The Legend of Ochi: A Spectacular Puppetry Fantasy Arrives 25 April 2025

Puppets, Passion, and Practical Magic: The Legend of Ochi and the Future of Puppetry in Film

Feb 08, 2025

For film buffs and puppet aficionados, The Legend of Ochi — set to release on 25 April 2025—is a rare and thrilling anomaly in modern cinema. In an era dominated by AI-generated visuals and CGI marvels, director Isaiah Saxon has done something remarkable: he has bet on practical effects, specifically puppetry and animatronics, to bring his vision to life.

This ambitious fantasy film, produced by A24, tells the story of Yuri, a shy farm girl from the remote island of Carpathia, who defies the fearful beliefs of her village when she befriends a mysterious and misunderstood creature, the Ochi. But behind this heartfelt story lies an even more compelling tale: the uphill battle to get practical effects into a big-budget film and the sheer artistry involved in making these puppets feel real.

Why Puppets in 2025?

Puppets—those tangible, intricate creations manipulated by expert performers—have long been a staple of fantasy cinema. Yet, in an industry increasingly leaning on AI-assisted filmmaking, why opt for the painstaking complexity of animatronics and puppetry?

In an interview with TheWrap, Saxon revealed that he didn't have to convince A24 to use practical effects—something that speaks volumes about the studio’s commitment to artistry over shortcuts. But that didn’t mean the process was easy. The Ochi puppet, created by London-based John Nolan Studio (the same team behind animatronic effects in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and Annihilation), required seven puppeteers to operate its expressive, animatronic face. The level of precision needed to make the Ochi believable was so demanding that some scenes took hours to get just right.

Watch the full interview where Saxon discusses the choice to use practical effects:

Emily Watson, who plays Dasha in the film, praised the puppeteers, saying, “Some of those puppeteers are every bit as good as actors as we are. Their understanding of subtlety and nuance is just amazing.” This is a sentiment echoed by Finn Wolfhard, who was drawn to the film precisely because of its love for practical effects, citing Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal as an inspiration.

The Magic of John Nolan Studio

John Nolan Studio deserves its moment in the spotlight. Based in London, this team has built a reputation for creating some of the most lifelike animatronic creatures in recent memory. For The Legend of Ochi, they spent over three years developing the Ochi, designing it to look like a species that could plausibly exist in nature. The creature's design was inspired by real-world animals, including China’s golden snub-nosed monkey and various lemurs.

Saxon and Finn Wolfhard discuss the influence of practical effects in this interview:
LA Times Interview

Saxon himself has likened the Ochi’s presence in the film to the deep emotional resonance of E.T.—a comparison that underscores the ambition behind this project. And just as Spielberg’s animatronic alien continues to be beloved decades later, The Legend of Ochi aims to rekindle our love for handcrafted, in-camera magic.

For more on the artistry behind these animatronics, check out this in-depth look at John Nolan Studios: Creature Feature: The Fantastical World of John Nolan

Puppetry vs. CGI: The Battle for Authenticity

One of the most fascinating discussions emerging from this film is the ongoing debate between practical effects and digital creations. CGI has come a long way, but it often lacks the tangible weight that makes creatures like the Ochi feel truly alive. Saxon notes that even during early tests, before the puppet had fur or facial articulation, audiences still perceived it as real—because puppetry, with its millennia-old tradition, taps into something deeply embedded in our visual storytelling instincts.

Even Willem Dafoe, initially sceptical of acting alongside a puppet, was reportedly taken aback by the performance. “He was shaking after the first scene,” Saxon recalled in an interview. “It completely tripped him out—he had to rethink how he conceived of acting because here was this illusion of a performance, created by seven people, and yet it felt completely real.”

What The Legend of Ochi Means for the Future

In an age where AI-generated images and motion-capture performances are becoming the norm, The Legend of Ochi serves as a defiant love letter to the craft of puppetry. The film raises big questions for filmmakers: Can the magic of practical effects ever be truly replaced by CGI? Will audiences continue to crave the tactile presence of handcrafted creatures?

And, most importantly, does the existence of a film like The Legend of Ochi signal a resurgence of practical effects in fantasy storytelling?

With A24 fully embracing Saxon’s vision—and even teasing Ochi-themed merchandise—we might just be on the brink of a new golden age for animatronic artistry. If The Legend of Ochi proves anything, it’s that cinema’s oldest magic still has the power to captivate.