Last month Archaia Comics gave Chicago both a world premiere and an insight into the lesser known world of Jim Henson. If you came out to the second annual Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo known as C2E2, you were given a look at Jim Henson’s lost work. At that panel with Archaia Comics’ Stephen Christy, Henson archivist Karen Falk and artist Ramon Perez, attendees saw everything from short films that Henson completed to storyboards of ones that never got made. They also talked about a new graphic novel that Archaia Comics is making based on one of his never-before released films.

Many of us do not know that the young creative Henson in the early days, began his career on the Ed Sullivan Show, Tonight Show and (the long forgotten) The Jimmy Dean Show. Here he created rough sneak peeks that would eventually turn into wonderful world of The Muppets. However, on the way to our furry friends, he produced a series of experimental films like the Oscar nominated short, “Time Piece.” A short that originally premiered in 1965 at the Museum of Modern Art, in which he frantically wrote, directed, and starred. The short reflects on his early creative desires. This Jim Henson was a man who didn’t have enough hours in the day to do all of the projects his imagination was commanding of him. There are adult jokes and a mixture of live action and animation that looks more at home in Monty Python, than the Children’s Television Workshop. “Time Piece” introduces us to the Henson of the 1960’s. The gangly impish innovator, who was accustomed to rejection letters, had a dream of making programs that would fit adults as well as children.

The panel opened by showing a never released cartoon entitled, Alexander the Grape. Alexander the Grape tells the radically different and decidedly more child friendly story of Alexander the itty bitty grape whose greatest wish in life is to be a watermelon. With Jim’s voice track covering storyboards and hand drawn animations, we see that quest fulfilled as Alexander goes to the local library and studies for his fruit aisle aspirations. Alexander first awkwardly transfigures himself into a pear then a pineapple before finally getting his wish and becoming a Watermelon. Alexander returns to the grocers only to discover that life as the only great big watermelon was far lonelier than as the smallest grape in a bunch surrounded by friends. So its back to pineapple and pear until Alexander is again the itty bitty grape home in his bunch. The story ends happily with Alexander growing into a ripe old raisin.

This is the first release of footage from Jim’s personal projects since his passing. Shown within the context of his work before the days of Sesame Street and the Muppet's, makes one feel wiser and also sad; to think the world was denied a ripe old Jim Henson and the stories that he lamented not having enough time to tell. However, Achaia Comics hopes to revive one such story, “A Tale of Sand” by translating it into a comic book release. This is based on his short that was never released.

Archaia artists are working directly from lost storyboards like the ones which pieced together Alexander the Grape using the notes and scripting Henson provided. They are promising a direct translation from page to panels. This marks the first time any unfinished Henson project has been released since his death. The Henson family is adamant that “A Tale of Sand” is never going to be seen as a television or film property, so the panels seen in Chicago are the first and perhaps last new work we will see from the mind of Jim Henson.

However Archaia isn’t just revealing new properties, its intent is also on expanding the familiar worlds of the Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, and began dropping hints at Chicago that an announcement regarding the Storyteller should be coming soon as well. The Storytellers, if you aren’t familiar, was a series like the Muppets but retold European folk tales hosted by actor John Hurt.

Archaia will not be expanding these worlds alone. They are actively working with the co creators and concept artists who helped bring these worlds to life in Jerry Juhl and Brian Froud and of course Jim’s family. Together they will try and wind back the clock to give Jim the time he never had to tell these stories.

Write Comment
Name:	Guest
Title:
Comment:
Code:*

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!