The Power of the Dark Crystal: News from Comic-Con 2006

San Diego, CA – If there is one company capable of consistently capturing the imagination of young and old alike, one that is constantly pushing the boundaries of special effects and creature creation, it would be the Jim Henson Company. Responsible for everything from children's classics like The Muppet Show and The Dark Crystal to more modern and mature offerings like Farscape and MirrorMask, the Jim Henson Company has always striven to fulfill the dream of its creator, “to leave the world a better place.” At this year's Comic-Con panel, Lisa Henson (producer of MirrorMask), Brian Froud (conceptual artist for The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth), Scott Stewart (producer of Big Love) and Genndy Tartakovsky (director of Samurai Jack and Dexter's Laboratory) divulge the company's upcoming plans to make that dream happen.

The first part of the panel presentation announced the launch of Jim Henson Designs, a new line of merchandise based on a collection of unused designs and doodles originally drawn by Jim Henson. A slide-show marketing presentation was shown, attempting to draw parallels between original Henson and this new product line. While the slides, accompanied by inspirational music, implored us to “celebrate wonder, imagination, inspiration, and life for the child within us all,” the merchandise was cute, but disappointingly lackluster. Including children and teen apparel, household items, and toys, the Jim Henson Company appears to be targeting a younger audience, one too young remember early Henson productions with fond nostalgia. This is further supported by the announcement that Henson.com will be undergoing a redesign, offering exclusive, web-only items (mostly through cafepress.com).

However, despite the obvious ploy for fresh audiences, the Jim Henson Company is also releasing a plethora of new products directed at its older, and usually more affluent, audience, including the release of Fraggle Rock Season 2 on DVD, new fantasy collectibles from The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and MirrorMask, and The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth manga, published by TokyoPop Books.

While the first third of the panel was devoted to upcoming Jim Henson merchandise, the true purpose of the panel and, I suspect, the reason thousands of people were more than willing to pack into the stuffy ballroom, was to announce and discuss the upcoming plans for a new Jim Henson Company production, The Power of the Dark Crystal. A sequel to the original 1982 film, The Power of the Dark Crystal will be directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and produced by Scott Stewart. The concept and world designs, of course, will be provided by none other than Brian Froud. Lisa Henson promises the new film has a “compelling story, really beautiful” and maintains that, while her father was not interested in making a sequel to The Dark Crystal twenty years ago, the new screenplay is in line with his original vision, offering “innovation [that has] never been seen before.” Unlike the original film, The Power of the Dark Crystal will follow the adventures of new characters and explore the underground world of Brian Froud, rather than repeating the overland journey of Jenn and Kira. Per Brian Froud, the world of his creation “has moved on, leaving [them] to catch up” and create something entirely unique.

Of course, this still begs the question, what about the puppets? In this regard, hardcore Henson fans have nothing to fear. While CGI effects will be used to complement the film, bringing to life the landscape and hiding the puppeteers, the characters themselves will be done with authentic Henson Creature Labs creations. In fact, when initially approached about doing the film, both Genndy Tartakovsky and Scott Stewart only agreed to participate after being assured that puppets would be the mainstay of the production. Tartakovsky even goes so far as to promise audiences “real puppet action.”

Still skeptical of the new movie? Well, you have until 2008 to make up your mind, as the film is still in preproduction. Until then, there is always Puppet Improv.