Do you see computer animation as a natural extension of puppeteering?
PRELL: Well, it seems like it s worked out that way. I would hate to think it would be a total replacement for puppeteering, as there’s such a joy in spontaneous performing and expression in puppeteering that I miss very much and hope I can get a chance to do again sometime. There’s such a totally different mindset with animating. You’re able to get a lot more detail and flexibility in the movement and able to revise and revise and revise, and really able to get things perfected a lot more than you can with live action. Still, something about the energy and spontaneity of performing live puppets brings its own flavor to characters and storytelling. I’m surprised it worked out that my husband Mike and I were able to take to the computer animation so well, and Pixar is extremely pleased that it worked out. I don’t know if other puppeteers would be able to make the transition because it is so very different from the spontaneity of live performing. There’s a lot of planning, a lot of worki