``The Dark Crystal'' Jim Henson's mysterious world that drastically changed the image of puppet theater

PAGES

2019.10.05Hayato Otsuki

A new Muppet production aimed at adult audiences

Director Jim Henson got the idea for ``The Dark Crystal'' from the popular American variety show `` Saturday Night Live, '' where he was in charge of the Muppet sketch comedy ``The Land of Gorch.'' It happened when I was doing it. ``The Land of Gorch'' is a comedy for adults about a family of grotesque The Birds-like creatures that live in a swamp-like area. The film was a departure from previous Muppet films, which dealt with adult themes, often including alcoholism, species extinction, and sexual gags.

It was also during this period that Henson began trying to shake off the Muppets' image of being "for children." Until then, most of Henson's work had been aimed at children, such as ``Sesame Street,'' so he gradually became more ambitious about creating content for adult audiences. Although ``The Land of Gorch'' was short-lived, his experiences working on it are said to have had a major influence on Henson's later works, including ``The Dark Crystal.''

For example, the Muppets in ``The Land of Gorch'' were the first to feature special eyeballs used in taxidermy. This had the effect of making the Muppets, who were just puppets, seem more like living creatures and real. These stuffed eyeballs were even used by characters in ``The Dark Crystal,'' and the Muppets' skills improved significantly through ``The Land of Gorch.''

Another major difference between ``The Dark Crystal'' and other Muppet works is the fluidity of the Muppets' movements. It's amazing how each doll feels like it has a life in it, expressing the ups and downs of emotions just through movement. Previous Muppets movies had movements that were too agile, resulting in unnatural behavior, but this one doesn't have that at all. This film, which brought together the best veteran staff in the film industry and mobilized 480 talented technicians, is a work that cannot easily be surpassed.

Now, the aforementioned ``The Land of Gorch'' is not the only source of innovative ideas in ``The Dark Crystal.'' Henson got the idea for the film's great story after reading a picture book of the poem "The Pig-Tale" by Lewis Carroll, the British author best known for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ." It seems so.

The picture book based on the poem features an illustration of a crocodile dressed in aristocratic clothes in a beautiful Victorian-era bathroom. From there, a novel idea was hatched: ``a society in which reptiles that behave like humans rule the world.'' These images come to fruition in the film as the Skeksis, who control society using crystals. This work, which borrowed from these various experiences and poems by Lewis Carroll, has been passed down as the beginning of puppet theater for adults.

Theatrical program for the movie “The Dark Crystal”

Text: Hayato Otsuki

Born in May 1993 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Writer, editor. He started his writing career in 2016 and currently contributes columns, movie reviews, etc. to various media. By reading the creator's Arrival from a bird's-eye view, we incisively analyze and explain the original intention of the work. His writing publications include "THE RIVER", "IGN Japan", and "Real Sound Movie Club". My specialty is action and fantasy.

Watch now

View work information

"The Dark Crystal"

Blu-ray now on sale ¥2,381 + tax

Sony Pictures Entertainment

PAGES