Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 09:52:00 -0400
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Topo Gigio Patent


David (and everyone)Most of the discussion has been about technique and
patents
and I confess I have not read all the posts about Topo so forgive me if I am
repeating information

Topo's creator was born 1923 and I as far as I know she is still with us

For some reason Topo is especially popular in Japan

Most of the articles say there were 3 operators (Maria being one of them)
and one voice person Gieuseppe Mazzullo. His dates might be 1913-1888 but I
am not sure about that

David
are you related to Miguel Covarrubias an extremely interesting artist?
Steve

On Sun, Oct 5, 2008 at 3:01 PM, David Covarrubias (Animatronics - Mech FX) <
fxmech-AT-cammotion.net> wrote:

> Hi thanks for all of the info that you have been sending.
>
> Here is a link to topo's patent online.
>
> http://www.google.com/patents?id=0OxLAAAAEBAJ&dq=maria+perego
>
> Also here is a link to my favorite topo performance on youtube:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6agAdN8LP14&feature=related
>
> As for the eye mech.  I think it should work just fine.
> The bar that runs down the center of the eyes is just a pivot point wich
> allows the eyes to pivot on axis.
> The J-shaped component is simply the support for the eye bar.  The rest of
> the components are linkages to push and rotate the eyes up and down.
> I think it is probably a bit simplified... It looks a bit wobbly to me so I
> am pretty sure they would have made it a bit sturdier for the actual
> puppet.
>
> It looks like the lids are painted on so that looking down doubles as a
> blink.
>
> I wasn't expecting to find so much interest in Topo.  I'll post my progress
> on the topo puppet as I get to key stages.  Right now I did a rough sculpt,
> but I decided to grow the eye size a little bit so I need to machine eye
> balls from scratch.  I am using .625" ball bearings for eyes, but I need
> something a bit bigger for the sculpture.  This way I can have a tini gap
> between the real eyes and the sculpt so that when the eyes move they don't
> rub against the face.
>
> It might be a few days before I can start the actual sculpture of the head.
>
> Thanks again for all the info.
>
>
> David Covarrubias
> Animatronic Effects Designer
> fxmech-AT-cammotion.net
> www.myspace.com/fxmech
> www.cammotion.net
>
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