Dappledown Farm Series 2 TVAM 1991 Fossils, Starring Brian Cant.

This is the full episode Starring Brian Cant of 'Fossils'. This Series quickly followed the original Links Series and was the first full stand alone programme. Mabel was added along with the Duck Pond characters as Glove Puppets with Mechanical Mouths just like Stubble and Straw but styled as Birds. Marcus designed the Duck Pond Set as a Louvre Door lay down horizontally. Puppets by Hands Up Puppets. Dave Barclay played Lucky Ducky. Character separation between the Ducks was built around different styles of swimming movements and the Puppets voices were all performed by the Puppeteers except for Harry the Heron which Brian voiced live with the Puppeteer, any available, attempting to match. Mostly very well. Seeing a full Episode helps to see how the Puppets serve the programme and varied elements of it, how the varied Puppet types and configurations along with their styling as varied animals, body language and voices give the Puppet cast both character separation and variety. The Puppets made by Hands Up Puppets were improved or remade for the next and last series with most gaining glass style eyes. The absolute joy of the programme was the wonderful and generous Brian Cant. All the characters were designed to bounce off him and all had a one to one relationship with Brian, one that stood scrutiny and often carried individual scenes. Everybody learnt a lot from Brian and his philosophy of talking through the camera to a single child, making the programme just for them, gave everything sincerity.