Trixie and the Treetrunks heats up after a winter storm
Quintron and Miss Pussycat create a not-for-children puppet soap opera that will rock your socks
By Aynsley Karps
Published: December 11th, 2008 | 4:50pm
When a mesmerizing Happy Tree manipulates you to carry out messages from the Center of the Earth through music, what else is there to do? This is the trippy dilemma that lead puppet Trixie must deal with in Trixie and the Treetrunks, a 10-episode puppet theater mini-series created by couple Quintron and Miss Pussycat.
In the show, which has been released as four-to-seven-minute episodes on VBS, the web TV station launched by Vice Magazine, best friends Trixie and Marsha survive a huge snowstorm that devastates Happy Garden. According to Miss Pussycat, who lived in Louisiana for years, the snowstorm represents a real tragedy in her life.
“It was also about Katrina,” she says, “but I did not want to do anything about Katrina because it was really awful and I wanted to forget about it and have fun. But I had nightmares about water every night for a year. So I froze the water and made it a ‘terrible snowstorm’ that destroys everything in the magical forest — a clever disguise.”
The most interesting part of the show is that, while the fantastical premise is definitely out there, the other equally important aspects — like character development, dialogue, and props — are pretty real. From warlock-drummer JJ Suede’s transformation from bad to good, to the witty banter between Trixie and Marsha, to the cute and crafty home in which the two friends live, it’s easy to relate to the characters.
Near the end of the series, the gang gets ready to play at the local Harvest Fest. Viewers watch a fun montage of the three bandmates learning and practicing their instruments in the days leading up to the big show. The final scene is of the actual set they play, which feels like a real concert. Quintron and Miss Pussycat actually created the music for the entire series.
In terms of the show itself, it demonstrates the perfect combination of handmade charm and professional artistry. The sets and scenery are kitschy and creative, like the outside shot of the houses (made of Popsicle sticks and adorned with a glittery landscape). The puppetry is incredible. The characters move fluidly and human-like, especially when they dance and play their instruments. You can also tell that the crew knows their stuff — the final product is well made and comes off far from amateur.
“Making puppet movies is my favorite project,” Miss Pussycat says. “It [involves] writing and photography and parapsychology and sculpture. It was us and our friends. Luckily our friends are geniuses! There were a few puppeteers (Jayme Kalal, Drew Ziegler, Lefty Parker…) that live in my neighborhood and we all help each other out with shows. Pretty much everyone had worked on some kind of project or been in bands together, and we all like to dance and have a good time.”
The Trixie and the Treetrunks DVD is on sale now. The next project for Miss Pussycat and Quintron is going on tour for their new album, Too Thirsty for Love.
Mini Q&A with Miss Pussycat:
What was the most fun part about the production process?
Freezing puppets in blocks of ice and then melting them with a hairdryer.
What was the most difficult part about the production process?
Not spilling beer on the puppets.
How do you bring a puppet “to life”?
Channeling.
Who would you recommend watch the show?
People who smoke pot. No, no, I can’t say that — everyone in the world.
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Check out more of Quintron and Miss Pussycat on their Web site.
Issue #33
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