Originally fashioned from a green ladies coat that Jim Henson found in a bin (plus a pair of ping pong balls for eyes), <strong>Kermit the Frog</strong> has gone on to be one of the world's few internationally recognized puppets -- or, rather, Muppets. He can already count seven hit films, a recording contract, a bestselling autobiography and countless TV appearances among his achievements --and he's set to appear on the big screen again next year in "Muppets Most Wanted."
Kermit the Frog —
Originally fashioned from a green ladies coat that Jim Henson found in a bin (plus a pair of ping pong balls for eyes), Kermit the Frog has gone on to be one of the world's few internationally recognized puppets -- or, rather, Muppets. He can already count seven hit films, a recording contract, a bestselling autobiography and countless TV appearances among his achievements --and he's set to appear on the big screen again next year in "Muppets Most Wanted."
courtesy Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Despite being a three foot green alien puppet, Jedi Master <strong>Yoda</strong> manages to give off a convincing impression of wisdom and deliver some of the "Star Wars" saga's most crucial lines. George Lucas drafted in legendary Jim Henson-collaborator Frank Oz to bring the elderly Jedi to life, a choice which ensured Yoda had a sense of humor to match his worldly knowledge.
Yoda —
Despite being a three foot green alien puppet, Jedi Master Yoda manages to give off a convincing impression of wisdom and deliver some of the "Star Wars" saga's most crucial lines. George Lucas drafted in legendary Jim Henson-collaborator Frank Oz to bring the elderly Jedi to life, a choice which ensured Yoda had a sense of humor to match his worldly knowledge.
courtesy Lucasfilm
When Steven Spielberg chose to create a heart-warming alien story for children, the easy option would have been to cast a cute and cuddly puppet. Instead audiences got waddling, faintly frightening <strong>E.T.</strong> But Spielberg's instincts were proven correct again, as the film went on to become the highest-grossing film ever released (at that time).
E.T. —
When Steven Spielberg chose to create a heart-warming alien story for children, the easy option would have been to cast a cute and cuddly puppet. Instead audiences got waddling, faintly frightening E.T. But Spielberg's instincts were proven correct again, as the film went on to become the highest-grossing film ever released (at that time).
Courtesy Universal Studios
Audiences loved "Gremlins" adorable mogwai <strong>Gizmo</strong> -- but the puppeteers did not. The tiny rubber puppet was prone to malfunctioning and so frustrated the crew that they added a scene in which the creature gets strapped to a dartboard and pelted with darts.
Gizmo —
Audiences loved "Gremlins" adorable mogwai Gizmo -- but the puppeteers did not. The tiny rubber puppet was prone to malfunctioning and so frustrated the crew that they added a scene in which the creature gets strapped to a dartboard and pelted with darts.
courtesy Warner Bros.
Cinema's most famous puppet -- no strings attached. Animation, rather than puppetry, brought "real boy" <strong>Pinocchio</strong> to the world -- famously in the Walt Disney classic, and later to a new generation (this time CGI) in an oddball turn in Shrek. Live-action adaptations of the classic novel by Tim Burton and Guillermo Del Toro are rumored to be in the pipeline
Pinocchio —
Cinema's most famous puppet -- no strings attached. Animation, rather than puppetry, brought "real boy" Pinocchio to the world -- famously in the Walt Disney classic, and later to a new generation (this time CGI) in an oddball turn in Shrek. Live-action adaptations of the classic novel by Tim Burton and Guillermo Del Toro are rumored to be in the pipeline
COurtesy Walt Disney Studios
Puppets can be terrifying too. Case in point: <strong>Chucky</strong>, the "Good Guy" doll possessed by the spirit of a serial killer in the movie "Child's Play." The mixture of childlike puppets and murderous violence provoked controversy -- with protesters claiming Chucky made children violent -- but the film's popularity was not damaged. It has since spawned five sequels.
Chucky —
Puppets can be terrifying too. Case in point: Chucky, the "Good Guy" doll possessed by the spirit of a serial killer in the movie "Child's Play." The mixture of childlike puppets and murderous violence provoked controversy -- with protesters claiming Chucky made children violent -- but the film's popularity was not damaged. It has since spawned five sequels.
courtesy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
When teenage babysitter Sarah is transported to Labyrinth's strange maze-world (populated by Jim Henson's puppet creations), she is helped by kind-hearted hairy beast <strong>Ludo</strong>, who sees her through the quest to recover her baby brother. The cumbersome puppet was operated by puppeteers underneath the monster suit, who could watch events unfolding on a TV screen inside Ludo's stomach.
Ludo —
When teenage babysitter Sarah is transported to Labyrinth's strange maze-world (populated by Jim Henson's puppet creations), she is helped by kind-hearted hairy beast Ludo, who sees her through the quest to recover her baby brother. The cumbersome puppet was operated by puppeteers underneath the monster suit, who could watch events unfolding on a TV screen inside Ludo's stomach.
Courtesy Columbia/Tri-Star
Not all of cinema's finest puppetry makes use of such complex animatronics. Albert LamorisseIt managed to turn a helium balloon (with a mind of its own) into the joint-protagonist of his classic short film "<strong>The Red Balloon.</strong>"
The Red Balloon —
Not all of cinema's finest puppetry makes use of such complex animatronics. Albert LamorisseIt managed to turn a helium balloon (with a mind of its own) into the joint-protagonist of his classic short film "The Red Balloon."
courtesy Films Montsouris
It's just a few seconds of cameo, but makes a big impression and turns the film on its head. Not even the cast members (who were left in the dark about what was about to take place) were expecting the titular "<strong>Alien</strong>" to burst out of John Hurt's chest. The shock of the creature's arrival disguises the fact that what we're looking at is actually a relatively simple puppet -- and a whole load of blood from a butcher's shop.
Alien —
It's just a few seconds of cameo, but makes a big impression and turns the film on its head. Not even the cast members (who were left in the dark about what was about to take place) were expecting the titular "Alien" to burst out of John Hurt's chest. The shock of the creature's arrival disguises the fact that what we're looking at is actually a relatively simple puppet -- and a whole load of blood from a butcher's shop.
courtesy Paramount HE
Even after the advent of photorealistic CGI, puppetry isn't dead -- in part thanks to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, whose clumsy marionettes in "Team America: World Police" satirized Hollywood's slick action blockbusters. But it's the film's villain -- then Korean leader <strong>Kim Jong Il</strong> -- who steals the show.
Kim Jong Il —
Even after the advent of photorealistic CGI, puppetry isn't dead -- in part thanks to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, whose clumsy marionettes in "Team America: World Police" satirized Hollywood's slick action blockbusters. But it's the film's villain -- then Korean leader Kim Jong Il -- who steals the show.
courtesy Paramount HE