When New York State needed to convince kids to put down their phones, they didn't turn to a billboard — they called a puppet maker. Meet Frankie Focus, the custom mascot created by Furry Puppet Studio for Governor Hochul's phone-free schools initiative. The result? A character so compelling he ended up on Late Night with Seth Meyers, featured in The New Yorker, and even crashed Jimmy Kimmel's monologue — with Matt Damon inside the costume.
This is the power of brilliant character design. A well-crafted puppet doesn't just deliver a message — it becomes the message. From concept art to foam and fabric, every detail of Frankie's look was engineered to connect with a young audience.
Whether for public campaigns, TV shows, or brand activations, custom puppets transform ideas into
unforgettable characters. And when the puppet maker gets it right, the whole world pays attention."
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Matt Damon as Frankie Focus |
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| Matt Damon crashes nemesis Jimmy Kimmel's monologue, dressed as Frankie Focus |
