A Muppet Fan’s Case For Preserving Muppet*Vision 3D
Almost as soon as Disney announced that a new Monsters, Inc. land was coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios during last weekend’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Event, Muppet fans began to worry.
The first concept art for the new Monstropolis area bore a striking resemblance to the current Muppet Courtyard section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
In a park that has changed radically since opening in 1989, Muppet Courtyard has remained. For 34 years now, Muppet*Vision 3D has delighted audiences with its humor, heart, and chaotic ending, providing the kind of good old-fashioned entertainment that was once the hallmark of the Disney-MGM Studios.
In a park that has seen the loss of the Backlot Tour, the Great Movie Ride, and the Magic of Disney Animation, it has been a miracle that Muppet*Vision has survived this long.
That is not to say, however, that the attraction does not have its legions of fans. After entertaining audiences for three-and-a-half decades, Muppet*Vision 3D has cultivated a strong following and is now considered a classic attraction by many. This brings us to today.
Where Will The New Monsters, Inc. Land Be Built
While Disney has made clear that a new Monsters, Inc. land is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, they have not announced where the land will be built.
Photo: Disney
In fact, based on the concept art, it looks like they are considering multiple locations.
While one piece of newly released art seems to show a repurposed Muppet Courtyard, the second concept art appears to show a completely different area (likely either the current Star Wars Launch Bay/old Animation Courtyard or the expansion pad behind Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster).
According to a new report from TheWrap, Disney was initially set to announce that the attraction would replace the Studios’ Muppet area before calling a last-minute audible.
Now, Imagineers have just weeks to decide what they will do.
Muppet Fans Rally
With Muppet*Vision 3D seemingly on the chopping block, Muppet fans from around the world have rallied in support of the attraction. The movement to save Muppet*Vision, however, is more than your standard issue of online complaining.
Muppet Vision 3D isn’t just a great attraction, it was also the final Muppet project Jim Henson was involved with before he passed away
It’s an important piece of Muppet history and to lose it would be losing a significant part of Jim’s legacy and the joy he brought to our world pic.twitter.com/BrIDzllf2d
— Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) August 13, 2024
To understand what makes Muppet*Vision so invaluable, you need to understand the attraction’s history.
How Muppet Vision 3D Came to Be
The history of Muppet*Vision 3D began in 1989 when Disney and Muppet creator Jim Henson was closing in on a merger agreement. As part of the deal, Disney would have become the owner of the Muppets franchise, while Henson would have joined the company in numerous roles.
Photo: Disney
After closing the deal, Disney also planned on integrating the Muppets into their theme parks by creating a Muppet Movieland in the Disney-MGM Studios. The new Muppet-centric location would have been anchored by two attractions- The Great Muppet Movie Ride and a 3D Muppet film.
Despite the fact that the deal had yet to become official, Henson dove headfirst into the Muppet 3D project.
Muppet*Vision 3D concept art. Photo: Disney
“Jim was very involved with the project. He was genuinely interested in doing theme park attractions. I think Jim liked that it would be something people could see for a long time in an environment like a Disney theme park. I think he also liked doing something new, unique, and groundbreaking,” show producer Mark Eades would recall later.
Tragedy Strikes
With filming on the new Muppet project underway in California and construction on the theater breaking ground in Florida, it looked like everything was coming together. Then, tragedy struck. On May 16, 1990, Jim Henson passed away at the age of 53.
Photo Credit: English Heritage
Following Henson’s death, Disney’s merger with the Jim Henson Company fell apart. Without the creative force behind the franchise, Disney’s interest in the Muppets waned, and the Henson estate balked at Disney’s offer to purchase the characters outright. The falling through of the merger would eventually lead to a bitter lawsuit between the two entities.
Shortly after Henson passed away, his friend and frequent collaborator Frank Oz (who was named a Disney Legend last weekend) took over the directing duties on the Muppet 3D project. With negotiations between Disney and the Henson heirs breaking down, however, the Henson family asked everyone from their company to stop. According to Eades, Imagineering had to complete the film alone.
Henson working on Muppet*Vision 3D. Photo: Looking Glass Films
“We had to finish the film, including all the Waldo CGI, much of which was added as a result of the new stuff, without them, including all the performers,” he recalled. “We had already done the looping so we had all the dialog.”
A Testament to Henson’s Legacy
Luckily, on May 19, 1991, a confidential settlement was reached between the Henson estate and Disney. As part of the agreement, Disney was allowed to continue to develop the 3D Muppets attraction and given merchandising rights for 18 months.
Jim Henson and the cast of Muppet*Vision 3D. Photo: Disney
When the attraction opened on May 16, Brian noted that Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D was a fitting tribute to his father. It would be the last Mupppet project that Jim Henson directed and the last time he performed as Kermit.
This brings us back to today. In a park and a world that have fundamentally changed over the last 33 years, Muppet*Vision 3D continues to be a testament to the power of Disney entertainment and Jim Henson’s creativity. While no longer groundbreaking technologically, Muppet*Vision 3D still delights new generations with its heart.
Photo: Disney
Additionally, however, the attraction remains a testament to one of the great creative forces of the 20th Century.
While it remains unclear what Disney will do with Muppet*Vision 3D and the surrounding courtyard, removing a fan-favorite attraction with that kind of historical weight is not a decision the company should make lightly. Nor do I expect them to.
Photo: Also D23
