As my tests showed, the Mandala Crafts string marionettes are an excellent addition to the puppet collection .These Chinese-themed puppets are beautifully crafted, making them top-notch display items for my puppet theater. The strings are easy to handle, giving me full control over each puppet, and at the same time, making the characters come alive in my children's imaginative play. However, the products are quite expensive, which can be a con for budget-conscious buyers..