The Jim Henson Company

Background

The Jim Henson Company was formed on November 20, 1958 as Muppets, Inc. by Jim Henson and his wife Jane, 3 years after Henson's first show, Sam and Friends, premiered. Until the premiere of Sesame Street in 1969, the company mainly did work for commercials. In 1989, the company planned to merge with The Walt Disney Company, but Henson died on May 16, 1990, during negotiations. The deal immediately collapsed, and the company remained independent and now under control of Henson's children, Brian, Lisa, Cheryl, Heather, and John. In 2000 the company was sold to German company EM.TV and Merchandising AG, but by the end of that year EM.TV's stock collapsed, and the company was sold back to the Henson family in 2003. As of 2014, Brian is the company's chairman, Lisa is CEO, and Cheryl and Heather are Board of Directors members. John Henson was also a BOD member until his death in 2014.

1st Logo
(1983-January 21, 1986)

Nickname: "HA!"

Logo: The logo mainly looks like the following:

For

ha!
HENSON ASSOCIATES, INC.

or...

ha!
HENSON
ASSOCIATES, INC.

with the text "HENSON ASSOCIATES, INC." in an ITC Avant Garde font featuring a copyright stamp below in black, all taking place against a beige background. It would sometime be animated depending on the show used. For instance, the first season of Muppet Babies had a still shot of the logo, with the exclamation point shining, and the second season had the Marvel Productions logo fade away on a blue background as the huge "HA!" fades in and zooms out, and when it stops zooming, it looks like the generic logo as the background fades to white.

Variants:

• An early version exists of the 2nd version of the logo that had the word "For" next to the "ha!" logo (like the first version).
• The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years utilized a cut-short version of the later Muppet Babies variant (as to avoid showing the Marvel Productions logo), likely because they lacked another logo to use.
• There is a special in-credit logo variant that was used on '80s prints of The Muppet Show to replace the outdated ITC in-credit logo (ITC only distributed the show). In the final shot of the end credits when Zoot blew his saxophone, a white bubble flies out of the sax with the "HA!" logo (or "HIT!" for Henson International Television) displayed on it and takes it’s place in the center of the screen, to the amusement of the audience. Sadly, this variant is no longer seen as the current prints (as on DVD releases) merely use the shot of Zoot blowing his sax with a newer Muppets Holding Company copyright notice on the bottom.

FX/SFX: Like the MTM and Cartoon Network Studios logos, the animation varied on whatever show it was used on.

Music/Sounds: Plays over the ending theme. The closing theme for the short-lived Muppets, Babies and Monsters, as well as the second season of Muppet Babies onward, a nine-note off-key trumpet fanfare was heard at the end of the theme and played over the logo. On The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, there is Zoot blew his saxophone that played with the in-credit "bubble" variant of the "HA!" logo.

Availability: Very rare. Sometimes it's saved on 1984-86 episodes of Muppet Babies, but usually replaced with a Jim Henson Productions/Jim Henson Television logo on it or other shows. The Muppet Show DVD releases from Buena Vista replace the in-credit version with a copyright stamp for The Muppets Holding Company. However, it was seen on Playhouse Disney in the UK when they reran the show.

2nd Logo
(September 13-December 27, 1986)

Logo: On a white background, there are:

HENSON
ASSOCIATES, INC.

with a copyright stamp below in black. The text bears a strong resemblance to the zooming variant of the previous logo.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show, but on Muppet Babies, the off-key trumpet theme from the previous logo's variant from that said show.

Availability: Was originally seen on 1986-87 episodes of Muppet Babies. Usually preserved whenever someone decides to show the series.

Editor's Note: The logo looks quite boring and generic, but it was likely made as a prototype or placeholder.

3rd Logo
(September 12, 1987-January 16, 1988)

Nickname: "The Shining Kermit"

Logo: Over a white background are the words in a generic font:

jim henson
PRODUCTIONS

"im" and "enson" are written in an italic script font, and the "J" is placed near the words "PRODUCTIONS". Then a small flash of light appears above the "J" and becomes a still drawing of Kermit the Frog's head, which is used to dot the letter. Underneath is a Henson Associates copyright notice.

Variant: In Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series, it is already-formed & still without the copyright info.

FX/SFX: The Kermit head appearing and "shining".

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show, but again on Muppet Babies, the off-key trumpet once again.

Availability: Usually preserved on 1987-88 episodes of Muppet Babies.

4th Logo
(September 10, 1988-January 30, 1993)

Logo: As with the logos for MTM and Cartoon Network Studios, the logo described below comes in many animated variations. Basically the words:

Jim Henson

_____________________________________

P R O D U C T I O N S

displayed on an object against a black background. The words "Jim Henson" are in the now-familiar corporate "Henson" logo font introduced in 1988.

Trivia: The name "Jim Henson" is actually his signature.

Variants: There are many more variants than currently listed.

• Sign 1: An animated version of Kermit the Frog's hand puts a white sign with a string on a nail on the wall reading "Jim Henson Productions". Suddenly, the sign tilts and the lettering falls off, clattering to the ground
• Arrow: The animated Kermit hand holds out a white sign against the wall reading "Jim Henson Productions". Suddenly, an arrow (with an orange or pink fletching) flies into the sign pinning it to the wall, and taken by surprise, Kermit lets go.
• Sign 2: The animated Kermit hand holds up a white sign by a string reading "Jim Henson Productions". Suddenly, the sign snaps off of the string and falls straight to the ground with a crash.
• Window Shade: The animated Kermit hand pulls down a scroll that reads "Jim Henson Productions". The shade moves back up and it rolls around a bit before settling.
• TV Set: We see the "Jim Henson Productions" text already formed, but then the animated Kermit hand comes up holding a TV remote and clicks it, and the screen goes black like a television set being shut off.
• Rifle: One of Kermit's hands holds a sign from the bottom that reads "Jim Henson Productions". Eventually, an off-screen rifle fires at the sign, destroying it.
• Darts: Similar to the arrow variant, but instead of an arrow, three darts fix the sign, with a fourth dart just missing Kermit's hand and bouncing off the wall.

Other Variants:

• A copyright stamp may be seen under the logo.
• The TNT reruns of The Muppet Show had a variant to replace the first logo's variant; here, when Zoot blows out of his saxophone at the end of an episode, a black circle with a white outline emerges from it, and the circle zooms in to engulf the screen; when that occurs, one of the normal animated variants then played.

FX/SFX: The animations in the logo variations.

Music/Sounds: A particular variant’s sound effects, but on some shows the end theme finished over it; Muppet Babies has the off-key trumpet theme, combined with the sounds.

Availability: Still preserved on 1988-90 episodes of Muppet Babies, but sometimes replaced with newer logos. This was also used at the end of Fraggle Rock reruns on the Disney Channel from 1992-96, and the first season of Dog City after the Nelvana logo.

Editor's Note: All these variations the logo offers are generally fun to watch.

5th Logo
(1988)

Logo: On a white background are the words:

Jim Henson

_____________________________________

P R O D U C T I O N S

Displayed on the background with the same font as introduced in the 4th logo but with black coloring.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Seen on 1988 releases of Muppet Babies Video Storybooks.

6th Logo
(April 14, 1989-May 6, 1990)

Logo: A series of green circles appear near the middle of the screen, from which emerges a long and wavy line that flails until if contracts and forms the words "Jim Henson" (in the company's corporate script font), as well as a line below them. The word "PRODUCTIONS" then appears below the script, letter by letter, with a shine effect.(this also turns the green line red). Finally, a flash appears to create a red dot above the "I".

Variants:

• On The Jim Henson Hour, the logo's animation is superimposed over the credits background, which then fades to black just before the "dot the I" part.
• There is a short version that starts with the "Jim Henson" script already formed.

FX/SFX: The green line twisting and forming the "Jim Henson" script and line, "PRODUCTIONS" appearing, and the flash dotting the eye.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show. On The Jim Henson Hour, its end theme syncs with the logo's animation.

Availability: Very rare. Seen on The Jim Henson Hour, as well as the 1989 airing of A Muppet Family Christmas. The short version was seen on The Muppets at Walt Disney World.

7th Logo (April 26, 1991-2016)

Nicknames: "Laser Kermit", "Kermit Head"

Logo: On a black background, a blue laser carves out a line across the screen. The line flips towards the screen, revealing a blue outline of Kermit the Frog, who is then filled with color from left to right. After shining brightly, Kermit is then swallowed by a dot of light that dances across the screen, which from left to right sweeps out the words:

Jim Henson

_________________________________

P R O D U C T I O N S

then flies back to the logo to dot the "I".

Variants:

• On TV shows, only the "dot the I" sequence plays.
• In 1997, starting with Bear in the Big Blue House, the word "PRODUCTIONS" is replaced with "TELEVISION" (a.k.a. Jim Henson Television).
• On Dinosaurs, a pterodactyl flies over the logo from right to left. Sometimes, the pterodactyl sits on the logo either squawking or looking left. Also, the logo is in it's 3D style look with the gradient shines on it. However, season 1 and the first 8 episodes of season 2 use a still version of the normal variant.
• There is a special animated variant on The Jim Henson Hour. A piece of green string pops up, and morphs into "Jim Henson", and "PRODUCTIONS" appears one by one while it shines. A ping appears on the "i".
• One version of the 1997 version has "The Jim Henson Company" in place of "TELEVISION" and the text below the logo is in grey coloring instead of red. This was only known to exist on It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.
• Sometimes, the dot on the "i" is red.
• There is also a still version of the logo.
• On Muppet Meeting Films, the logo in a regal blue background displays "A Muppet Meeting Film Produced by" on top of the logo. Another variant where the text fades in after the dot flies onto the "I" has the location info text "117 East 69th Street New York, NY 10021" below the logo and above the byline.
• On the music videos for "Kokomo" and "She Drives Me Crazy", the word "RECORDS" replaces "PRODUCTIONS".
• There is also a version with copyright info on the bottom of the screen, sometimes with the URL www.henson.com just above it.
• On some Jim Henson Video releases such as The Muppet Movie (plastering the Associated Film Distribution logo), Muppet Babies: Let's Build and It's the Muppets: More Muppets Please!, the logo is off-center.
• On Muppet Classic Theater, the logo plays as the word "PRESENTS" appears from above "PRODUCTIONS".
• A silent medium-length version, starting with the text being wiped onto the screen, was spotted at the end of Sesame Street Home Video Visits the Hospital.
• On The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson, the logo is still and superimposed over a large pile of old TVs showing scenes from the Muppets' entire history.
• On Mopatop's Shop in the UK, a still version of the "TELEVISION" variant is shown alongside the Carlton Television logo in orange or white.
• On Jim Henson's Animal Show, it's on a blue background and Tizzy The Bee flies to the logo when the dot comes in.
• On The Hoobs, the logo is seen with the Channel 4 "Squares" logo and the Decode Entertainment logo.

FX/SFX: The blue laser "carving," the color "filling," the dot of light "swallowing" and "sweeping" out the logo.

Music/Sounds: The long version has a weird "phaser"-like sound when the laser appears, and when the Kermit head "flips" into view, an orchestrated horn/string fanfare is heard. A whoosh, 3 timpani hits, and chimes/shining sounds are heard when the head is colored in and shines. A louder whoosh and a cymbal crescendo are heard when the head gets sucked into the dot of light, followed by a woodwind section with plucked strings and "bumbling"-like sounds (not unlike a cartoon bumblebee) as the dot of light flies around, and another whoosh when it sweeps out the text. A "ding" and a gong hit are heard when the "I" is dotted, followed by a triumphant horn/string/woodwind chord to finish the logo. The end theme of the show may also play over it.

Availability: The short TV version is intact on all shows from the company (except for Sesame Street). If classic Jim Henson shows like The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock are rerun in the future, this logo might be tacked on unless a different logo is used (such as Muppets Holding Company Ltd., a newer Henson logo, or HiT Entertainment). The long version can be seen on several Nineties VHS prints from Jim Henson Video such as Fraggle Rock: Meet the Fraggles (plastered with the 8th logo on the 2013 Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment DVD), Muppet Sing-Alongs videos, and A Muppet Family Christmas, as well as films like The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island; it can also be seen on various Muppet Babies videos before the show's opening theme. The still version can be seen on early season 1 episodes of Dinosaurs. Strangely, this appears at the end of Sesame Street Home Video Visits the Hospital, following the Jim Henson Productions copyright notice. The "RECORDS" variant can be found on a promo for the album, Kermit Unpigged, as seen on the 1994 VHS release of Muppet Classic Theater.

Editor's Note: While this is a fondly remembered logo by some, this is a prime example of style over substance without reason, mainly the scene where the Kermit head appears, only to be sucked by the dot of light in favor of the script logo.

8th Logo
(August 18, 2000-March 10, 2003)

Nickname: "Computer Henson"

Logo: On a black background, a series of flying computer-like lasers and streaks write the green words

THE JIM HENSON
COMPANY

with the word "THE" in superscript format.

FX/SFX: The laser "writing" effects.

Music/Sounds: A phaser sound effect with a whooshing sound, or the end theme of the show or movie.

Availability: Seen on Farscape, starting with the episode "Won't Get Fooled Again," as well as Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story.

Editor's Note: The text looks very generic, but the laser effect makes up for it.

9th Logo
(October 17-18, 2004)

Nickname: "The Fading Henson Logo"

Logo: On a black background, the white Jim Henson Company logo fades in.

FX/SFX: The logo fading in.

Music/Sounds: The opening/ending theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars.

10th Logo
(April 27, 2005)

Nickname: TBA

Logo: Same as the last logo, except the logo is stretched out a bit, the logo cuts in, and the Jim Henson text and line are red.

FX/SFX: None. It's a still logo.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the movie.

Availability: Seen on The Muppets' Wizard of Oz.

11th Logo
(September 30, 2005; November 21, 2015; August 30, 2019; September 4, 2020-present)

Logo: On a black background, a Jim Henson logo in corporate font appears in a box. Below the bar, we can read "THE JIM HENSON COMPANY". The whole logo is in golden colors. While slowly zooming in, the logo flash with rainbow sparks and then turns blurred before fading out.

FX/SFX: The rainbow effects.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Only seen on MirrorMask, Jim Henson‘s Turkey Hollow, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Earth to Ned.

12th Logo (November 20, 2006-201?)

Logo: On a black background, the Jim Henson Company logo in the same style as before blurs in, except "Jim Henson" is red with a white outline, and everything else is white.

FX/SFX: Just the logo blurring.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the Puppet Up! Uncensored special on TBS and videos on the official Jim Henson Company YouTube channel.

13th Logo (June 20, 2008- )

Logo: Over a white grainy background is a dragonfly buzzing from the right side of the screen to the left, leaving a star trail and before a giant robot spider appears, the dragonfly wipes the Jim Henson Company logo from left to right, consisting of a blue "Jim Henson" in its corporate font, with a gold line and "THE JIM HENSON COMPANY" underneath. The dragonfly flies around while the giant robot spider chases after the dragonfly by scampering off the screen.

Trivia: The creatures in this logo are based on the drawings of the late Jim Henson.

FX/SFX: The dragonfly buzzing and the robot spider chasing after it.

Variants:

• A short version exists, which cuts off most of the logo.

Music/Sounds: A twittering flute sound, followed by an ascending xylophone scale, then the same twittering flute sound, followed by a descending xylophone scale. The sounds of the dragonfly and the robot spider are heard faintly.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• Sometimes, the end theme plays over the logo. This is seen on recent prints of Fraggle Rock and some episodes of Sid the Science Kid.
• On Dinosaur Train, the last second of the ending theme plays over the logo.
• Sometimes, the logo only has the sounds of the dragonfly and the robot spider.
• On later episodes of the French dub of Dinosaur Train, the logo (alongside the theme song) is double pitched.

Availability: Common. First seen at the end of the Unstable Fables films, starting with 3 Pigs and a Baby. It also appeared on Frances on Sprout (now Universal Kids) and also seen at the end of Sid the Science Kid on the PBS run of PBS Kids after the KCET logo and Dinosaur Train on PBS Kids, as well as Pajanimals. This was also seen on Fraggle Rock on The Hub (now Discovery Family) and The Hub on Demand. Don't count on seeing this logo on mature stuff from the company like TBS' Puppet Up! or Logo's Tinseltown, though. The long version appears on DVDs from the company such as the 2013 re-releases of Fraggle Rock: Complete Series Collection and Fraggle Rock: Meet the Fraggles. Oddly, while the promotional material for The Star has the print logo, it doesn't appear on the film itself.