How NOT to make puppets like in The Lion King
People keep popping up my website using this search term, "how to make puppets like the lion king" - I’m guessing people see the show and become so entranced by the puppets in it, they want to make their own. Which is fair enough; I’ve seen the show on three different occassions, and every time fall in love with the beautiful masks, costumes and puppets.
On the one hand, I am compelled to write a long post explaining how to make puppets like those in The Lion King. They are certainly worthy of some sort of explanation, especially as the puppets can be quite complicated (Scar’s mask, the stampede of bison, all of the costume puppets), and naturally people would want to be able to make puppets in a similar vein.
However, this production would surely be copyrighted, and any designs would be heavily guarded by Disney (the producing company); and quite rightly. The cast and crew spent years developing designs, working out the kinks, making sure the puppets fit not only the story, but also the choreography, and the many challenges that face a touring performance of that scale.
So I’m not going to give you directions of how to make puppets like The Lion King. These puppets are unlike The Muppets: Jim Henson created the technique of the muppet-type and it can be used to create a variety of characters and designs without particularly infringing on copyright (unless of course, you’re making outright replicas of Miss Piggy, etc. There’s a whole ‘nother article here on that); but the puppets in The Lion King are based on a variety of puppet making techniques, and its designs are unique to the show. I therefore feel that any instructions on how to make puppets like those in The Lion King would be infringing on copyright. In fact, if you tried to replicate them at all, it may be considered infringement of copyright, and any puppets you make should be in the same style of those puppets, but not exactly the same. You might want to also read this post from Andrew at PuppetVision, who also rails against replicas. I don’t recommend approaching anyone to make you a replica, nor do I endorse replicas of any sort.
I will state this though: many of the puppets are simple costume puppets, with fibreglass materials used to make some of the body parts, which then attach to the performer’s costume (ie. the cheetah) and are controlled by rods and strings. This is a commonly used technique for Indian marionettes. Other puppets are on rods, with very simple rod mechanisms (ie. Zazu), which is a complex form of cable-controlled puppetry; and animatronics. And others are shadow puppets.
So you see, the puppet designs are easily found elsewhere, and can be easily researched and learned about. However the variety of puppet techniques in the performance are probably too complicated to replicate by a novice puppet maker. If you are keen on learning something about these puppets, and making something similar, then you should:
- Visit the Disney website, and check out their information and materials. They often have behind-the-scenes videos which you can view, and would provide much closer details of the puppets than normal show photography. If you are particularly keen, you could see if Disney offers work experience/internship, or are currently hiring for puppet makers and performers.
- You should buy yourself a copy of these books, which include designs, information, and explanations of Julie Taymor’s (the director) ideas for the puppets, as well as excellent photographs and other behind-the-scenes information.
LION KING, THE: PRIDE ROCK ON BROADWAY by Julie Taymor
Disney Presents the Lion King: With Photographs from the Broadway Musical, Winner of the 1998 Tony Award (Disneys) by Michael Curry, Julie Taymor
You should also think about why you are trying to make puppets like those in this production. Yes, the designs are fantastic, they are beautiful, and they look professionally made. Of course they are great: a whole bunch of people got paid to work on them full-time. But do you really want to be making a puppet that someone else created, simply because it looks good? These puppets have been made specifically to suit certain needs of the production. I doubt you have a thousand-seat venue to fill; or the budget to use fibreglass; or the need to make a huge giraffe. Furthermore, if you’re only wanting one as a souvenir, as a dustcollector: do yourself a favour and buy some official merchandise. Not only do you support those people who made the puppets (believe it or not, but puppet makers are not rich), but you also have a great souvenir. And if you insist on building something, instead of copying these puppets, why not use your imagination, and create something completely unique to you and your needs. Take the risk - trust me, it’s worth it.
…This post AKA puppet types in the lion king
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