Production Process
Wings change what a shoulder puppet does to a room. A spined back and a tail can read as a dinosaur from behind, but a pair of membrane wings spreading above the performer's shoulders reads as something else entirely, and that is usually what a fantasy event is buying.
This unit is finished in tan and brown with a scaled body, a spined spine and orange-red membrane wings that sit folded when walking and open when the performer turns.
The silhouette does the work
At a distance a dragon is recognised by outline: wings, spine, long neck. The wings here are broad enough to break the human shape against a background of shopfronts or trees, which is the moment most photos get taken.
On the shoulders
The shell is open along the belly and rests over the shoulders, with the neck rising forward of the performer's head. At 1.5 to 1.8 metres the head lands above the crowd, so the unit works in a busy hall where a floor-level puppet would be hidden.
Working it
Your hand goes in at the neck opening and works the head, eyes and jaw; the other hand stays on the multi-key remote. Turning the torso sweeps the wings and the tail together, which is why this unit is usually directed with the whole body rather than the wrist.
Sound
Four calls on four keys, fired from the free hand. The 12V control box and speaker sit in a pocket with the speaker facing out, so the call comes from the head rather than from behind the performer.
Where it fits
Fantasy, Halloween and costume events, where a dinosaur would be off-brief.
Mall campaigns built around a theme rather than a product.
Festival stages and photo sets, where the wings give the frame something to fill.
Park walkabouts with a handler for spacing.
Practical notes
The wings are the part that takes the most handling, so they are framed rather than skin-only; check the wing joints before a set and fold them for transport. Keep the tail clear of doorways, and charge the sound box between sets.
Questions
Do the wings flap?
They move with the performer's body and can be posed. Tell us what the act needs and we will confirm what the frame can do.
Can it be worn indoors?
Yes, but check ceiling height and door widths against the wing span before booking the site.
Can the colour be changed?
Yes. Paint and wing membrane colour are both decided at the end of the build.
Is a dinosaur version available on the same frame?
Yes, the shoulder frame is shared.
Quote
Send the venue, the ceiling height and the performer's height. Those three decide whether the wings work in the space.
Product Accessories
Packaging and Container Loading
