One of the Greatest Shows of the 20th Century Just Sparked an AI Controversy

The Muppet Show recently made its grand return in the form of a Disney+ special, and by all accounts, it was a major success. In addition to bringing back fan-favorite Muppets like Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, The Muppet Show also featured incredible guest stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen, and it skyrocketed in ratings, proving the Muppets still hold a place in people’s hearts andpop culture. However, this praise is marred by controversy over Disney’s decision to use generative AI in an image promoting The Muppet Show.

The Muppet-themed podcast Kermitment was the first to notice the use of generative AI in Disney+’s header for The Muppet Showand posted a lengthy thread on Twitter breaking down the header’s inconsistencies, including Miss Piggy appearing without gloves. For any Muppet fan, that would set off warning bells, since it’s a large part of her character, and soon fans took to the internet to voice their displeasure. Disney would eventually remove the image, but the damage was done, and it points to a concerning trend in Hollywood that’s only beginning to grow.

‘The Muppet Show’ Works Because of Its Practical Effects, Not AI

Seth Rogen and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show

The biggest draw of The Muppet Show, beyond speculating which movie could work if you replaced the actors with Muppets, is the creative energy that goes into bringing the characters to life. The late, great Jim Henson used a combination of puppetry and practical effects that made each Muppet feel like a distinct character; that creativity even extended to the voices, since his performance as Kermit influenced future performers. Henson’s signature style was a major influence on The Muppet Show director Alex Timbers, who discussed how he used the same tricks as the original Muppet Show to bring his special to life with the Los Angeles Times.

“If you’re dealing with a Muppet to Muppet scene, everything has to be in 3/4 scale. If there’s a human in the scene with the Muppet, it’s a 7/8 scale. There are all these little tricks to make sure that a mug feels the right size for Kermit and for that desk to feel the right height…The math of it is really challenging, but also really rewarding.”

By using generative AI in its marketing for The Muppet Show, Disney is either deliberately or unconsciously downplaying the effort that went into bringing the special to life. Given that previous shows on ABC and Disney+ were short-lived, and the classic MuppetVision 3D attraction at Walt Disney World was recently shut down, it’s looking more and more like the House of Mouse has no idea how to use the Muppets. The AI controversy isn’t helping, but it might not be the only time you hear “Muppets” and “AI” in the same sentence.

Miss Piggy, Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie, and more in a Muppets group shot.

Disney+ Let the Muppets Cook and It’s Paying Off Big Time

“Keep believing. Keep pretending.”

Disney Embracing AI Goes Against The Muppets’ Creative Vision

Disney recently made waves when it announced a $1 billion deal with OpenAI, allowing users to use OpenAI’s Sora platform to generate images of its characters. The idea of Kermit and friends being shoved through an AI generator feels unsettling, but that’s the least of Muppet fans’ worries. In an interview with Variety, Disney board chairman James Gorman revealed that newly minted chief creative officer Dana Walden plans to incorporate AI into future movies and TV. Combined with the revelation that newly hired CEO Josh D’Amaro also intends to push AI, it feels like Disney is going in the opposite direction from what makes the Muppets special. You can’t replicate the magical mix of puppetry and effects with AI, no matter how Silicon Valley might sell it.

The Muppet Show thrived for 50 years because of the hard work behind the scenes, and the only way it can continue thriving is for that work to continue. Instead of spending money on AI, Disney should market The Muppet Show as aggressively as possible.