First Look: “The Muppets” teaser

on Monday May 23, 2011 3:30 pm

Comments

This year Disney is releasing a sequel to Pixar’s Cars and reviving Winnie The Pooh. They are also rebooting The Muppets (yes, I know its puppets and not animation) and this teaser looks like it might work:

http://joelbrinkerhoff.blogspot.com/ Joel Brinkerhoff

Muppets and Amy Adams?! I would watch Amy Adams and a sock.
- Scarabim
  
  ***I would watch Amy Adams and a sock.***
  Isn’t that exactly what this is? ;)
  - http://joelbrinkerhoff.blogspot.com/ Joel Brinkerhoff
    
    Ha, I’ve always said CB readers have a great grasp of the obvious!
  - Ergo
    
    The excuse seems to be that sarcasm doesn’t translate to text. I disagree. It just requires that the reader has good reading for comprehension skills and a firm grasp of the obvious.
Matt

Woooh Muppets!
They’re breaking the 4th wall all over the place in this trailer, but at least it looks like it could be fun-ish.
Hope the story is something worth remembering.
Wasn’t Pete Docter involved in helping out with this project in some way/shape/form?
- http://kecky.blogspot.com kecky
  
  The 4th wall exists to be broken in Muppet movies!
- Azz
  
  There is no fourth wall in The Muppets!
- snip2354
  
  Pixar story men visited them once, or a few times, to help with the story. I’m not sure if it was Pete Docter exactly.
  - Sardonic Tuba
    
    It’s true. I’m having them come over to fix my transmission. Later, they’ll help me whip up a nice Turkey Tetrazzini. Bless you, Pixar story men. Bless you!
Mat H

I would definitely consider puppetry to be animation. But maybe thats just me.
- http://hunteachother.com Max W
  
  Just because you like something doesn’t make it animation…
  - AJ
    
    Well, animation is bringing life to a lifeless thing so technically it is animation. Just the object being given life is in real time.
  - Mat H
    
    It basically follows all the same principles of acting. Its just not frame by frame. Which by some people’s standard wouldn’t make it animation and I understand that.. But I still think puppets create the illusion of life.
  - The Gee
    
    The Illusion of Life in Real Time?
http://www.johnnyluu.co.uk Johnny

Well done for ruining one of the best teasers in recent years by putting “The Muppets” in the title. At least the folks over at AICN understood what the marketing campaign was about by playing along a raving about a new rom-com without even a hint at the true nature of the trailer.
- Ergo
  
  Glad I saw this on another site first. One that didn’t spoil it.
- Tom
  
  It was an uncharacteristically tone deaf move to spoil the surprise of this trailer.
  - Jodie
    
    To be fair to Jerry, and maybe this was just me but I sat thru 90 percent of it, and thought, “Wait a minute, Jerry put up the wrong trailer because this film has no mupp..oh OH! There’s Muppets!
    
    I think Jerry’s part of their brilliant marketing campaign. Go Muppets!
- The Gee
  
  Oh! The Humanity!
  
  I had to look away once I realized it was spoiled.
  
  And, to think as soon as I saw Jason Segal in the teaser my first thoughts were he was writing the latest Muppet movie….
  
  But, I digress.
  
  Jerry, how dare you ruin the reveal of the marketing campaign for this flick! Are you even a naturalized, Muppet-expert? Show us your long-form Burt Certificate!
  - http://www.toasterguy.com Aaron H
    
    Do you realize you ragged on Jerry for not being a Muppet expert and then misspelled Bert?
  - The Gee
    
    Haha. No I did not realize that.
    
    I never claimed to be a spelling champion. So, thanks for catching that.
    
    It is doubtful that I’ve ever written out that monobrowed muppet’s name too often.
    
    Let me revise the quip:
    
    Show us your long-form Bert Certificate, Jerry! And, while you are at it, don’t get all Muppety on us geeks!
- http://Juanmanimation.blogspot.com J.m
  
  Best Surprise Teaser since the AustinPowers Empire strikes back one.
  
  Too bad it got spoiled I am glad I saw it saturday on POC4.
  
  I did NOT see that coming.
  
  Like I did not expect them to give the Muppets Legs, I hope it’s just for the poster!!
Randy Koger

Who’s Amy Adams?
- FleischerFan
  
  You’re kidding, right? Nominated for an Oscar, been starring in movies for several years now, was delightful in “Enchanted,” Disney’s spoof of their own “princess” films?
- snip2354
  
  *headdesk*
http://www.stringstornasunder.blogspot.com Chris Powell

That Faux intro was pretty great. Loved how the announcer tripped over his words when he said Kermit’s name. I’m in.
Ryan

Aw, you spoiled the surprise!
http://www.thepra.com.au Eddie

wow really looks like the old style Muppet Movies, before they went to Treasure Island/Space etc… Can’t wait to be a kid again!
http://beesbuzz.biz/ fluffy

I was beginning to think that you guys embedded the wrong movie trailer just when the payoff happened. So it still caught me by surprise!
Steven M.

Noy bad, but couldn’t they come up with a better title then “The Muppets?”
- DNAndy
  
  The Muppetts: Back in Action.
  - tonma
    
    yeah, that phrase actually makes me jittery…. I hope that wont be the case…
- http://kecky.blogspot.com kecky
  
  I wish it were still called “The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made.” :(
- http://www.stringstornasunder.blogspot.com Chris Powell
  
  In reboots, the trend is to go with the shortest, simplest most refreshing title.
- Azz
  
  Kinda agree -but this is a ‘reboot’ of sorts I think. Theres a generation that aren’t familiar with The Muppets so it makes sense.
- snip2354
  
  Hey, they called the new Pooh movie ‘Winnie the Pooh’.
  
  This decade is all about dumber titles.
http://www.frankpanucci.com Frank Panucci

Those don’t sound like the real Muppets!

It took the trailer too long to get to the actual Muppets.
Then, when they appeared, I remembered I don’t like Muppet movies.
The Muppets’ own TV show and Ed Sullivan appearances were the stuff.
- snip2354
  
  They haven’t sounded like themselves in 20 years, I would assume people would be used to that by now.
  
  Wow, 4th post on this one entry?! :D
- diego
  
  the first movie was sadly the only good one.
  - Scarabim
    
    Gotta agree. I have no interest in this ill-advised reboot.
  - Chris Sobieniak
    
    I’m one of those that would agree with that too, the first film was brilliant all the way.
Jim M

Even with the title, it still got me – I thought the ‘Brew had mis-embedded. :)
http://dokdibujos.blogspot.com/ Dokeck

I sometimes consider animating cg as moving a digital articulated full body muppet, so Id take puppetry as animation for sure.
- Jonah Sidhom
  
  I think the difference between the two is the frame-by-frame manipulation that’s required in CG. That’s usually what’s considered to be the deciding factor on whether something is animated, puppet or not.
  
  Personally, I’m not sure if puppetry like the Muppets is animation, but then again I don’t see why I have to decide. I’ll just enjoy it for what it is.
  
  Looking forward to the movie!
  - Iritscen
    
    But, CG animation doesn’t require frame-by-frame manipulation. It’s usually a matter of a computer tweening in between key frames. So puppetry is really on a blurred line between live-action and animation.
  - http://www.jeandenis.net Jean-Denis Haas
    
    So CG animation is on a blurred line too. But if people consider puppetry animation, then shouldn’t they consider mocap animation too? The horror, the horror!
tonma

Jerry man, you really should have tried to find a way to make us watch the ‘green with envy’ trailer and find out ourselves, otherwise it gets just confusing, I was just about to close the youtube tab and whine here about a bad link, HEHE… I’m whining anyway….

I’ve been watching the old muppet show lately so I.m over sensitive to things like Miss Piggy with Gaga hair or that muppet guy in the light blue suit (who’s that), but all in all it looks fun. Jason is a great cheesy guy and I hope the get him cheesy in the good way. Amy looks good too.

BUT.. what about the song? is it part of the ‘lame chick flick’ parody or is it for real? cuz it sure stinks….
- Ergo
  
  I think it’s pretty obviously a part of the parody.
- HP
  
  [Comment removed by editors. Per our commenting guidelines, "Be considerate and respectful of others in the discussion. Defamatory, rude or unnecessarily antagonistic comments will be deleted."]
DNAndy

Ugh, I looked up the summary for this movie, and it has the same exact plot as the Yogi Bear 2010 movie.
uncle wayne

Ditto: Joel! “Enchanted” won me over a killion times!

Randy: Make SURE you watch, in fulll detail, the film “Enchanted!” You’ll never say “who’s Amy Adams” again! PLUS it is the most delectable “animated” film of allll time!!!
Michel Van

yessss the Muppets are back !!!
i hope also there Anarchism stile of humor
wat i miss in the last movies
Clint H

Well, if you count MUPPET BABIES, then I guess Muppets are connected with animation.

Anyways, this looks awesome. I’m a HUGE Muppet fan.
Rob T.

Though they’re not animated, I think a good case could be made for the Muppets’ influence on animation, especially as caricatured/”cartoony” 3D figures that served as a model for the early CGI animators. Pixar especially shows a lot of Muppet influence, both in terms of character design (“A Bug’s Life”, “Monsters, Inc.” and “Finding Nemo” all have very “Muppet-esque” characters) and style of movement (e.g., the little head-shake in the Muppets’ “Manah Manah” sketch, echoed in Pixar films from “Luxo Jr.” to “WALL-E”).
Ross W

This trailer was the best part of seeing Pirates of the Caribbean 4 this weekend.
Andrew Kieswetter

Looks okay,although I prefer The Muppet Movie. Out of curiosity,what forthcoming non-Pixar Disney animated features are coming besides the new Winnie The Pooh movie? I personally would love to see a sequel to Bolt and a third Rescuers feature.
http://www.doctorwhom.com gavin

Damn it! This would have been an awesome surprise. It’s not likely that I would’ve watched what appeared to be a rom-com trailer online without the spoil, but there’s a chance I might have seen it at the cinema.
http://www.youtube.com/user/VujadeEntertainment#p/u/0/3HaupcJwAdk Steve Schnier

Yaaay! Muppets! Yaay!
Vixie

I am a professional puppeteer who has been heavily influenced by The Muppets, and as much as I want to see them succeed, I am skeptical this can. The main reason I say that is because too many of the core group that made the Muppets what they became are either no longer with us or no longer perform with them. As good as the replacements may be, I just don’t think you can step into someone else’s character and have it be the same. Someone already commented about the voices being off, and that is one reason, the other is only the original performer really understands the character, and all the little nuances that made them what they are. I do hope I am wrong, but I have my doubts.

As for the connection between animation and puppetry, I have taught puppetry workshops for years, and I always teach there is a connection. Both mediums are doing basically the same thing, bringing the inanimate to life. The acting and staging are very similar, and I encourage beginning puppeteers to watch animation and study both the acting and the staging.
- http://www.toasterguy.com Aaron H
  
  Vixie you are 100% right. I am a huge Muppet fan but for me, it ends around 1990. The original performers were the “spirit” of these characters. Once Jim and Richard Hunt passed on, and later when Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson retired, the Muppets were done. The newer crew does an “okay” job of mimicking the voices but the spirit of the characters just isn’t there.
  
  Plus the writing in the newer projects isn’t up to par compared with the writing in the older stuff. Even if kids are unfamiliar with the Muppets of the 1970s and 80s (heck I wasn’t aware of them til mid-80s) I think you can just tell when you’ve got actors playing the part of corporate-owned characters versus performers acting as characters that were largely built around them.
- The Gee
  
  ” The main reason I say that is because too many of the core group that made the Muppets what they became are either no longer with us or no longer perform with them. As good as the replacements may be, I just don’t think you can step into someone else’s character and have it be the same.”
  
  I totally get this notion and obviously it is one which is brought up with classic animated cartoon characters, too.
  
  The thing is that unlike Punch and Judy, the performances with the Muppets have been almost always recorded. So, we always can compare the newest performances to the originals, right? That’s a lot like new Bugs Bunny cartoons being easily compared to the original or even the latest Simpsons episodes being compared to 1993′s vintage version.
  
  The elephant in the room, so to speak, will always be that The Muppets aren’t like a incarnation of one Second City Comedy troupe but are kind of made to be continually exploited. That’s always the fate of characters that are part of a franchise and are not limited to rare performances, if that makes sense.
  
  The thing is I can’t put too much fault on the current puppeteers who do those classic characters. The appeal of the characters might always be strongest when they are filmed performances rather than as some form of animated version. And, the voices and that aspect of performance just has to suffice. There’s not much alternative. But, for Muppets, unlike some cartoon characters, they usually find and use the best options.
  ——–
  And, above I wrote “The Illusion of Life in Real Time?” I probably should have added “produced and recorded in real time.” That’s a key difference. Capturing animation isn’t the same as animating to make animation. So, I don’t know how the end result of filming puppetry can rightly be called “animation.” The process makes animation.
  
  (man, I stretched these two cents a long way. hopefully, this all makes sense and is constructive and apt.)
  - Chris Sobieniak
    
    Certainly recordings have ruined the fun for those of us in seeing how these characters can change over time due to a change in staff and all that.
Michel Van

here the Movie Poster
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa0M0trtonE/TdqtdYr6JzI/AAAAAAAAKU4/8Z4Ojp_GhxQ/s1600/muppets-poster1.jpg
Charlie

It was still a surprise to me, because I thought this whole movie was a “College Humor”-like parody. Because you can easily get Kermit and Miss Piggy puppets and make a trailer like this. But having alot more Muppets would have been harder. I say, good job, Disney! It’s on my list to see this summer.
AltredEgo

Ugh…that looked awful.
Not in the “the production lacks talent/skill” kind of awful, but in the “painfully generic” kind of awful. One of the things that I loved about the muppets movies was the fact that they were dirty and gritty films that *starred* muppets. Obviously influenced by the popularity of shows like Glee, I know that there is an audience for this new type of Muppets movie, and sadly I am not it.

AE.
- John
  
  I guess you don’t realize that 60% of this trailer is footage that won’t go in the final film…
G. Melissa Graziano

I saw this in front of Pirates over the weekend, and it definitely surprised me then! Funny thing is, the “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” trailer played right before it, and after the Muppets trailer ended, the kid in front of me said, “I like the penguins.” I almost kicked him, but I refrained…he is, after all, most likely ignorant of the awesome that is The Muppets. :p

I am SO excited for this movie, and I’m really hoping they don’t mess it up…but from Disney’s viral campaign thus far, I have high hopes. :D
dbenson

Just so long as they don’t try to “explain” the Muppets. My favorite was “Muppets Take Manhattan”, where everybody was pretty nonchalant about terrycloth animals bobbing around New York.
David

We may think the titles are simplistic, but the marketers are using them because these franchises are being rebooted. They are trying to create fresh product for a whole new generation. The Muppets is an homage from Jason Siegal. Jason’s been talking about invigorating the Muppets for years, now. Looks like he may have succeeded.
- The Gee
  
  You make good points.
  
  But the greater influence is Disney. It wants to invigorate the franchise beyond licensing.
  
  There’s been a lot of online pieces that were released in the last year or two, mostly YouTube shorts from what I’ve seen. I always thought the main goal was to re-introduce the characters in any way possible outside of just using some of the characters for the occasional product promotion.
  
  Kermit will always be about the green.
Jesper Soelberg

I’m a professional animator, actor, mime and puppeteer, and although I love the Muppets I tend to agree with others that the original cast of Muppeteers (so to speak) simply had the characters well in under their skin. It’s always difficult (if not impossible) to carry on someone elses blood, sweat and tears. But there’s Brian Henson, Dave Goelz and Steve Whitmire among others, the finest at doing their craft… Doesn’t seem like Frank Oz is on as Piggy(!) If it becomes a succes, it would probably boost the whole puppet business a notch, and maybe more puppet projects will be explored… Meaning more work. ; ) Although here in Denmark there is actually a rather large interest in puppet based projects. I worked on a puppet short a couple of years ago, the producer of it insisted as marketing it as being animation, claiming ofcourse that animation means to give life… Big confusion, lots of people thought it was stop motion. My opinion : If it’s puppeteering sell it as puppetering, if it’s hand drawn animation sell it as hand drawn animation, if it’s a potato sell it as a potato… Shouldn’t be so difficult.

Although I most definitely see animation and puppeteering as being closely related (it’s pretty darn hard not to) in sheer technical terms maybe this clarifies some issues :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animation
http://www.mukpuddy.blogspot.com Mukpuddy

Definitely can’t wait for this!!! As massive Muppet fans we feel the same way about that core original team missing from the newest Muppet stuff but we honestly feel this is the best attempt since the early 90s to make a good muppet movie. Jason Segal is a huge muppet fan and a funny dude, so with him writing it (apparently based on an old Jim Henson and Frank Oz script)and Chris Boban, who directed ‘The Flight Of The Conchords’ (and also a massive muppet fan) and Brett Mckenzie writing the music… it kind’ve feels like they might have something pretty awesome!
http://www.technologizer.com Harry

“Disney the Muppets?” That billing saddens me as a fan of both (Walt) Disney AND of Jim Henson.

–Harry
- 2011 Adult
  
  You do realize the Muppets have been under Disney since 1991?
  
  It surprises me how out of the loop some brew repliers are.
  - Kenny
    
    Actually, the Muppets have only been under Disney since 2004. Jim Henson was selling his company to Disney in 1990, but he died before the contracts were signed, and that just derailed everything. They collaborated on several projects afterward (Carol, Treasure Island, etc.), but we’ve only recently entered Year 7 of the Disney-owned Muppets era, and only NOW are things picking up steam.
- GB
  
  Jim Henson was also set to sign an agreement with Disney the week after he died. It was his family that pulled the offer.
http://ryanrosendal.blogspot.com Ryan

I still can’t believe Jason Segel, the writer and star of movie where he gleefully exposed his genitals twice on screen, is being allowed to write and act in in a family-friendly movie about puppets.

I love that so much. And I’m completely sincere about that.
- Cody S
  
  It’s the year for that I guess. Heather Graham is in a kids movie this summer and I feel like she takes her top off in nearly every movie she’s in.
Teafly

It’s almost as if they’re apologizing for putting the muppets into a movie.
- The Gee
  
  Based on the teaser?
  
  It was a reveal. The ol’ switcheroo. The teaser is marketing and it isn’t like the movie is truly title “Green With Envy”
  
  So, why would it come across as apologizing for the main characters?
  
  Good gravy, even if there was no oblique mention of the muppets, no top billing whatsoever….
  and the muppets sporadically popped up as chaos agents throughout an otherwise by-the-numbers Romantic Comedy, would that be so bad?
Sardonic Tuba

I don’t see the problem.
Matt

Er…this isn’t a reboot. A reboot involves chucking the pre-established continuity of the franchise out the window and starting from the beginning. Batman Begins = reboot. The 2009 film Star Trek = reboot. This is just a new Muppet movie!
http://deleted OtherDan

Looks funny!
Cats Waller

Why is that guy from How I Met Your Mother married to Miss Piggy?

Weird…

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