Jim Henson Archives | Otaku No Culture

In Search for Sesame Street’s Fantastic History on VOD

Street Gang is a retrospective that brings fond memories of Sesame Street. It shaped the landscape of family entertainment and learning.

Coming to VOD on May 7
Pre-order on Amazon USA

Nearly everybody has watched the educational program Sesame Street, and it’s pretty much in everybody’s childhood for some length of time. It was a product of Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Foundation vice president Lloyd Morrisett. Through many meetings with child educators and psychologists of the 70s, they had a solid idea on what to construct. Many talents worked behind the scenes–namely puppeteers Jim Henson, Caroll Spinney, and Frank Oz (to name a few) and important to this series success is writer/director Jon Stone. In front of the camera, the list is enormous.

Marilyn Agrelo‘s excellent documentary, Street Gang, is a fascinating look from this series humble beginnings to where it is now. The breadth of information compressed to 107 minutes is very comprehensive. If there’s anything missed, it’s only because it didn’t fit into the narrative about what made this show special to children and adults alike.

No show is without some controversy; maybe the play on a Beatles song was too much. At least it’s humorously addressed.

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Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Ghosts is More than A Little Spooky

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Ghosts anthology is the spiritual successor to Anthony Bourdain’s Hungry Ghosts from two years ago. Both involve dealings with the occult and both offer a valuable lesson to be learned. In what makes reading both titles a delight is that the horrors to be revealed are not limited to a specific culture. We have fantastic reinterpretations of nearly forgotten legends and lore from other cultures.

Although the series of the same name only lasted a year (1987), I’m glad Archaia Entertainment is continuing the tradition. The fact this latest series is all about ghosts was all I need to say hit me with your best shot.

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Henson Hit Series ‘Fraggle Rock’ to Make Television Return on HBO

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

The worlds of Humans, Doozers, Gorgs, and Fraggles will be returning to television in the here and now (and in a digitally remastered form). So dance your cares away and tune in for Fraggle Rock this winter, 2016 on HBO. Muppet creator Jim Henson described Fraggle Rock as “a small place just beyond everyday reality.” The show followed a race of characters known as the Fraggles who showed an enthusiasm for play, adventure and singing songs. The Fraggles’ world existed between that of the humans, a large race of creatures when compared in size to the Fraggles and the Gorgs, an even larger race of creatures. Only the Gorgs took any real notice of Fraggles.

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Miss Piggy to Join Smithsonian Exhibit

Miss Piggy will be taking her rightful place in the Smithsonian Institution’s Jim Henson Muppets collection, alongside her sweetheart Kermit the Frog.

Piggy will be among more than 20 puppets and props being donated by Cheryl Henson, Jim Henson’s daughter. Among the Muppets finding permanent homes at the Smithsonian will be Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street, the Swedish Chef from The Muppet Show and Boober Fraggle and Uncle Traveling Matt from Fraggle Rock.
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