Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles: A Muppet Sketchbook
by Alison Inches
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Description
These imaginative musings, the work of a man who made an impossible world seem completely plausible, show history in the making., Booklist Bert and Ernie were once just scribbles on notebook paper, and the original Oscar the Grouch was purple, not green. Before there were Muppets, there were Jim Henson's designs and doodles. This delightful collection of Henson's early drawings serves as a map to the imagination of an artist whose characters have enraptured generations of children and show more adults. Almost none of these drawings had been published before the original Abrams edition. From the most cursory of doodles to finished drawings, this whimsical volume of sketchbooks, posters, album covers, story boards, and set and puppet designs celebrates Henson's unique genius and his wild sense of humor. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The sketches in here are interesting, but I think this is most valuable as a history of (and some information on the projects of) Jim Henson before The Muppet Show. I wasn't aware of everything he did, and details of some of these projects are fascinating.
Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles is exactly what the name implies: A compilation of Jim Henson's sketches. Combined with interesting narrative it is a really interesting look at the conceptualization of this genius.
A fantastic, easy read and well worth it.
A fantastic, easy read and well worth it.
wonderful--looking through Jim Henson's sketches just makes me feel very silly and happy
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Author Information
135+ Works 6,222 Members
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2001
- Epigraph
- "As children, we all live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, and for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood."
--Jim Henson
"I came to puppetry more through the art side of it. Usually I would start with drawings and then turn them into puppets."
--Jim Henson
"Each of us expressing our own originality is the essence of art and professionalism."
--Jim Henson
"One of the things that I like to do most is to break new ground."
--Jim Henson
"Puppets are fortunate -- they can do and say things a live performer wouldn't touch with a stick."
--From a 1969 Proposal for The Muppet Show
"Whenever [characters] become self-important or sentimental in the Muppets, then there's always another character there to blow them up immediately."
--Frank Oz (show all 11)
"Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness!"
--The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz
"What Jim really wanted to do was to sing songs and tell stories, teach children, promote peace, save the planet, celebrate man, praise God and be silly."
--Jerry Juhl
"Sesame Street is an extraordinary story about how an experiment just took off and became part of the very fabric of our culture."
--Michael Frith, former director of creative services, Jim Henson Productions, Inc.
"When you can't think of an ending, go out with a bang!"
--The Wizard from The Wizard of Id as performed by Jim Henson
"Cool it, you twig heads!"
--Charlie the Reindeer as performed by Jim Henson - Dedication
- For Kermit the Frog, aka Jim.
- First words
- Before Kermit became "the frog", he was an amphibious creature prone to donning a blonde wig and lip-synching to Rosemary Clooney's "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face".
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"He wanted quality work, but being a good human being was just as important to him."
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- Members
- 175
- Popularity
- 186,433
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.31)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
