Many documentary films, in their attempts to be informative and fact-based, cease to be heart-warming and inspiring. “Being Elmo” is a documentary that radiates all of these qualities and leaves the audience captivated with the child-like wonder they originally felt when watching characters like Elmo as toddlers.

“Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” is a new documentary film that follows the life and work of Kevin Clash, the man behind the world’s most beloved Muppet. It is directed by Constance Marks and narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.

The film introduces us to the man behind the magic.

We are told of Clash as a young boy growing up on the outskirts of Baltimore who loved to watch television and made his first puppet out of his father’s trench coat. He continued to make his own puppets and put on shows for the neighborhood children.

While some of his classmates taunted his unconventional hobby, they probably never imagined that Clash would be the man behind the world-famous character and the Tickle Me Elmo craze.

After graduating high school, Clash left Baltimore for a job in New York City as a puppeteer on the “Captain Kangaroo” television series. After the series was cancelled, Clash went to work for Jim Henson. Soon after beginning his work for Henson, Clash began playing Elmo.

Many people have probably never considered exactly how much hard work and talent it takes to be a master puppeteer such as Clash. After watching the film, it is also apparent that the uncanny ability to pinpoint and replicate human emotions and reflect them with a piece of fabric is what has made Clash so successful.

Clash developed a character full of love. Whether the film is showing archival footage of Clash’s early work with Elmo or performing for an excited group of schoolchildren, his character fully embodies this virtue. Elmo evokes warmth and kindness, which is why he has appealed to so many generations across so many cultures. In a poignant moment, a terminally ill child gets to meet Elmo, and we are reminded that Clash has created something larger than just a puppet.

While we don’t see Clash operating Elmo in the Sesame Street series, having the chance to meet him in the film in no way subtracts takes away from the magic. In fact, the film has been brilliantly directed and edited to ensure that our awareness of the puppeteers only enhances our wonder. This film is a pleasure to watch, and it introduces us to an occupation in which the talent of its professionals is often neglected.