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How The Barney Suit Worked 😮
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Fans of The Barney Show, puppetry enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes magic of classic children's television.
TL;DR
Discover the ingenious mechanics behind the Barney suit! Learn how actors controlled the dinosaur's mouth, arm movements, and even stayed cool with a fan inside. It's a fascinating look at the practical challenges and creative solutions in puppetry.
Key Takeaways
- The Barney suit's mouth was operated by the actor biting down on a padded bar, allowing for synchronized jaw movement with head nods.
- The actor's arm movements were restricted to mimic the T-Rex's short arms, with elbows pinned to the sides.
- Despite the confined space and extensive movement, the actor could achieve over 100 degrees of rotation within the suit.
- A fan was strategically placed inside the dinosaur's mouth to provide essential cooling for the actor during performances.
In This Video
- 00:00Barney's Jaw Mechanism Explained
The actor controlled Barney's mouth by biting a padded bar connected to the jaw. Nodding opened and closed the mouth.
- 00:10Actor's Body Position
To mimic the T-Rex's short arms, the actor pinned his elbows to his sides.
- 00:16Dancing and Head Movement
The actor could move over 100 degrees inside the suit while dancing. The head remained attached.
- 00:22Cooling System Inside Suit
A fan was placed inside the dinosaur's mouth to help the actor stay cool during performances.
Questions & Answers
How did Barney's mouth move?
The actor inside would bite down on a padded bar connected to Barney's jaw. Nodding his head would then open and close the mouth.
Why did the actor pin his elbows?
The actor pinned his elbows to his sides to mimic the T-Rex's famously short arms.
How did the actor stay cool inside the Barney suit?
A fan was placed inside the dinosaur's mouth to help keep the actor cool.
Could the actor remove Barney's head?
No, the head did not come off, even though the actor reached over 100 degrees inside while dancing.
What did the actor bite on in the Barney suit?
The actor bit down on a padded bar that was connected to Barney's jaw mechanism.
Key Terms
- T-Rex — A Tyrannosaurus Rex, a large carnivorous dinosaur known for its short arms.