flat figure

Shadow figures are a specific kind of flat puppet where their shadow is projected onto a translucent screen. These figures can be crafted from opaque materials like leather, as seen in traditional theaters of Java, Bali, and Thailand, or from translucent materials such as colored fish skins, used in Chinese, Indian, and Turkish traditions.1

Flat figures, in general, are two-dimensional puppets. While some are manipulated from above, similar to marionettes, and others use rods, their most significant use has been in toy theaters. These originated in England around 1811, allowing people to perform popular plays at home with cut-out characters and scenery. The appeal of puppetry, in general, lies in its impersonality and the audience's imagination, creating a unique theatrical experience.23