Muppet Babies Will Never Be Available on Streaming Due To Studio Copyright Claims, Says Cartoonist
Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies, a beloved addition to The Muppets franchise, will not be coming to any streaming platform anytime soon. The reason behind its absence? Copyright and trademark issues. This unfortunate situation has left fans of the iconic series wondering why they can’t access it on Disney+, especially since other puppet content, including the 2018 reboot of Muppet Babies, is already available for streaming.
Muppet Babies, which originally aired from 1984 to 1991, stood out due to its innovative format. It seamlessly blended animated stories of pint-sized versions of Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, Animal, and the rest of The Muppets with clips from various live-action movies and TV shows. However, it is precisely this unique blending of live-action and animation that poses a challenge for the series to find a streaming platform.
At the recent Los Angeles Comic-Con, cartoonist Guy Gilchrist, who worked on the Jim Henson project, shed some light on the situation. When asked about the fate of Muppet Babies, he revealed that the lack of camaraderie among studios in the industry today is the biggest hurdle preventing the show from finding a new home. Gilchrist elaborated on the difficulties faced by the series, saying:
Besides using the stuff that was in the public domain, like the silent stuff that we used in the dream sequences… Remember, the editing on that was incredibly wonderful. We used a lot of film clips from a lot of different things, including Raiders [of the Lost Ark], Star Wars, and all of that. Jim [Henson] was very good with George Lucas. George came in and worked on Labyrinth with Jim and that was not their first collaboration. Their first collaboration was… they were across the street from each other. Jim was filming The Muppets and George was doing Star Wars across the street. Yoda didn’t work, so Jim, Frank and Kathy Mullen fixed Yoda. Then, Steven Spielberg was also a very dear friend of Jim’s, and Jim fixed E.T. because E.T. didn’t work.
The late Jim Henson, the pioneer of modern puppetry, enjoyed enormous popularity in Hollywood. His friendly demeanor and strong relationships within the industry afforded him opportunities that others might not have had. For instance, he was able to incorporate catchy songs and enlist notable guest stars for The Muppet Show. Similarly, in Muppet Babies, he fearlessly utilized numerous movie clips. However, according to Gilchrist, the industry dynamics have changed drastically, and everyone wants their share of the copyright royalties and trademarks, thereby complicating matters. Gilchrist expressed his regret about the current situation:
That’s why, I’m sorry to say, you will not see the original Muppet Babies, and it’s the question I get asked the most. I had a lot to do with the Babies. I know how much you guys love the Babies and would love to have them back. But I don’t really know a way that that will ever happen. It’s copyrights and trademarks and that sort of thing, unfortunately.
As fans eagerly await a resolution, they may have to settle for their old VHS recordings of the series or the available reboot on Disney+. The absence of Muppet Babies from streaming platforms serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by copyright issues, illustrating the need for greater collaboration and understanding among studios in the industry.
In conclusion, Muppet Babies’ copyright and trademark concerns have deprived fans of the joy of streaming the classic series. The lack of cooperation between studios in today’s industry landscape makes it difficult for the show to secure a streaming platform home. Meanwhile, fans will have to cherish their memories through nostalgic recordings or enjoy the reboot on Disney+.
