Friday, March 30, 2018

Get a Glimpse Inside "Muppets Meet the Classics: Fairy Tales From the Brothers Grimm"!

Get an exclusive look at a brand new fairy tale book from The Muppets!
From Oh My Disney:

With classic films like The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island, there are obviously no better storytellers than The Muppets. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal, and the crew fit perfectly into countless classic stories, as proven with the release of last year’s book Muppets Meet the Classics: The Phantom of the Opera.

This year, the Muppets will prove their storytelling prowess once again with a brand new collection of short stories in Muppets Meet the Classics: Fairy Tales From the Brothers Grimm written by Erik Forrest Jackson. Starring Statler and Waldorf, Janice, and more, this new take on old classics will retell the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, and others in perfect Muppet fashion.

Take an exclusive look at the stunning and magical cover art for the book, illustrated by Owen Richardson:



And that’s not the only exclusive we’ve got! You can read one of the stories from the book right now!! Without further ado, here’s “Kermit the Frog-Prince” inspired by The Frog Prince:
Kermit the Frog-Prince
After “The Frog-Prince”
One fine afternoon, young princess Piggy took a walk in the forest in her bonnet, dirndl, and clogs. She carried with her a golden hacky sack, for hacking was her favorite hobby. For hours at a time she would bounce the little bean-filled bag from foot to foot. She had made an effort to play with it less, but alas, she couldn’t kick the habit. 
After a time, she came to a well in the woods she’d never seen before. She peered over the low row of bricks encircling it and gasped at her reflection. “A bonnet, dirndl, and clogs!? On moi!?!” she exclaimed, aghast. “There are literally zero pictures of the Swiss Miss cocoa girl on my inspiration board! Moi’s contract specifically said Prada would design all my outfits! Where’s what’s-his-name—that stage manager guy? Tell him I’m calling my agent.” 
So startled and distressed by her disagreeably dowdy appearance was she that the princess accidentally dropped the hacky sack and down it fell. Plop! It disappeared into the inky water, which, like her appetite, seemed bottomless. She considered jumping in after it, but then she remembered that creepy girl from the Ring movies and nixed that idea entirely. 
Looking longingly into the well, she sang, “I’m wishing, for the one I love . . .” Then she bemoaned her loss, crying out, “If I could only get my hacky sack again, I would give everything I have in the world!” Whilst she was wailing, something swung overhead from a vine. She thought she was hallucinating till she heard a strange noise from behind her. Piggy thought it sounded like a “ribbit.” She turned: the creature crouched on a low branch was not a frog, but a monkey covered in brown fur, wearing a mustard-colored vest and tie!
The primate said in the politest of voices, “Uh, hullo there. What are you crying about?”
 
“My golden footbag has fallen into the well and I am positively gutted.” She moaned. “I mean, I’m a princess! The laws of gravity aren’t supposed to apply to moi.” 
“Maybe I can help? I’m still getting used to this body but—”
“Still getting used to your body? What does that even mean?”
“Uhh, look, I’m forbidden to say more, but if you promise that you’ll protect me, and let me visit you in your palace three times, and each time have a little food off your golden plate and a comfortable rest, well, then I can bring your hack back.”
 
“Let you into my palace? I don’t even know your name!”
“My name? Well . . . for now, you can call me Sal. If you’ll be my bodyguard, I can be your long lost pal.”
What she thought at that moment was: Eating off my plate? Sleeping in my house? Quoting an absolutely ancient Paul Simon song!? Hard pass! But . . . then again . . . my darling hacky sack . . .So what she said at that moment was: “Deal!”
Then, delighted, the monkey launched himself off the branch and dived deep under the water. After a little while he came up again, the footbag clutched in a dripping paw.

As soon as the overjoyed young lass had her beloved ball again, she didn’t give another thought to its savior and, without looking back, hacked all the way home.
The monkey called after her, “Princess, wait! Take me with you like you said you would!” But she was already out of hearing range, the hairy helper long gone from her thoughts.
That night, just as the princess sat down to dinner, she heard that strange ribbit noise again out in the hallway. Soon afterward there was a gentle series of taps at the door. From the other side, a familiar voice cried out:
“Open the door, princess dear,Open the door to the little monkey here!You must remember the promise you madeBy the deep well in the cool forest shade.”
The pig didn’t budge. The king, her father, asked her what was the matter. “A monkey fished my hacky sack out of a well this afternoon. Wow, I think that may be the strangest sentence I’ve ever spoken. I told him that he could visit moi, thinking that he would never find the castle.”The king, who has so little to do in this story that he doesn’t even get a name, told her, “If you gave him your word you must keep it. Go and let him in.” Before she could respond, the clearly irritated monkey knocked more forcefully and said:
“Open the door, princess dear,Open the door to the little monkey here!You must remember the promise you made—”
“All right, furious George, I heard you the first time,” she barked and grudgingly opened the door. 
The monkey loped into the room. “Wow, you’ve sure got some nice digs here,” he said, swinging from the chandelier. He dropped down onto the table and made himself quite comfortable between the candlesticks. He surveyed the dishes. “What are you eating, princess?”
“It’s the only thing better than a talking burrito.”
“What’s that?”
“Adele taco!” [Editor’s Note: we originally had a nachos joke in here, but it seemed too cheesy.]
 
When he had eaten as much as he could, the monkey said, “Sheesh, I’m getting sleepy. Please carry me upstairs?”
“Carry you? Don’t push your luck, buster.”
So they walked up together and the princess gave him a little pillow. He slept soundly at the foot of her bed. Now then, she thought when she woke to find him gone, moi will be troubled with that nuisance no more. But she was mistaken, for when night came she heard the same rapping at the door, and the creature who called himself Sal once more said:
“Open the door, princess dear,Open the door to the little monkey here!You must remember the promise you madeBy the deep well in the cool forest shade.”
And the pig, recalling the advice of her wise father whose name remains unknown, did open the door. The monkey came in, ate, and slept upon the pillow till the morning broke as before. And the third night he did the same.
But when the princess awoke on the following morning she was astonished to see, instead of a monkey, a handsome frog the shade of a ripe pear, standing on two scrawny legs at the foot of her bed and gazing on her with the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. 
“Hi ho! My name is Kermit. Kermit the Frog-Prince!” He took a seat, cross-legged. “It’s kind of a funny story. I was enchanted by a spiteful fairy who changed me into a monkey. I was fated to live in the trees surrounding the well till a princess would agree to invite me over, and let me eat from her plate, and sleep comfortably for three nights. And you, princess,” said the grateful green guy, “have broken the cruel spell. Now I have nothing more to wish for. Except maybe to never eat another banana.” With that he stood to leave.
“Hold on there, buster,” she said, batting her big blue eyes. “I think I should get a little something in exchange, don’t you?”
“Something more than your hacky sack?” 
“I’m talking marriage, Kermie. How about toi and moi get hitched. Either that, or I find that fairy and tell her to change you back into a monkey!”
The frog-prince was so relieved to be free of his fur coat that you may be sure he was not long in saying “yes” to her proposal. In time, the princess introduced him to the addictive charms of kicking back and forth her golden footbag. And so the unlikely couple lived—and hacked—athletically ever after.

Are you hooked? We sure are! If you’re like us and you can’t wait to find out what happens next, you can pre-order the book here.

Muppets Meet the Classics: Fairy Tales from The Brothers Grimm releases on October 9.

Archaia To Go "Beneath the Dark Crystal"!

Get ready to go "Beneath the Dark Crystal" in a new 12 issue comic book mini series. 

JIM HENSON’S BENEATH THE DARK CRYSTAL #1 features a main cover by Benjamin Dewey (Autumnlands), along with variant covers by Eisner Award winners David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Ramón K. Pérez (Jane), and Dave McKean (Sandman).



Writer Adam Smith (Jim Henson’s Labyrinth 2017 Special) and rising-star artist Alexandria Huntington unveil a new sequel to the hit film as Kensho arrives at the Crystal Castle where he was once a lowly acolyte and is asked to accept the responsibility as leader of Thra. But he will have to rectify sins of the past before he can decide if he – or anyone – is fit to rule. Meanwhile, the realm of Mithra is being rebuilt by the newly-crowned Ember Queen Thurma, whose own quest to decide the future of her land is thrown into question when another Fireling makes a claim as the true heir to the throne.


The Dark Crystal is undeniably about wonder and hope, a fantastical world to be explored and saved from evil,” said writer Adam Smith. “In Beneath the Dark Crystal, we’re so excited to continue that exploration to the world beneath Thra, Mithra. The Jim Henson Company has always told undeniably human stories wrapped in magic and mysticism, and we hope that readers will not just join us, but connect in some way, to a new world of hope and wonder. The next stage of Thurma and Kensho’s relationship is a very human story, just with Firelings, Gelfling, and a very powerful Light.”

The Dark Crystal has been one of my favorite films since childhood, and has largely inspired and influenced my illustrative work,” says artist Alexandria Huntington. “I am just really excited to add to that legacy. For me, The Dark Crystal transcends “fantasy” as the genre we know today, and harkens back to something more primal. It’s more a myth than a story, and there is something intrinsically magical about that.”


JIM HENSON’S BENEATH THE DARK CRYSTAL is the latest release from BOOM! Studios’ ambitious Archaia imprint, home to graphic novels such as Mouse Guard by David Petersen; Rust by Royden Lepp; Bolivar by Sean Rubin; Jane by Aline Brosh McKenna and Ramón K. Pérez; and licensed series like Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock and Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Coronation.

“We were overwhelmed by the incredible fan response to The Power of the Dark Crystal and honored to continue the story of Thurma and Kensho in this new series,” said Cameron Chittock, Editor, BOOM! Studios. “Adam and Alexandria are exploring the world fans love in ways never seen before, while grounding the story in questions about responsibility and the greater good that’ll resonate on a deeper level.”

Jim Henson’s Beneath the Dark Crystal #1 goes on sale in July!

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Muppet Thought of the Week - Scooter's Great Advice!

Scooter wonders what his mom will think of this week's Muppet Thought of the Week!



Wednesday, March 28, 2018

First Look: Labyrinth: Coronation #2

The second issue of Labyrinth: Coronation hits stores today.


In the issue written by Simon Spurrier and illustrated by Daniel Bayliss, t
he Goblin King's mother enters the Labyrinth, discovering a strange and marvelous world unlike anything she could imagine and one much different than what Sarah will encounter years later.









You can get your copy at your local comic book store and through Amazon today.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Watch The First Episode of The Muppet Babies Reboot!

The new Muppet Babies reboot premiered Friday, and if you haven't already checked it out, Disney released the first episode "Sir Kermit the Brave / Animal Fly Airplane" on youtube!




While the show is obviously aimed at younger kids, I enjoyed how true to the spirit of the original and the characters were. Adults can enjoy all the other Muppet references scattered, hidden, and clear as day in the background.

Another great things about the series is the textures. While it's not puppets (nor was the original) each character, with exception of Miss Piggy, feel like they could be! You can see Kermit's and Summer's fuzz, but the real standouts are Fozzie and Gonzo. The texture artists did a great job making them look like their felt counterparts. 

Very end gives credit to Jim Henson which is a great touch as well.

Interestingly, they call it "The Muppet Studios" in the credits, but call it "The Muppets Studio" in the closing tag.

You can watch the first full episode below! 
Let us know what you think. 


Friday, March 23, 2018

Henson Series Pick Up More Daytime Emmy Nominations!

The 2017 Daytime Emmy nominations have been announced and Sesame Street has once again racked up an impressive list of nominations and not just in the children's categories. Newcomer Julie's Greenroom also scored some noms, though it's competing directly with Sesame in the categories they're nominated in. Even Splash & Bubbles got a nom for creator and star John Tartaglia. 



And the Henson nominees are...
Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series 
Julie’s Greenroom Netflix
Sesame Street HBO

Outstanding Special Class – Short Format Daytime Program
Sesame Street: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with Julia & Elmo YouTube.com

Outstanding Interactive Media Enhancement to a Daytime Program or Series 
Sesame Street sesamestreetincommunities.org

Outstanding Writing in a Children’s, Preschool Children’s, Family Viewing
Julie’s Greenroom Netflix
Sesame Street HBO
Outstanding Directing in a Children’s, Preschool Children’s or Family Viewing Program 
Julie’s Greenroom Netflix
Sesame Street HBO

Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design
Sesame Street HBO

Outstanding Lighting Direction 
Sesame Street HBO
Outstanding Technical Team 
Sesame Street HBO
Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing 
Sesame Street HBO
Outstanding Sound Mixing 
Sesame Street HBO
Outstanding Sound Editing – Live Action 
Sesame Street HBO

Outstanding Original Song 
“A Song About Songs”Sesame Street HBO 

“Try A Little Kindness”Sesame Street HBO
Outstanding Hairstyling Sesame Street HBO

Outstanding Performer in an Animated ProgramJohn Tartaglia – Splash and Mrs. Tidy in Splash and Bubbles

In total Sesame Street received 14 nominations, Julie's Greenroon 2, and Splash and Bubbles 1.

The Daytime Emmy Awards are to be held on Sunday, April 29. No TV network has yet to be announced. 

Muppet Thought of the Week - Sgt. Floyd Pepper & Animal Drop In!

It may be Friday, but it's always a good time for a Muppet Thought of Week. This week Floyd and Animal drop in...








Thursday, March 22, 2018

Throwback Thursday: Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog on Wogan!

Some video recently surfaced of Jim Henson with Kermit the Frog on BBC talk show Wogan from December 6th 1985.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

First Look: Jim Henson's Storyteller: Fairies #4!

The 4th and final issue of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Fairies hit's stores today. 

The main cover and interior artwork are by Celia Lowenthal, 


Main Cover
while the subscription cover is by Sas Milledge.

Subscription cover

In the issue "A young shepherd is lured to the realm of fairies, shrunken down to their size and in awe of their magical lands. He lives in great happiness there until one day he finds a fountain, which the fairies say can provide all of man’s desires. The shepherd is enticed, but like many things in the realm of fairies, not everything is what it seems."

Check out the first few pages below:

You can get your copy at your local comic book store and through Amazon today.

Monday, March 19, 2018

More Muppet Babies Videos!

With the premier only a few days away, Disney Junior released two more Muppet Babies videos to promote series. 


In case you need a reintroduction, "Meet the Muppets!"



Here's a music video for "What's So Scary About the Dark?"



Let's Play!



We also now also have a look at the show's full opening and theme song!


The new Muppet Babies premieres this Friday, March 23rd at 10AM on Disney Junior.

Adorkable Rachel Talks Muppet Guys Talking!

Our friend Rachel is back to talk about the newly released documentary Muppet Guys 
Talking!




Friday, March 16, 2018

Muppet Guys Talking Now Available!

A year after premiering at SXSW Frank Oz's documentary Muppet Guys Talking is finally available for all to see. 

 

As of this morning the film is ready to be downloaded an enjoyed.

 

Currently there are two ways to download the film at two widely different price points.

The first option is a very reasonable $9.97 and will get you access to the film only. 


For the hard core fan with plenty of expendable income, they're also offering a V.I.P "Below Stage Pass." This includes the film plus the following extras:
  • LIVE HANGOUTS WITH THE GUYSYou get to be part of a online audience and watch/listen to the Guys during two LIVE unprecedented, unscripted video Hangouts. They’ll share never-before-heard anecdotes and answer select viewer questions.
  • RECORDINGS OF LIVE HANGOUTSParticipate in the Hangouts whether you can make it live or not. Submit your questions in advance, watch whenever you want, and relive the fun over and over again.
  • MEMBERSHIP IN THE PRIVATE MGT FACEBOOK COMMUNITYInteract with the Muppet Guys Talking fans. Discuss the film, the Hangouts, the Guys or anything else!
  • BONUS! EXTRA FOOTAGEDeleted Scenes, Outtakes, AND other great moments we couldn’t fit into the movie.
This option will set you back $97, that is until next Wednesday 3/21, when the price will increase to $197!
Both options of Muppet Guys Talking are available now at MuppetGuysTalking.com

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Muppet Thought of the Week - Miss Piggy Takes the Reins!

Miss Piggy takes the reins in this week's Muppet Thought of the Week!





Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Talking About Muppet Guys Talking!

I just finished watching Muppet Guys Talking, and it simply striking in so many ways.



The first thing you notice right away is just how raw it feels. From the opening titles to Frank Oz's intro you can tell you're in for something different. 

This isn't a glamours documentary with depth of field shots, or a behind the scenes special on how the things are made. 


The man who took the Muppets to Manhattan, had a signing plant destroy skid row, let dirty rotten scoundrels out to play, and tied Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin into a bowfinger, strips it all away to simply let you enjoy the company around him.

In some of the promotional materials Oz called it "Shooting Dirty" and the end result is both jarring and conversely relaxing.




Frank is joined in warn leather couches in an almost empty brick room with his
longtime collaborators and friends Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill, Dave Goelz, and Bill Barretta. Immediately you get the sense that your just a fly on the wall listening as these old friends swap stories about working together and with Jim Henson. 


They talk at length about their dearly departed leader and the lengths he would go to bring magic to the screen. They also briefly delve into working with their other friends that have passed on like Richard "Richie" Hunt, Jerry Juhl, and Don Sahlin. Here is where I would have liked to have seen a little more archival footage, especially of Richard and Jim. Their lost stories and interactions are a painful reminder of that they left us all too soon. It should also be said that Jerry Nelson passed away not long after filming. 


You may recall that Jerry died in 2012, while the copyright on the screener I received said 2016. It goes to show just how long it's taken to get this little film out to the world.

The film is very much aimed at Muppet fans who already have a working knowledge of the people and characters each of these "guys" brought to the screen over years.

It'll be interesting to see the reaction by some of the more conservative Henson fans when they learn that not only were the Muppets not made for kids - not even Sesame Street to an extent, but to hear the "shit" litteraly fly a few times in a "Muppet" movie.  




The elephant in room is everyone/ thing they don't mention. While I don't expect them to name drop every single performer, writer, and director, they do not mention Louise Gold one of the few female performers, any of the recasts or how they were handled - not even the characters Bill Baretta took over, any of the second generation performers, any of the human cast of Sesame Street, nor Marty Robinson, Kevin Clash, and this is a big one, Steve Whitmire. The loss of these people being recognized for their contribution to The Muppets gives the otherwise familiar vibe of the film a somewhat hollow sting.

Having seen pretty much every Muppet/ Henson special and movie, and having the privilege of seeing most of these performers tell these and similar stories at live events, it was still refreshing to learn new things about each of them while also getting a sense how excruciatingly complex, and at times dangerous, scenes were to pull off. 

 

I won't spoil it here, but suffice it to say Frank tells the story of the contraption used to create one of the climatic scenes in The Great Muppet Caper. Having watched the film countless times, I thought I for sure knew how they filmed it. If you think you have an idea, I can pretty much guarantee you will be shocked to learn how it was actually done. 




With all the attention Jim paid to filming behind the scenes footage for The Muppet Show (seen in footage from Of Muppet and Men),The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth (shockingly neither of which is mentioned at all), I'm surprised there isn't much behind and under the scenes photos or film from the early Muppet movies themselves - surely if they existed we would have seen something by now.

That brings me to the clever way the filmmakers illustrate these stories - by 
literally
illustrating them over the frame. This technique lets you see how both complex, and at times simple, some of these techniques and tricks really were.


The low techness of the the whole thing makes it feel like you're just one seat away, hanging out with people who play larger then life characters. It's intimate, sweet, and 
highly
recommended for fans, but I'm not sure those with just a casual appreciation of the Muppets will be willing to sit and hangout.




Muppet Guys Talking will be available this Friday, March 16th at MuppetGuysTalking.com

Power of the Dark Crystal #12

The final issue of The Power of the Dark Crystal hits comic shops today!



Thra will never be the same after their world is irrevocably changed by the events in the Fireling realm of Mithra.







The Power of the Dark Crystal #12 is available now at your local comic shop and through Amazon.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Adorkable Rachel - Dark Crystal Unboxing and HAUL!

Today our good friend Rachel takes a look a some recently released Dark Crystal merchandise including the new Anniversary Edition Blu-ray. 


You might even notice a shout out or two to a certain blog your reading...


Thanks Rachel for another great video!

Monday, March 12, 2018

Pre-order Diamond Select's Swedish Chef figure!

When last we spoke with the fine folks at Diamond Select, they told us they were working on getting the 4th wave of figures released. 

Well, today a pre-order link for the 
Swedish Chef was unveiled through Big Bad Toys!




So far it's not clear if this is an exclusive to Big Bad Toys (though if it is, I'm sure they'd announce it on their site).

UPDATE: According to Diamond Select's Zach Oak "
It should be offered at other retailers soon."





It looks like they're using the Swedish Chef to test the waters to see if there is high enough demand for the figures on a character by characters basis.
UPDATE: Oak confirmed our theory "We are trying a one-at-a-time approach. Chef first, we thought he was strongest. Encourage pre-orders."

The Swedish Chef is great figure to do this with and hopefully it will lead to the rest of the series being released. 


Head on over to Big Bad Toys and pre-order your Swedish Chef!