Mr. Jones

While not avoiding the topic of Blackness, Mr. Jones focused on interpersonal and emotional awakenings.

I began a passion project: Mr. Jones, an animated mini-series about a middle-aged man seemingly trapped in an airport. Through shifts in animation style — from stop motion to live action — and transformations of Mr. Jones into a paper puppet, felt figure, and marionette, we witness his journey toward self-forgiveness and rediscovery.

Rather than building visuals around a set narrative, Mr. Jones uses emotive imagery and symbolism to invite viewers into their own reflections on self-worth, self-actualization, and the challenges of finding meaning. Inspired by the emotional intelligence fostered by childhood shows like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street, this project uses puppetry to reintroduce play and vulnerability into adult conversations about identity, isolation, and resilience.

In 2023, I was accepted into the Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers, sponsored by Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, MA. During the residency, I made technical and visual improvements to Mr. Jones, enhancing his mobility and introducing an interplay between paper puppets and marionettes into the motion picture.