Puppet designer becomes first Taiwanese artist for ‘Lion King’｜Taiwan News

A humble puppet designer makes it big! 38-year-old Hsu Wei-hung has loved making puppets since he was a child. When there wasn’t anything at home, he would pick through the trash to find materials. At 30, the self-taught artist became a puppet designer for Shanghai Disney. The following year, he was appointed as the first Taiwanese wooden puppet maker for The Lion King on Broadway. In an exclusive interview with FTV, Hsu revealed that behind the scenes on Broadway is even more lively than the stage itself.

Voice of Hsu Wei-hung
Puppet designer
To me, there are three wonderful things about making puppets. I can imagine what it’ll be like before I start. Then I can enjoy making something from nothing, like building up slowly from the ground to the 10th floor. Then when it’s finished, it’s brought to life by the puppeteer.

Creating from nothing, this entire operation is the work of one man. At 38, Hsu Wei-hung has over 20 years of experience making puppets. He fell in love with it from the age of seven. Back then, when there wasn’t enough to build with, the trash became his treasure trove.

Hsu Wei-hung
Puppet designer
We didn’t have many materials when I was growing up. I just took stuff from the trash, like paper boxes and cardboard. I remember in high school while studying trade arts, I would mix entire trash cans of newspaper pulp. When it’s soaking, it kind of has a fermented smell, so the entire classroom would stink.

Hsu Chin-ling
Hsu Wei-hung’s sister
The living room became a miniature dump. I had to climb over chairs or jump over tables to get to my room or the kitchen or wherever I wanted to go.

He made a name for himself as a self-taught artist, at 30 going to work at Disney and then becoming the first Taiwanese puppet designer to work for The Lion King on Broadway.

Hsu Wei-hung
Puppet designer
When there’s a problem with a mechanized puppet, hair and makeup, wardrobe, puppets, props—every department rushes to the actor. After it’s all taken off, the entire thing is replaced and everything is put on again so the actor can get back onstage in minutes.

Three artists are responsible for making nearly 300 puppets. After touring the world for more than six years, Hsu has accumulated a wealth of experience. Now he wants to bring that knowledge back to Taiwan, but unfortunately, the local industry is underdeveloped.

Hsu Wei-hung
Puppet designer
Japan and South Korea are pretty good. Taiwan doesn’t have as much originality. People hire Taiwanese designers when they have a tight budget. We have a lot of extremely talented young artists, but as soon as a client has the budget, they go find a foreign company. They’ll go somewhere they can showcase their talent.

In the meantime, Hsu plans to continue honing his skills. One day he hopes to create Taiwan’s very own puppet theater to show the world this island’s many talented puppet makers.

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