Connections Between Voice and Design in Puppetry: A Case-Study

Puppets have been entertaining, educating, and mesmerizing American audiences since the birth of our nation. Both in live theatrical events and TV/film, audiences have watched puppeteers bring their puppet characters to life with clever voice quality choices, unique characterizations, and vivid visual designs. This thesis is a case study that first borrows insight from cartoon character designers, animators, and voiceover actors to provide considerations for voice quality choices, characterizations, and design elements when creating a new puppet character. It then investigates the connections that exist between those three elements once a puppet is fully realized. In order to identify these connections, a test was developed in which participants were asked to use a set of blank puppet heads/bodies and a variety of facial features to each build a unique character and then provide their puppets with a unique character voice. The data collected from the test was then deconstructed and analyzed by comparing each included design element to specific Estill Voice Training System™ vocal attributes identified within each individual puppet character's voice to find where connections occurred. The goal of this thesis is to provide a systematic method for creating vibrant and rich original puppet characters.

Author dc:creator

• Skiles, Ryan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chicurel, Steven

• Puppet
• puppetry
• puppeteer
• design
• voice
• estill voice technique
• animation
• voice over
• character
• characterization
• Acting
• Theatre and Performance Studies

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

CFE0005714

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd-2178