The Documentary Podcast Jim Henson's Creature Shop: Back to Fraggle Rock
Dec 15, 2025
Join Jason Webber, a creative supervisor at Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and Melissa Creighton, the shop's director, as they discuss the magic behind bringing Fraggle Rock back to life. They dive into the intricate process of translating beloved hand puppets into human-sized characters, detailing everything from dyeing fabric to engineering foam body pods. Learn about the team's commitment to quality and the influence of Jim Henson's legacy in their collaborative environment, all while gearing up for an exciting new live show!
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Two Creature Shops, Two Specialties
- Jim Henson's Creature Shop split into two hubs: LA for animatronics/digital puppetry and NYC for fabric-based character builds.
- The New York workshop specializes in traditional materials, scaling puppets into walkabout costumes for theme parks, theatre and live shows.
Scaling Puppets Preserves Their Silhouette
- Walkabout puppets are human-sized costume characters like Big Bird, engineered to preserve puppet proportions at scale.
- The design challenge is enlarging silhouettes while keeping emotive profiles and performer mobility.
Mock Up Proportions And Ventilate Early
- Mock up body pods first to confirm proportions before final fabrication and producer approval.
- Design ventilation and holes in foam to reduce heat and keep performers cool inside the suits.