| Giant puppet | |
|---|---|
 Chinese dragon performing at New Year celebrations, Paris, 2011 | |
| Material | Lightweight materials such as carbon fibre or bamboo |
| Present location | Worldwide |
A giant puppet is a puppet which is tall enough to be easily visible to a street crowd while being manipulated by puppeteers, on the same level. It is therefore most suitable for processions, street theatre and performance art, although some large theatrical animations can be used for the same purpose. Giant puppets are usually articulated and made from a lightweight material. Some are manipulated by puppeteers using rods, strings, stilts, other mechanisms, or a combination of these. Giant puppets have been used worldwide for street entertainment, celebrations or other purposes from ancient times, and they continue in use and in development today. Of the traditional giant rod puppets, the Chinese dragon New Year puppet is "perhaps the most recognized form of the parade puppet".[1]: 100 Of the most recent examples, Royal de Luxe of France has produced a notable set of giant string puppets.