The Muppets Studio

Background

The Muppets Studio, LLC, formerly The Muppets Holding Company, LLC, is a wholly owned entertainment subsidiary of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, formed on February 14, 2004 through The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of The Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House intellectual properties from The Jim Henson Company.

1st Logo (2004-2008)

Visuals: On a black background, we see lights flashing. Then, a purple oval zooms up, which reads:

Muppet
studios

The music then stops and the logo shines.

Technique: 2D computer animation by Scott Williams at New Wave Entertainment.

Audio: A remix of the Muppet Show theme song (originally written by Sam Pottle and performed by Jack Parnell's orchestra) followed by a "shining" sound.

Audio Variants:

• On some "Kermit's 50th Anniversary" DVD releases, the logo is silent.
• On Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony, the end theme to the series plays over the logo (an instrumental of "Hey, a Movie!" from The Great Muppet Caper for its first few episodes).

Availability: Seen on seasons 1-3 of The Muppet Show DVD sets at the start of each episode. It can also be seen on Kermit's 50th Anniversary re-releases of the previously released Muppet DVDs such as The Muppet Movie. It also appears on Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony.

2nd Logo (August 3, 2008-February 19, 2021)

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Visuals: On a white background, we see several Muppets (Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo, Animal, Statler and Waldorf, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, The Swedish Chef, Rowlf the Dog, and Camilla the Chicken) that appear to be "bursting" out of the background, with Kermit in front. The words:

The
Muppets
Studio

are shown below in the American Typewriter font.

Variants:

• An animated version exists where all the Muppets are opening the background as the word "Muppets" is typing in one-by-one while "The" and "Studio" fade in.
• On Disney+ prints of The Muppet Show, the logo (with Pepe the King Prawn added between Gonzo and Waldorf) appears inside an oval with a metallic edge on a black background.
• On the first look presentation of the 2015 The Muppets series, the logo is cropped on the black background. Also, the Muppets are absent.

Technique: A still 2D graphic with photography for the Muppets in the standard version. 2D computer animation in the animated variant.

Audio: The end theme of the show/special.

Availability: The original white background version appeared on Studio DC: Almost Live and A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa. The oval variant is currently used on Disney+ prints of The Muppet Show.

3rd Logo (September 22, 2015-February 18, 2022)

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Visuals: On a dark background, there are the words:

THE
MuPPeTS
STUDIO

in the distance. As the camera zooms into the words, a bright light shines on the logo and we see the word "MuPPeTS" in a playful serif font wobbling from side to side before getting in position.

Variants:

• There is an in-credit version, which can be seen on Muppets Now.
• A long version exists.

Technique: CGI done by The Lobby.

Audio: A jazzy piano tune or the end theme of the show.

Audio Variant: On the 2015 The Muppets series, the first part of the theme is cut out.

Availability: Seen on the short-lived 2015 The Muppets series and the 2018 reboot of Muppet Babies. The in-credit version appears on Muppets Now on Disney+.

4th Logo (July 31, 2021-)

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  Muppets Haunted Mansion trailer variant

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  Muppets Haunted Mansion closing variant

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  The Muppets Mayhem variant

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  The Muppets Mayhem trailer variant

Visuals: On a dark background, the screen zooms out to see a new The Muppets Studio logo, in the same font as the logo of The Muppet Show and in gold. The logo brightens once it is fully seen as spotlights turn on and shine. Some particles can be seen floating in the background.

Variants:

• On Muppets Haunted Mansion:
  • At the beginning, the screen zooms through the "O" into the opening scene.
  • At the end, after the logo animation plays as normal, La Cabra appears, pokes its head into the "O" and screams. The goat leaves and the screen zooms through the "O" like in the opening.
  • On the trailer, the logo glows purple and flickers over a wallpaper backdrop with what looks like several different Muppet characters included in its design.
• On The Muppets Mayhem:
  • On the show's trailer, the logo is a turquoise stamp on an instrument case, surrounded by purple ink blots and with a sticker of the logo for Doctor Teeth and the Electric Mayhem on the bottom left.
  • On the show proper, the logo is in its typical golden design, but embedded into the front of an amp. The screen zooms closer to the amp to get a better view as the logo shines.
• While most haven't been seen yet, The Muppets Studio VP Leigh Slaughter claims that there will be many custom variants of this logo for various productions.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None or the opening/closing theme. The variant on The Muppets Mayhem has a rock riff.

Availability: First seen on an interview with The Muppets Studio VP Leigh Slaughter on Muppet fansite Tough Pigs on July 31, 2021. Was posted in a now deleted tweet on the official Muppet Twitter account and a post to its Instagram shortly after. The logo made its official debut on Muppets Haunted Mansion, and later appeared on The Muppets Mayhem.