A brand new exhibition is coming to ACMI, and is set to pull on your heartstrings. Celebrate the wonders of on-screen puppetry and take a look behind the scenes at memorable movie characters in the exhibition, Lifelike. See original puppets from Jim Henson’s workshop, trace the history of Pinocchio, encounter frightening animatronics and more! The Lifelike exhibition will open at ACMI on November 20.
Lifelike exhibition at ACMI
This world-premiere exhibition will showcase original puppets, concept art, sketches and more behind-the-scenes material from stories like Pinocchio, Jurassic Park, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, the Alien series and The Muppets. The exhibition will be split into themed sections and experiences, inviting you to feel nostalgia, spark your imagination and face your fears.
Learn all about the adventures of one of cinema’s most favourite puppets, Pinocchio. See a wooden Pinocchio from the 1970s, as well as posters, production materials, and the original Pinocchio and Geppetto puppets from Guillermo del Toro’s 2022 stop-motion picture.
Explore the works of filmmaker Charlie Kaufman, including marionettes from Being John Malkovich, and behind-the-scenes content and both protagonist puppets from Anomalisa.
Step into Jim Henson’s workshop, and try to create a Muppets-inspired singalong. As you go, see four original puppets, including Sherlock Hemlock, Brad and Bertha from Sesame Street. You’ll also see concept sketches from The Muppet Show, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
Learn all about digital puppetry with a video essay, featuring familiar giants from Jurassic Park, King Kong and Godzilla. Then, see rare concept sketches from E.T.
Learn how animatronics work by bringing an Alien Facehugger puppet to life, and see an original puppet from the movie Sting. Find a bit of courage and step into the Nightmare Room. This thrilling space will blur the line between reality and the screen worlds of The Babadook, Annabelle and Chucky with synchronised screens, sound, movement and shadows.
Then, enjoy a bit of Aussie nostalgia, with a look at ’80s and ’90s puppets and screen content from TV shows like Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Agro and The Ferals.
Key details:
đź“…November 20 to April 18, 2027
đź•’10am to 5pm
🎫$27 for adults. Pre-sale tickets are available to ACMI Members, and those who join the waitlist. General public tickets will go on sale from 9am on September 3.
đź“ŤFed Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Learn more about the exhibition here.
