Lifelike

This November, Lifelike makes its world premiere at ACMI: a major new exhibition celebrating the magic of movie puppetry in all its forms.

Beloved, eerie and unforgettable characters, from Pinocchio and E.T. to the wild imagination of Jim Henson's workshop, have shaped how people experience movies. These iconic hand-crafted creatures spark wonder, joy, nostalgia, fear and fascination.

Explore the craft, performance and invention that bring unforgettable screen characters to life, from ingenious handmade mechanisms and animatronics to contemporary digital wizardry.

Explore original puppets, concept art and behind-the-scenes materials from iconic films including Pinocchio, Anomalisa, Jurassic Park, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, plus Australian television classics. Get up close to rarely seen sketches and uncover the craft and creative ingenuity behind some of cinema's most memorable puppets and creatures.

Roll up your sleeves and try your hand at puppetry: recreate a Muppets-inspired sequence or bring an animatronic Alien Facehugger to life.

The bravest visitors can venture inside a nightmarish encounter with The Babadook, Annabelle and Chucky, where familiar figures twist into something darker and the line between screen and reality thrillingly blurs.

Joyful, surprising and deeply human, Lifelike invites you to rediscover the wonder of puppets and why you can't help believing they're alive.