Marionettes are puppets controlled by strings. Strings have been used to move puppets of different styles, shapes, and levels of complexity. Though there's no telling when the first string puppet was used, in the western world, they originated from the medieval times in France, where the term "marionette" originates, and can be found in every country in the world.
Frank Oz's puppetry experience started by performing marionettes with his family. Some prominently known marionettists include Bil Baird, Albrecht Roser, and Henk Boerwinkel.
Operated marionettes
Below is a list of the use of marionettes in Henson/Muppet productions:
Time Piece
- A dancing roast chicken.
- A dancing skeleton.
The Muppets on Puppets
- Marionettes are demonstrated.
Hey Cinderella!
- Rufus runs alongside Cinderella into the garden in a wide shot.
Sesame Street
- "Song of Eight" - a boy shows 8 marionette puppets.
- "Octopus' Garden" - a marionette octopus is shown swimming in the background throughout this version of the song.
- Little Bird - flying in "Song of One," "I Whistle a Happy Tune," Episode 0396, "Do-Op Hop"
- Hoots the Owl gets into a musician duel with Wynton Marsalis, who echoes back jazz rhythms he can play. The segment concludes cutting to a marionette Hoots flying away playing his saxophone, which Wynton concedes never learning in music school. (First: Episode 2205) (YouTube)
- "Windy" - Beautiful Day Monster as the titular character flying.
- Natalie the Cow - in a Sesame Street News Flash sketch based on Hey Diddle Diddle, Natalie blasts off as the cow who jumped over the moon.
- Jack Be Nimble jumps over the candlestick, in a wide shot, during a Sesame Street News Flash sketch.
- Slimey - tap dancing in Episode 2029
- Elmo in Episode 2271 and Episode 3369
- The Snuffle-Fairy in Episode 2596
The Great Santa Claus Switch
- Several elves in wide shots.
- An unnamed flying Flackle, one of Cosmo Scam's henchmen.
The Frog Prince
- Frogs hopping during the Frogs number.
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
- Leroy full body marionette for wide shots.
- T.R. and the chickens fly around.
- Rover Joe is seen briefly as a marionette when they meet Catgut.
- Catgut dances with the rats.
- All appear as marionettes in certain shots of the travelling scenes, and again when they stake out the farm house.
The Muppets Valentine Show
- Kermit riding a bicycle during the Froggy Went A Courtin' number.
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
- Kermit rides his bicycle.
- Ducks on the river.
- Emmet and Alice Otter walk through Waterville.
- Wendell Porcupine walks to Emmet's house.
- Emmet and Wendell walk to Old Lady Possum's house.
- Emmet and his mother go down Pa's slide.
- Ice skaters.
- Shirley and Nat Muskrat dance as "Carrots the Dancing Horse"
- Emmet, Alice, Wendell, Charlie and Harvey head home from the contest.
The Muppet Show
- Near the end of the first season's opening, character arms are controlled by strings.
- Episode 208: Yolanda dancing.
- Episode 317: "Aquarela do Brasil": A Scotsman's bagpipes play on their own.
The Muppet Movie
- Kermit rides his bicycle.
The Great Muppet Caper
- "Couldn't We Ride" bicycle sequence.
- Chickens fly up the outside of the Mallory Gallery.
- Parachuting Muppets in the "Hey a Movie!" reprise.
The Dark Crystal
- The Mystics gather for the funeral of UrSu, the Master.
- General marionette assists on full-bodied puppet characters.
The Muppets Take Manhattan
- Scooter rides a bicycle during "Saying Goodbye".
Fraggle Rock
- Episode 112: The Finger of Light: Uncle Traveling Matt encounters a marionette, and is then turned into one.
- Episode 121: Gobo's Discovery: Uncle Matt's legs flail around while his face is being shaved.
- Episode 124: New Trash Heap in Town: The Flying Batworm flies around Mokey and crashes.
- Episode 224: The Invasion of the Toe Ticklers: The Purple Sproingers.
- Episode 306: Pebble Pox Blues on Die Fraggles: German postcard showing Uncle Traveling Matt riding a bike.
Labyrinth
- Sir Didymus appears in a few shots as a marionette.
- Flying bird-like goblins characters.
- Marionette assists on certain costumed characters.
- Behind the Scenes footage from Inside the Labyrinth shows some of the Fireys being performed as marionettes.
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
- Marionettes used in production.
The Christmas Toy
- A marionette of Rugby Tiger was used for the scene where he sneaks down the hall toward the stairs.
- The Sock Monkey is performed exclusively as a marionette.
Muppets on Wheels
- Kermit riding a bicycle.
Muppet Treasure Island
- Gonzo's arms and legs after he has been stretched out.
Muppets from Space
- A brief shot of the lab rats as they make their way through the air vent.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
- The shot of Kermit standing in front of the BBAD building is achieved with a marionette. Three thin wires can be seen holding Kermit up, one of which operates the movement of his head.
Marionettes existing within Muppet productions
- The Dancing Clown
- José
- Lucky the Duck
- Pinocchio
- Crummy and Yucchy
- Gumdrop the Gorilla in The Muppet Show episode 508
- A horse marionette that was played by Dizzy Gillespie
Notes
- Building string puppets is taught in the book The Muppets Make Puppets!.
Merchandise
- Big Bird Marionette by Friends Industries
- Muppet marionettes by Pelham