The Mechs and Animatronics Behind Fraggle Rock's Doozer Puppets!

The original Fraggle Rock premiered in 1983, and it was Jim Henson's intention that the Doozers, one of the series' hallmark (and tiny) characters, be puppeteered in much the same way as a normal hand puppet. Jim Henson's Creature Shop creative supervisor Peter Brooke and animatronics supervisor John Criswell walk Adam through the evolution of these characters' mechanics and electronics since those early days, and even let Adam operate a Doozer himself!
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Thanks for watching!

[@tested]

Watch Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock on @AppleTV +: tv.apple.com/us/show/fraggle-rock-back-to-the-rock/ More Henson-related videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/navFc5eIfdZ6mbM

[@bossgeekknight]

This is the best series Adam has ever done, I love seeing what's behind Jim Henson productions, its lifting the vale on my childhood.

[@cwilliamsphoto]

Wholeheartedly agree! I've been tuned into Tested since the very beginning, and out of everything that has been posted this video (and series) has made me say WOW out loud more times than anything. You have to admire Jim's tenacity for wanting to do something a specific way and then physically creating the ability for it to be accomplished. Hats off to anyone who has ever worked for JHCS, past present and future. The drive to innovate and keep this magic alive is something everyone needs to appreciate!

[@UnicornFairy42]

@@cwilliamsphoto Have you ever seen Jim Henson’s Animal Jam?

[@Tancread99]

Puppeteering is clearly both art and science. Really fantastic work.

[@gl15col]

One of my favorite things about anything from the Henson studio is they don't dumb things down, they talk to kids like intelligent beings. And even after all these years, they still are full of love and enthusiasm for their craft.

[@rjjoyce2951]

I'm Loving all these Henson videos recently. It's amazing to see how this all works, with Adam's great questions and obviously the massive love all these folks have for there work and Jim's work that led to it all

[@christopherdelaney6263]

I had the pleasure of seeing some of these at The Atlanta Centre For Puppetry Arts decades ago. At the time, I had no idea that they had put in a Jim Henson Installation. If you've never seen a grown man cry in joy in public, because he got to see a few puppets, you haven't seen true happiness. Right next to them was an installation of Emit Otter! One of the best days ever! If you're every in the Atlanta area, DO NOT miss out on this gem. It's easily overlooked in such a crowded city, but it's there! For you more mature folks, they used to perform shows that were for adults only and they served cocktails. Definitely one of the best places ever to take a loved one. The tour is self guided and constantly changing! I even got to see an original Skeksis and "Pigs in Space"! Thank you for sharing this with us! True fans are loving this!

[@peckenstein]

It was great how forthcoming they were with their knowledge and the internal functionality. No gatekeeping at all. That the Doozers are so small and yet so expressive is amazing, and adorable! Every one of these videos I can't help but think how pleased Jim would be with both the forward progress but also how much his original internal designs still inspire the design of the modern inner workings.

[@ericvaninwegen6384]

I will never not love Adam's enthusiasm, curiosity, and genuine love for seeing how other makers do their craft. His joy in this series has radiated from the screen!

[@blueninja115]

I just have to thank you, Adam. After many years of careful consideration, I began my academic journey in pursuit of an engineering and manufacturing degree. You and the Mythbusters crew were a massive influence and I doubt that I'd be on this track if it wasn't for you guys. You have my undying gratitude.

[@TheMerce101]

Doozers have always been my favourite Henson creation (I still have a book called "The Doozer Who Didnt" from when I was a kid - spoiler alert that's how Fraggles are created!) and I have introduced my 4yr old daughter to Fraggle Rock and she is MESMERISED! I cant wait for the new series.

[@TheMuddySea]

The Doozer Who Didn't was one of my favourite books from my childhood!

[@UnicornFairy42]

@@TheMuddySea Have you ever seen Jim Henson’s Animal Jam?

[@ReubenCornell]

At this point, this channel is just a Henson stan account... and I'm here for it.

[@davidcahan]

Adam's kid like "wows" are the real treat. Especially when I'm thinking the same thing to myself at practically the same time

[@Shatterpath]

COTTERPIN! My fave! My 52 year old heart is so happy to watch thig. I loved the fraggles so much

[@gmoney9992]

Fraggle Rock was my childhood. Such great memories!

[@Codex_of_Wisdom]

I have so much respect for the Henson Studio's philosophy of combining cutting-edge tech with traditional methods and artistry.

[@wingtipsworld5909]

i remember when fraggle rock first came out and had no idea they were still filming episodes. back then the doozers were what made the show for me as a teenager even though it was intended for children.

[@cullercoatstunneloflove4307]

I know someone who met Jim Henson, she said he was so nice and really kind! Sad loss!

[@SteveC-id6dq]

I literally laughed out loud when Adam said “hello” and that little mouth moved along. 😂

[@mattdawg83686]

After over 40 years, I now know what the inside of a Doozer Muppet looks like! I’m in absolute awe at the marvel of engineering that goes into these works of art.

[@peterweingartner4364]

I love these videos. The Jim Henson Creature Shop folks are real magic makers, and it brings such a smile to my face to see what they are doing.

[@Tenkurel]

This series is making me miss the Jim Henson Creature Shop challenge more and more. That, and Face-Off. They were both such great looks at how everything goes on behind the scenes.

[@MAYERMAKES]

specifically for the parts shown in the video, Printing with Engineering Resin is elevating the whole process, as with the right material its as strong as an injection molded part.

[@BigDadGigaCHAD]

You should do a video on how to make a simple hand puppet, everyone could make. I'd love for you to make your own Adam Savage hand puppet, so people could get an idea how to customize their puppet to resemble themselves or maybe their favorite person.

[@lekoman]

Man, this channel is so fabulous. You'd never be able to have this kind of content on commercial TV. In-depth and nerdy, not cut together to be as exciting as possible to a mainstream audience who you can't rely on to understand why it's cool without bashing them over the head with the basics. Talk about a great second act for Adam!

[@deshazo_henry]

I really enjoy these videos where Adam explores something particularly nostalgic for me! I've been fascinated by anything from Jim Henson my whole life, but especially as a kid.

[@kathyevans3251]

Thank you for more muppet stuff.Puppeteering is one of my favorite things to do. Jim Henson took it to a fantastic level.

[@vilstef6988]

The waldo in remote devices, named after the character Waldo from the story of the same name by Robert A Heinlein!

[@Jonbwriter]

Adam is like a child in a candy shop. His energy is palpable. ❤💓🖖

[@WoefulMinion]

Sometimes I gasp because he's a little rough with things when he gets excited.

[@UnicornFairy42]

@@WoefulMinion Have you ever seen Jim Henson’s Animal Jam?

[@WoefulMinion]

@@UnicornFairy42 Good point!

[@UnicornFairy42]

@@WoefulMinion Is that a yes?

[@WoefulMinion]

@@UnicornFairy42 I've only seen a short clip from the show, so I have to say, "no," unfortunately. Jim Henson always liked to stay busy, so I haven't been able to catch everything.

[@robadams1645]

I grin for the entire duration of these videos.

[@tested]

So glad! That was us that entire day.

[@purplemur]

I am so loving this series of puppeteering videos. Thank you so much for sharing, particularly to Adam for being the perfect interviewer for making of any kind.

[@spiercephotography]

I’m living vicariously through you on being able to see all this cool Henson puppeteering stuff! Love love love these videos!

[@WakoDoodle]

Of all the doozers they could of used to demonstrate with, they let him puppet Cotterpin! What an honor!

[@senseibear2436]

I must thank you on behalf of myself and everyone else who lives on Portland! We are all fraggles, and hippies until the end xx

[@SimontheTinker]

The reverence Adam has for this legacy is so relatable. It's wonderful to see. Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@taybrown1354]

Love the Fraggles, Doozers too but seeing The Country Bears in the back was just the icing on the cake for me🤣♥️

[@TheCyberGoblin]

Ways art and science interact and feed off each other is super interesting to me, so these Creature Shop videos have been facinating

[@108u9]

Plot twist: the puppets are actually alive and just syncing and playing along when the humans move their hands. Adam has been bamboozled.

[@willmfrank]

Plot twist twist: Adam was never there; that was a life-sized Adam-shaped Doozer operated from off-camera... 😉😁

[@ManadaCan]

So much of my childhood in these videos. I sing the Fraggle Rock theme to myself almost daily. Haha

[@peterzerfass4609]

Doozers were my favorite characters in the show...and they made them look so tiny. It always amazed me as a kid. I could get how they animated the Fraggles but the Doozers were somehow...magical...in how they hid the way the operators made them move so well.

[@michaelweech6432]

They were *my* favourite characters in the show, *too*.

[@UnicornFairy42]

@@michaelweech6432 Have you ever seen Jim Henson’s Animal Jam?

[@michaelweech6432]

@@UnicornFairy42 Why?

[@UnicornFairy42]

@@michaelweech6432 Just asking, because it's a Jim Henson show.

[@michaelweech6432]

@@UnicornFairy42 That’s what I thought. Anyway, in response to your question, no, never seen it (I’m not a fan of *all* Jim Henson stuff, let alone characters).

[@eleycki]

Henson was a genius. Loved his work, it made my childhood

[@joepie221]

The doozers were my favorite when my kids watched Fraggle rock. I''m not ashamed to admit that either. What a great job to have.

[@robrdavis]

Thank you for these in-depth looks behind the scenes at the Creature Shop. Jim Henson, his team and his Muppets were a big part of my childhood and spending time with my Dad.

[@NitaKerns]

These Henson Co videos are simultaneously delighting me and making me CRAZY FKN JEALOUS!! 😂

[@m.maclellan7147]

#same !

[@vilstef6988]

There is so much clever use of off the shelf tech in Jim's puppeteering!

[@kevinotoole885]

When i was a kid the doozers used to blow my mind!!!!! How did they do it?! Watching this is just amazing, even though they are beautifully crafted puppets the skill is with the creators and puppeteers! Loved this Adam, great vid.

[@tetsuoswrath]

The Doozers are the best part about Fraggle Rock. It’s cool seeing more about them.

[@doggodoggo3000]

these are some of my favorite tested videos. ones where adam goes to film industry workshops and film shoots.

[@D3moknight]

Speaking of incredible creature animatronics, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) is top 3 in my list.

[@mealex303]

i loved tge stuff the doozers built with and the fraghles ate it looked like cristal straws and always wanred to try some as a kid 😊

[@blockstacker5614]

The doozer constructions are made out of processed radishes.

[@emilythetigerneko]

All the Fraggle Rock related videos have my young heart soaring!! Such incredible machines!!

[@gilbertgranby9339]

I grew up with the Many Creations of the Jim Henson Creature Shop. I can truly appreciate seeing you explore and learn about what goes into this amazing process. Thank You So Very Much 😎

[@M_Bamboozled]

I love that Henson's Waldo mechanism has a tongue inside the 'mouth' part and it serves no purpose. A genius but never lost his sense of playfulness. Amazing guy.

[@johnburn8031]

I remember Fraggle Rock. 🙋🏻‍♂️ I used to love it as a child. 😁

[@timwinchester2366]

Growing up with these characters, and now seeing how it was done. Is so amazing! I cant believe they did all this work to make kids like me happy!💯🙌🏽🙏🏽

[@cycoholic]

The Doozers were my favorite part of the original Fraggle Rock.

[@moxbroker]

I love the never ending wonder of these videos. Jim Henson changed the world.

[@marcomartens484]

fraggle were my childhood. i love to see how it worked then and how it works now

[@Losaru]

John! I remember seeing him for the first time on Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge! Dad and I never missed an episode and I always loved seeing John. Thanks for visiting the Creature Shop and posting these videos, Adam

[@djfox5955]

My favorite show as a kid especially because I got to watch it at my grams house.

[@haydnmalyon7690]

These puppet explorations are always so charming!

[@Berm_Blaster]

Cool seeing everyone nerding out over puppets in the comment section lol. I'm not into puppets but it's awesome seeing how technical they are and how much goes into them, awesome.

[@667mumble]

I love how Adam's inner child comes out when checking out all the Jim Henson stuff

[@collettewilson3769]

I'm geeking out a little over the Country Bear heads they have in the background. Also, the Doozers continue one of the cutest little workers ever.

[@jokervynehahaha5568]

Builder learns how the builders build the other builders.

[@nightrunner823mcpro2]

It's crazy to think that we've gotten to the point where animatronics can be controlled remotely. It's still shocking to me to see how much puppeteering has advanced over the years. Being a fnaf fan you always see people talk about the older animatronics and how half of the stuff in the games can't be done irl, and yet here we are present day with remote controlled puppets and suits that when compared to ages old creations, seem like a dream due to the technology. Loving this series so far!

[@nixhixx]

"It's a delight." is exactly right

[@jackiemurray5426]

Mr. Savage, I LOVE your videos from the Muppets! I am so envious of all you got to do and play with! Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you!

[@jaye1967]

I love that the one guys apron with all the tools instantly make me think of illustrations of Geppetto in his apron from Panico story books.

[@anthonybeers]

It is amazing how much of this is made from parts that I use on RC airplanes but in a much more creative application.

[@anthonybeers]

Heck we use the same receiver.

[@SiggiGG2]

Thank you for these videos Adam, absolute treasure seeing more inside of Henson's

[@ZonicTheRobot]

I know the movie got mixed reviews but seeing the Country Bears in the background there is such a treat!

[@jimreaper666]

amazing, god bless Jim x

[@CatsT.M]

The one thing that made me adore WALDOs was a short clip from a Fraggle Rock behind the scenes show of Kathryn Mullen talking to her Doozer character with a WALDO. For some reason that small thing made me absolutely adore the devices.

[@nicolevanderpool1252]

Backstage Henson is fantastic ❤ I hope Adam got references from da bears. Those were some of my favorite builds 😊

[@blairberg1127]

Wow. You can tell that guy is a master at what he does.

[@corrinastanley125]

Really cool thanks Adam and the Tested team Tested team.

[@dancs5414]

I grew up with Henson puppeteering. Absolutely brilliant.

[@janetlaytham8991]

In reality, Jim Henson was ahead of his time with his inventions connected to puppetry/muppetry. His workshop, along with his son Brian, has kept Jim alive for future generations. I grew up with Seasame Street, transitioned to the Muppets and to the Fraggles but the characters are iconic and everyone has a favorite. Mine is Grover from SS, Fozzie Bear from the Muppets, and Red from the Fraggles.

[@RajeshJustaguy]

As a kid i was always fascinated with Doozers.. i was amazed and how they moved. Now after 30 over years I realise now that it's done by geniuses.

[@ericluba6287]

Omf Fragile rock was a big thing for me when I was a kid. I loved it. I have all the DVD's of all the old episodes.

[@Crangaso]

Loved Fraggle Rock as a kid!!

[@catatonicbug7522]

Really cool how the OG Waldo even has a tongue! You can tell a puppeteer was responsible for the creation of that device.

[@mikehunt9884]

yeah the doozers looked so alive in that show, always wondered how they could build such small and intricate puppets

[@OhHeyTrevorFlowers]

I'd love a video that goes into detail of all of the tools in the shop. Even a silent slow pan across every tool would be squee.

[@dragonspeaker2059]

So nice to learn about one of my favorite show of that time!

[@mlykke]

Love all these Fraggle Rock videos and love how open they share the details about all these characters! Great inspiration! :)

[@joncawte6150]

I love how Adam always has that 'kid in a sweetshop' look and enthusiasm to him

[@doctoribanez]

I loved that show as a kid and still sing the song at work occasionally

[@Hellseeker1]

Fraggle Rock man that takes me back.

[@DarkVoidIII]

They're getting better at making these animatronics resemble real and identifiable puppets, and they're continuing Jim Henson's dream on. Jim Henson would be proud of what they've done! The logical next step would be to have these puppets walk around entirely by remote control. Difficult? Nothing is impossible, the only limitation is the time one has on hand to make it happen! Just my 2c worth! 😊👍

[@daveogarf]

THANK YOU, Adam! Utterly Fascinating! Triggered many memories.

[@andypire6278]

I hope you have some shots if not a video of John’s tool vest/ apron!!! Talk about first order retrieval! I’m curious about the part of his apron on his shoulders and attachment.

[@SilentSooYun]

5:28 The fact that he's moving his hand in sync with his voice... :D

[@tauIrrydah]

Well this has just added delight to my day

[@jessekennedy9940]

These are so lovely.

[@tolkienfan1972]

This series at Henson is fantastic

[@tested]

One more video from that day to come!

[@muffinman4353]

Long live the magic of the one and only Jim Henson!!

[@SamKimpton]

I love that the original Henson waldo that Adam was using has a pink tongue in it.

[@kenten]

So weird... I was watching a video from the 80s about how they puppeteered the Doozers just YESTERDAY!

[@Regal99]

The Doozers were always my favorites.