Here’s something that’s sure to tug at your heartstrings. Lifelike celebrates the extraordinary magic of puppetry on screen, inviting you behind the scenes at ACMI from November 20.
It’s your chance to discover how some of cinema and television’s most memorable characters are brought to life. Featuring original puppets, concept art, production sketches and rarely seen behind-the-scenes material, the exhibition brings together screen worlds from Pinocchio, Anomalisa, Jurassic Park, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, the Alien series and Jim Henson’s The Muppets, alongside famous Aussie icons like Agro and Ossie Ostrich.
Explore the evolution of puppetry through the beloved story of Pinocchio, including a wooden version from the 1970s and the original Pinocchio and Geppetto puppets from Guillermo del Toro’s 2022 stop-motion film. Step into Charlie Kaufman’s wonderfully weird worlds with marionettes from Being John Malkovich, then unleash your inner puppeteer in a hands-on Muppets-inspired sing-along. And be transported to a nostalgic world of 1980s and 1990s Australian television, with puppets and screen content from Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Agro and The Ferals.
Fans of Jim Henson can also get up close to original puppets including Sesame Street’s Sherlock Hemlock, Brad and Bertha, while concept sketches and screen content from The Muppet Show, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth reveal the artistry behind these much-loved creations.
Prefer your puppetry with a side of terror? Discover the secrets of animatronics, bring an Alien Facehugger to life and enter the Nightmare Room where The Babadook, Annabelle and Chucky come to life on synchronised screens, sound and shadows.
'Lifelike' will run at ACMI from November 20, 2026 to April 18, 2027. Find out more here.
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