Jim Henson's experimental films

Jim Henson Animating

While Jim Henson was best known for his work in the field of puppetry, namely that of the Muppets and later his Creature Shop, Henson also produced many experimental films, short subjects and other projects that utilized a range of film making techniques - including stop-motion, computer, cut paper, and paint animation as well as live action.

“Back in the sixties, I thought of myself as an experimental filmmaker. I was interested in the visual image for its own sake―different ways of using it―quick cutting and things of that sort. I loved what one could do with the montaging of visual images, so I was playing with that in several experimental projects.”
—Jim Henson

Below is a listing of Henson's many experimental films and various short subjects, including his live action telefilms, independent short films, Sesame Street inserts, and other film projects; this list does not include Henson's numerous Muppet and Creature Shop projects.

Films

"Drums West"c. 1961

"Shearing Animation"c. 1962

"Time Piece"1965

"Run, Run"1965

"Limbo" films"The Organized Mind," "The Idea Man,"
"I Know Who I Am," and "I'm Nobody"
1966

"Flapsole Sneakers"1966

"Memories"1967 for Bufferin

"Ripples"1967

"Wheels That Go"1967

"The Paperwork Explosion"1967 for IBM

"Ordeal of the American City" opening sequence1968 for NBC White Paper

Youth 681968
Directed by Jon Stone

Select-a-Vision demonstration1969 for RCA

"Body Parts vs. Heavy Equipment"1969 for Sesame Street

"The Cube"1969

"Numerosity" (10 films)1969 for Sesame Street

"Dollhouse"1970 for Sesame Street

Scanimate Films (2 films)1970 for Sesame Street

RCA stereo TV demonstration1970 for RCA

"1-2-3-4-5!"1970 for Sesame Street

"The King of Eight"1971 for Sesame Street

"Number Three Ball Film"1971 for Sesame Street
Directed by Frank Oz

"The Queen of Six"1971 for Sesame Street

"Number Twelve Rocks"1971 for Sesame Street

"Seven Monsters"1971 for Sesame Street
Produced with Maurice Sendak and Bruce Cayard

"Bumble Ardy"1971 for Sesame Street
Produced with Maurice Sendak and Fred Calvert Productions

"Eleven Cheer"1971 for Sesame Street

"Raisin Army"1974 for Sesame Street

"Cat and Mouse"Date unknown

Unfinished films

"A Tale of Sand"c. 1950s-1970s

"Alexander the Grape"1965

"Cataclysm" for Cycliac. 1965-1968

"Moki"c. 1967

IBM films"The Crowd" • "Excluded Mean"
"The File Clerk" • "Unpredictable"
c.1968

"Inside My Head"c. 1969

"Reflections"1973

"The Varied Adventures of Mischievous Miles"c. 1980

The Italian Filmc. 1980s

"Inside John"c. 1989

"Handmade Video"c. 1990

External links

• "The Experimental Jim Henson" Playlist on YouTube