Jim Henson Pictures: Difference between revisions

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{{PageCredits|description=Nicholas Aczel and Jeffrey Gray|edits=CuriousGeorge60 and Muzzarino}}{{Infobox company|founded=July 21, 1995 ({{age|1995|7|21}} years ago)|defunct = 2004|country=United States|name=Jim Henson Pictures|image=Jim Henson Pictures logo.svg|fate=Partnership ended|key people=Lisa Henson<br>Martin G. Baker|parent=The Jim Henson Company<br>Sony Pictures Entertainment <br>(1995–1999)}}
{{PageCredits|description=Nicholas Aczel and Jeffrey Gray|edits=CuriousGeorge60 and Muzzarino}}{{Infobox company|founded=July 21, 1995 ({{age|1995|7|21}} years ago)|defunct = 2004 ({{age|2004|2|17}} years ago)|country=United States|name=Jim Henson Pictures|image=Jim Henson Pictures logo.svg|fate=Partnership ended|founder = Brian Henson|key people=Brian Henson<br>Lisa Henson<br>Martin G. Baker|parent=The Jim Henson Company<br>Sony Pictures Entertainment <br>(1995-1999)}}


=== Background ===
===Background===
'''Jim Henson Pictures''' was a motion picture unit formed on July 21, 1995 as a [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/22/business/sony-planning-film-venture.html joint venture] between [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] and [[The Jim Henson Company]]. Two of the movies they produced, ''Muppets in Space'' and ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'', were both box office bombs. In 2004, [[Columbia Pictures]] was prompted to back out of its joint venture with The Jim Henson Company.
'''Jim Henson Pictures''' was a motion picture unit formed on July 21, 1995 as a [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/22/business/sony-planning-film-venture.html joint venture] between [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] and [[The Jim Henson Company]]. It was founded by '''Jim Henson'''<nowiki/>'s son Brian '''Henson''' and run by Brian, his sister Lisa, and Martin G. Baker. Under their original deal, the Jim Henson Company undertook to produce around twelve films for [[Columbia Pictures]], which would finance and distribute them, over a five year period. They had many ideas for feature films, including plans to do several ''Muppet'' movies, but in the end, only four films were made under the Jim Henson Pictures banner: ''Buddy'', ''Muppets from Space'', ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'' (all of which were released by Columbia), and ''Good Boy!'' (which was released by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] in the United States and Canada and 20th Century Fox (now [[20th Century Studios]]) internationally), all of which were box office failures. The studio closed in 2004 after the partnership ended with Brian Henson and Sony Pictures, which was around the time when ''The Muppets'' franchise was acquired by [[The Walt Disney Company]].


===1st Logo (1997)===
===1st Logo (1996-1997)===
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File:Jim Henson Pictures (1997) A.jpg
File:Jim Henson Pictures (1997) A.jpg
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'''Logo:''' Against a sunset sky background, we see a silhouette of Kermit the Frog sitting on a large crane with a motion picture camera. Under it is "''{{color|green|Jim Henson}}''" in its corporate font with "PICTURES" in spaced-out letters under it.
'''Visuals:''' Against a sunset sky background is a silhouette of Kermit the Frog sitting on a large crane with a motion picture camera. Under it is "''Jim Henson''" in its corporate font with "PICTURES" in spaced-out letters under it.


'''Variants:'''
'''Variants:'''
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*On one trailer for ''Buddy'', Kermit and the movie camera are placed inside a box on a black background, with the company's name outside and under it and "PICTURES" in gold. The sky is bluer and looks different, and the movie camera also takes on a different appearance.
*On one trailer for ''Buddy'', Kermit and the movie camera are placed inside a box on a black background, with the company's name outside and under it and "PICTURES" in gold. The sky is bluer and looks different, and the movie camera also takes on a different appearance.


'''Technique:''' None.
'''Technique:''' A still, digital graphic.


'''Music/Sounds:''' The opening theme of the trailer.
'''Audio:''' The opening theme of the trailer.


'''Availability:''' Extremely rare. Only appears on trailers for ''Buddy''.
'''Availability:''' Only appears on trailers for ''Buddy''.


===2nd Logo (May 27, 1997-October 1, 1999, 2005, 2013)===
===2nd Logo (May 27, 1997-October 1, 1999)===
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File:Jhp.jpg
File:Jhp.jpg
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{{YouTube|id=53Lwtvm0tP8|id2=ErFWNggQ5X0|id4=MMyY3TkqYmY}}
{{YouTube|id=53Lwtvm0tP8|id2=Ak9i6s8U0vU|id3=6NiMiXEYOWU|id4=JwvUlM5-5_Q}}


'''Logo:''' We zoom out of a motion picture camera lens with lasers flying about. The camera is being operated by a laughing Kermit the Frog (performed by Steve Whitmire) seated on a large crane extended way up into a sunset sky and rocky land. As the crane moves away from us while Kermit and the crane go into a slight silhouette, a laser writes the text "''{{color|green|Jim Henson}}''" (in its familiar font) as the word "PICTURES" in bright metallic letters spaced to fit the width of "''{{color|green|Jim Henson}}''", zooms and turns to settle below. When the logo is formed, the crane suddenly takes a hard drop, notably startling Kermit. "Sorry!" is heard from Animal (voiced by Frank Oz) off screen, followed by Kermit whispering "Hmmm. Sheesh.".
'''Visuals:''' The screen zooms out of a motion picture camera lens with lasers flying about. The camera is being operated by a laughing Kermit the Frog (performed by Steve Whitmire) seated on a large crane extended way up into a sunset sky and rocky land. As the crane moves away from the camera while Kermit and the crane go into a slight silhouette, a laser writes the text "''Jim Henson''" (in its familiar font) as the word "PICTURES" in bright metallic letters spaced to fit the width of "''Jim Henson''", zooms and turns to settle below. One of the following then occurs:
*The logo cuts to black.
*The crane suddenly takes a hard drop, startling Kermit and causing him to look to the left before looking back to the right and whispering "Hmmm. Sheesh."


'''Variants:'''
'''Variants:'''
*On <u>current prints of classic Jim Henson movies like ''The Muppet Movie''</u>, the logo freeze-frames before the crane-drop gag occurs.
* There is a version without the crane-drop gag.
*On trailers, the logo is either <u>shortened</u> or <u>still</u>.
* On 4:3 versions of ''Muppets from Space'' and ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'', the camera's field of view is rendered in wide angle lens. On some trailers containing either the shortened or the still logo, the logo's view is so wide that a round, dark area can be seen above the background.
* On <u>4:3 and 35mm open matte film scan versions of ''Muppets from Space'' and ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland''</u>, the camera's field of view is rendered in wide angle lens.
* The closing variant features the print logo. Kermit and the movie camera are put inside a circular outline and are above the "Jim Henson" wordmark. Underneath the "PICTURES" text is copyright information.
**On <u>some trailers containing either the shortened or still variants</u>, the logo's view is so wide that a round, dark area can be seen above the background.
** A different version of the closing variant appeared at the end of ''Buddy''. Here, Kermit and the motion picture camera are placed next to the text. The copyright info doesn't appear in this version.
* The <u>closing variant</u> features the print logo using the same silhouette of Kermit and the movie camera from the previous logo. Kermit and the movie camera are put inside a circular outline and are above the "Jim Henson" wordmark. Underneath the "PICTURES" text is copyright information.
** A different version of the closing variant appears at the end of <u>''Buddy''</u>. Here, Kermit and the motion picture camera are placed next to the text. The copyright info doesn't appear in this version.


'''Technique:''' Excellent CGI effects, animatronics and Muppet performances. Done at Imaginary Forces. Scrolling or fading in and out for closing variant.
'''Technique:''' A mix of CGI, animatronics and Muppet performances by Imaginary Forces and Prologue Films. Scrolling or fading effects for the closing variants.


'''Music/Sounds:''' A majestic, synthesized orchestral movie score with sounds for the lasers flying around. There are frogs croaking and crickets chirping at the end. Kermit's laugh is also heard when he appears. The theme was composed by Hans Zimmer.
'''Audio:''' A majestic, synthesized orchestral movie score with whooshes and stock chimes for the lasers flying around. There are frogs croaking and crickets chirping at the end. Kermit's laugh is also heard when he appears. The crane-drop gag variant also uses the appropriate sound effects, as well as Animal (voiced by Frank Oz) saying "Sorry!", followed by Kermit's dialogue. The theme was composed by Hans Zimmer.


'''Music/Sounds Trivia:''' If you have a stereophonic audio system, you can hear Animal's "Sorry" coming from your left speaker.
'''Audio Trivia:''' If one has a stereophonic audio system or headphones, they can hear Animal's "Sorry!" coming from their left speaker/headphone.


'''Music/Sounds Variants:'''
'''Audio Variants:'''
* On <u>''Buddy''</u>, a choir sounder is heard instead of the normal music (when the logo forms), but the sound effects are intact.
* On ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'', the crane-drop gag omits Animal's "Sorry" sound effect.
* On <u>''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland''</u>, the crane-drop gag variant omits Animal's "Sorry!"
* On ''Buddy'', there is no music, just the sound effects.
* Post-2013 reprints of ''The Great Muppet Caper'' have the music but not the sound effects, but on the alternate language tracks, French and Spanish, the music and sound effects are kept intact.
* <u>Post-2013 reprints of ''The Great Muppet Caper''</u> have the music but not the sound effects, provided the English language track is played; on the alternate language tracks, French and Spanish, the music and sound effects are kept intact.
* For the closing variant, the ending theme of the movie.
* For the closing variant, the ending theme of the movie.


'''Availability:''' Uncommon.
'''Availability:'''
* This logo first appeared on a TV spot of ''Buddy''.
* This logo first appeared on a TV spot of ''Buddy'' and later appeared on the film itself.
* To date, the version with the crane-drop gag has only been seen on two films: ''Muppets in Space'' and ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'' (the latter of which doesn't have "Sorry").
* The version with the crane-drop gag has only been seen on two films: ''Muppets from Space'' and ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'' (the latter of which doesn't have Animal's "Sorry!").
* Current theatrical, DVD, Blu-ray and streaming prints as well as TV reruns of ''The Muppet Movie'', ''The Great Muppet Caper'', as well as ''Buddy'', have the logo without the crane-drop gag.
* The closing variant also appeared at the end of ''Buddy'', ''Muppets from Space'' and ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'', respectively.
* It doesn't appear on ''Good Boy!'', due to being released by a studio other than Sony.
* Current DVD, Blu-ray and streaming prints as well as TV reruns of ''The Muppet Movie'', ''The Great Muppet Caper'', other Jim Henson classics, and ''Buddy'' (the first film with this logo) have the logo without the crane drop gag.
** However, the 1990s VHS releases of ''The Muppet Movie'' and ''The Great Muppet Caper'' contain the Laser Kermit logo.
* The company also produced ''Rat'', ''Good Boy!'', ''Five Children and It'', and ''MirrorMask'', but the logo itself never appeared on said films, as they used an in-credit notice instead. ''MirrorMask'', however, used the 2005 Jim Henson Company logo instead.


{{Chronology|[[Jim Henson Productions]]|[[Sony Pictures Entertainment]]<br>[[The Jim Henson Company]]}}
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[[Category:United States]]
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[[Category:Logos with popular characters]]
[[Category:Logos with popular characters]]
[[Category:Logos made by Imaginary Forces]]
[[Category:Logos made by Imaginary Forces]]
[[Category:Logos made by Prologue]]
[[Category:The Jim Henson Company]]
[[Category:The Jim Henson Company]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Entertainment]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Entertainment]]
[[Category:Sony Corporation]]
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[[Category:Columbia Pictures]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures]]
[[Category:Logos with music by Hans Zimmer]]
[[Category:English-language logos]]

Latest revision as of 11:25, 20 October 2024



Background

Jim Henson Pictures was a motion picture unit formed on July 21, 1995 as a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company. It was founded by Jim Henson's son Brian Henson and run by Brian, his sister Lisa, and Martin G. Baker. Under their original deal, the Jim Henson Company undertook to produce around twelve films for Columbia Pictures, which would finance and distribute them, over a five year period. They had many ideas for feature films, including plans to do several Muppet movies, but in the end, only four films were made under the Jim Henson Pictures banner: Buddy, Muppets from Space, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (all of which were released by Columbia), and Good Boy! (which was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the United States and Canada and 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) internationally), all of which were box office failures. The studio closed in 2004 after the partnership ended with Brian Henson and Sony Pictures, which was around the time when The Muppets franchise was acquired by The Walt Disney Company.

1st Logo (1996-1997)

Visuals: Against a sunset sky background is a silhouette of Kermit the Frog sitting on a large crane with a motion picture camera. Under it is "Jim Henson" in its corporate font with "PICTURES" in spaced-out letters under it.

Variants:

  • There is a variant with "Jim Henson" in white.
  • On one trailer for Buddy, Kermit and the movie camera are placed inside a box on a black background, with the company's name outside and under it and "PICTURES" in gold. The sky is bluer and looks different, and the movie camera also takes on a different appearance.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the trailer.

Availability: Only appears on trailers for Buddy.

2nd Logo (May 27, 1997-October 1, 1999)


Visuals: The screen zooms out of a motion picture camera lens with lasers flying about. The camera is being operated by a laughing Kermit the Frog (performed by Steve Whitmire) seated on a large crane extended way up into a sunset sky and rocky land. As the crane moves away from the camera while Kermit and the crane go into a slight silhouette, a laser writes the text "Jim Henson" (in its familiar font) as the word "PICTURES" in bright metallic letters spaced to fit the width of "Jim Henson", zooms and turns to settle below. One of the following then occurs:

  • The logo cuts to black.
  • The crane suddenly takes a hard drop, startling Kermit and causing him to look to the left before looking back to the right and whispering "Hmmm. Sheesh."

Variants:

  • On current prints of classic Jim Henson movies like The Muppet Movie, the logo freeze-frames before the crane-drop gag occurs.
  • On trailers, the logo is either shortened or still.
  • On 4:3 and 35mm open matte film scan versions of Muppets from Space and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, the camera's field of view is rendered in wide angle lens.
    • On some trailers containing either the shortened or still variants, the logo's view is so wide that a round, dark area can be seen above the background.
  • The closing variant features the print logo using the same silhouette of Kermit and the movie camera from the previous logo. Kermit and the movie camera are put inside a circular outline and are above the "Jim Henson" wordmark. Underneath the "PICTURES" text is copyright information.
    • A different version of the closing variant appears at the end of Buddy. Here, Kermit and the motion picture camera are placed next to the text. The copyright info doesn't appear in this version.

Technique: A mix of CGI, animatronics and Muppet performances by Imaginary Forces and Prologue Films. Scrolling or fading effects for the closing variants.

Audio: A majestic, synthesized orchestral movie score with whooshes and stock chimes for the lasers flying around. There are frogs croaking and crickets chirping at the end. Kermit's laugh is also heard when he appears. The crane-drop gag variant also uses the appropriate sound effects, as well as Animal (voiced by Frank Oz) saying "Sorry!", followed by Kermit's dialogue. The theme was composed by Hans Zimmer.

Audio Trivia: If one has a stereophonic audio system or headphones, they can hear Animal's "Sorry!" coming from their left speaker/headphone.

Audio Variants:

  • On Buddy, a choir sounder is heard instead of the normal music (when the logo forms), but the sound effects are intact.
  • On The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, the crane-drop gag variant omits Animal's "Sorry!"
  • Post-2013 reprints of The Great Muppet Caper have the music but not the sound effects, provided the English language track is played; on the alternate language tracks, French and Spanish, the music and sound effects are kept intact.
  • For the closing variant, the ending theme of the movie.

Availability:

  • This logo first appeared on a TV spot of Buddy and later appeared on the film itself.
  • The version with the crane-drop gag has only been seen on two films: Muppets from Space and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (the latter of which doesn't have Animal's "Sorry!").
  • Current theatrical, DVD, Blu-ray and streaming prints as well as TV reruns of The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, as well as Buddy, have the logo without the crane-drop gag.
  • It doesn't appear on Good Boy!, due to being released by a studio other than Sony.
Jim Henson Productions
Jim Henson Pictures
Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Jim Henson Company
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