The old series used a technique called "supermarionation", using fine wires to move the puppets, but the new series will use computer-generated characters.
Simon Clutterbuck, James Jacobs and Dr. Richard Dorling won for inventing a technique which has made huge advances in bringing to life computer-generated characters such as Gollum in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.
Rather than trying to take virtual characters (and as great as even the new PS4 graphics look, game characters are still virtual) and turn them into live action actors, Wreck-It Ralph keeps these game characters within their computer-generated world.
Twitter made it simpler again to express yourself by constraining expression to 140 characters that can in fact be generated for you through share buttons on other sites.