How They Come to Life

People often ask me how my mojigangas come to life — how a giant puppet made of fabric, paint, and structure suddenly becomes a character that feels real. The answer is simple, but powerful:

They come to life through a human heartbeat.

Inside every mojiganga there is space for a person to step in, lift the frame, and become the spirit of the giant. That moment is the true magic of this art. Everything I build — the balance, the expression, the movement — is designed with one purpose: to let a performer bring the character to life.

The Transformation

When someone steps into the mojiganga, something changes instantly.
The figure stands taller, breathes, reacts.
A tilt of the head becomes curiosity.
A small step becomes a dance.
A wave becomes a greeting full of personality.

I’ve seen adults transform into playful characters, and shy people discover a courage they didn’t know they had. The performer disappears — and the giant takes over.

Why This Moment Matters

This art form is not only about building.
It is about collaboration.

I create the body, the face, the clothes, the presence.
But the person inside gives it a soul.

Without them, the mojiganga is just a sculpture.
With them, it becomes alive.

Movement as Emotion

I design each puppet to move naturally:

• a light frame that allows dancing
  
  

• balanced weight for long performances
  
  

• expressive faces that respond to the performer’s gestures
  
  

• flexibility for walking, turning, greeting, celebrating
  
  

When the performer connects with the character, the audience feels it.
They don’t see a person hidden inside — they see a giant personality walking among them.

A Living Tradition

This moment of transformation is deeply tied to Mexican tradition. Mojigangas have always been about joy, community, and storytelling. When they come to life, they remind us that art is not only something to look at — it’s something to share.

Every time one of my giants takes its first steps, I feel the same excitement I felt with my very first one. It’s a moment I never get tired of witnessing.

That is how they come to life.
Through craft, through imagination…
and through the human who carries their spirit.

— Antonio Lapierre