Since its inception in 2002, the Festival of Animated Objects has become a cornerstone of Calgary’s arts scene. Each year, it brings puppetry, mask-making, and animated objects to life.
Founder and artistic director Xstine Cook launched the festival 23 years ago to bring back some of the world-class puppetry shows she experienced while touring globally to Calgary audiences.
The vision was simple: to foster the local puppetry scene while bringing exciting international works to the city. Over the years, the festival has grown exponentially, with a wide range of local and international artists contributing to its success.
“The festival has really grown and gotten bigger and stronger, and there are a lot of different partners contributing to it,” Cook says, adding that the festival’s growth can be partially attributed to its sense of community.
Many in the community share their craft with up-and-coming puppeteers, passing down their expertise and helping others reach professional levels of artistry.
“There is a lot of puppetry going on here – very different forms of puppetry – and generations of puppeteers coming up. They work on each other’s shows, and they teach each other. It’s a very, very generous community.”
Alberta artist Ronnie Burkett is a testament to this growth. Known for his innovative and expressive marionettes, Burkett’s work became a hallmark of the festival. He was named a laureate of the 2024 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
“He laid a lot of the groundwork,” Cook says, adding that a lot of local artists have become professionals and have expanded to larger stages.
“We’ve seen people really develop, grow, study, and try things out and become professional over the past years, which is super exciting. The whole point of the festival was to grow the local scene – and that’s what’s happening.”
While many performances are family-friendly, the festival’s adult-oriented performances explore deeper narratives that engage audiences in thought-provoking ways.
“We have a very strong family component because it is really important to show that kind of work to younger audiences and make that available to younger audiences. But we also have very intentionally focused, adult-oriented performances that are very complex and philosophical.”
Performances are not just limited to traditional puppetry; the event has expanded to include other art forms, such as mask-making, dance and music, showcasing the versatility and creativity of animated objects.
The festival’s name reflects this inclusivity: it’s not just about puppetry but about animating all objects in the storytelling process. This encourages experimentation and innovation, resulting in a unique and dynamic array of performances.
“It’s called the Festival of Animated Objects because it isn’t just a puppetry festival… we always try to push the boundary of what animated objects can be used,” Cook says, adding that the festival helps audiences tap back into that childlike wonder that we all have deep inside.
“It’s a universal art form. I think we are tapping into that instinctual, ancestral magic of puppetry, and it’s amazing.”
The 2025 Festival of Animated Objects runs from March 11 to 30 at various locations. Full schedule at puppetfestival.ca.
