(Blefary, n.d.).
Drawn to visual storytelling, Jim Henson (1936–1990), the creator of Kermit the Frog, began his groundbreaking career in the early 1950s. While still in high school, he began working part-time as a puppeteer, a passion he pursued while studying design at the University of Maryland. In 1955, Henson and fellow student Jane Nebel, later his wife, created Sam and Friends, a five-minute puppet show that introduced an early version of Kermit and allowed Henson to explore television as a medium for creative experimentation (Falk, 2012; Owen, 1993; The Jim Henson Legacy, n.d.-b). The clip below shows Kermit and Harry the Hipster in a segment from Sam and Friends, humorously exploring visual thinking.
Kermit and Harry the Hipster Exploring Visual Thinking (The Jim Henson Company, 2011).
Henson’s technical inventiveness and playful humor quickly earned recognition. By the age of 28, he had made his mark in television, advertising, and short-form film, all while raising a family (Falk, 2012; Owen, 1993). Collaboration was central to his work. He worked closely with creatives like Jane Nebel and Don Sahlin, who helped shape the early Muppets. Believing imagination could do good, Henson encouraged bold thinking. For Fraggle Rock, for example, he challenged his team to create something that could promote peace (Owen, 1993; Yoe, 2015). In the 1980s, he brought this ambition into larger, story-driven productions such as The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan, both starring Kermit and his friends (Falk, 2012).
Henson’s unexpected death in 1990 was met with worldwide grief. Throughout his life and beyond, his many awards and honours reflect the enduring influence of his work. One example is the statue of Henson and Kermit in the Memorial Garden at the University of Maryland, as seen in the picture below (Owen, 1993; The Jim Henson Legacy, n.d.-a; The Jim Henson Legacy, n.d.-b). What began with Kermit’s quiet debut on Sam and Friends became a legacy of creativity and inspiration, spanning generations.
If you want to learn more about Henson’s life and legacy, here is the trailer for the Disney+ documentary Jim Henson: Idea Man.