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Sad news as Philip Balsam  who – along with Dennis Lee – was the songwriter and composer  for Fraggle Rock and many other Henson productions has died.  The Henson Company posted the following tribute on social media: "For the magic, magic is in every moment. Magic is you.” – Balsam & Lee Today we honor and celebrate the life of Philip Balsam, who – along with Dennis Lee – was the songwriter and composer of the nearly 200 memorable and beloved songs for Fraggle Rock , including its iconic theme song. A cherished member of our Fraggle Rock family, he inspired generations of fans and musicians, and his heartfelt work will continue to bring joy for many years to come." Balsam also provided the voice, and inspired the name, for  Phil Fraggle in " New Trash Heap in Town ", made a cameo as a  street musician in " The Day the Music Died " and it's presumed that  Balsam the Minstrel  was named after him as well.  Balsam and Lee later wrote son...

As part of their 10th anniversary Boss Fight Studio held a live stream where they showed off the progress of their Fraggle Rock line and even teased wave 2!  Below you'll see the progress on the Cotterpin and the Architect: Gobo: Red with her confused expression: and Uncle Traveling Matt: Boss Fight also teased that they're working on a Sprocket figure for wave 2 that may or may not be in scale with the rest of the line! No release dat has been announced, but they are expected to be released later this year.  You can see what they'll look like when painted and with their accessories in our post from January.     You can pre-order all of Boss Fight's  Fraggle Rock  figures from  BigBadToyStore.com  or directly from  Boss Fight .

Back in 202, the Henson Company started selling NTFs . At first we were excited for the possibility of something new for collectors. Then we learned not only were these items "virtually" worthless they are also horrible for the environment.  Now Variety is reporting that not only is Sesame Workshop launching  Sesame Street NFTs, they'll be priced at $60 each.  In case you don't know, here's how NTFs work.  Since Henson related NFTs began being "produced" we've learned even more about NFTs. As an investment,  Moneyunder30.com  said " NFTs are an exciting new medium for collecting digital art, but they're no good as investments. The odds of losing some or all of your money on an NFT investment are extremely high. And with Blue Chips and index funds still around, you simply don't need NFTs to become independently wealthy." NFTs are also terrible for the environment since they use the block chain  technology that consumes  lots of e...

After wining a slew of awards and accolades the last few months, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at last night's 95th Academy Awards.  This marks the Henson Company's very first Oscar after being nominated in 1966 for Time Piece  and 1979 for "The Rainbow Connection." While Disney / The Muppets won Best Song for "Man or Muppet" on 2011, the Henson Company didn't have any involvement.  You can watch Guillermo's acceptance speech below where he was once again  joined on stage by Lisa Henson. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is steaming now on Netflix .

Fright Rags unveiled a line of Labyrinth inspired shirts and apparel. Their offerings include: THE GOBLIN KING  shirt with artwork by Zachary Jackson Brown. Also is available in w omens , baseball tee , and a  hoodie SHOULD YOU NEED US  shirt LABYRINTH SOCKS  featuring Jareth: A very 80's esque  ELLO  worm shirt and a classic LABYRINTH poster shirt.  You can find the whole  Labyrinth collection at Fright Rags.  

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio won big at the Annie Awards last weekend. The Henson produced stop-motion film won for best Best Character Animation, Feature (Tucker Barrie), Best Music, Feature (Alexandre Desplat, Roeban Katz, Guillermo del Toro, Patrick McHale), Best Production Design, Feature (Curt Enderle, Guy Davis), Best Direction , and the top prize Best Feature (Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson). This is in addition to the multiple awards the film has already won including the Critics Choice Award for Best Animated Feature , Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature , Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards for  Sound Editing for a Feature Animation, Producers Guild Awards for   Animated Theatrical Motion Picture,  Hollywood Critics Association  Best Animated Film,    Art Directors Guild   Outstanding Animated Film,  Visual Effects Society Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature, the   Society of...

The Jim Henson Company's movie The Portable Door  now has a media distribution outlet, release window, and even a trailer for the  long in the works  film MGM+ acquired the rights to the film and will release it as as a  MGM+  exclusive.  The comedy stars multi-time Golden Globe nominee Sam Neill (Peter Rabbit, Jurassic Park) and Patrick Gibson (The OA, Tolkien), joining two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained, No Time to Die) and Sophie Wilde (Eden, You Don’t Know Me). The award-winning Jeffrey Walker (Ali’s Wedding, Lambs of God) directed the film, which is adapted by Leon Ford (Griff the Invisible) from Tom Holt’s popular seven-book fantasy series.  The movie centers on Paul Carpenter (Gibson) and Sophie Pettingel (Wilde), lowly, put-upon interns who begin working at the mysterious London firm J.W. Wells & Co., and become increasingly aware that their employers are anything but conventional.  Charismatic villai...

As first announced in 2021 , London's Royal Opera House will be putting on a ballet based on The Dark Crystal . Below is the official description:  Based on Jim Henson’s iconic 1982 movie and featuring the startling performers of Company Wayne McGregor, The Dark Crystal: Odyssey is a new dance work for audiences of all generations, directed and choreographed by Wayne McGregor in association with The Jim Henson Company. This magical coming-of-age story – the journey of a reluctant hero who must bring healing to his world - brings together a team of world-class collaborators with McGregor including artists Brian and Wendy Froud, composer Joel Cadbury, digital designers kontrastmoment, lighting designer Lucy Carter, dramaturg Uzma Hameed, costume designer Philip Delamore, face-and body-artist Alex Box, and puppets and props from The Jim Henson Company. Together they create a breathtaking, timeless myth of courage and self-sacrifice for all generations. "Of all the amazing films I...

"Guillermodel Toro’s Pinocchio" won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature last night. The Henson Company production has already won over 15 awards from critic' groups including the Art Directors Guild. The movie is also nominated at the Critics Choice Awards, which takes place on Sunday, Jan. 15 and will almost certainly be nominated for a best animated feature Oscar.

The Fraggles turn 40!  On January 10, 1983 the world was introduced to the subterranean world of Fraggle Rock.  Today we celebrate the milestone with a few of our favorite memories of Fraggle Rock over the years. Fraggle Rock HBO Premiere Promo:      Fraggle Rock had many international productions and below you can see each country's variations (1983-1987):    It's hard to believe we've been "following" these furry friends for since the very first episode...      We've met all kinds of wacky characters like Convincing John:     We've inspected all the issues:     and learned from The Minstrels that  "there are no rules....and those are the rules"...     In 1987,  Fraggle Rock came to   NBC as a Saturday morning cartoon:     Kermit and Robin met the Fraggles in 1989's mother of all Muppet-crossovers  A Muppet Family Christmas :      After a long a...

Plastic Meatball's retro Labyrinth action figures are now available to pre-order.  The first wave (of hopefully many more) included Sarah, Jareth, and Hoggle.  You can see them in more detail below.  Sarah Retro Action Figure Plastic Meatball is proud to present a new retro action figure line based the cult classic film Labyrinth! Making an ill-fated wish that she regrets, Sarah braves the dangerous Labyrinth in a quest to save her brother from the Goblin King.    Box Contents: Sarah figure Talking Worm figure Enchanted peach   Jareth the Goblin King Retro Action Figure Mysterious and powerful, Jareth the Goblin King schemes to take Sarah's brother and turn him into a goblin.     Box Contents: Jareth the Goblin King figure Staff Hoggle Retro Action Figure Despite acting cowardly at times, the dwarf Hoggle eventually finds the courage to rescue his friends and prove to be a worthwhile ally. I would have liked to have seen Hoggle c...

We've heard rumors for months, but today it was officially announced that Fraggle Rock: Back To The Rock was renewed for a second season by Apple. According to  Deadline :  In Season 2, big changes affecting the Rock, the Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs will force them to confront their past and celebrate their interdependence, as they move through challenges together with hope, silliness, and brand new songs, all while dancing their cares away…down at Fraggle Rock. The Emmy-winning series' second season will include guests  Ariana DeBose ,  Brett Goldstein ,  and Catherine O’Hara, as well as  Daveed Diggs  who return as the voice of Jamdolin.  No release date has been announced but F raggle Rock: Back to the Rock and the Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Night of the Lights holiday special are now streaming on Apple TV+ .

The Jim Henson Company unveiled their new 2022 yule log video. This year's video features the citizens Fraggle Rock! Happy holidays from The Jim Henson Company! It’s a wintry night, and Sprocket is happily snoozing by the fire. But there may be a few special Fraggle-y visitors stopping by to help celebrate this special time of year. Below is the full version will be available December 8th-31st.

T he Jim Henson Company announced that Gabe Monje-Paulson has joined the company as Director of Children’s Television.  Monje-Paulson will oversee the development of projects for both live-action and animated children’s television productions. The announcement was made today by Halle Stanford, the Company’s President of Television. “With his excellent track record of developing quality television for today’s kids, Gabe is the ideal executive to grow Henson’s legacy of creativity and innovation with impactful and inclusive children’s content,” said Stanford. Before joining The Jim Henson Company, Monje-Paulson was Senior Manager, Development and Current for Mattel TV where he identified new series opportunities in Mattel’s content portfolio, guiding creative supervision and production for shows like  Deepa and Anoop  and  Fireman Sam . He also served as Manager, Original Programming at Disney Junior, acting as a creative executive on the Emmy-winning  Elena of Av...

AppleTV+ is promoting the new  Fraggle Rock: Back To The Rock " Night of the Lights" special.  Screen Rant was offered this exclusive " Second Most Thoughtful Gift" c lip.  In this exclusive clip presented by Screen Rant, Red and Mokey discuss exchanging gifts on the Night of the Lights. Red seems to be about to suggest that maybe the duo should forego the custom this year. There's only one problem: Mokey not only already has her present for Red picked out, but she's got it wrapped up and ready to hand over right away. Red opens up what is a thoughtful painting of herself, and it even glows. Clearly chagrined, Red exclaims it is the best present ever, or maybe only the second best after the present she will be presenting to Mokey, once she picks something up.     Uncle Traveling Matt also made the rounds promoting the special including chats with  Screen Rant:      and even with our friends at ToughPigs:    ...

Lakeshore records is releasing a soundtrack album for the upcoming Fraggle Rock: Night of the Lights special.    As of now the album is a digital only release and features two songs "Night of the Lights" an entirely new song and "Magic Be with You" which has been reworked from the original series.  You can sample and purchase them at P restomusic . The Fraggle Rock: Night of the Lights soundtrack will be released tomorrow November 18th. 

The  Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock "Night of the Lights" holiday special is almost upon us  and AppleTV+ and The Henson Company are giving us an early look. You’re invited to a festive celebration with your favorite Fraggles. New musical adventures await in Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock’s special holiday episode "Night of the Lights.” Watch the trailer below and get your  Baloobius ready for the "Night of the Lights.” The Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock  "Night of the Lights" starts streaming  November 18 on  Apple TV+ . 

The Great Con-Junction, celebrating The Dark Crystal and the world of Thra, returns this month with a star studded event in LA.  After hosting the first "unofficial" Great Con-Junction in 2020, this year's convention is not only officially licensed by the Henson Company, they are hosting an exclusive party on the Henson lot as part of the convention.  The guest list includes Lisa and Cheryl Henson, Henson President of Television Halle Stanford, Creative Supervisor for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Peter Brooke, performers Louise Gold, Kevin Clash Warrick Brownlow-Pike, authors Caseen Gaines and J.M. Lee, and many, many more. You can check out the full guest list here .  In addition to all the guest there are plenty of panels, activities, workshops, and even a museum of props and costumes .  More information and tickets can be found at TheGreatConJunction.com

RSVLTS  (The Roosevelts) has a new line of Dark Crystal and Labyrinth shirts.  Each style comes in a standard unisex cut, but two of the  Labyinth designs are available in  women’s as well.  All shirts are traditional button down, made with KUNUFLEX stretch material and come in sizes XS-4XL ($70). Links to each item can be found below. The Dark Crystal " Age of Wonder " “Bring home Jen, Kira, Fizzgig, Aughra, urSu the Master, and the rest of your favorite residents of Thra on this otherworldly button down. With astronomical symbols, mystical geometry, and the Dark Crystal itself, it’s perfect for any fan of the film – or your spiritual cousin who always smells like sage and blames everything on Mercury retrograde.” " Wall of Destiny " “It is written in the heavens that you will dig this button down, whether because it’s modeled after the Wall of Destiny and tells the epic tale of the prophesized Gelfling who will return the Shard to the Crystal of Truth t...