Kamela Portuges

Kamela Portuges was a puppeteer, writer, production designer, and builder who was known for being co-founder of Images in Motion, Inc. alongside Lee Armstrong. Before co-founding the company, she worked at Chris Walas studios as a special effects artist for The Fly 2. Kamela did many TV shows and films such as Being John Malkovich, Baby Einstein: World Music, MonkeyBone, and James and the Giant Peach, to name a few. Portuges was also a talented sculptor and created numerous puppets at IIM such as the Malkovich marionettes and toy prototypes for Leapfrog Toys, Simple Wishes, etc. She was even an expert puppet rigger and builds radio/cable controls for puppets. In her later years she entered the 3D world, designing & printing puppets through a 3D printer. Kamela Portuges is probably the first puppeteer ever to make them through a printer. In addition to Armstrong, some of the other puppeteers she worked with include Michael Wick and David Alexander. Sadly her work at Images in Motion came to an end for she died of natural causes in 2021. It's a shame Kamela died, she was doing so wonderful at the company and has the record for being the first puppeteer to 3D print puppets. I'll bet the people Portuges worked with over the years were saddened upon hearing of her death. The company just isn't the same without one of its founders not to mention their puppeteer/writer/designer/sculptor. I hope that Images in Motion is still running today. Kamela Portuges, you were a huge part of the company and you done so well making and performing puppets for all of those projects mentioned above, as well as prototype toys. I'm positive that you'll never be forgotten by your performing partner Lee Armstrong since you've worked with her for years. Though it's a shame you never assisted the Muppets on any of their projects, but that doesn't really matter in your case. Farewell to you Kamela. R.I.P. Portuges!