Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D - March 2003 - Disney-MGM Studios - FULL SHOW & PRESHOW & trivia

Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D sponsored by Kodak opened on May 16, 1991, one year to the day that Jim Henson passed away. This show is very special to me because I was a lover of anything Jim Henson or Muppets growing up and this show was one of the last things that had Jim’s personal touch to it. Him and his team worked two years developing this film and some bigger ideas with a whole “Muppet Studios”, which did not see the light after Jim’s unexpected passing. Guests enter a brick clock tower building, made to blend in with nearby New York Street. The inside looks like the Muppet Labs lobby. The pre-show area is a Muppet prop storage warehouse, with plenty of gags to look at. I point out my favorites in the video. Muppet characters get ready for the show and perform different numbers. Inside the theater guests are treated to a 3D movie which plays like an episode of the Muppet Show, complete with Statler and Waldorf making jokes in the balcony. There are some 4D effects thrown in as well, like water, wind and bubbles. The whole experience, building, queue line, pre-show, and movie are hilarious in that wacky Jim Henson spirit. Just like Disneyland gives me the feeling of Walt when I’m there, Muppet*Vision 3D connects me to Jim Henson.

The 3D movie was shot at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Stage 3, where 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was filmed, had the water tank which was used for Miss Piggy’s big water skiing number. “Dream a Little Dream of Me” (Piggy & Bean Bunny) was shot first while Muppet Labs was built on the other side of Stage 3. Town Square from Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) was used for Kermit riding through the exploded brick wall on a fire truck. The Miss Piggy set was transformed into the patriotic finale set, which was mostly a black background, and then that was filmed. The film was way under budget and most thought the middle needed to be fixed. The production went on vacation in May with the intent to come back and work on the middle of the movie, but then Jim Henson passed away. The Henson creative team came up with the story of Bean Bunny running away and Frank Oz took over directing that part.

Jim Henson’s son Brian obtained the company and did not like Disney’s offer of buying the Muppets. All performers and creative team working on the film were asked to leave. Disney Imagineering had to finish the project themselves which is where the CGI Waldo “the spirit of 3D” character came in. Brian felt the film was a nice tribute to his father, and Disney was granted permission to show the film. Disney also got merchandising rights for the next 18 months, but the other plans for a Muppet land were canceled. In 2004 Disney was successfully able to acquire the Muppets and “Jim Henson’s” name on the attraction title was sadly removed.

For 30 years the Muppet*Vision 3D movie has stood the test of time, demonstrating the imaginative power of Jim Henson and his creative team. In 2009 new parody movie posters were added in the queue like Pirates of the Amphibian and High School Mayhem. Also, the projection system was updated to digital. In 2014 Constantine, from Muppets Most Wanted, was briefly added to the pre-show to promote the new film. In 2017 the theater was renamed Grand Arts Theater and was given a new marquee out front. The theming blended with the new Galaxy’s Edge since New York Street was removed.

This 2003 home video is loaded with trivia so I will not dive too deep in this description. In a nutshell, you will see…
Exterior shots of the Muppet*Vision show building with all the “Jim Henson’s” still on the title. The Miss Piggy fountain is under refurbishment.
Muppet Labs lobby and various gags
Muppet prop warehouse and my favorite gags
Entire 2003 pre-show
Pre show: Roy, Rick and Chuck hang up the Kodak logo, Fozzie presents a singing act The Three Dees, Bean brings Piggy props, Gonzo dances with a flower pot on his head, Sam Eagle says the safety spiel, Rizzo dresses as Mickey Mouse
Entire 3D movie, which has gone unchanged
Muppet*Vision 3D: Kermit introduces the film, Fozzie performs some cheap 3D tricks, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker create Waldo at Muppet Labs, Miss Piggy sings, Bean runs away, Bean is found, patriotic finale, orchestra and projectionist fire at each other, theater receives minor damages
Exit and gift shop exterior

CAST:
Jim Henson - (director/producer) Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, the Swedish Chef
Frank Oz - (director) Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Rick
Jerry Nelson - Camilla, Zoot
Richard Hunt - Scooter, Statler, Beaker, Sweetums (voice), Chuck
Dave Golez - Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
Steve Whitmire - Waldo C. Graphic, Bean Bunny, Rizzo
John Henson - Sweetums (puppeteering)
David Rudman - Roy, Max
Len Levitt - Toy Soldiers
Wayne Allwine - Mickey Mouse (end)
David Gumpel - (pre-show director)
Bill Prady - (writer, co-creator of “The Big Bang Theory”)