Editorial: Trapped in the Magic Kingdom

[Phillip]

Here is the third article in our series of editorials on the Disney-Henson deal. It's written by Annika Abel and entitled "Trapped in the Magic Kingdom".

http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/editorials/disneys_muppets3.shtml

Let us know your thoughts on the story.

 

[Erine81981]

It better stay the same. No CGI or I'm never going to go back to Muppets. They'll be gone forever from my site. I'll still keep the goods in w/ my heart but when they do something I don't like then there they go. I hope no one decided to record what I just said because if something does happen then I'm breaking into Disney and rescuing them from near danger.

 

[cobyjmh]

wow

I think that article was terribly, disgustingly, annoyingly pessimistic. After Muppets From Space and The Swamp Years and It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the Muppets have nowhere to go but up. I don't think Disney is stupid enough to turn them into CGI. I think, unfortunately, Fraggle Rock has already been lost in the shuffle. And I think the problems with performers would still be prevalent if Disney wasn't involved-- Frank's been gone for years, Jerry was MIA for the Christmas thing. They've got nowhere to go but up and, since our opinions as mere fans don't count for anything, I think we should try to find the good in what's happened.

- Coby

 

[guysmiley4ever]

this whole Disney/Henson deal is just a big mess.
I can't see much light at the end of this dark, dank tunnel.
Most of all, I'd wish the Muppets would come back to life, but don't want them reinvented. I want to see all the old stuff all over again.
Play all of the old Sesame Streets, rerun the Muppet show, Fraggle Rock, movies, and everything Jim Henson did. Bring it back to us! Please!!

 

[BoyRaisin2]

I think that article was terribly, disgustingly, annoyingly pessimistic. I think, unfortunately, Fraggle Rock has already been lost in the shuffle. And I think the problems with performers would still be prevalent if Disney wasn't involved-- Frank's been gone for years, Jerry was MIA for the Christmas thing.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree. And this line:

>>On the other, I am offended by the crass commercialism, excessive violence and thinly veiled racism and sexism that populates so many Disney creations. I don’t respect Disney, but I admit they’re the best at what they do.<<

What that has to do with anything, I don't know.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Keep in mind that editorials are opinions.

This paragraph is the summation of the article:

Kermit and his loveable troupe of pigs and bears and rats and whatevers are packing their bags. Let’s hope they aren’t treated like second-rate step-children. Let’s hope they aren’t relegated to preschool direct-to-video snoozes. Let’s hope they aren’t swallowed by computers. Let’s hope the focus isn’t on theme park rides but on quality films and if not a new series at least some TV specials with the Muppet humor we know and love (and the jokes that went over our heads when we were kids).

And I understand it and feel that.

Personally, I've decided to sit back and see what happens. It's done and over-with, nothing we can say or do will change that. Period.

All we can do now is pray.

 

[BoyRaisin2]

Keep in mind that editorials are opinions.

You're right. Sorry, Annika. The racism/sexism comment really sorta threw me off.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

It's a good editorial, though - as coby pointed out - a little pessimistic. There's a few assumptions Annika made that I don't think are necessarily true:

1. Merchandise

I don't think the quality of Merchandise will necessarily suffer under Disney, though it could. Disney is a mass-merchandiser. They will want to expand the market for Muppet merchandise. Will there be some horrible children's products? I don't doubt it. But it won't be all bad.

The collectible figure market is exploding and if the existing Muppet line(s) are making enough money for everyone they'll keep it going. We should also remember that to be fair - despite the JHC's reputation for quality products - the Muppets put out their fair share of lousy merchandise in their heyday.

2. Muppeteers

The JHC really only held a workshop every few years, and then only if they needed people. It wasn't done just for the sake of furthering the art of puppetry. Fortunately part of Jim Henson's great legacy is that he taught many, many people who will of course to teach others and so on. Also, they've retained the Creature Shop and other non-classic Muppet brands so presumably they will not be abandoning puppetry outright but moving towards projects like Farscape and Jack and the Beanstalk.

3. Muppets without Muppeteers

I'm not so sure that the `89 talks with Disney broke down just over Muppeteer ownership of the characters. I believe that was just one in a series of issues that were problematic. I do agree with the principal of respecting the tie between puppeteers and their characters, but this line has already been blurred by younger performers taking over characters like Piggy, Fozzie, Rowlf, etc. I think the situation is different now than it was 15 years ago. The esthablished performers are older, less available and Richard Hunt and Jim Henson have of course passed on.

I don't think Disney will be having a different puppeteer do a characters all the time. The Muppets will probably be treated the same as Goofy or Mickey who have only had a small handful of voice actors in 50+ years with each usually continuing to do the character until their retirement or death. Lets also remember that most of the puppeteers used in Disney's puppet TV shows were trained by the Muppets. I think the quality of the puppetry won't change much.

 

[Manda:-D]

Well...Now that tyhe deal's been made, all I plan to do is hope for the best...But not be surprised by the worst.

 

[Luke]

Also, they've retained the Creature Shop and other non-classic Muppet brands so presumably they will not be abandoning puppetry outright but moving towards projects like Farscape and Jack and the Beanstalk.

From what i gather they are also retaining the Muppeteers. It's early days but it'll probably work out the same as Sesame hiring them for SS. Henson are the production company so it's upto them to hire the talent - same with the puppet workshop although i haven't heard that for sure. Obviously Disney have the final say about who they use though, and we don't know how things will go in a few years time.

I've never heard of the Muppeteers being a main reason why the talks broke down, it's true they've never been happy working for Disney though and messing with the characters is one reason for that. If anything everything was sorted and going ahead, it's just Jim died. Disney wanted to renegotiate, Hensons thought the price was still fair and didn't want to. Disney weren't very nice about this and some nasty stuff was said about Jim and the Henson family. Don't think it came from Eisner, probably Katzenburg.

I am of mixed opinion about the whole collectable figure thing. I think it can probably go down either way, it would depend if there is a future division of speciality and mass market licenses. Obviously Disney are gonna want plush and plastic for themselves during 2005, but if they can get away with doing that as a themed thing for a movie or show or something it might not mean them having to spend loads of money clawing back licenses. I don't expect them to want to spend lots of money out before they even start with the brand as its gonna cost em enough as it is.