The Jim Henson Firm has launched its personal assertion about the way forward for MuppetVision 3D in response to Walt Disney World’s announcement of its closure and substitute at Hollywood Studios. This shares the complete official assertion together with background in regards to the Jim Henson Firm’s rocky relationship with Disney in addition to different context and commentary.
Let’s begin with a fast recap for individuals who have missed the Muppet mayhem. Walt Disney World introduced throughout the 2024 D23 Expo {that a} brand-new land themed round Monsters, Inc. will come to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Selecting up after the occasions of Pixar’s beloved movie, people have now been invited to go to the world of Monsters, Inc.
Walt Disney World followers rapidly realized that Monstropolis would nearly definitely want to exchange an current space of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Additional reinforcing this notion is that Disney launched two items of idea artwork for Monstropolis, exhibiting seemingly conflicting places for the land. We beforehand mentioned the potential candidates in What Will Walt Disney World Sacrifice for Monstropolis?
Sadly, we now know that the loser within the Monstropolis sweepstakes is Muppet Courtyard. Walt Disney World has introduced that they’ll be opening ‘new doorways’ for Muppets and Monsters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On a optimistic notice, this implies the Muppets taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and changing Aerosmith. On a detrimental notice, it means MuppetVision 3D closing to make manner for the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and Monstropolis.
Which brings us to the official assertion on the closure of MuppetVision 3D from the Jim Henson Firm:
Jim Henson’s last undertaking was Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D, now thought to be a real theme park traditional. Innovation was all the time Jim Henson’s north star, and his trailblazing profession led him to a singular problem: a very immersive Muppet expertise the place audiences are a part of the blissful chaos of the enduring Muppet Present.
Initially debuting in 1991, Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D mixed 3D know-how with real-world sensible results, alongside animatronic and reside Muppet characters. The outcome was a one-of-a-kind Jim Henson expertise, and an unforgettable capstone to Jim’s magnificent profession. As we study of the present’s upcoming closure in its present kind at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we sit up for Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D’s subsequent act.
A few of chances are you’ll be confused as to why the Jim Henson Firm is placing out a press release about MuppetVision 3D. In spite of everything, doesn’t Disney personal the Muppets? So isn’t this no completely different than a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Firm releasing a press release, like if LucasFilm had been to touch upon the standard of the newest Disney+ present? Probably not.
That is extra just like the Walt Disney Household Museum–or actually, Walt’s grandkids and different kin–commenting on one thing being finished by the present firm. When you have a look at the Jim Henson Firm Board of Administrators, you’ll discover a standard final identify. Spoiler alert, it’s Henson. The corporate is (as soon as once more) managed by Jim Henson’s household, together with his grownup kids: Brian, Lisa, Cheryl, and Heather Henson.
The Jim Henson Firm just isn’t owned by Disney in entire or partially. But it surely nearly was! Again within the late Nineteen Eighties, Jim Henson began to barter a deal wherein the Muppets could be offered to Disney. (That is most likely a narrative many diehard Walt Disney World and Muppets followers have heard earlier than, however in case not…)
Michael Eisner was trying to develop Disney’s attain by buying different franchises, in a pre-cursor to the various strikes made by his successor, Bob Iger. Disney and the Muppets had been an ideal match. Each had been extremely profitable corporations with characters beloved by generations.
Walt Disney had Mickey Mouse and Jim Henson had Kermit. They had been two inventive titans, and in my view, about the one acquisitions that will’ve ‘match’ in addition to the Muppets would’ve been Pixar and Studio Ghibli, the latter headed by Hayao Miyazaki, often known as the “Walt Disney of Japan.”
By all accounts, Jim Henson agreed with this evaluation that the Muppets and Disney had been an ideal match for each other. Henson had grown uninterested in the enterprise aspect of the Muppets and wished to get again to creating. His studio was in debt, the Muppets weren’t as sizzling as they had been a decade earlier, and the Walt Disney Firm had confirmed itself succesful brand-managers. Henson felt Disney may revitalize the Muppets in a very win-win deal. And Eisner actually wished to make the deal occur.
Negotiations bought actually far alongside, with the 2 studios partnering to supply a 60-minute particular referred to as The Muppets at Walt Disney World, certainly one of our all-time favourite Disney TV specials.
Earlier than the acquisition was finalized, Imagineering and Henson started working on creating sights for the Disney-MGM Studios, either side figuring it was a finished deal. This resulted in stage reveals and leisure choices: Right here Come the Muppets and Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Rose. It additionally dropped at life MuppetVision 3D, and was supposed to incorporate an entire land themed to the Muppets.
Tragically, MuppetVision 3D was final undertaking that Jim Henson personally labored on, as he handed away on Could 16, 1990. The present was completed after his passing by Henson’s longtime collaborators, however bears his fingerprints and trademark humor and coronary heart throughout it. Disney’s plans to create an entire Muppet land had been placed on the again burner, and the deal to amass the studio fell aside.
There are a selection of causes for the deal not coming to fruition, all revolving round Henson’s passing. The sordid saga has grow to be the stuff of legends in fan circles, and it’s believed that Disney’s acquisition of the Jim Henson Firm was solely days away from taking place.
Years later, the Jim Henson Firm did promote the rights to sure characters and properties away to different corporations, together with the Muppets to Disney and Sesame Road to Sesame Workshop. That’s why these characters are in two completely different theme parks.
The Jim Henson Firm additionally maintains the rights to sure titles within the again catalogue, which is why Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas isn’t a part of Disney, and why there have been reboots of the Darkish Crystal and Fraggle Rock (some superb!) on different streaming companies in the previous few years.
All of that ought to clarify the excellence between the Disney and Henson corporations in a nutshell (roughly). As you’ve most likely gathered, there’s much more to the story in regards to the early Nineteen Nineties fallout, rocky relationship between the businesses for a interval earlier than making amends (in typical Eisner vogue), and likewise to the morass of rights to Henson characters. However that’s the fundamental gist of it.
As for why this assertion from the Jim Henson Firm issues, for a similar cause that it issues when Walt Disney’s grandkids and household come out in favor of or towards one thing the present firm is doing. Jim Henson could not have the identical stature as Walt Disney, however for a big swath of People of a sure age, they’re regarded equally. Each ‘American Originals’ who broke the mould, with few extra impactful inventive folks in our nation’s historical past.
MuppetVision 3D is actually the final legacy of Jim Henson, and when folks (like me) say it’s culturally important and must be handled as such, we aren’t kidding. MuppetVision 3D is a chief instance of theme parks as artwork and nationwide heritage. This assertion by the Jim Henson Firm shines a lightweight on that, and should convey it to the eye and concern of individuals–past simply theme park followers–who could have been beforehand unaware of Jim Henson’s private involvement.
All of this can assist add to the strain marketing campaign for the Walt Disney Firm to do the fitting factor with regard to MuppetVision 3D. I’m not suggesting which means Walt Disney World strolling again the choice and relocating Monstropolis–that isn’t taking place. There’s a cause they took so lengthy to make this announcement, and it’s as a result of there had been inside deliberations and debate about all of this. What was introduced, a minimum of when it comes to the place the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and miniland will go, is a finished deal.
What isn’t essentially settled is the destiny of MuppetVision 3D. Provided that, we’d encourage you so as to add to the strain marketing campaign by contacting Walt Disney World to respectfully specific your opinion, when you’ve got a robust one on this matter (and I assume you do in case you’ve learn this far) as quickly as doable.
The easiest way to try this is by emailing [email protected]. Belief me–it’s not too late to make your voice heard on this topic. (We’re at the moment touring, however have extra Muppets posts deliberate within the subsequent couple of weeks to assist unfold the phrase and struggle the great struggle–apologies for the dearth of responses to your many considerate feedback on the sooner Muppets posts.)
In the end, there are a number of potentialities and outcomes in terms of the way forward for MuppetVision 3D. It may reside on as one thing lame like a multi-angle tribute put up on Disney+ or YouTube. On the different finish of the spectrum, it might be one thing bold like relocating the stage present fully–both inside Walt Disney World or to some other place solely. Or one thing in between the 2 extremes. The Jim Henson Firm’s assertion was intelligent within the sense that it pushes the notion that MuppetVision 3D can have a “subsequent act,” and subtly makes an attempt to drive Disney’s hand to make that hand. Right here’s hoping it really works and the gang is ready to save the theater (or moderately, the present inside it) as soon as once more!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your ideas on the Jim Henson Firm’s assertion? Suppose there’s any likelihood of MuppetVision 3D being “saved” in any significant sense of the phrase? Do you imagine it’ll find yourself being relocated inside Walt Disney World, exterior the parks, or simply on Disney Plus? What do you consider Monstropolis changing MuppetVision? Is that this addition nonetheless “value it” to you now that it’s changing Grand Avenue and MuppetVision 3D? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
