We had the honor of chatting with Furry Puppet Studio, a New York based puppet studio! Check it out to learn more about their work, puppets, and how Furry Puppet Studio got it’s start!
Tell us about Furry Puppet Studio?
I’m Zack Buchman. Creative Director of Furry Puppet Studio in SoHo, New York. We design and build custom puppets, creatures, and mascots for TV, advertising, and music videos. A small in-house team, plus specialists we bring in depending on the project. We often stay involved from the idea stage through the shoot.
What is the custom puppet creation process like?
It starts with loose sketches that we work on together in small groups. Then we carve a foam sculpture by hand. That is where most of the character actually takes shape. We work simultaneously on the mechanisms and the more traditional movements and then finish with fabric skins and costumes.
How did Furry Puppet studio begin?
I moved to New York at twenty with no real plan and no college behind me. I actually tried animation first, and it didn’t last long. What stuck was my obsession with puppets. I taught myself how to build them by working with people who already knew what they were doing. That turned into our custom puppet studio.
What has been the biggest success story for the puppet studio?
A few highlights that come to mind: we built the only official puppet version of Grumpy Cat. Frankie Focus, a mascot we made for New York State’s phone-free schools initiative, ended up worn by Matt Damon on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and a campaign we did with Apple’s team in Japan got extended into a second year, which is about the best compliment a client can give you.
What advice would you give new puppet designers?
Start now, with whatever is in reach. No excuses. If all you’ve got is a sock, use it. Let the first ones be as dumb and pathetic as they want to be. The stakes are low. Just keep getting stuff done. Things will eventually get to where they’re supposed to.
Do you have a personal favorite puppet?
The marionettes we built for Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams’ “WTF” video were a pretty unique experience. For once, we don’t get to make marionettes as much as I wish we would. Likeness marionettes with mechanisms, and the puppeteers were street performers that had their own style. We watched how they moved and built that into the rigging. I was pretty far out of my comfort zone and it was awesome.
Where can folks support your work?
You can see our custom puppets here: furrypuppet.com.
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