![]() As can be seen here, the central operating mechanism of these rod puppets consists of two functions: a trigger to open and close the puppet’s mouth, and a horizontal bar to move the puppet’s head and body from side to side. Bunnytown was nominated for an Outstanding Set Design Emmy Award in 2008, and is currently available via Hulu, iTunes, Amazon and Disney Movies.įoam rubber, fur fabric, push pins, wire, pipe cleaners, metal tubing, Model Magic, Delrin Bunnytown ’s variety-show combination of short skits, comedy routines, and songs allowed Spiffy Pictures to bring together a wide array of very different rod-puppet characters in the 26 episodes of the series. These sometimes require up to eight puppeteers to operate a single puppet. As can be seen in this exhibition, the foam-rubber and fake-fur Bunnytown rod puppets are constructed with complex mechanisms controlled by triggers and monofilament strings operating the puppets’ mouths and body parts. in 2007, and has since been broadcast around the world. The series began airing in Canada and the U.S. ![]() The wide range of Bunnytown characters includes a king and his court, pirates, superheroes, astronauts, inventors, farmers, cave bunnies, and dinosaurs. It is currently available on Amazon Prime and iTunes.īunnytown Spiffy Pictures’ Bunnytown, as David Rudman describes it, “is a preschool variety show disguised as an average day in the life of a kooky little place called Bunnytown.” Each of the series’ 26 episodes consists of Bunnytown ’s rod-puppet citizens singing songs (often in 70s-style rock concert settings) and performing comedy segments influenced by 1970s television variety shows, Mad Magazine, and Laurel and Hardy. Jack’s Big Music Show was nominated for a 2008 Emmy Award for Outstanding Pre-school Television Series, and an International Prix Jeunesse Award for Excellence in Children’s Television. Principle influences on the show are The Jack Benny Program from the 1930s and 40s Little Rascals comedy shorts from the same era and the iconic 1960s television appearances of The Beatles. The episodes also include a capella singing by the puppets of the Schwartzman Quartet, and musical guest stars including Angelique Kidjo, Buddy Guy, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Andrew Bird. Jack, Mary, and Mel sing and play instruments in each episode, often accompanied by other puppets. The show takes place in Jack's backyard clubhouse, and centers on the characters' passion for music. As David Rudman writes, the show “ is designed to enhance preschoolers’ appreciation and understanding of music-including tempo, rhythm, and dynamics-through interactive play, and expands their awareness of the diversity of musical instruments and styles.” The lively, colorful, and tuneful series focuses on three music-loving puppet characters: Jack, his best friend Mary (who plays accordion), and the drum-playing dog Mel. Jack's Big Music Show Jack’s Big Music Show was created in 2004 by Spiffy Pictures founders David Rudman, Adam Rudman, and Todd Hannert, and aired on Noggin and Nick Jr. Both David Rudman and Todd Hannert attended UConn in the 1980s, where they studied puppetry and worked on productions with Puppet Arts Program director Frank Ballard. This year, Spiffy Pictures’ current animated PBS production Nature Cat (2015) was nominated for the Outstanding Preschool Animated Series Emmy Award second and third seasons of the show are now in production. Spiffy Pictures has recently produced a puppet adaptation of Scooby Doo for Warner Brothers, titled Scooby-Doo! Adventures, The Mystery Map (2013). The Rudmans and their colleagues also created and produced the Emmy-nominated Bunnytown (2007) for Disney and Nick Jr.'s Curious Buddies (2005) home videos, which won a Parent’s Choice Award. Spiffy Pictures’ work includes creating and producing Jack’s Big Music Show (2005) for Nick Jr., which was nominated for Emmy and Prix Jeunesse awards. ![]() Specializing in puppetry and animation for family entertainment, the company has created, produced, written, and directed live-action and animated projects with puppets for PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, MTV, Comedy Central, Sesame Street, and Warner Brothers. Spiffy Pictures The Chicago-based television and film production company Spiffy Pictures was founded in 2003 by brothers David and Adam Rudman and their colleague Todd Hannert. ![]()
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