Who owns which Muppet productions?

In 2004, the Walt Disney Company acquired The Muppets franchise from the Jim Henson Company. This transaction included all Henson-owned Muppet assets, including many Muppet titles from the company's catalog of television series, specials, films, and videos. Henson retained the rights to Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and other properties. Sesame Street and most specials, spinoffs, and related productions are produced and owned by Sesame Workshop.
The following is a list of Henson projects produced up until 2004, and how they are divided by their current rights holders. Select Sesame Street productions co-produced by The Jim Henson Company are included.
==Series==
Disney 	Disney 	Disney 	Disney
Production 	Duration 	Episodes 	Notes
Muppet Meeting Films 	1975-1993 	44 	listed as an Identified Entertainment Property in 2004 Disney/Muppets purchase agreement, archived on Kenny's Blog - Disney-Henson: Who Owns What
The Muppet Show 	1976-1981 	120 	This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale.
Muppet Babies 	1984-1990 	107 	
Little Muppet Monsters 	1985 	3 	
The Jim Henson Hour(Muppet Segments) 	1989 	9 (30 min.)1 (15 min.)1 (60 min.)	Segments include: Outer Space (Louie Anderson), Oceans (Ted Danson), Power (Nylons, Today Show), First Show (Bobby McFerrin), Fitness (Smokey Robinson), Videotape (Buster Poindexter), Garbage (k.d. lang), Miss Piggy Goes to Hollywood, Secrets of the Muppets, Food, Movie Trailer Parody of Classic Muppets
Muppet Time 	1994 	40 	
Muppets Tonight 	1996-1998 	22 	
Bear in the Big Blue House 	1997-2003 	117 	
Muppetisms 	1999 	60 	
Henson 	Henson 	Henson 	Henson
Production 	Duration 	Episodes 	Notes
Fraggle Rock 	1983-1987 	96 	listed as a Retained Entertainment Property in 2004 Disney/Muppets purchase agreement, archived on Kenny's Blog - Disney-Henson: Who Owns What
Fraggle Rock (animated) 	1987 	13 	
Mother Goose Stories 	1987-1990 	39 	
The StoryTeller 	1987-1989 	9 	
The Jim Henson Hour(Non-Muppet Segments)	1989 	10 	Segments include: The Heartless Giant, Lighthouse Island, The Soldier and Death, Dog City, Monster Maker, The Song of the Cloud Forest, The True Bride, Sapsorrow, The Three Ravens, Living with Dinosaurs
The Ghost of Faffner Hall 	1989 	13 	
The StoryTeller: Greek Myths 	1990 	4 	
CityKids 	1993-1994 	13 	
The Secret Life of Toys 	1994 	13 	
The Animal Show 	1994-1997 	65 	One episode features Sam the Eagle.
Aliens in the Family 	1996 	8 	
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss 	1996-1997 	40 	
Brats of the Lost Nebula 	1998 	13 	
Family Rules 	1999 	6 	
Farscape 	1999-2003 	88 	
Donna's Day 	1999 	52 	A "restricted retained entertainment property" by the Henson Company.
Mopatop's Shop 	1999-2003 	260 	
Construction Site 	1999-2003 	26 	
The Fearing Mind 	2000-2001 	13 	
Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola 	2000-2001 	26 	
The Hoobs 	2001-2002 	200 	
Bambaloo 	2003-2004 	105 	
Animal Jam 	2003 	30 	
Other Properties 	Other Properties	Other Properties 	Other Properties
Production 	Duration 	Episodes 	Owner/Notes
Sam and Friends 	1955-1961 	 	The characters are owned by The Walt Disney Company, but are a "frozen property", so Disney needs approval from The Jim Henson Company to use them.Shemin, Craig ToughPigs interview with Craig Shemin
The Jimmy Dean Show 	1963-1966 	 	The Jimmy Dean Estate/Donna Dean Stevens controls the restoration and TV airings of the series.
The Land of Gortch 	1975-1976 	 	Broadway Video owns the existing Saturday Night Live episodes and appearances. Henson owns the characters and can produce derivative works (including new characters); as part of the 2004 sale of the Muppets to Disney, Henson agrees to not identify any of the SNL puppet characters as "Muppets" in any future works.
Dinosaurs 	1991-1993 	66 	Produced by Michael Jacobs Productions and Jim Henson Productions in association with Walt Disney Television. The series and characters are owned by the Jim Henson Company; Disney has always held distribution rights.
Dog City 	1992-1995 	31 	Produced by Nelvana, in association with the Jim Henson Company. Streaming distribution controlled by Nelvana.
==Films and Specials==
Disney 	Disney 	Disney 	Disney
Production 	Year 	Notes 	
Hey Cinderella! 	1970 	 	
The Frog Prince 	1971 	 	
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen 	1972 	 	
The Muppets Valentine Show 	1974 	 	
The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence 	1975 	 	
The Muppets Go Hollywood 	1979 	This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 	
The Muppet Movie 	1979 	This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 	
The Muppets Go to the Movies 	1981 	This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 	
The Great Muppet Caper 	1981 	This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 	
Of Muppets and Men 	1981 	This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 	
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show 	1982 	This was originally distributed by ITC Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company later purchased the distribution rights, which were subsequently included in the 2004 sale. 	
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years 	1986 	Features Traveling Matt Fraggle and Sprocket, as well as clips from various Henson-retained productions. 	
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic 	1986 	 	
A Muppet Family Christmas 	1987 	Features characters from Fraggle Rock. 	
The Muppets at Walt Disney World 	1990 	Walt Disney Television has always retained the distribution rights to this special. 	
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson 	1990 	Walt Disney Television has always retained the distribution rights to this special. 	
Muppet*Vision 3D 	1991 	 	
The Muppet Christmas Carol 	1992 	Walt Disney Pictures has always retained the distribution rights to this film. 	
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree 	1995 	 	
Muppet Treasure Island 	1996 	Walt Disney Pictures has always retained the distribution rights to this film. 	
Henson 	Henson 	Henson 	Henson
Production 	Year 	Notes 	
Time Piece 	1965 	 	
Youth 68 	1968 	 	
The Cube 	1969 	 	
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas 	1977 	The 2004 deal specifies this as a "restricted retained entertainment property", and that the Henson Company shall "delete the appearances by Kermit the Frog at the beginning of each of The Christmas Toy and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas." Although this has applied to subsequent video releases, this was retracted for a special TV airing on ABC Family in 2015 and a home video release in 2017. 	
The Dark Crystal 	1982 	Produced under ITC Entertainmant, and originally distributed by Universal. The Jim Henson Company purchased theatrical distribution rights around the time it was released. Sony retains home video and streaming distribution. 	
The World of the Dark Crystal 	1983 	 	
Henson's Place 	1984 	Features appearances by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, as well as clips from a number of productions later purchased by The Walt Disney Company. 	
Jim Henson Presents The World of Puppetry 	1985 	 	
Labyrinth 	1986 	Originally distributed by TriStar Pictures, distribution rights still held by Sony. 	
The Christmas Toy 	1986 	A "restricted retained entertainment property" by the Henson Company; according to the 2004 deal for the sale of the Muppets to the Walt Disney Company, Henson shall "delete the appearances by Kermit the Frog at the beginning of each of The Christmas Toy and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas." Although this has applied to subsequent video releases, this was retracted for a home video release in 2019.	
Inside the Labyrinth 	1987 	 	
Down at Fraggle Rock 	1987 	 	
Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting 	1989 	One of the few Sesame Street productions produced by The Jim Henson Company, and the only Sesame Street production distributed by the Henson Company. 	
Other Properties 	Other Properties	Other Properties 	Other Properties
Production 	Year 	Owner/Notes 	
The Muppets on Puppets 	1970 	This project is not listed in the Disney-Henson deal. However, Buena Vista Home Video did release this as a special feature on The Muppet Show: Season Three. 	
The Great Santa Claus Switch 	1970 	 	
Out to Lunch 	1974 	One of the few Sesame Street productions produced by The Jim Henson Company, in association with Sesame Workshop and ABC. 	
John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together	1979 	The John Denver Estate retains ownership. 	
Here Come the Puppets! 	1980 	 	
Rocky Mountain Holiday 	1983 	The John Denver Estate retains ownership. 	
The Muppets Take Manhattan 	1984 	Sony (originally distributed by TriStar Pictures) 	
The Witches 	1990 	Warner Bros. 	
Buddy 	1997 	Sony (produced by Jim Henson Pictures, distributed by Columbia Pictures) 	
Muppets from Space 	1999 	Sony (originally distributed by Columbia Pictures, produced by Jim Henson Pictures) 	
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland 	1999 	Sony (originally distributed by Columbia Pictures, produced by Jim Henson Pictures and Sesame Workshop) 	
Kermit's Swamp Years 	2002 	Sony (originally distributed by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment) 	
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie 	2002 	NBC Universal 	
I Love Muppets 	2002 	 	
I Love the Muppets 	2003 	 	
==Direct-to-Video==
Disney 	Disney	Disney 	Disney
Video(s) 	Year 	Notes 	
Playhouse Video Muppet Show compilations 	1985 	Videos include: The Kermit and Piggy Story, Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook, Children's Songs and Stories, Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff, Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets, Muppet Treasures, Rock Music with the Muppets, The Muppet Revue, Muppet Moments, Country Music with the Muppets	
Play-Along Video 	1988 	Videos include: Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear, Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along, Wow, You're a Cartoonist!, Neat Stuff To Know & To Do 	
It's the Muppets! 	1993 	Meet the Muppets and More Muppets, Please! 	
Muppet Classic Theater 	1994 	 	
It's Not Easy Being Green Sing Along 	1994 	Includes a clip from A Muppet Family Christmas that features Fraggle Rock characters and a clip from Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas 	
Muppets on Wheels 	1995 	 	
Things That Fly 	1996 	 	
Muppet Treasure Island Sing Along 	1996 	 	
Henson 	Henson	Henson 	Henson
Video 	Year 	Notes 	
Fraggle Songs 	1984 	 	
Doozer Music 	1984 	 	
Jim Henson Play-Along Video: Mother Goose Stories	1988 	 	
Peek-A-Boo: A Big Surprise for Little People 	1988 	 	
Billy Bunny's Animal Songs 	1993 	The only Muppet Sing Alongs video retained by the Henson Company. 	
Other 	Other 	Other 	Other
Video(s) 	Year 	Notes 	
Muppet Madness 	1988 	A View-Master Interactive Vision release. 	
Muppets Studios Presents: You're the Director 	1988 	A View-Master Interactive Vision release. 	
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 1 	2002 	 	
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2 	2002 	 	
==External links==
*Disney-Henson deal
==Sources==
;Notes
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