Muppets

Dislocation in time, time signatures, time as a philosophical concept, and slavery to time are some of the themes touched upon in this 9-minute experimental film, which was written, directed, and produced by Jim Henson. Screened for the first time at the Museum of Modern Art in May of 1965, "Time Piece" enjoyed an eighteen-month run at one Manhattan movie theater and was nominated for an Academy Award for Outstanding Short Subject.

An unnamed man, simply called "The Man" is trapped in a cubical white room where anyone else can enter and leave, but which he himself apparently cannot leave. A stool is brought in covered in strawberry jam, the furniture changes throughout the play. The main character, is subjected to an increasingly puzzling and frustrating series of encounters, as a variety of people come through various hidden doors. But, as many remind him, he can only leave through his own door, so he must find it to leave.

I'm Nobody is a film created by Jim Henson consisting of city crowds shot from the shoulders, up, and slightly blurred with slow dissolves. The film plays behind the performance by Limbo who sings a song about not being noticed.

Short film by Jim Henson featuring Limbo, combining live puppetry with pre-recorded film.

In a mix of puppetry and animation, Harry demonstrates the Art of Visual Thinking to Kermit—and what it does to you once it gets out of control.

An abstract animated film inspired by the work of jazz musician Chico Hamilton.

CAT AND MOUSE is Jim Henson’s second and more ambitious interpretation of a composition from jazz drummer Chico Hamilton whom Jim met and collaborated with in 1961. This short, imbued with sly humor, portrays a brief narrative of the dance performed when predator meets prey. Working in his home studio in Maryland, Jim used collage and drawings to animate a story, displaying his unique visual shorthand used to create distinctive characters.

This unaired pilot, produced by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, was shot in Atlanta in the summer of 1962. The pilot featured Kermit the Frog, Taminella Grinderfall and King Goshposh, characters who would all reappear a few years later in the Tales From Muppetland TV specials.

An unsold TV pilot based on the classic comic strip, shot by Jim Henson with puppets built by Don Sahlin.

A robot illustrates the nascent, but growing relationship between man and machine - a relationship not without tension and resentment.

Dasher tells the other reindeer that there's no snow and thus they can't deliver any presents. Prancer, Dancer, Donder and Bitzen keep breaking into Christmas carols whenever Dasher says a word from one. Eventually they try to make a Snow Dance. This is the first appearance of the Reindeer characters, on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall Christmas.

Rowlf the Dog joins IBM as a salescanine.