are rigged to be puppeteered in many different ways. There is something else about the Muppet performers that sets them apart from being just puppeteers, they are all master improvisors. They don't have to just be the characters on-screen and scripted, they have to be able to give interviews in-character, they have to be able to converse - in-character - with a child that may be visiting the set any particular day. Anyone working for Sesame Workshop, Disney or the Henson company as one of these characters is at the top of their profession. It's not just about being a great puppeteer, a great actor or having a great character or the perfect voice, it's about being able to do all of these things at once and to be able to do it at the drop of a hat with no script and no idea where a conversation might lead.

[@groovvy_grim]

i’m pretty sure this video only talked about the muppets from sesame street bc this is based ripped from the WIRED video where sesame street puppeteers talk about how the puppets work. that video was released a few days before this one and that video has more accurate info too. edit: spelling

[@danielsolomon3794]

Hand and glove usually has one actor doing the mouth and the left hand. Then you have the second actor do the right hand (called the right hander)

[@supercyberfunk]

I could never be in the back of Snuffleupagus. My back would eventually give, being bent over like that constantly.

[@Dairobo10]

and smell farts

[@cash_burner]

Nice editing

[@The_Mimewar]

Bobo and Sweetums are the best haha

[@jeopardy60611]

I met Carroll Spinney, previous performer of Big Bird & Oscar, at a comic convention in 2010, and I read his book, so I had an idea as to how Big Bird works. The thing about Snuffelupagus made me think of another Sesame Street clip. This is an animated thing that shows how a puppet horse works with two people inside it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2iyeYikma12gsk

[@dorkultra]

this video is expanded explanation of the Wired video where the voice actors explain how they work the puppets

[@nopenever2668]

Elmo:relly Me:*clock tik* Tony:time is important and i am a clock

[@galvinmelinda2536]

This is a great video but i think the 1 guy in the snuffaluffagus costume that's standing horizontal... he NEEDS a WALKER!!!!!!!! So he doesn't get hurt!

[@aryensessoltani9122]

Thanks you verry much the puppet art is my life

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Wow, this is impressive! I am Big Bird talks a lot about this at least with him and Oscar. Another one I'd like you to see if you can show us the works of is Woof Woof/Barkley!

[@lillieanag6394]

I’m a muppet fan “GIRL”. I LOVE The Muppets.

[@Adventureisouthere0930]

Lillieana G same

[@RainbowGalaxyMatt777]

Me too and same things

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Why the quotes? You're not really female, so it's just a figure of speech, or...?

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

Me too

[@giggles7179]

It might also be worthwhile to mention that both Matt Vogel and Caroll Spinney wear a "bra" with a tiny television monitor around their chests. The only image they see is the feed from the main camera capturing the shot; everything they do has to be done virtually backwards while interacting with others in the shot and possible obstructions in their path. By no small miracle, Caroll Spinney could - and often did in the 70's and 80's - ROLLERSKATE in the Big Bird costume and a stunt person in the suit managed to jump from a flatbed truck onto the hood of a VW Beetle in "Follow That Bird." Now THAT's talent...and just a touch of necessary insanity.

[@judibickford5306]

Wow! That was interesting!

[@ConcerningReality]

Glad you enjoyed🙂

[@GameBoy-ks9dy]

"He had his hands full trying to bring him to life." That's probably what Jesus felt like

[@TheBlastSFX]

How does Kermit's mouth "expressions" works? Like when he "deforms" his head to look preoccupied or happy?

[@toxicstarbot6701]

The puppeteer moves their hand to scrunch his face.

[@nicholaswhitman1757]

This is informative thank you

[@ConcerningReality]

You’re welcome! That’s what I try to do 😉

[@lapislazarus8899]

Rest in peace Carroll Spinney ❤️

[@yankeedoodle7365]

My real wonder is how say how sweetums works? Like you can see clearly both hands and talking but one sometimes goes still or under his cloths, but the blinking and then speaking and eye movement, it's alot of stuff

[@Yourlocaltankgirl8375]

How does Beaker work? Two independent hands and a moving head that can hide in the suit. Two people?

[@brodylawless9061]

And all this was made by one person, Jim Henson

[@writerpatrick]

It wasn't made by one person, it was effectively started by one person. However, Frank Oz was with Jim Henson from the beginning and you can't overlook his contributions. It's sort of like Roy and Walt Disney.

[@RadicalCaveman]

Much better than Roy and Walt Disney.

[@outlanderfrog]

If we're being nitpicky, Frank wasn't even the first with Jim. Jim's future wife Jane was. Also Jim didn't make any of the Muppets by the time Sesame Street rolled around. He had a talented team led by Don Sahlin. That point being, Jim was a visionary, but partially because he knew how to put together a good team!

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

@@outlanderfrog you're right but Frank gets more credit

[@davidabbott8967]

2:00 The main actor does the mouth and one hand while another just does one hand

[@ConcerningReality]

Yeah, got this slightly off when I wrote it😊

[@carultch]

The secondary actor uses the other hand to pick up props and and hand them to the puppet, while the camera focuses on another character.

[@KTChamberlain]

Could you show us the engineering behind how they got the Muppets to ride bikes like in The Muppet Movie (1979) and The Great Muppet Caper (1981)? Even when I read Brian Jay Jones's biography of Jim Henson, I still have a hard time visualizing how they pulled off that effect.

[@ConcerningReality]

Hey KT! I don't plan on making a sole video on this topic, but I found this really interesting piece on just how they did it on Fandom here: muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bicycles I hope this helps! :)

[@KTChamberlain]

Thanks.

[@smokinthebooze]

Anyone have an idea of how Thog would be operated?

[@JooYoungChoi]

That isn't how cookie monster is operated. One person controls the head and one arm and another person controls the other arm. Not one person conrolling arms and the other one controlling the head.

[@MikePhantom]

funny that the VA and puppeteer of big bird is matt vogel. VOGEL is german for bird. essentially a BIRD is acting AS BIG BIRD XD

[@Cosmic-Crow]

This video is incredibly surface-level. It's things I could find in two minutes on the Wikipedia page. I know it's a five minute youtube video, but this is the same info in every other video about the Muppets/Sesame Street. Live puppets don't usually have one actor doing both hands (imagine how they'd have to sit). They usually have the main puppeteer on mouth and right hand, and the other left-handing. I'm not sure why you used cookie monster for the magnet/velcro demo; he doesn't need them because, as you state next, he has live hands. Matt Vogel is not a "voice actor." He is an actor, and it isn't even him all the time! Carol Spinney has been Big Bird since the beginning, and (when Vogel started) they would dub over Vogel's lines. Big Bird isn't always only operated by one person. When he has to use both hands (or it's chromakeyed ie green screen) they have a left-hander for Vogel/Spinney.

[@frazzle5126]

I never knew ANY of this!

[@ConcerningReality]

Glad we could teach you something! 😃

[@adny02]

ok. There were moments where characters are shown full body while performing on the Muppet Show's stage. Like Miss Piggy. Obviously the puppeteer's arm is hidden in her body, but when the camera is showing her from head to toe (well, bottom of the dress), and the stage is also in view, I sometimes think, "wow, that has to be a long arm controlling her!" Because she's not wide enough to fit some of the puppeteer's upper body under her dress. Here's an example of what I'm talking about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWrEg36JqtdrnpY How do they do it??

[@marxfan2008]

cool

[@writerpatrick]

Some of those shots look like x-rays of Muppets. There are a number of making of videos for various Muppet projects that show a lot about how the Muppets are performed. Unfortunately, it's not the same performers anymore. Just about all the original Muppeteers have either died or retired, and after Disney got them they don't even have the same people in charge.

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

Dave goelz is the only one of the orginal cast still alive and still performing Gonzo, Zoot, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, etc.

[@dwayneandray3078]

Jim has been farting in snuffys costume lmao I know they’ve been clowning about that

[@fozziebear5813]

1:35 hi Kermit

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Huh, I thought Caroll Spinney was still operating Big Bird in 2017, and had only retired in 2018 after his 50th season (49 years' worth of time, but that the important mark for him was 50 seasons). How have you made no mention of Carroll?

[@Gabriel_Micah]

Vogel means bird

[@ConcerningReality]

It does!

[@haifisch0134]

Matt Vogel was destined to play big bird. I mean vogel means bird in dutch 😂

[@ConcerningReality]

That’s fantastic!😂

[@latoyajackson5476]

No its in german

[@haifisch0134]

Latoya Jackson In both languages vogel means bird. I'm from the Netherlands we use vogel and so do German people. The languages do look similar.

[@mashaborst1616]

Ik zocht naar deze comment 😂

[@sportscity823]

Narrator : most of them have hands in there butt Me : what????????

[@melbo9477]

What about glove puppets?

[@Dairobo10]

2:20 hes not the voice actor caroll spinney is he passed away at 85

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Matt replaced him, but I'm confused about the timing, because this was posted in 2017, before Caroll actually retired in 2018 after his 50th season (49 years; I wish he would have waited until after the 50th _anniversary year, but at least he got 50 seasons in).

[@Dairobo10]

@@HelloKittyFanMan. sorry.....for the typo

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Hehe, @@Dairobo10, no need to apologize; you didn't offend me. But it's cool that you fixed it! (The punctuation could be added, and Caroll's c capitalized, too.) (I've deleted that part of my reply, though, because now it doesn't apply.) Have a nice day. :-)

[@Dairobo10]

@@HelloKittyFanMan. :D

[@howdoinamemychannel6767]

Who is your favourite muppet?

[@ConcerningReality]

Probably Beaker 😊

[@Eric_s_Channel]

and you haven't talked about how they could see in those full body puppet!!!

[@LawatheMEid]

satisfying

[@justplainbill100]

Elmo the most famous....? Oh no my friend. That would be Kermit the Frog being the most famous of all time.

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

Of Sesame Street

[@dionkelly8420]

What exactly is PVC?

[@pompasduris]

Google it.

[@liamdonohoe5432]

Actually Caroll Spinney is the actor who controls Big Bird, not Matt Vogel!

[@ConcerningReality]

Caroll Spinney is the original, yes! Matt Vogel is now the apprentice who plays him the most😊

[@olizeth]

I have a question how they work or bring to life Alice snuffy’s little sister (I don’t know if Alice is snuffy’s little sister or daughter)

[@berivers5141]

You didn't mention the video monitors all the actors have to learn to look at while operating the Muppets.

[@ConcerningReality]

Yes, they have to learn how to work all these puppets while also watching monitors all over the place! It’s impressive.

[@berivers5141]

Concerning Reality , Inside Big bird there is even a monitor in there.

[@Liofa73]

Kermit is way more famous than Elmo... Especially for kids that didn't grow up with Sesame Street.

[@benmellors1622]

Isn't Kermit also a hand and rod puppet

[@vassa1972]

What about the guy in the back of the elephant doesn't get back problems?

[@liamdonohoe5432]

Oh!

[@fintamariaanna5858]

Aaaand... here I am, unable to walk and eat at the same time.

[@austenoliviawheeler3993]

Things that younger children’s things/shows/series/programs need

[@austenoliviawheeler3993]

•theme songs, ending themes, segment songs, play-along segments, characters and “& friends” for children/kids/little/younger ones.

[@austenoliviawheeler3993]

-Kids’ shows/programs/series/things on the front like Barney, blue’s clues, bob the builder, the wiggles and others -older kids’ shows/series/programs/things with real live people for older people/ones/kids on the back such as how it’s made, the weather channel, rescue 9-1-1 and others.

[@austenoliviawheeler3993]

-Older on the back -younger on the front For kids, for preteens, for teenagers/teens, for adults, for grownups and/or for the whole family.

[@austenoliviawheeler3993]

That’s what makes them younger or/and older children’s shows/movies/programs/series

[@chrisppx]

Bruh, you know they real fam

[@tavien-1]

This haunts me

[@rubypets6604]

Who is a youn puppeteer

[@happiecookie]

How about the muppet thog he is taller than big bird I believe

[@russell5078084]

You know they never did tell us how to get to seasame street.

[@Bodyknock]

Uber

[@RadicalCaveman]

"Address not found."

[@kwv4865]

Because there is no seasame street?

[@ren3462]

where are the captions?? 🤕

[@skvwalker]

I’m no expert puppeteer but…I would believe you guys take…is was a better way to control the puppet but I know that the VA also has a hand in one of the puppets sleeves and they did it for years so…WHO TF AM I 💀🖐🏾

[@the_every-thing_guy]

Carol spinney is big bird not matt

[@Scripture-Man]

Sure, whenever I think about going on a romantic date, I always think: which Muppet movie shall we watch? LOL

[@melissawilson5539]

I thought they would be walking on stilts for big bird.

[@moss480]

I can't believe the name of the puppeteer of big bird is Matt VOGEL!... "Vogel" is german and means "Bird" 😂😂

[@ConcerningReality]

That’s super cool!

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

😂😂😂

[@DuniaRakaman]

Isn't thog the biggest and tallest muppet?

[@GilEyal]

Are the people at sesame please real

[@ConcerningReality]

What do you mean? There are incredible voice and puppetteer actors behind the muppets 🙂

[@chloemr.pippinsfanmail95]

Yes

[@luisfelipenascimento4579]

Garibaldo

[@Trey927]

I wonder if it ever gets hot 🥵 inside the puppet costume

[@QueenM187]

Rude! Carroll hasn't quit yet, you can still include Matt, who yes..is NOW mostly doing all the physical work, but Carroll isn't done yet, so don't leave him out!

[@ConcerningReality]

Certainly not giving any shame to carrol, he just wasn’t in the video. You can see other comments for my thoughts on the subject 🙂

[@personbro1347]

Btw fyi you have used most of your info from another video! I am not naming any videos but plz dont use scripts from other videos its kinda like tracing

[@ConcerningReality]

Hi Cremi. The script from this is a blog we wrote on the topic. The information was compiled from many other sources about how muppets work, their type, and their puppeteers. There are similar videos on this topic, yes, as there are with many videos. Thanks for watching.

[@personbro1347]

why thank you for answering back! but it concerned me as most of it is word for word by wired!

[@swf4841]

I wouldn’t call muppets that have arm rods, rod puppets.

[@ConcerningReality]

That’s their name! 🙂

[@swf4841]

Concerning Reality A rod puppet is a puppet exclusively operated by rods. They are actually ancient. Muppets with rods on their arms are hand puppets with rods controlling their arms. Look up, Rod Puppets. You will see that your terminology wrong. Would you call big bird a marionette because there is string controlling one of his arms?

[@swf4841]

Concerning Reality . No. A rod puppet is a puppet controlled exclusively by rods. A rod puppet is a completely different thing. Your terminology is off. Would you call Big Bird a marionette because one of his arms is controlled by a string? They are hand puppets with rod arms.

[@ConcerningReality]

This isn’t my terminology, it’s how the muppet creators refer to them 🙂

[@LeighRoach7174]

How does cookie monster eat the cookies

[@ironcarnage1019]

geese talk about a dream crusher no offense

[@Mike_Mast3r]

You know you should give credit to the video your video is based on. Your not slick

[@ConcerningReality]

What?

[@Mike_Mast3r]

After this I saw a video made before this that is the same but the video had the actual actors/puppiters

[@Mike_Mast3r]

@@ConcerningReality WIRED is the channel name

[@PKrawzakProductions]

A lot of this information is either misleading, misinformed, or just incorrect.

[@ConcerningReality]

Hi PKProductions. That’s a bold claim to blindly make. Could you please elaborate? We’ve done extensive research on this topic and responded to similar comments on this video. Have a good one! 🙂✌🏻

[@PKrawzakProductions]

It doesn't seem like the intention here was to misinform, and maybe these were reasonable conclusions based on what information was available to you, but I know firsthand these details are off. A lot of these have already been covered by others, but since you asked nicely. -misleading: the examples of rod puppets and live hand puppets were a photo of a toy and a non-puppet full body photo figure, respectively. (I admit this is kind of a nitpick but it detracts from the clarity that could have come from such a visual aid) -misleading: (related to above) arm rods are usually performed from below, which would be evident if a photo of a rod puppet had been used. -incorrect: the control-nub inside Elmo's head is just the structure that the eyeballs are attached to. It wasn't intended to be used as a control, one of the puppeteers figured out you can use it for extra expression. -misleading: live hand puppets like Cookie Monster don't need any tricks to pick up props their hands are gloves. -misinformed: I don't doubt that magnets may be used in some situations, but most of the time if a rod hand Muppet needs to hold something, that prop is physically attached to that hand somehow. Stitching, wires, pins, however it needs to be done. They swap out the whole arm for the one with the hand holding the prop. From a production standpoint this makes more sense than permanent-but-also-removable attachments like magnets or velcro. And in fact, velcro is not particularly useful when surrounded by and clogged with fur or the fleece Muppet skin is made out of. -incorrect: depending on what the live hand character needs to be able to do, one puppeteer may do both hands, but generally, a live hand puppet's head and left arm are performed by one person, and the right hand by a second. These are reversed if the main performer is left handed. -misleading: Matt Vogel is a puppeteer not a voice actor. -incorrect: big bird's arm wire isn't so much a mechanism as it is just a pulley. It isn't anything like a bicycle brake cable mechanism and that comparison is at best really confusing. -misinformed: I'm blanking on examples right now but calling Snuffy the most difficult to perform or most technically sophisticated Muppet is definitely wrong. Not simple by a long shot, but "most highly engineered" is definitely an exaggeration. -misleading or misinformed: the performers bring life to the inanimate objects. The engineering makes the inanimate objects possible. Sources: I've been a puppeteer for like 8 years, and have been building puppets for longer than that. I've worked with people who know how these puppets were built, I've worked with people who have handled and performed these characters and they were all happy to share what they know when I asked.

[@cowiekmaupa1276]

Can you tell how Swedish Chef was working?

[@ConcerningReality]

Swedish chef is more unique in that there’s an actor that is his actual hands. So there’s one actor that does his hands and another that controls his mouth and voice simultaneously. This was originally done by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. 😊

[@cowiekmaupa1276]

Concerning Reality Thanks!

[@toddwilliams4033]

Bear Nik cups b drum set 27

[@brianbrown7982]

the use of a stuffed animal Elmo and not an actual elmo puppet for the illustration around 1:00 isnt helpful.

[@ConcerningReality]

Why would that make any difference? We have to find copyright free images to use, of which, we couldn’t find any of Elmo.

[@brianbrown7982]

well, I think it's pretty obvious why it matters since the Elmo puppet doesn't have legs. And you're depicting and trying to illustrate a puppet and not a stuffed animal. I'm sorry you have to use copyright free images.

[@ConcerningReality]

Elmo is seen with legs in many episodes.

[@brianbrown7982]

Concerning Reality yes but not when he’s being used as a hand puppet. I don’t understand why you’re arguing with such a simple and obvious critique.

[@marcsworldofplushies1987]

But Sam the eagle move his eyes and he a hand and rod puppet

[@ConcerningReality]

There’s some variations in designs :) he likely has a small mechanism attached to the hand that allows for eye movements.

[@marcsworldofplushies1987]

OH

[@pommorinspuppetsandprops6593]

Sam is a live hand puppet like Fozzy or Ernie, not a hand and rod puppet.

[@marcsworldofplushies1987]

Tim Pommorin oh sorry

[@rooter1191]

Carrol spinney?

[@matthewhudson7883]

Seems he and Matt are both currently performing as Big Bird. I'm going to assume Matt will fully take over for Caroll once he retires. He will be turning 85 this year and we can't expect him to continue being Big Bird forever. I'm just happy we had him for as long as we did. I believe we lost Jim Henson well before his time. : (

[@southwales7996]

The big bird is not true

[@ConcerningReality]

What do you mean?

[@AndrewSmith-zz3ex]

Abby Cadabby