AM Monsters

Ray Charles performs Bein' Green with a chorus of AM monsters. Among them are Elmo, Natasha, Ruby, Frazzle, an early version of Merry Monster

The All Monster and a Guy Named Murray Chorus

The AM monsters (Anything Muppet monsters) are a group of faceless Sesame Street monster puppets whose identities can be changed by altering eyes, noses, tongues, horns or other features as required. The puppets are similar to Anything Muppets in their simple design and interchangeable identities. However, they are also like the Whatnots used on The Muppet Show in that there is usually only one of each kind of monster puppet, whereas there are more than one copy of most Anything Muppets.

During the early years of Sesame Street, monsters needed for brief appearances were usually created by draping fur over parts of the body and head of an Anything Muppet. One of the most prominent monsters created in this manner is Frazzle. Later they were replaced by the AM monsters, allowing for a larger variety of designs.

Some monsters also have features that are rarely removed, such as Kermit the Forg, or had a single identity for an extended period of time (such as Maurice Monster). While most remain background characters, several monsters have developed unique personalities and become main characters, including Humphrey, Natasha, and, most famously, Elmo.

The iPhone app "Elmo's Monster Maker" makes use of the durability of the AM monsters. The puppets make a rare featureless appearance before being given animated body parts and accessories by the player.

Designs

Shaggy blue
Maurice, aka Kermit the Gorf, Dennis Monster, Boso, Murray, Max, Clem

Large blue
Harvey Monster, Blue Underling

Maroon-and-Yellow monster
Stuie

Dark green
Clancy

Olive green with hair
Harry, Helena

Periwinkle
Bruce, aka Kermit the Grof

Light green
Phoebe, "Elmo's Monster Maker" base model

Tall gray
Kermit the Forg

Gray with pink-feathered hair
Imogene, Annette Monster, Dalia

Tan # 1
Old McDougal, Frankie Monster, Pierre

Tan # 2
originally used as Pearl

Purple with fat neck
Frieda's Mother, Herry's Granny, Deena, Cookie Monster's friend, Humphrey, Potto

Fat blue female
Frieda, Mona, Juliet, and Ingrid

CustomYellowSquareHeadMonster.jpg

Yellow live-hand with squarish head
Colonel Mustard, Pino, and Teenage Monster

Tall orange
Narf, Yoyo, Sorbet and Phil

Orange Filfil-esque live-hand
early Murray Monster prototype, Murray impostor

Neon orange live-hand with egg-shaped head
"Elmo's Monster Maker" base model, Enormous Athlete, Beast, Freddy

Small hot pink, based on the Little Anything Muppets
the original version of Gonger

Red live-hand
Deena's original design, Elmo's Great Grandmother, The Silly Sorceress, Uncle Jack, occasional Grouches

Orange with pink hair
Max the Magnificent, Rico, Ex Ray, The Cereal Girl, Chester's Mom, "Elmo's Monster Maker" base model

Orange oval-head
Andre, Zostic, Rocky, The Cereal Girl's Dad, Mr. Monster and Mrs. Frazzle

Flat-head blue (three copies exist)
originally used for The Shagri-Las, Piño, Anyone's Nose singer, Norman, Jesse

Small yellow
Merry Monster

Shaggy purple with live-hands (originally used as a Grouch)
Uncle Talbot, Sally Messy Yuckyael, Uncle Hank and Max

Blue with white hair (has interchangeable live-hands or rod-arms)
Parker Monster, Izzy, Greta, Ricardo

Gray pear-head (interchangeable live-hands and rod-arms)
Lila, Spalding Monster, Delly Monster, and the earliest version of Lulu

Indigo pear-head
originally used as the final redesign of Lulu, Aunt Jill, Bebe

Bushy purple
Muppet Doctor

AM Monster-Fat purple.jpg

Fat purple
(Underling, "Elmo's Monster Maker" base model)

Pink/lavender
(Sherry Netherland, Chester's Dad, Todd Jameson)

Yellow live-hand
(Leo the Party Monster, Ruby, Eugene, Mae)

Tangerine live-hand
(originally used for Preston Rabbit, "Monster Time" monster)

Salmon live-hand
(originally used for Grizzy, "Monster Time" monster)

Purple

Gray/blue with snout
later converted into Mel)

Small light blue with snout

Blue-gray live-hand
(Aristotle, Herry's Mother, Aunt Chloe, Chef John, Howard, Spike)

• Tangerine/pink live-hand
• Small pale teal ("Elmo's Monster Maker" base model)
• Small dark teal
• Hot pink live-hand