Puppet Pyramid

In this photo from the second to last day of principal photography for Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe, puppet captains/puppeteers, Sean and Patrick Johnson; puppeteer, Russ Walko; and script supervisor/editor Erik Klassen keep Brave Little Francis, Whoop and Thrill Kat balanced precariously atop Stunt Pig.

That's a Wrap

After months of tireless work and long hours, principal photograpy of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe has wrapped. These photos are from the last day of shooting.

Messy (Smelly) Work

Puppeteering on Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe can be messy and smelly work. In this puppet captain/puppeteer Patrick Johnson performs Thrill Kat as he is hit in the head with a can of soup. Because the show is shot green screen prop masters and production designers, Brandon Minton and Lisa Coto chose to use nacho cheese soup for it's color. The soup also had a very strong odor, and very quickly the small production stage filled with the smell of nacho cheese.

Smithereen Logo

Just about every prop, set, or costume for Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe is adorned with the Team Smithereen logo. Puppet captain/puppeteer/director Patrick Johnson designed the team's logo with input from director/show creator Dan Clark.

Puppet Swim

On the set of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe director/puppet captain/puppeteer Patrick Johnson makes Thrill Kat swim in the pool.

Team Logo

Most of the special props and gear used by the stunt puppet stars of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark, Wildbrain, and Jetix Europe is emblazoned with the team's logo. The logo was designed by director/puppet captain/puppeteer Patrick Johnson. The logo features the cast of Team Smithereen - from left to right: Brave Little Francis, Whoop, Thrill Kat, and Stunt Pig.

Team Smithereen Storyboards

Each Episode of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark, Wildbrain, Jetix Europe is storyboarded before it is shot. In these photos episode director Patrick Johnson consults the boards before he directs the next shot.

New Dan Clark Company Logo

Dan Clark and the Team Smithereen crew just shot a new logo for the Dan Clark Company, producer of the new stunt puppet show Team Smithereen. The little puppets were made by puppeteer Russ Walko and performed by Russ Walko, Patrick Johnson, Sean Johnson, and Brandon Minton.

Puppet Puke

Making a puppet vomit on the set of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe is serous buisness. These photos show the steps required to get some good puppet puke.

More Smithereen Logos

These concept logos were created by Patrick Johnson for the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, Team Smithereen.

Editor in da House

On the set of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, show editor Cyrus Navarro observes the action while puppet captains/puppeteers Sean and Patrick Johnson perform Whoop.

Smithereen Spider Puppet

Aside from the main stars of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/WildBrain/Jetix Europe, the puppet fabrication department also created a hand full of speciality puppets. The spider puppet was designed by Smithereen character designer, Dave Pressler, and built by Smithereen puppet builders Mark Villalobos, and Ana Preciado.

In this photo from the set, puppet captain/puppeteer Patrick Johnson performs the spider, while puppeteer Felix Pire watches the monitor. The spider puppet was built around a custom made glove and then shot against the green screen. In the final composite, the spider will be shrunk down and appear to be just a few centimeters tall.

Team Smithereen Logos

Each member of the puppet stunt team in Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe have their own logo. Puppet captain, puppeteer and storyboard artist, Patrick Johnson designed all of the logos for the team. Team Logos from top to bottom: Whoop, Thrill Kat, Stunt Pig, Brave Little Francis.

Clowning on the Set of Team Smithereen

Killing stunt puppets is a serious business but there is still plenty of time for fun on the set of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe.

Swazzle Lends a Hand

Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe posed puppetry challenges unlike any other puppet show. To meet these challenges The Dan Clark Company called upon Sean and Patrick Johnson, the co-owners of Swazzle, a highly successful Los Angeles based puppet company.

Since 2004 Swazzle's team of talented professional puppeteers have presented hundreds of puppet shows at venues all over California. Swazzle works with the best in the puppetry field, so it was fitting that Sean and Patrick Johnson were asked to personally assemble the puppeteers for Team Smithereen. Sean and Patrick pulled together L.A.'s top puppeteers, and as puppet captains they collaborated with director/show creator Dan Clark to meet the unique challenges posed by Team Smithereen.

Team Smithereen Water Puppets

Although the new Dan Clark Company/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe stunt puppet show Team Smithereen employs digital green screen compositing, and sophisticated computer animation, the creative team behind Team Smithereen is dedicated to doing the puppet stunts practically.



For a swimming sequence, the crew submerged a large green screen in the pool at the Team Smithereen production house in the Hollywood hills. In this photo, director of photography, Ivan Corona shoots the puppet swimming with the Hi-Deff camera safely enclosed in an underwater camera bag. Team Smithereen puppet captian and puppeteer, Sean Johnson wears a green screen suite, and performs stunt puppet Thrill Kat diving into the pool.



In this shot, Team Smithereen director of photography Ivan Corona reviews the last take, and puppet captain and puppeteer, Sean Johnson poses with Team Smithereen stunt puppet, Thrill Kat.



Television puppetry requires the use of a monitor, so that the puppeteers can see what they are doing. The Team Smithereen underwater stunt sequence made the use of a monitor impossible so every shot needed to be checked immediately to make sure the performances were spot on. In this shot, Team Smithereen director of photography Ivan Corona, puppeteers and puppet captains, Sean and Patrick Johnson, camera assist Marleen Schlawin, and Team Smithereen show creator and director, Dan Clark review the last underwater take.

More Team Smithereen Logo Concepts

This image shows more Team Smithereen logo concepts by Patrick Johnson.

Smithereen Photo from the Set: 10/27/08

Starting today, the Team Smithereen Blog will be featuring daily photos from the set, giving you an exclusive peek into the Team Smithereen shoot. In this Team Smithereen photo from the Set, director Dan Clark composes a shot with Thrill Kat, Brave Little Francis, and Whoop. The stunt puppets are being performed by Team Smithereen puppeteers, Patrick Johnson and Russ Walko.

Team Smithereen Logos

The Team Smithereen logo went though many changes before the final design was chosen. These are some of the early Team Smithereen logos designed by Patrick Johnson.