Character Creation in Drone Puppetry: Integrating Tradition and Technology in Isabella’s Flight

This study explores how drones can operate as stage puppets, conveying dramatic intent. In a black-box theatre setting, three quadrotors (two playing principal characters and one in a supporting role) are each equipped with mechatronic systems that enable expressive motion. These drone puppets use classical puppetry principles to translate gestural cues into aerial choreography, culminating in a 15-minute performance titled Isabella’s Flight, where a child protagonist outsmarts a blustering tyrant. Audience surveys reveal that spectators can distinguish individual character traits and follow the storyline. This article presents a case study for drone puppetry, covering design limits, expressive movement grammar, and control system. It positions drone puppetry as a unique form of aerial performance that differs from the conventional pixel‑style drone light shows.