Some of cinema and television’s most memorable characters are coming to life in Melbourne, with ACMI set to open Lifelike, a new exhibition exploring the art and technology behind on-screen puppetry.
Opening on 20 November, the world-premiere exhibition will take visitors behind the scenes of films and television shows including Pinocchio, Anomalisa, Jurassic Park, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Alien, The Muppets, Agro and Ozzie Ostrich.
The ACMI-curated exhibition brings together original puppets, concept art, production sketches and behind-the-scenes material, tracing how handmade characters have been created for the screen from the 1970s through to today.
ACMI Director & CEO Seb Chan said: “We are delighted to present the ACMI-curated Lifelike exhibition this summer, which gives adventurous and inquisitive visitors the opportunity to go behind the scenes to explore and revisit how some of the most memorable on-screen characters from the 1970s to now come to life through practical FX and puppetry.”
“We know this exhibition will bring excitement, delight and occasional fright to visitors, and will help inspire the next generation of screen storytellers to imagine the possibility of world creating and handmade craft on screen.”
Among the highlights are the original Pinocchio and Geppetto puppets from Guillermo del Toro’s 2022 stop-motion film, alongside a wooden Pinocchio from the 1970s and production materials.
Fans of Charlie Kaufman can see puppets from Being John Malkovich and both protagonist puppets from Anomalisa, while a dedicated Jim Henson section features original puppets including Sherlock Hemlock, Brad and Bertha from Sesame Street.
Visitors can also get hands-on with puppetry through a Muppets-inspired sing-along experience, while props and artwork from The Muppet Show, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth explore Henson’s imaginative worlds.
Things take a darker turn in the Nightmare Room, where synchronised screens, sound, movement and shadows bring characters from The Babadook, Annabelle and Chucky into an unsettling interactive experience. Visitors can also learn about animatronics by bringing an Alien Facehugger puppet to life.
For something more nostalgic, the exhibition looks back at Australian television with puppets and screen material from Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Agro and The Ferals.
Pre-sale tickets are available to ACMI Members and Lifelike waitlist members from 25 August, with general public tickets on sale from 9am on 3 September. To book tickets visit acmi.net.au
