A shadow puppet is basically a two-dimensional cut-out form with moving parts. When light is projected behind a screen, the puppet appears as a silhouette, or an opaque drawing in profile. A puppet is successful if it seems to take on a life of its own. Although India is the general source of puppetry that spread throughout Europe through gypsy caravans, Turkish puppets have much in common with Indonesian and Egyptian puppet-making traditions. Shadow puppets have a long history in Turkish everyday life. Today the plays are common cultural performances and restaurant entertainment. This article briefly describes the details behind shadow puppet production and its influence in the Turkish culture.