Muppet Video

Background

This was the original home video division of Henson Associates, Inc., which later became The Jim Henson Company. In Australia, it was one of eight labels Publishing and Broadcasting Video distributed. In the United States, most of the company's output was distributed by the Walt Disney Telecommunications and Theatrical Company. RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video distributed the company's content in the UK.

In 1985, the company moved American distribution to Playhouse Video. The company shut down in 1987.

Contents

1st Logo (1983-1984)	2nd Logo (1983-1984)	3rd Logo (1983-1985)	4th Logo (1985-1987)

1st Logo (1983-1984)

Visuals: The screen fades into a shot of the stacked text "MUPPET HOME VIDEO", with "MUPPET" being from the Muppets franchise logo at the time, zooming out with a heavy trail effect extending forwards. As it becomes fully visible, the trail recedes backwards and inverts its path towards the back of the logo, revealing a dark blue background with several lavender dots scattered all across it. The background zooms in slightly as the dots occasionally increase in brightness to resemble 8-pointed stars.

Variant: At the beginning of the preview reel, the logo transitions into the first preview with a large flash.

Technique: Live-action lighting and video feedback effects.

Audio: "Flash", by Keith Mansfield (the pilot theme for Press Your Luck and the theme of the Australian Thorn EMI Video logo). The beginning logo has an announcer say "Welcome to a whole new world of Muppet fantasy."

Availability: This was exclusively used in Australia as a part of a preview reel, and is used on Publishing and Broadcasting Video releases of the Tales from Muppetland trilogy (e.g. The Frog Prince).

2nd Logo (1983-1984)

Visuals: On a white background, the same "MUPPET" logo from before is seen at the bottom of the screen, but in a yellow-orange gradient color and with a drawing of Kermit the Frog resting on top of it, smiling as he has his hand on his head and the other on the text. Below is the text "H O M E--V I D E O" in black.

Trivia: This logo was painted by legendary movie poster artist Drew Struzan.

Technique: A painted card.

Audio: None.

Availability: This was mainly used as a print logo on releases, but sometimes appeared on-screen instead of the next logo. This was used on the Tales from Muppetland trilogy in America. There is a variant reading "MuppetMusic" in place of 'Muppet", as well as Kermit holding an eighth note like a guitar or banjo, on the box art of Doozer Music, but the video shows the next logo instead.

3rd Logo (1983-1985)

Visuals: On a navy blue space background, a white line draws along the bottom, of which an odd white outline blob pops up in the middle. It's filled in to reveal Kermit the Frog, who stares in awe as two comets shoot over his head in opposite directions. A star faintly pings in the top left, and the arched large text reading "MUPPET", in a font similar to the logo for The Muppet Show and colored yellow-orange with a red backing, flies in and settles over Kermit. White text reading "H O M E--V I D E O" then fades in below with Kermit between both words. He then stares at them and nods his head before fading out.

Trivia: Kermit was probably operated by Jim Henson in this logo.

Variant: There is an extended version with Kermit also looking down at the line. At the end, the space background and the word "MUPPET" disappear, leaving Kermit, the pink line and the "Home Video" text behind on a black background. The rest of the logo then fades out.

Technique: Computer animation, with Kermit in live-action.

Audio: A warbly "outer space" synth scale, then a series of synth whooshes.

Availability:

It appears on two releases from the Walt Disney Telecommunications and Theatrical Company - Fraggle Songs Vol. 1 and Doozer Music.
Some Australian tapes released by PBV Video use this logo as well, as well as some British tapes released by RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video.

4th Logo (1985-1987)

Visuals: After the Playhouse Video logo finishes, the background changes to a blue-red gradient background and the Playhouse logo flies and rolls to the top left. As this appears, rings and the letters in the word "MUPPET", in the same font as the previous logo, but colored green, fly in all over the screen, but then they settle down to the center, and an oblong shape flies in, along with a dark yellow diamond that reads "Jim Henson's". When the logo is complete, the oblong shape has chasing lights on it, resembling a theatre marquee.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same music as the 1984 logo but with a few added tinkling sounds at the end, accompanied by an announcer saying "Don't miss coming attractions at the end of this cassette."

Availability: It is seen on Playhouse Video releases of Muppet material. It was only used in the U.S., though.