Tux and Glasses

As I have expressed before, it’s important to explore every design possibility when developing a new character. These are designs I did for Boots, from our puppet show Rex and Boots: Super Sleuths. Here Boots is seen as a male tuxedo cat wearing a tuxedo and as an orange tabby cat.

At one point during the design process I landed on the idea that Boots should have cat-eye glasses. Besides the obvious pun, I wanted her to appear bright-eyed, smart and eager to learn.

Don’t miss Rex and Boots: Super Sleuths at the NoHo Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 11 am and 1 pm.

Here is an excerpt of an interview I conducted with Rex and Boots puppeteers Sean Johnson and Anita Coulter.

PJ: When did you begin performing with puppets?

AC: I started giving puppet shows during recess when I was in the second grade. Professionally, I've been performing for more than 10 years. I've been interested in puppetry since I was very small. My mother used to buy me puppets for Christmas -- marionettes, usually, but I found I didn't have the patience for marionettes. Too many strings! My first hand puppet was given to me when I was 7, and it was the one I used for my recess shows. I still have it in a place of honor in my house!