Puppeteer – Kevin Williams

This episode of The Tiberius Show spotlights a true maker-at-heart: puppeteer, comic artist, writer, and storyteller Kevin L. Williams, creator of Muley the Mule. We go from first sketches inspired by Peanuts to building live-hand puppets, auditioning for the Jim Henson Company and Disney, and surviving on-stage hiccups with quick thinking and teamwork. Muley drops by to share the show’s core message—peace, joy, kindness, and a whole lot of fun—and we dig into how kids can start puppeteering, practice performance skills, and plan stories like a pro.
What you’ll learn
• How comics led Kevin to puppetry and the birth of Muley the Mule
• Live stage vs. TV puppetry: staging, retakes, and why coordination matters
• Inside complex characters like Yoda: multi-performer “puppet dance” explained
• Audition lessons from Henson/Disney and handling live show “uh-oh” moments
• Kid-friendly starter tips: voice, focus, eye line, mouth sync, and stamina drills
• Creative process: beating writer’s block, collaborating with friends, and timing a script
• Tools of the trade: from Bristol board and inks to arm-rods and live-hand builds
• Thoughtful take on AI vs. human-made art and why heart still matters
Interactive prompts
• If you’re starting puppetry: what character would you bring to life first—and why?
• What’s tougher: keeping eye focus on camera, or lip-syncing to syllables?
• For young artists: do you storyboard before you write, or write first and board later?
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