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.

One of the most famous marionettists of our time is Bil Baird.

Below is a list of the use of marionettes in Henson/Muppet productions:

Contents 1 Time Piece 2 The Muppets on Puppets 3 The Muppet Musicians of Bremen 4 The Muppets Valentine Show 5 Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas 6 The Muppet Show 7 The Muppet Movie 8 The Great Muppet Caper 9 The Dark Crystal 10 The Muppets Take Manhattan 11 Fraggle Rock 12 Labyrinth 13 Tale of the Bunny Picnic 14 The Christmas Toy 15 Muppets on Wheels 16 Muppet Treasure Island 17 Muppets From Space 18 Marionettes Existing Within Muppet Productions 19 Notes 20 Merchandise 21 See also

Time Piece

• A dancing roast chicken.
• A dancing skeleton.

The Muppets on Puppets

• Marionettes are demonstrated.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Marionettes Existing Within Muppet Productions

• The Dancing Clown
• José, Grover's marionette.
• Lucky the Duck
• Pinocchio

Notes

• Building string puppets is taught in the book The Muppets Make Puppets.

Merchandise

• Big Bird Marionette

• Muppet marionettes (Pelham)

See also

• Does "Muppet" mean "Marionette and puppet"?

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