Muppets Panoramas Puzzle

Mega Puzzles released a 750 piece Muppet puzzle as part of their panoramas line. The image is made up of a stocks photos that pretty much work well together, except that Gonzo seems too small, Zoot seems too large, and Animal's hair wasn't cut out properly, creating a halo effect around him.  

Amazon currently has one (literally) for sale here.

RIP H.R. Giger

Surrealist  artist and  "Alien" designer  H.R. Giger passed away today at 74.

There aren't a whole lot of Henson/Alien/Giger connections or cross overs, but  the artist
best known for designing the Xenomorph in 1979's "Alien" definitely inspired the Henson team. 

Using one of of his many portraits as an example,

you can clearly see the influence his work had on the creation of Farscape's Pilot.  

The most direct connection in a Muppet production is from the Muppet Babies episode "Nanny's Day Off,"  in which Baby Animal is seen being awakened from a stasis chamber following a number of establishing shots from "Aliens."

Baby Animal awakens on USS Sulaco by MuppetWiki

Below are the two paintings Giger made in 1976 that drew Alien director Ridley Scott to hire Giger. His creature would go on to terrify warrant officer Ripley through 4 films and audiences around the world for decades to come.

  “Necronom IV” 

 “Necronom V”

You can read more about Giger and his work at Roling Stone.

Today show: Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge

Henson puppets and creatures stopped by the Today show this morning to promote "Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge."

 You can read a recap and watch the main segment here.

How to Pay For Muppet Stuff - Part 2 - Muppet Checks

We're back with another installment in our "How to Pay For Muppet Stuff" series. In Part 1
we looked at Sesame Street themed debit cards, today we go a little old school an look at a new line of Muppet checks!

In 2002, Image Checks released a set of Muppet check designs and that tradition
continued in 2004, with Checks in the Mail. Now the Bradford Exchange has a new set of Muppet checks to make paying bills that more more fun!

This set has eight designs, including three group shots - two of which have added Animal peaking in from the side. This makes the five main characters evenly featured on all the checks with one big group shop to include other favorites. 

They even have a matching set of address labels and checkbook case.

There are eight designs, including three group shots - two of which have added Animal peaking in from the side. This makes the five main characters even featured on all the checks with one big group shop to include other favorites. 

Most Wanted Blu-ray UK Release Date!

We have another Muppets Most Wanted release date. The UK Blu-ray/ DVD will be released August 4th! (That's one day before the US for those keeping score).

UK fans can preorder theit copy here.

Throwback Thursday: Dinosaurs Happy Meal Toy - Ethyl

Last week Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge gave a shout-out to Dinosaurs' Ethyl. It got me thinking about old Ethyl and the merchandise produced featuring the cantankerous matriarch. Though she appeared in the Dinosaurs comic, board game and various other printed materials., she was only ever immortalized in 3D form as part of McDonald's 1993 Dinosaurs Happy Meal Toys. 

Each toy had "Dino-motion," which was a small hose and pump attached that when pushed, would cause an action on the toy to occur. In Ethy's case her feet and tail would move.

So with Mother's Day around the corner, what better way to celebrate the grand-mama of all Henson mothers - Ethyl

National Nurse Week!

In honor of National Nurse Week we present "Moi's Heart is Off the Chart," one of 7
figurines produced in 2007 for The Hamilton Collection's "Nurses are So Sty-lish
Figurine Collection."

And while we're talking about health, here's a "grape" all pig version of "Veterinarian's Vegetarian's Hospital."

So this week be sure to to let all the nurses in your lives know how invaluable their services are!