There is something so magical about taking an inanimate object and breathing life into it—willing something that wasn't there before into being. Puppetry has survived for thousands and thousands of years not only as a form of entertainment, but also as an outlet for interpersonal communication. This beautiful and nuanced art form is powerful enough to mesmerize children and adults alike (hey, Fraggle Rock and The Muppet Show aired in prime time, and now look at the success of Avenue Q) and, since puppets don't have human lips, they also carry the unique capability of bridging the language barriers of the world by being incredibly dubbable. Tonight, in the first offering of their second wave of the Avant Cinema experimental filmmaking program, the Austin Film Society highlights the works of two puppetry and animation whimsicologists: Jeanne Stern and Paul Tarrago. more ›