Fantorangen

Fantorangen has its own world, both inside the cave where it lives and in the surrounding forest. Fantorangen has several friends, Pivi and Fantus and Maurora the ant.

Fantorangen has its own toy, Eddi, a cuddly animal that can neither move nor speak. Fantorangen says that Eddi can speak and decide his own actions, so that Fantorangen can blame Eddi when something goes wrong. Eddi is registered together with Fantorangen. 

Between 2007 and 2015, Fantorangen was performed by Berit Nermoen. Miriam Jacobsen took over from 2015 to 2018, after which Inger Lindheim Gundersen has performed the puppet.

Sources: Helgesen, Anne: Descriptions for the TV puppet exhibition "Alle tiders barndomshelter" ("Childhood heroes through the generations"), Slottsfjellsmuseet/Figurfestspillene, 19–28 January 2024.

Ownership: On loan from NRK Super.

Transmitted to Sceneweb: 13.03.2024.

Fantorangen’s most characteristic feature is its large mouth, splitting the face in two, that can open and shut. The puppet is a real "chatterbox". Fantorangen also has a long snout and large ears. The glass eyes, with black pupils on a white background, are place high up on the head. The head was carved from foam rubber. 

Fantorangen’s body is small in relation to the large head. In the first version of the puppet it was filled with feathers, but in later versions the body is also made of foam rubber. It has a lighter section on the front of the body. The arms are thin, with three fingers on each paw. The legs have hooves. A rod is fixed to each of the paws, while the legs hung loosely and moved naturally with the puppet. We assume that rods could also be fixed to the legs to control their movements if necessary. Fantorangen’s outer layer was made of material such as woolen felt.

Fantorangen exists in several different-sized versions, including one in human size.

The above description is based on photographs, and notes taken during the photography session.

Fantorangen has a "pet" called Eddi, a cuddly toy. Eddi is made of long-haired muppet fleece and has no control mechanism. Eddi is approximately 25 cm high.  

Fantorangen has an opening in the neck for the performer’s hand, to enable the mouth to be controlled. The performer’s other hand controlled the arms. Two performers are needed if the legs are also to be controlled. 

The puppet was constructed to be able to make basic movements, but has further possible functions if there are more performers. 

The above description is based on photographs, and notes taken during the photography session.

During the Figurfestspillene ("Puppet festival") in Tønsberg in January 2024, NRK presented a new stage production showing how they make a programme with Fantorangen (Sånn lager vi Fantorangens Verden; Støperiet Scene). This was the first time that NRK revealed the process behind the television programmes. 

In 2024, Fantorangen took to the theatre stage. Fantorangen på teater ("Fantorangen at the theatre") was a new play produced by Riksteatret in collaboration with Oslo Nye Teater and NRK. Christina Espedal (NRK) and Helena Bäckman (BLA, Stockholm) created Fantorangen for the stage, and Hilde Hægh was responsible for the script and direction.