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 total 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 in the course of 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 virtually actually want to interchange an current space of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Additional reinforcing this notion is that Disney launched two items of idea artwork for Monstropolis, displaying seemingly conflicting areas 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 constructive be aware, this implies the Muppets taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and changing Aerosmith. On a detrimental be aware, it means MuppetVision 3D closing to make method 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 remaining venture was Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D, now considered a real theme park basic. Innovation was all the time Jim Henson’s north star, and his trailblazing profession led him to a novel problem: a really immersive Muppet expertise the place audiences are a part of the comfortable chaos of the long-lasting Muppet Present.
Initially debuting in 1991, Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D mixed 3D know-how with real-world sensible results, alongside animatronic and dwell Muppet characters. The consequence 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 look ahead to 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 totally different than a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Firm releasing a press release, like if LucasFilm have 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 family members–commenting on one thing being carried out by the present firm. When you take 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 isn’t owned by Disney in entire or partially. However it virtually was! Again within the late Nineteen Eighties, Jim Henson began to barter a deal during which 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 have been an ideal match. Each have been extremely profitable corporations with characters beloved by generations.
Walt Disney had Mickey Mouse and Jim Henson had Kermit. They have been two inventive titans, and for my part, 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, generally known as the “Walt Disney of Japan.”
By all accounts, Jim Henson agreed with this evaluation that the Muppets and Disney have been an ideal match for each other. Henson had grown uninterested in the enterprise aspect of the Muppets and needed to get again to creating. His studio was in debt, the Muppets weren’t as sizzling as they have been a decade earlier, and the Walt Disney Firm had confirmed itself succesful brand-managers. Henson felt Disney might revitalize the Muppets in a really win-win deal. And Eisner actually needed to make the deal occur.
Negotiations obtained actually far alongside, with the 2 studios partnering to provide a 60-minute particular referred to as The Muppets at Walt Disney World, considered one of our all-time favourite Disney TV specials.
Earlier than the acquisition was finalized, Imagineering and Henson set to work on creating points of interest for the Disney-MGM Studios, each side figuring it was a carried out 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 venture 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 have been placed on the again burner, and the deal to accumulate the studio fell aside.
There are a variety of causes for the deal not coming to fruition, all revolving round Henson’s passing. The sordid saga has develop into 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 occurring.
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 totally 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 excellent!) on different streaming providers in the previous couple of years.
All of that ought to clarify the excellence between the Disney and Henson corporations in a nutshell (kind of). As you’ve most likely gathered, there’s much more to the story in regards to the early Nineteen Nineties fallout (in typical Eisner trend), and likewise to the morass of rights to Henson characters. However that’s the essential gist of it.
As for why this assertion from the Jim Henson Firm issues, for a similar motive 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 Individuals 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 basically the final legacy of Jim Henson, and when folks (like me) say it’s culturally vital and needs to be handled as such, we aren’t kidding. MuppetVision 3D is a main instance of theme parks as artwork and nationwide heritage. This assertion by the Jim Henson Firm shines a lightweight on that, and will carry 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 it will assist add to the strain marketing campaign for the Walt Disney Firm to do the correct factor with regard to MuppetVision 3D. I’m not suggesting meaning Walt Disney World strolling again the choice and relocating Monstropolis–that isn’t occurring. There’s a motive they took so lengthy to make this announcement, and it’s as a result of there had been inner 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 carried out 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, if in case you have a robust one on this matter (and I assume you do for those who’ve learn this far) as quickly as attainable.
One of the simplest ways to do this is by emailing [email protected]. Belief me–it’s not too late to make your voice heard on this topic. (We’re presently 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 shortage of responses to your many considerate feedback on the sooner Muppets posts.)
Finally, there are a number of prospects and outcomes in relation to the way forward for MuppetVision 3D. It might dwell on as one thing lame like a multi-angle tribute put up on Disney+ or YouTube. On the different finish of the spectrum, it could possibly be one thing bold like relocating the stage present fully–both inside Walt Disney World or to someplace else completely. 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 relatively, 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? Assume there’s any likelihood of MuppetVision 3D being “saved” in any significant sense of the phrase? Do you consider 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 “price it” to you now that it’s changing Grand Avenue and MuppetVision 3D? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
