Ventriloquists call them "figures."
i guess it could be a puppet holder or a puppet comedian??
A ventriloquist is someone who talks without moving thier lips and creates the illusion of life in another in-animate object. I know because i'm a ventriloquist myself. Puppet: I know, so sad.... Me: Shut up! Puppet: Ha ha ha.
One can learn how to use a Ventriloquist puppet from many different resources. Some online resources on how to use such a puppet include BrownieLocks and Axtell.
Batman's enemy, The Ventriloquist's puppet.
Either a ventriloquist or a puppeteer.
Mike Harris
Keith Harris
Puppets are not alive, despite what the ventriloquist/puppeteer might lead you to believe.
A puppeteer makes no effort to disguise that they are operating the puppet. They may be hidden by a curtain or off-camera. A ventriloquist creates the illusion the puppet is alive as a separate personality on the stage. This is done through still lips when the puppet is talking and conversational dialog in which the ventriloquist will interact with the character.
Madame is a custom made ventriloquist puppet by Wayland Flowers. Not sure that there is a look-a-like for her. You can try some custom making puppet website. http://www.puppetsandprops.com/ http://www.ventriloquiststore.com/
"Lamb Chop" was created and voiced by ventriloquist/puppeteer Shari Lewis, who died in 1998.
The manga you are referring to is likely "Ninin ga Shinobuden," also known as "2x2=Shinobuden," where the protagonist Kaede is a ventriloquist who uses her puppet to perform ninja techniques.