The Muppets

The Muppets are an American ensemble of puppet characters created by Jim Henson, first appearing in the 1955 television series Sam and Friends and known for an absurdist, slapstick, self referential style of comedy. The roster centers on figures such as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and the band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, and the franchise expanded through landmark productions including The Muppet Show from 1976 to 1981 and The Muppet Movie in 1979. The Jim Henson Company controlled the characters for nearly five decades before Disney acquired the property in 2004 and formed The Muppets Studio to manage it, a scope that excludes the separately owned Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock characters. Beyond television and film the franchise spans music, video games, theme park attractions, comics and merchandise.