Chinese Shadow Puppets Presentation modified and prepared by Alice Finch 2017 E2 Extra Art Project West Mercer Elementary Art Enrichment Program

Chinese Shadow Puppets

Shadow Puppet performance

History of Chinese Shadow Puppetry Video by Unesco https://youtu.be/8-mzqxZNp2g

Puppets are held up against a white screen Puppets are held up against a white screen. By holding them at an angle, the handles do not show up in the shadow.

Today’s Project Shadow puppets to tell a Chinese fairy tale

Step 1 - Characters What characters are in your story? What articulations are needed? Arm(s) Leg(s) Body (for animals like a dragon)

Step 2 - Scenery What features can be represented? On the sides Sky ground What is the setting of the story? Do you need more than one?

Step 3 – Who is doing what? Plan out what you need for your story Assign characters and scenery tasks for each member of your group

Step 4 – Character features Use hole punches of various sizes and scissors to make facial features and clothing features on your figure Head drawn in profile Arms, torso, legs are angled view Figure should be about 12” tall

Step 5- Articulation Notice all of the different places that a figure can be articulated Each of YOUR figures should have 2 points of articulation

Step 7 – Animal articulation Where can you add articulated features to make it walk or move?

Step 5 – Grommets Punch holes at the point of articulation Use the grommet and grommet tools to attach the 2 layers together How this is done varies depending on the manufacturer of the grommet

Step 6 – Straw handles Tape on straw handles to actuate articulated joints. If you have an arm and a leg that move, you will also need a straw attached to the body