Emperor Penguin - "Pickles to Penguins"

Emperor Penguins - Various Projects

The Emperor Penguin puppet later took us back to South Africa to film a March of the Penguins spoof—reimagined as if directed by Jerry Bruckheimer, complete with killer penguins and missile launchers. The wildest part? We shot it in the blazing 120°F heat of White Sands, with sand dunes standing in for snowy Antarctica, while the cast roasted in full parkas and snow gear.

The Emperor Penguin was originally created for a Metro Zoo commercial, where it was meant to sneak into the gorilla exhibit. During testing, the original gag had it dressed in two coconut shells as a monkey mouth and a palm frond skirt—channeling Baloo from The Jungle Book. It was hilarious… but sadly, the bit was cut in favor of a simpler "just-walking" penguin. 

Emperor Penguins - Various Projects

Penguins - Planters Peanuts & Visa commercial

One of many trips to South Africa to Film with Mark Bissons - Mad Films and Director Kevin Donovan.

The Penguins were a trip of "Firsts".

First time in Africa, first time working with real penguins , first time learning to scuba dive while puppeteering, first time being secured to the ocean floor with crane weights to counter choppy seas...

Now that I think of it, it was the very first time (and the last) I have been strapped to the ocean floor while breathing through a tube, in what turned out to be actual 'Shark Infested Waters' while dressed like a Seal with a Penguin on my hand.