Puppet Pals HD

Puppet Pals is a really fun and engaging cartoon creation app which can be used in many ways with a variety of abilities available for iOS devices (iPad). 

Creating your own unique animated cartoon video is easy and simple with the Puppet Pals HD cartoon maker app. You just need to select and bring your characters on stage, add backdrops and hit on the record. Your audio and movements are easily recorded in real-time.

Is Puppet Pals free?

Puppet Pals is available for free to download on iPad devices.

How much does Puppet Pals cost?

Puppet Pals for iPad comes in two versions, one that is free (with only a few character and background sets) and the $3.99 “Directors Pass” version which comes with all the characters and backgrounds. Definitely spring for the $3.99 version, but download all the backgrounds and characters in advance so students won’t have to do that when they are in class.

How to use Puppet Pals?

This is a great app for practicing dialogue. Because there are lots of fairy tale-type backdrops and puppets to choose from, it’s a nice app for remixing traditional stories and creating fractured fairy tales. However, it’s also nice for non-fiction: have students present ideas their group learned during cooperative research through a digital puppet show.

How Puppet Pals improve the learning experience? 

I have used Puppet Pals HD app with children with severe communication difficulties and also high functioning autism. Primarily, I use the app with small groups of children who are reluctant writers, although there is no writing required I would use the app to engage the children by first creating a script to follow on Puppet Pals app. Children's imaginations can really run wild when using the app. From creating a pirate battle to retelling a favourite fairytale or story the possibilities are endless.

Is Puppet Pals app easy to use?

Yes, Puppet Pals is easy to use. The opening screen of Puppet Pals app shows the user three options; 'Saved Shows', 'More Characters' and 'Press to Start'. You can download further actors in 'More Characters'. 'American History has recently been added to a list of 16, with further being added in the near future.

To begin an animation you are given the option to choose up to 8 actors. I really like being able to add your own actors from your photo gallery or by taking a photo. A pinching gesture allows you resize your image and drawing around the face allows you to crop. This will add your character to the in-app gallery. The children find it easy to select the actors they need and importing from the gallery but the pinching to resize can be tricky for children with fine motor difficulties.

The second step is adding the background. Up to five backgrounds can be chosen from a selection of different themes. You can also add your own background from gallery or camera. You are now ready to create your first animation.

As soon as you press the record button everything you do is recorded including all background sound which can  cause frustration in larger groups. You manipulate the actors to move on the screen by dragging across the screen and narrating as you do so. The background can be changed also by pulling the rope at the top of the screen. Unfortunately you are unable to stop and edit what you have done, the ability to do this would be a huge bonus. Exporting to iMovie is one way of overcoming this and useful to make final edits but in-app editing would be a more practical option. Once the animation is created it can be exported to the video gallery and from there it can be shared further.

Why we love Puppet Pals app

Puppet Pals HD allows you to create an endless array of animations and can be used in most lessons. The app can really help to develop children's imagination skills as well as teaching them how to sequence, explore narrative, character, plot, voice projection, expression and unleash their creative skills. The only real limitation is the users imagination. Puppet Pals app is easily used by children and really puts fun in learning. Looking forward to more themes and characters in the future. Well done!

Overall Rating

Puppet Pals lets kids choose their characters and backdrops and drag them to the puppet show stage. They can then record themselves as the voices of the puppets to create the show.

You can download Puppet Pals HD on your iOS devices from the Apple App Store.