An Interview with the Nanalan' Stars - Gary's Backstage Pass - Special Presentation
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Synopsis
Gary, a celebrity interviewer, goes backstage at the beloved Canadian puppet series Nanalan' for one-on-one conversations with Nana, Mona, and the rest of the cast. The special serves as a warmly odd reunion with characters that charmed children's television audiences and found a second life — millions of fans later — on TikTok. Gary attempts to maintain his composure as the puppets respond to his questions with their peculiar charm.
Context & Trivia
This 2023 special reunites Nanalan' creators Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon, who had not worked together in 15 years. The original series, which first aired in 1998, experienced a massive resurgence on TikTok in the 2020s, leading Hopley and Shannon to reprise their puppet characters. Jamie Shannon performs and voices Mona, the three-year-old protagonist with lime green skin and pigtails, while Jason Hopley performs and voices Nana, Mona's orange-skinned grandmother, and Russell, Nana's dog. The Nanalan' puppets were custom-built by The Grogs, the puppetry troupe co-founded by Shannon and Hopley, using materials such as foam, fabric, and plastic eyes. The primary technique employed is live-action hand puppetry, with the creators performing the main characters in real-time.
Puppeteers
Jamie Shannon, Jason Hopley
Voices
Jamie Shannon, Jason Hopley
Puppet design
Jamie Shannon, Jason Hopley
Puppet building
The Grogs
Created by
Jamie Shannon, Jason Hopley
Direction
Jason Hopley
Cast
Jamie Shannon
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