Lecture Notes: The Story of Norman the Animatronic Puppet

Introduction to Norman

• Norman: An animatronic puppet known for its appearance in the early 2000s.
• Related Media: Featured in the music video for the song "Evil" by the band Interpole.
• Popularity: The video gained over 20 million views on YouTube, largely due to Norman.

Rise to Fame

• Character Appeal: Fans were charmed by the puppet's creepy yet cute appearance.
• Naming: Fans affectionately named the puppet Norman.

Disappearance and Rediscovery

• Initial Disappearance: Norman vanished after his initial fame and was believed to be gone forever.
• 2014 Rediscovery: Listed on I Collector as "animatronic creepy ghoul puppet from music video."
  • Condition: Norman was in poor shape – cracked foam skin, yellow bulging eyes, detaching limbs.
  • No Bids: Despite his fame, no one bid on him.

Resurgence through John Colbeck

• John Colbeck's Interest: A YouTuber who saw potential in restoring Norman.
• Efforts to Obtain Norman:
  • Word of Mouth & Investigation: Extensive research led to finding the puppet.
  • Acquisition: Purchased from a prop collector on Facebook.

Restoration Process

• Initial Condition: John realized the puppet's condition was worse than expected.
• GoFundMe Campaign: Titled "Norman back to normal," raised $3,000 for restoration.
• Restoration Team: Luna's Puppets took on the task of restoring Norman.
• Documenting Restoration: John shared progress on YouTube and Instagram.

Conclusion: Norman's Restoration

• Completion: On March 24th, 2022, Norman was fully restored.
• Significance: Demonstrates that Norman was never truly forgotten by his fans.