The Jim Henson Company facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Jim Henson Company, Inc.

The company's logo since 2001.
The Jim Henson Company Lot in Los Angeles, pictured in 2006.
Formerly	Muppets, Inc. (1958–1976; 1985) Henson Associates, Inc. (1976–1987) Jim Henson Productions, Inc. (1987–1997)
Type	Private
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	November 20, 1958; 66 years ago (1958-11-20)
Founders	Jim and Jane Henson
Headquarters	Jim Henson Company Lot, Los Angeles, California , U.S.
Key people	Brian Henson (chairman) Lisa Henson (president & CEO)
Products	Puppetry, Animation, Computer graphics, Digital puppetry, Entertainment
Brands	The Muppets (1955–2004)† Sesame Street Muppets (1969–2001)† The Dark Crystal Labyrinth Fraggle Rock
Owner	Henson family
Parent	EM.TV & Merchandising AG (2000–2003)
Divisions	Jim Henson's Creature Shop Henson Recording Studios Jim Henson Animation Studios Henson Alternative

The Jim Henson Company is an American entertainment company famous for its amazing work with puppets. It was started by the creative husband-and-wife team of Jim Henson and Jane Henson. The company is best known for creating the world-famous Muppets, including beloved characters like Kermit the Frog.

The company is currently led by Jim and Jane's children, with Brian Henson as chairman and Lisa Henson as CEO. Its headquarters is located at the historic Jim Henson Company Lot in Hollywood, California, which used to be the studio of the silent film star Charlie Chaplin.

Since it was founded in 1958, the company has produced many hit TV shows. These include The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Bear in the Big Blue House. It also designed the original Muppet characters for the long-running children's show Sesame Street.

Besides television, the company has made popular movies like The Muppet Movie, the fantasy adventure The Dark Crystal, and the magical film Labyrinth. A special part of the company, called Jim Henson's Creature Shop, builds incredible puppets and creates special effects for movies and TV shows.

In 2004, the company sold The Muppets characters to The Walt Disney Company. However, The Jim Henson Company continues to create new shows, movies, and characters for audiences all over the world.

History

The Early Years (1958–1990)

Jim and Jane Henson officially started their company, originally called Muppets, Inc., on November 20, 1958. This was three years after their first TV show, Sam and Friends, began. For many years, the company mostly made puppets for commercials and short films for businesses.

In 1969, the company started creating puppet characters for a new children's show called Sesame Street. This show became a huge success and introduced characters like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch to the world.

The Henson Associates logo, used from 1976 to 1987.

One of the company's early stars was Rowlf the Dog. He first appeared in dog food commercials and later became a regular on The Jimmy Dean Show in the 1960s.

In 1976, a British producer named Lew Grade asked Jim Henson to create a show in the United Kingdom. This show became The Muppet Show, and it was a massive hit around the globe. Its success led to movies, merchandise, and made the Muppets a household name.

During this time, the company also created Jim Henson's Creature Shop. This special effects studio was responsible for the amazing creatures in fantasy films like The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986).

The Jim Henson Productions logo, used from 1988 to 2001.

In 1989, Jim Henson began talks to merge his company with The Walt Disney Company. Sadly, Jim Henson passed away unexpectedly in 1990 before the deal was finished. After his death, the two companies could not agree on the final terms, and The Jim Henson Company remained independent.

A New Chapter (1991–1999)

After Jim Henson's death, his family took over the company. His son, Brian Henson, became the new president in 1991.

The company continued to create popular shows and movies. It made a deal with Disney Channel and Nickelodeon to show its classic programs. It also produced new shows like Muppets Tonight and the family sitcom Dinosaurs.

Working with Walt Disney Pictures, the company released two successful holiday movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) and Muppet Treasure Island (1996). To make more films, the company started a new division called Jim Henson Pictures with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Changes in Ownership (2000–2004)

The Jim Henson Home Entertainment logo, used since 2001.

In 2000, the Henson family sold the company to a German media group called EM.TV & Merchandising AG. However, EM.TV soon had financial troubles.

During this time, EM.TV sold the rights to the Sesame Street characters to Sesame Workshop, the organization that produces Sesame Street. This meant that The Jim Henson Company no longer owned characters like Elmo or Big Bird, though it continued to help design new ones.

In 2003, the Henson family bought their company back. The following year, in a major deal, they sold The Muppets characters (like Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bear) and the Bear in the Big Blue House property to The Walt Disney Company. Disney created a new division called The Muppets Studio to manage these characters.

The Modern Era (2004–Present)

After selling The Muppets, The Jim Henson Company focused on its other beloved properties and creating new ones. It made deals to distribute its library of shows, including Fraggle Rock and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.

The company also moved into computer-animated shows for kids. It produced popular series like Sid the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train, and Splash and Bubbles.

For older audiences, the company created Henson Alternative. This brand produces content for teens and adults, including the live comedy puppet show Puppet Up!.

In recent years, the company has brought back some of its classic fantasy worlds. In 2019, it produced The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a prequel series for Netflix. In 2022, a reboot of Fraggle Rock, called Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, premiered on Apple TV+.

The Henson Family's Role

The Henson family has always been at the heart of the company.

• Jim Henson (1936–1990) – The founder and creative genius behind the company.
• Jane Henson (1934–2013) – Co-founder who was essential in the company's early days.
• Brian Henson – Chairman of the company and a talented puppeteer and director.
• Lisa Henson – CEO who leads the company's business operations.
• Cheryl Henson – President of the Jim Henson Foundation, which supports the art of puppetry.
• John Henson (1965–2014) – Was a board member and puppeteer.
• Heather Henson – A board member who also promotes puppetry through her own projects.

Famous Movies and TV Shows

The Jim Henson Company has created a huge number of films and television series over the years. Here are some of the most well-known productions.

Hit Movies

Popular Television Series

TV Specials

• Hey, Cinderella! (1969)
• The Frog Prince (1971)
• The Muppet Show: ... and Violence (1975)
• Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
• John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979)
• The Christmas Toy (1986)
• A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
• The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990)
• Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (1995)

See also

In Spanish: The Jim Henson Company para niños

• Sesame Workshop
• The Muppets
• Puppetry