Franz Kafke was not known as a science fiction or fantasy writer, but rather as one of the classic authors of literature. Still, few works are as phantasmagorical or thought provoking as his short story Metamorphosis — now brought to life as a musical, starring sock puppets.

Sockz Studio presents its tragi-comedy based on the timeless story.

The plot is simple. A young salesman, solely responsible for the livelihood of his entire family, wakes up one morning to discover that he has metamorphosed into a giant cockroach. What is the value of a man if he ceases to be a source of livelihood for his family? The connection between self-worth and a paycheck is brought into sharp focus in this little musical.

Sockz Studio is an award winning creative collaboration of artist duo Christian Perry and Eric Tsuchiyama, bringing handcrafted storytelling to life through inventive puppetry, visual art, and comedy.

With over 8 million channel views, Sockz Studio has cultivated a rapidly growing digital audience. Their short film Metamorphosis the Musical premiered at New York’s Lincoln Center in November 2025, and has garnered an enthusiastic following online. Their original series The Lab Rat (2025) was an official selection of BAMKids Film Festival (voted “Best Of”) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Their adaptation of I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly (2023) was screened in theaters across the U.S. as part of Children’s Film Festival Seattle’s “Best of the Fest” Tour. Their short film Orbie (2022) was featured in The New York Times’ 5 Things To Do This Weekend.

In 2024, Sockz Studio partnered with Red Tower Books—one of the fastest-growing publishing imprints (home to the mega-hit Fourth Wing)—to produce Sock Puppet Summaries, a fresh and comedic take on book recaps.

Blending nostalgia, found-object art, and offbeat humor, Sockz Studio is redefining puppetry for a new generation.