🎭 Welcome to Puppet Animator!
Get started quickly with these tips. Reopen anytime with ❓ Help in the top bar. Use the button below to choose whether this guide appears when you launch the app.
Recording your show
This app does not record video — most people use OBS Studio (free) to capture this browser window or tab. Press M to hide the top bar and buttons for a clean frame before you start recording in OBS.
This app does not record video — most people use OBS Studio (free) to capture this browser window or tab. Press M to hide the top bar and buttons for a clean frame before you start recording in OBS.
Settings Button
Click the ⚙️ Settings button in the top right to see every control and adjust character options like size and mouth alignment. Scroll down to Customize Keyboard Shortcuts — click any key to reassign it, or use Reset to Defaults to restore the original layout.
Click the ⚙️ Settings button in the top right to see every control and adjust character options like size and mouth alignment. Scroll down to Customize Keyboard Shortcuts — click any key to reassign it, or use Reset to Defaults to restore the original layout.
Presentations (5 options)
In 📚 Library → Presentations, choose what to show on stage:
1. Overlay image — PNG/JPG above the background, below your puppet. Align in ⚙️ Settings; nudge with IJKL.
2. YouTube — paste a URL; plays on the TV. Use V / B / N for back, play/pause, forward.
3. Local video — pick a file from your computer (never uploaded to our servers).
4. Website — paste an http/https URL; the site opens inside the TV screen. Click and scroll to interact. Press B or tap ⛶ Fullscreen website below the TV to expand it. Some sites block embedding — if the screen stays blank, try another URL.
5. Local PDF — pick a PDF from your computer; it opens in the TV (file stays on your device, not in browser storage). Press B or tap ⛶ Fullscreen PDF below the TV.
In 📚 Library → Presentations, choose what to show on stage:
1. Overlay image — PNG/JPG above the background, below your puppet. Align in ⚙️ Settings; nudge with IJKL.
2. YouTube — paste a URL; plays on the TV. Use V / B / N for back, play/pause, forward.
3. Local video — pick a file from your computer (never uploaded to our servers).
4. Website — paste an http/https URL; the site opens inside the TV screen. Click and scroll to interact. Press B or tap ⛶ Fullscreen website below the TV to expand it. Some sites block embedding — if the screen stays blank, try another URL.
5. Local PDF — pick a PDF from your computer; it opens in the TV (file stays on your device, not in browser storage). Press B or tap ⛶ Fullscreen PDF below the TV.
Library Button
Use the 📚 Library button to manage characters, backgrounds (full-stage images), and presentations (the five types above). Keep your backdrop separate from what you present on the TV.
Use the 📚 Library button to manage characters, backgrounds (full-stage images), and presentations (the five types above). Keep your backdrop separate from what you present on the TV.
Multiple puppets on stage
Tap + Add Character to place another puppet. Only one is active at a time — it gets a red dot underneath and receives keyboard input.
Select a puppet: click it on stage, or press { / } to cycle between puppets. Size and mouth settings in ⚙️ Settings apply to the active one.
1-9 swaps the costume (library image) for the active puppet, not which puppet is selected. Use − Remove Character to delete the active puppet.
Tap + Add Character to place another puppet. Only one is active at a time — it gets a red dot underneath and receives keyboard input.
Select a puppet: click it on stage, or press { / } to cycle between puppets. Size and mouth settings in ⚙️ Settings apply to the active one.
1-9 swaps the costume (library image) for the active puppet, not which puppet is selected. Use − Remove Character to delete the active puppet.
Keyboard Controls
Below is a quick reference — open ⚙️ Settings anytime to see the full list and change any key under Customize Keyboard Shortcuts.
Animation: W Mouth Up | S Mouth Down | A Rotate Left | D Rotate Right
Movement: ↑ ↓ ← → Arrow Keys | Space Jump
Characters: { } Select puppet on stage | 1-9 Change active puppet’s costume
Backgrounds: < > Cycle
Presentations: ; ' Cycle | O Hide/Show presentation | IJKL Move overlay image
Video (TV): V Back | B Play/Pause | N Forward (YouTube & local video only)
Website / PDF (TV): B Fullscreen (or button below TV); click inside the TV to interact (website)
UI: H Hide/Show Character | M Hide/Show UI | R Reset | Esc Close Settings
Below is a quick reference — open ⚙️ Settings anytime to see the full list and change any key under Customize Keyboard Shortcuts.
Animation: W Mouth Up | S Mouth Down | A Rotate Left | D Rotate Right
Movement: ↑ ↓ ← → Arrow Keys | Space Jump
Characters: { } Select puppet on stage | 1-9 Change active puppet’s costume
Backgrounds: < > Cycle
Presentations: ; ' Cycle | O Hide/Show presentation | IJKL Move overlay image
Video (TV): V Back | B Play/Pause | N Forward (YouTube & local video only)
Website / PDF (TV): B Fullscreen (or button below TV); click inside the TV to interact (website)
UI: H Hide/Show Character | M Hide/Show UI | R Reset | Esc Close Settings
Microphone auto-trigger
In ⚙️ Settings, turn on Auto-trigger key from microphone to animate while you talk. Loud sounds hold your chosen key; quiet releases it. Default is jump (Space) — click the key button to change it (mouth, rotate, etc.).
In ⚙️ Settings, turn on Auto-trigger key from microphone to animate while you talk. Loud sounds hold your chosen key; quiet releases it. Default is jump (Space) — click the key button to change it (mouth, rotate, etc.).