Fuzzy Lightbulb

16/09/2025

💡Nothing lights us up more than a project that has heart and a meaningful purpose behind it. We're our incredibly excited for Play Time to air in the next few weeks on itv featuring none other than our beautiful Bright Spark, Christopher Barlow.

Premiering on ITVX and YouTube later this year, Play Time sees the participants enter a local primary school where they are challenged to create and perform an original stage play that's based entirely on the ideas of a group of 6 to 8 year-old school children.

The comedians must use whatever characters, settings, stories and catchphrases the children come up with to quickly turn them into a play that they then perform on the school stage for all of the children and their family and friends.

Read more at the link below:

https://lnkd.in/ecydfqvj

13/05/2025

Our bright sparks are loving being out and about with meetings, kicking off new projects and exciting character collaborations!

And yes, the drinks are on us this week!💡

07/05/2025

💡Creating characters to your ‘hearts content’ 💡

We have often been asked to design and build appealing TV characters for online content creation. This was one such puppet. An adorable red panda with a heart shaped chest patch.�
He’s being used to create children’s content in the Netherlands, from educational website based content to entertaining videos and social media posts. He shares stories that cover how to handle the bumps and challenges life throws at you.
�This puppet is a simple expressive rod and hand puppet with no mechanisms, but with a camera ready finish, lensy eyes, posable ears and bouncy whiskers.

17/04/2025

Beyond the Build
💡Keeping Your Puppets & Mascots at Their Best
Designing and building your character is only the beginning; to truly bring it to life and ensure its longevity, you need the right performers, daily care, and long-term maintenance—this is where we come in.

💡Bringing Your Character to Life
A beautifully crafted puppet or mascot depends on the performer, as skilled performance is essential to breathe life into the character, adding personality, movement, and humor that captivates audiences.

💡Caring for Your Investment
Maintaining your mascots and puppets is about preserving their charm, freshness, and durability through daily care, and we provide practical training on cleaning, storing, and handling your characters, along with reference materials for ongoing care—because in-person training truly makes it all click.

💡Long-Term Maintenance & Support
Like any well-loved character, your puppets and mascots require regular upkeep, and we can work with you on a scheduled plan for repairs or refurbishments—whether every six months, annually, or as needed—while also providing swappable doubles for your most in-demand characters to ensure a fresh, show-ready version is always on hand.

💡The Full-Service Solution
Once your characters are built and shipped, our team will personally deliver them to your location, introduce them to your staff, and provide full rehearsals and training to ensure everyone involved—performers and backstage team alike—understands setup, pack-down, and daily requirements for smooth operation.

14/04/2025

Thank you Planet Attractions for sharing our bright idea 💡

Anthony Shepherd and Chris Barlow have partnered to launch Fuzzy Lightbulb, a character development studio creating custom mascots for the attractions industry. https://t.ly/mv9r6

Shepland Creative | Chris Barlow Puppets and Creatures LTD

09/04/2025

Over the past twenty years our co-founder, Shep, has led the design and development of several major multimillion entertainment brand propositions, spending time in Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and the US. Shep’s wealth of experience spans theatre, festivals, theme parks, resorts, cruise, immersive entertainment, broadcasting, and a particular passion for developing character proposition and IP concepts.

Shep trained in theatre at Bretton Hall, then Film & Media History at Kings College London. Credits include Merlin Entertainment Group, Arts Council England, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The BBC, Warner Brothers, Parque Reunidos, Nickelodeon, Cunard, P&O Cruises, Marella Cruises, Roompot, TUI Resorts, The Maho Group, Ministry of Sound, Sonesta Resorts, Eden Rock & Belmond.

Shep is responsible for leading the thoughtful innovation and creative development of new experiences for our clients. “In everything Fuzzy Lightbulb does, we think ‘experience’, designing tailored concepts and creative strategies that put client goals at the centre of our thinking. We pride ourselves on pushing our team and our clients to think about ‘what’s next’ and ‘what’s best’ for their audience.”

09/04/2025

The Rise of Walkabout & Meet-and-Greet Puppets Walkabout and meet-and-greet puppets are taking the resort and entertainment industries by storm. Seen in some of the world’s biggest and most beloved theme parks, these dynamic characters offer a level of flexibility and realism that traditional mascot suits simply can’t match.

We were thrilled to be part of the exciting new Mythica area at Legoland Windsor, creating intricate animatronic puppets for walkabouts and meet-and-greets. The character Bits and Bobs—a Lego creature made from leftover scraps—appears in the Flight of the Skylion ride, where he journeys through a portal to become a real creature.

Our team crafted two identical versions of Bits and Bobs, incorporating a clever fake arm illusion and a complex lever-powered mechanism developed with Adam Keenan FX. Each puppet featured:
- Head tilt and swivel
- Upper and lower eyelid blinks
- Independent ear twitches
- Sound effects and speakers

These puppets have stood the test of time, delighting guests at Legoland Windsor for over four years—and can still be spotted today in the Mythica area.

09/04/2025

Our co-founder, Chris is a London-based artist, puppet maker, puppeteer and character designer, bringing imagination to life for TV, film, theatre, resorts and theme parks.
With a background in acting and performance (Bretton Hall), Chris’s work blends artistry with functionality, crafting expressive, high-quality characters that are a joy to perform.

His work spans beloved TV series like Pickle Storm, Feeling Better, Worzel Gummidge, and Doctor Who, as well as international campaigns for brands like NIKE, Old Spice, Tums, Duracell and Esso. His work has featured in the West End and touring theatres, on streaming services and in cinemas. From charming kids’ characters to lifelike creatures, Chris has collaborated with top studios, including; ATG, Netflix, Fulwell73, Lucas film, Warner Bros., BBC, Anarchy, Millenium FX, Tiger Aspect, Working Title, Sky, Merlin Entertainment, Life Cast, Foxy Bingo, Paul Holman Associates, Kenny Wax, OBJEKT, Talk to the Hand, TED, Supercell, and many others. His work can also be seen in resorts and theme parks across Europe and beyond.

Chris is brings his artistic, tech and mechanical knowledge to lead the visual and physical development of the characters Fuzzy Lightbulb create. With a wide variety of visualisation and fabrication skills, experience in leading projects and teams of makers, coupled with a vast knowledge of industry, Chris understands firsthand how to bring the same character to life across multiple mediums and platforms.

09/04/2025

At a big part of process is to ‘Scribble, Sketch & Sculpt’

The Scribble Stage: Where All Ideas Begin
Every character design, themed event, puppet build, or wild creative proposition has to start somewhere. When working with a client—especially when creating something brand new—we aim to establish a visual language as quickly as possible.

We call this the Scribble Stage—essentially a creative playground. This is where we throw ideas around, explore concepts with the client, and see where the conversation takes us. We scribble out the roughest of sketches, build mood boards, gather reference images, and explore color palettes. It’s also when we conduct audits, hold meetings, gather feedback, and really scope out the full range of the project.

And honestly? It’s one of the most fun parts of the process. It’s that exciting stage of harnessing big ideas and refining them into a clear path forward. Here, we define the visual language, stylistic choices, and the “world” of the character or project. We consider reference points, end-use applications, and practical constraints—all while keeping the creative energy flowing.

09/04/2025

At Fuzzy Lightbulb, characters aren’t just costumes or puppets—they’re storytellers, brand ambassadors, and the heart of unforgettable experiences. From mascots and animatronic puppets to themed play zones, merchandise, and more, we bring characters to life in ways that make a lasting impact.

Having worked with some of the world’s top brands, we know great entertainment is about meaningful connections, not just spectacle. That’s why we collaborate with the best talent in design, fabrication, and performance to ensure every project is crafted with passion, innovation, and attention to detail.

We’re not just mascot makers—we’re a full character development studio. If you want a bold, engaging, and immersive character experience—without agencies, middlemen, or unnecessary markups—you’re in the right place. With us, you work directly with the creatives, ensuring your vision stays at the heart of the process.

09/04/2025

💡 is the creative partnership of Shep and Chris, two industry veterans with a combined forty-plus years of experience in character design and entertainment. They have collaborated extensively on international character brand campaigns, developing proposition, character universes and brand opportunities for high-end prestige clients. Fuzzy Lightbulb is built on a passion for storytelling, craftsmanship, and the desire to create truly unforgettable experiences. Working alongside some of the most talented people in the industry, we develop characters in ways that add heart, depth, and value to every touchpoint.

09/04/2025

💡 💡

“At Fuzzy Lightbulb, we unite our passion for storytelling and craftsmanship to bring characters to life, creating unforgettable moments of magic and joy”