Welcome to the little
guide to puppets and and puppetry in anime and manga. Images have been provided when
possible. If you have any information regarding sightings or images you'd like to donate, please
email sakon |
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ANIME or MANGA |
IMAGE |
| Akazukin Cha Cha Where: in the tv series Name: Elizabeth Description: Elizabeth is a cute little doll the sorcerer Seravy carries around with him constantly. She is not subtle in her opinions, which often infuriate Seravy's rival, Dorothy. Puppetry Style: Ventriloquism |
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| Angelic Layer Where: manga series Name: Angels Description: Players in the game known as Angelic Layer can create special dolls and battle with them in an arena. The player, known as a Deus, controls their puppet, known as an Angel, with their will through the use of a helmet device. Puppetry Style: similar to marionettes, but without strings |
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| Bishoujo Senshi
Sailor Moon Super S Where: special episode 2 "The Return of Haruka and Michiru, the Ghostly Puppet Show!" Name: unknown Description: A ventriloquist dummy from the Dead Moon Circus has possessed the mind and body of a man, forcing him to play puppeteer as the dummy steals energy from the audience. Puppetry Style: Ventriloquism Website: Hitoshi Doi's Sailor Moon Guide |
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| Bishoujo Senshi
Sailor Moon Super S Where: episode 128 "An Unexpected Encounter! The Night Pegasus Performs His Steps!" Name: Karakuriko Description: She is the mechanical doll Lemures (shadow monster) used by the villian, Tigers Eye. Puppetry Style: Karakuri Ningyo Website: Karikuriko-chan - Monster of Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS |
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| Bubble Gum Crisis
2040 Where: the whole TV series, most of the manga Name: Nini's weasle Description: Nini has a little weasle that she sometimes during the show and manga puts onto her right hand and talks to..it sometimes talks back *giggles* Puppetry Style: Hand Puppet Thanks to Dan! |
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| Devil May Cry Where: most parts of the game Name: Death Doll, ??? Description: One of the constant enemies you tend to fight are life sized marionettes which are possessed by evil spirits. Puppetry Style: Marionette, Magical Life Thanks to Dan! |
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| Digimon Adventures
(Digimon) Where: the Dark Masters storyarc Name: Puppetmon (Pinocchimon in Japan) Description: A villian who just wants to have a little fun, especially when it involves making others suffer! Puppetry Style: he looks like a marionette |
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| Digimon Tamers (Digimon season three) Where: throughout season three Name: Juri Description: Juri is a classmate of Takato and often emphasizes what she says with the barks and words of her puppet. Puppetry Style: Hand Puppet |
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| Dragon Ball Z Where: during the start of the manga series Description: When Gohan was a baby, Chichi had a stuffed animal that she would talk to Gohan with. She would make lots of funny noises and kiss Gohan alot while she talked with the stuffed animal and did her normal over bearing mother thing Puppetry Style: ventriloquism Thanks to Dan! |
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| El Hazard: The
Wanderers Where: in the series Name: Rune Venus Description: The princess of Roshtaria, Rune Venus is lovely and talented! Cute and fuzzy puppets are her little hobby! Puppetry Style: Hand puppets |
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| Final Fantasy VII Where: Playstation game Name: Cait Sith Description: Cait Sith appears to be a cat riding atop a large and strange monster. In reality, both the cat and the creature are puppets being controlled remotely. Puppetry Style: remote controlled puppet (exact method is unknown) |
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| Flame of Recca Where: in the tv series and manga Name: Ganbo / Female Puppet / Kondo the Fox Description: Ganbo uses a magic item to give puppets life and to control their actions and the actions of other people whom get caught in her strings. Puppetry Style: ESP Marionette and Magic Ventriloquism Thanks to Dan! |
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| Flint the Time
Detective Where: in the tv series Description: Flint goes to find a Time Altar (time shifter) during the early 1950's of London, there he passes a small puppet show ((in the background)) and waves hi to the kids playing. Puppetry Style: Marionettes and Hand Puppets Thanks to Dan! |
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| Fushigi Yuugi Where: in the tv series only Name: N/A Description: During the Star Gazing Festival, Nuriko, Tasuki, and Miaka go out to have some fun. During one scene of the episode there is a small shadow puppet play going on. Puppetry Style: Shadow Puppetry Thanks to Dan! |
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| Inu Yasha Where: Volumes 1 & 2 of the Japanese manga, Vol. 1, Parts 5-7 of the Viz comics Name: Yura of the Hair Description: Yura is a demon who uses hair like strings to control people, both living and dead. Puppetry Style: Marionette |
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| Kyuuketsuki Miyu
(Vampire Princess Miyu) Where: VHS: Volume 1, Episode 2 Name: Ranka Description: A Shinma who has made a practice of collecting beautiful people and making them her eternal dolls. She also can control or use people. Puppetry Style: similar to marionettes in look, but no strings |
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| Kyuuketsuki Miyu Where: manga "New Miyu" December 1998 issue Name: Takumi Description: A shinma in the form of a puppet is attacking young women. Please visit the following page for a detailed synopsis: Realm of Dreams Puppetry Style: more Karakuri, but references to the marionette Pinocchio |
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| Magic Knight
Rayearth Where: Volume 2, Part 2 of the Japanese manga Name: Asuka Description: As crown princess of the invading empire of Fahren, Asuka has a special attack which enables her , with the use of strings, to control anything like a marionette. She targets the Magic Knights as they fight in their Mashin. Puppetry Style: Marionette |
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| Mahou Tsukai Tai! Where: Opening credits. Name: none Description: Ayanojo and Nanaka are performing little puppets of Takeo and Sae, as Akane waves their wands to the beat of the opening theme. Puppetry Style: Rod puppets |
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| Mahou Tsukai Tai! Where: in the OAV series and the manga. Name: a teddy bear named Jeff-kun Description: While not a real puppet, Jeff-kun is pretty strange. He shows up mysteriously at odd times by himself. He is Sae's protector Puppetry Style: unknown-closest to ventriloquism Thanks to Dan! |
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| Maison Ikkoku Where: VHS: "No Strings Attached" and Volume 1, parts 6-? of the Viz comics Name: Puppet Theatre Club Description: Godai gets recruited to assist in the productions of his college puppet club. The Club President is a kind, but rather intimidating fellow. Godai lets his emotions run a little high when Kyoko joins the cast. Puppetry Style: Hand Puppets |
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| Pocket Monsters
(Pokemon) Where: American episodes #21 & #23 Name: Sabrina (Natsume) Description: Sabrina is a Pokemon trainer with psychic powers. She often speaks and does things through a small doll. Puppetry Style: Ventriloquism (ESP-style) |
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| Pocket Monsters
(Pokemon) Where: American episode #45 Name: Jesse and Meowth (Musashi and Nyasu) Description: James (Kojiro) returns home when he learns that his parents have died. Jesse and Meowth, eager to cash in on James' inheritance, gag him, control his movements, and even speak for him! (Jesse and Meowth are clothed in black, so as not to be seen by the 'audience') He discovers that his parents are alive and it was only a plot to bring him home. Puppetry Style: Bunraku |
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| Rhapsody, a magical
adventure Where: in the PSX game and the manga Name: Rhapsody Description: In the game; Rhapsody plays her trumpet and then speaks with dolls..and befriends them to help her. In the manga; Rhapsody brings dolls to life with her trumpet and then befriends some of them but a few of them run away or fight her in the manga. Puppetry Style: Magical Life, ESP Thanks to Dan! |
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| Rurouni Kenshin Where: OAV series Description: During the scene where Kenshin and Tomoe are fleeing from the city, they run through the festival crowd. At one point, they pass a puppet performance. Puppetry Style: Japanese hand puppet |
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| Saiyuki Where: episode 11. "Tragic Revenge. - The Death Laughs." Name: Chin Iso Description: the puppet is controlled by a fortune teller and attacks the hero Puppetry Style: Karakuri Thanks to Nataku and Enoki Films |
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| Sazan Eyes (3x3
Eyes) Where: manga (American release "Blood of the Sacred Demon" storyline) Description: After losing the memories of her true identity, Pai has been tracked down by her protector, Yakumo, and her enemies, who use life-size puppets to try and capture her. Puppetry Style: Karakuri |
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| Secret of Evermore Where: in the SNES video game Name: Jester Description: In SoE during the Medieval Realm story line, there is an evil jester controling the King of the realm. He turns out later to be the villan and you fight him. Once killed, his strings come undone and the King is free. Puppetry Style: Marionette, Magical Life Thanks to Dan! |
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| Tales of Phantasia Where: in the SFC (SNES) video game Name: N/A Description: When Cless, Arche, Klarth, and Mint are beamed to the future, in one of the towns there is a small troupe of clowns putting on a shadow puppet show which replaces the juggling clown sometimes during the game. Puppetry Style: Shadow Puppetry |
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| Tokyo Babylon Where: manga Description: Subaru goes to a Shadow Puppet play and is attacked by a demon. The demon was using the shadow puppets to drain people of psi energy but Subaru kills it shortly afterwards. Puppetry Style: Shadow Puppets Thanks to Dan! |
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| Urusei Yatsura Where: tv series; (american release) tape #13, epsiode #50, story #73 Description: Ataru is after his rival's sister, but the way to their fortress-like abode has many dangers. Her servants try to assist him, and at one point use a puppet to give him advice. She turns into an oni afterwards. Puppetry Style: Bunraku Thanks to Giles Poitras! |
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Clockwork Voices: Karakuri Zoushi Ayatsuri
Sakon |
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