The Periwig-Maker. © Ideal Standard Film Productions320x240 | 160x120

The Periwig-Maker
Another outstanding example of puppet animation comes from German director Steffen Schäeffler. The Periwig-Maker tells the story of a man who lives in London during the time of the Plague. Though he seals himself off from the rest of the city to avoid infection, he eventually becomes involved with a young girl who has become ill. As the film's creators explain, the story contains some philosophical perspectives related to two different ways of living: "You can risk your life and live before you die -- or you can prevent yourself from risking anything and live the life of a dead person." The story is related through English-language voice-over narration provided by the accomplished British actor Kenneth Branagh.

Impressive sets and props lend a great deal to the visuals in the film. A long tracking shot opens the film, taking the viewer from an exterior that includes the water of the Thames and the London Bridge through the streets of London in which the action occurs. The entire set, which is given depth with the use of false perspective, measured 4.5 meters wide by 10 meters long. It contains eleven houses based on historical drawings, which contain hand made and fitted tiles, walls made of individual miniature bricks and other examples of detailed miniature work.

Citing the influence of legendary puppet animator Jiri Trnka, the filmmakers used a minimalist approach to puppet making, relying on body movements rather than facial changes to create expressiveness. Only the eyes and eyelids of the puppets' faces could be moved. Body movements were enabled through the use of metal armatures under polyurethane foam, silicone rubber and foam latex exteriors; wigs were hand-made of mohair. The puppets were built by Mackinnon & Saunders, in England, using a scale of 1:5, with the largest puppet measuring 36 cm. Along with animated objects, real flames are used to provide light from candles, a fireplace and other sources.

The 15-minute film was created over a six-year period at Schäeffler's Berlin studio, Ideal Standard Film, which the director founded in 1994, with sister and producer Annette Schäeffler; together, they adapted the story from Daniel Defoe's "A Journal of the Plague Year." Though this is the team's first animated film, they previously created several live-action shorts and a documentary. The Periwig-Maker has been well-received, with screenings at over sixty festivals and numerous awards since its release in late 1999.