Karen Prell
![](../I/m/Red_and_Karen_Prell_(2712248243).jpg)
Karen Leigh Prell (born July 31, 1959) is an animator and puppeteer. She was the performer of Red Fraggle in Fraggle Rock.
History
Prell was born in Florida but grew up in Seattle, Washington. She also performed some characters in other Jim Henson films and has enjoyed a significant second career as a computer animator for such studios as Pixar and DNA. In Sesame Street, she performed Deena Monster, which was a background character in the classic Sesame Street. Her website includes notes about working with Jim Henson and pictures of her custom puppets.
Prell married fellow muppeteer Mike Quinn. They lived for a decade in England before moving to California to work for Pixar. After divorcing, Karen Prell and Mike Quinn continue to work together on different projects.
She was an animator for Geri’s Game and also worked on animation of A Bug's Life.[1]
Prell currently works as an animator with Valve Corporation.[2]
Outside of her works on shows, Prell has made public appearances performing Red Fraggle, like appearances at Comic Con. At Dragon Con 2013, Karen Prell was joined by fellow puppeteer Kathryn Mullen as part of the 30th Anniversary of Fraggle Rock where they performed their respective characters.
Filmography
Television
- Fraggle Rock - Red Fraggle, Wingnut Doozer, Fluffinella, Baby Tree Creature, Beastie, Judge Gavel Doozer, Marley Fraggle, Modem Doozer
- Jim Henson's Animal Show - Ollie the Tapir, Tizzie the Bee (1994–1995), Alexis the Giraffe, Arlene the Aardvark, Bernice the Warthog, Blanche the Manatee, Charlotte the Penguin, Hettie the Hedgehog, Hillary the Owl, Kasey the Kangaroo, Leah the Fruit Bat, Lydia the Ostrich, Rhonda the Raccoon
- Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories - Yellow Gosling, Cat (in "Tommy Tucker"), Little Boy Blue's Mother (in "Boy Blue"), Cow (in "Boy Blue"), Topiary Peacock (in "Dicky Birds"), Peter the Dicky Bird (in "Dicky Birds"), Old Mother Hubbard (in "Mother Hubbard"), Peter's Wife (in "Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater")
- Sesame Street - Deena, Additional Muppets
- The Ghost of Faffner Hall - Mimi
- The Muppet Show - Robin (episode 108), Frog (episode 103)
Film
- A Muppet Family Christmas - Red Fraggle, Maureen the Mink
- Dreamchild - Dormouse (puppeteer)
- Labyrinth - Firey 2 (lead puppeteer), The Junk Lady (puppeteer), The Worm (puppeteer), Helping Hands, Goblins (puppetry only)
- Muppet Treasure Island - Additional Muppets
- The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show - Additional Muppets
- The Muppet Christmas Carol - Daughter Mouse, Performer of Ghost of Christmas Past
- The Muppets - Additional Muppets
- The Muppets Take Manhattan - Yolanda Rat, Frank the Dog
- The Tale of the Bunny Picnic - Babby Bunny, Baby Bunny, Great-Grandmother Bunny
Animator
- Geri's Game - Animator
- A Bug's Life - Animator
- Toy Story 2- Animator
- For the Birds - Animator
References
- ↑ Muppet Central Archives interview with Prell, 1998
- ↑ Credits for The Orange Box. Reproduced at Mobygames.