Stop Motion Puppet Restoration Gallery
Original Movie Prop Stop Motion
Puppet Restoration and Preservation
Our work restoring original movie and television props also includes stop-motion figures and puppets.
As with all of our conservation work, our approach emphasizes maintaining the integrity of the original prop, puppet or figure. Wherever possible, we strive to preserve the original "feel" of the piece and especially any evidence of age and use in a production.
The goal is not a result that looks "brand new" (the way a replica might look) but to gently bring a piece of history back to life... to make it look "great for its age."
We constantly research new techniques and materials in order to enhance the archival qualities of the work we do and endeavor to use materials that are safe for the long term.
Wherever possible, our solutions are flexible, non-tacky when dry, non-yellowing and acid-free.
We can also achieve a range of finishes - from high gloss to completely flat/matte or anywhere in between! Whatever the client prefers, we can create.
Please visit the links in the top menu bar for more movie prop and costume restoration and display projects like these!
Click any of the below for larger images
An original David Allen stop motion figure from the film Dungeon Master. Allen's work, as usual, is impeccable and the sculpture is really a work of art. This "stone" statue is actually about 2' tall on his throne, and is seen here before restoration and then mid-way through our process.
The finished work - the damaged areas have been rebuilt and spot painted to match the surrounding faux stone skin. As always, we took care to preserve as much of the figure's original material as possible in our work, and only painted the small areas we worked on.
Restoration by Mike Thomas
Another incredible David Allen piece, this time from a film called Magic Island. The condition on arrival, as shown above, was poor, with several areas damaged and crumbling.
After restoration, the stop motion puppet displays beautifully, with the damage carefully repaired and blended.
Restoration by Mike Thomas
One of our most dramatic restorations was this original cat stop motion puppet from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. It arrived to our studio in extremely poor condition, and the client requested as close to a full restoration as possible.
Mike Thomas, the lead artist on this project, did an absolutely astonishing job. Photos show the cat during our work (center) and upon completion (right). It is a stark contrast with the initial condition, yet we've preserved all of the original material and have only spot-painted the areas which had to be recreated.
An intentionally subtle restoration of a roughly grapefruit-sized pumpkin from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. With the client, we found an appropriate level of restoration which maintained the piece's sense of age, while improving the overall look and condition