Quirino Cristani’s Cardboard Cutouts

Origin
Buenos Aires born and raised, Quirino Cristani enjoyed drawing caricatures for the newspapers of his adopted city. In 1916, the Radical party leader Hipólito Yrigoyen was elected to support the lower class, but was openly mocked by conservatives. They called him Peludo (shaggy and idiot) for being socially awkward, and deciding to not let the heavily German-Argentine population fight in WWI. Cristani was chosen off the streets to learn the news and film trade, creating all his shorts with cardboard cutouts. So successful were his films, Cristani was told to make the first animated film with Yrigoyen as the protagonist.

El Apóstol casted President Yrigoyen as Jupiter, hurtling thunderbolts on Buenos Aires to scorch away corruption. The city ends up burning instead. This parody would not be the last film of Cristani “praising” the president. The following year, a commander attempted to trick Argentina into a German alliance, which everyone saw through. Yrigoyen avoided making statements to stay out of the war, which Cristani capitalized on; the film was confiscated the second day of premiere.

Feeling the man was overly dominated by corrupt leaders, Cristani set about making Peludópolis. Yrigoyen’s floating “Peludo City” was being swarmed by ravenous Radical sharks, complete with sound effects. However, Yrigoyen was deposed a year into production, forcing Cristiani to diminish the focal characters’ story. Although approved by the new government, audiences were disgusted by the timing, which worsened when Yrigoyen passed away, the people suddenly caring about their disliked leader. Cristiani took the film out of circulation, becoming a footnote in film studies. His last notable work was helping Disney complete part of their film Saludos Amigos.

Effects
When the paper puppets hear Spanish, they will animate with fully articulated movement. They will imprint on the first speaker and form any play the user desires. The subject always revolves around biting commentary thrown towards a current political turmoil. To avoid scorn yet retain its message, the acts will always take a highly fantastical setting, sometimes spanning entire buildings in a newly generated world.

Users can “advise” the figures to depict certain dignitaries, except when the subject is already considered cartoonish and exaggerated. Unfortunately, they also become horrible at timing commitments, choosing the singular worst moments to make important decisions.