Role: Puppet Fabricator & Production Designer
Techniques: Needle Felting, Wire Armature Building, Sculpting, Costume Crafting
The Fox is a stop motion short film created at ASU, centered around a handcrafted aesthetic and tactile storytelling. I designed and built all of the puppets used in the film, with a focus on needle felting to create expressive, textured characters that read beautifully on camera.
✦ My Contributions:
Needle-Felted Puppets: Sculpted each puppet’s body and features using wool roving and felting needles to create detailed, durable textures
Armature Construction: Built flexible wire armatures to allow for dynamic posing during animation
Handcrafted Costuming: Designed and assembled miniature outfits, using natural fibers and fabric scraps to match the film’s organic visual style
Durability & Repairs: Maintained puppet structure and appearance throughout filming, making on-set repairs as needed
Visual Cohesion: Ensured that all characters matched the film’s tone and design language, from scale and color palette to materials and proportions
📝 Character Design
Created visual development sketches to establish personality, posture, and movement potential
Referenced animal anatomy to inform proportions and emotional expression
Selected color palettes and materials that would translate well under stop motion lighting
🛠 Armature Building
Constructed internal skeletons using wire, epoxy putty, and foam padding
Ensured each armature was flexible but stable, able to hold poses without shifting mid-shot
Added magnetic or weighted feet (depending on set) for stability on miniature surfaces
✨ Needle Felting Process and Costume Crafting & Accessories
Layered wool over padded foam to build form, expression, and fur texture
Used felting needles to sculpt facial features, tails, and fine details like paws and ears
Blended roving colors for shading and natural texture variation
Designed and hand-stitched miniature clothing and fabric elements
Incorporated mixed media—like twine, buttons, and scrap fabric—for a handmade feel
Ensured all accessories were lightweight and moveable for frame-by-frame adjustments
Testing & Adjustments
Performed motion tests to check flexibility and range of expression
Adjusted joints, padding, and exterior felting for smoother animation and continuity
Finalized characters based on how they photographed under controlled set lighting