The Magic of Manual Cinema

I love when the unexpected happens during live performance, especially when it takes me back to my earlier years as an artist. A serendipitous moment like that happened over the weekend at an Iron & Wine concert in Grand Rapids. Manual Cinema, a collective and design studio from Chicago, was part of the tour, creating live “music videos” using shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and live music. If you’re not familiar with their work, they tell immersive, layered stories with a style that feels both handmade and highly choreographed.

Manual Cinema Lula Del Ray via https://manualcinema.com/

The first time I saw them was at a major presenting festival in New York, in a piece called Lula Del Ray. I was struck by the visuals, of course — they were stunning — but what really caught my attention was the choreography. It felt like watching a dance, but not just of bodies: of puppets, lights, projectors, and instruments, all moving in perfect coordination. The performers navigated tight spaces with precision, seamlessly interacting with the tools around them. It was a beautiful reminder that design isn’t just what’s in front of you; it’s how every element flows together to build something larger.

Manual Cinema with Iron & Wine via https://manualcinema.com/

Fast forward to this past weekend, and I found myself blown away all over again. Manual Cinema was once again creating live visuals, using overhead projectors, puppetry, and their own bodies to bring each song to life. One of my favorite moments was when a performer used their body as a puppet — shifting between being a character and transforming into a living landscape where tiny figures moved and interacted. It was like watching someone fold themselves into the story, using the human form to create something entirely new.

What I love most about Manual Cinema is how they use basic materials — shadows, light, simple objects — to create something intricate and emotionally resonant. They’re a reminder that design and performance don’t need to be complex to be powerful. Sometimes the most moving experiences come from simple elements layered in unexpected ways. Complexity through simplicity. The best design choices are often the ones that make you see something familiar from an entirely new perspective.

via https://manualcinema.com/