Enter Jim Henson’s Fantastic World

Get a peek at the genius behind the curtain at the new Jim Henson’s Fantastic World exhibit. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone whose childhood hasn’t been shaped by this creative genius, and now you can see and touch all those characters he created over the years in person.

Having seen the exhibit back in Seattle back in 2009, I can attest to the sheer volume of drawings, storyboards, props and other artifacts on display. The overall effect is a fantastical maze of his life’s work now on display at the Museum of Moving Image.

Besides the familiar cast of characters from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet movies, there’s also plenty of memorabilia and creatures from his offbeat eighties film, The Dark Crystal.

Any fan of Henson’s could easily spend hours soaking in the exhibit. While his most famous work had and has lasting appeal, I think the most interesting part of the show is his earliest work.  To really enter Henson’s “fantastic world” you have to see where it all began, starting with his early sketches and short films from college, he took the idea of experimentation to a whole new level.

During the run of the exhibition, there will also be guided tours and special screening of his films throughout the coming months. Be sure to swing by this weekend to catch the double screening of Muppets Take Manhattan this Saturday and Sunday at 1:00pm. Special guests include production designer Stephen Hendrickson and costume designer Calista Hendrickson.

Visit the museum’s site for more details, and admission is free on Fridays, 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World
July 16–January 16
Museum of Moving Image
35 Avenue at 37 Street [Astoria]