1982 film by Jim Henson, Frank Oz
POPULARITY
Categories
We talk about the end of Dark Crystal and its ending at last. We will be moving over to the movie soon in a giant review of that fantasy epic from the 80s. In a few short weeks after that we will be on to Cowboy Bebop the cancelled Netflix tv show. ep 9 Desperate […]
Season 1 of Tales of Wedding Rings sets up a clean fantasy adventure: elemental rings, princess alliances, demon pressure, and a main character who should have to earn the title of Ring King. We start by recapping the core premise and why the early worldbuilding actually works at times, especially when the kingdoms, clans, and character motivations feel connected to survival instead of pure harem comedy. Then we get honest about the pivot that frustrates us: Season 2 leans hard into fan service and stalls the plot when it should be escalating stakes and training. We talk through the drawn-out library stretch, the way power-ups feel handed out instead of earned, and how the show teases cool ideas like combo magic and shared strategy only to drop them. We also unpack the “Dark Crystal” storyline, what it reveals about the series' priorities, and why relationship dynamics need clearer leadership and character agency if the narrative expects us to take the saving-the-world premise seriously. Finally, we dig into the biggest problem for any anime adaptation: cuts that damage the climax. When the final battle feels rushed and key material appears missing, it doesn't just hurt the action, it breaks the logic of the ending and makes the next-season setup feel shaky. If you care about pacing, adaptation choices, and whether a story delivers on its own potential, you'll have a lot to react to here. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who watches fantasy harem anime, and leave a review. What score would you give Season 2 and why?Text us for feedback and recommendations for future episodes!Support the showWe thank everyone for listening to our podcast! We hope to grow even bigger to make great things happen, such as new equipment for higher-quality podcasts, a merch store & more! If you're interested in supporting us, giving us feedback and staying in the loop with updates, then follow our ZONE Social Media Portal to access our website, our Discord server, our Patreon page, and other social media platforms!DISCLAIMER: The thoughts and opinions shared within are those of the speaker. We encourage everyone to do their own research and to experience the content mentioned at your own volition. We try not to reveal spoilers to those who are not up to speed, but in case some slips out, please be sure to check out the source material before you continue listening!Stay nerdy and stay faithful,- J.B.Subscribe to "Content for Creators" on YouTube to listen to some of the music used for these episodes!
Chandra and Chris return for this next exciting episode of the Dark Crystal canceled tv show saga. We have two episodes left of this amazing show. Ep7: At the Circle of the Suns, the weary travelers receive an unsettling surprise – and a lesson in Thra’s history. The Emperor recruits a new army. ep8: While […]
The time has finally come! Mya was available and we got to watch the famous Jim Henson classic, The Dark Crystal. This was a wonderful adventure into a world that I have never experienced before. From the plants, and beautiful landscapes, to the creatures, races, and last but not least the crab guards! This truly was a special film.Our Links:Ian WolffeSend us Fan Mail
We say goodbye to Tales of, the Dark Crystal, Xenoblade, His Dark materials, Warcraft, Dark Tower, Pirates of the Caribbean and Cosmere.
As the Gelflings and Skeksis prepare to meet in battle to decide the ultimate fate of Thra, we dreamfast with Blythe and Lauren, to discuss the Olympics, sexy Skeksis, and porn, and also to debate whether the the first and only season of The Age of Resistance is a cool and good story, or whether the lack of resolution for Deet means that it is not awesome.
From the moment Warrick Brownlow-Pike saw the Muppets as a kid he knew he wanted to be a puppeteer. We follow his journey from that moment to his work as a puppeteer on Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, The Furchester Hotel and now his own show - Dodge's Pup School.Meet Your Maker is produced by Liam Geraghty - www.liamgeraghty.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meetyourmaker_pod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Josh and Drusilla discuss anime cult fave, Angel's Egg (1985). From wiki: “Angel's Egg (Japanese: 天使のたまご, Hepburn: Tenshi no Tamago) is a Japanese animated experimental post-apocalyptic science fantasy OVA film written and directed by Mamoru Oshii.[2] Released by Tokuma Shoten on 15 December 1985,[3] the film was a collaboration between artist Yoshitaka Amano and Oshii. The film stars two nameless characters, a young girl who protects an egg, who bonds with a boy who has a dream about a bird.[4] It was the first original project by Oshii and carries themes found in his other works.[5]”Also discussed: Hokum, Widow's Bay, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Chime, LA Plays Itself, Annihilation, The Dark Crystal, Ralph Bakshi, Fantastic Planet, Wall-E, Lupin, and more. NEXT WEEK: Donnie Darko (2001) Bloodhaus: https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/https://www.instagram.com/sister__hyde/Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/
It's our first After Dark of the season, and we're revisiting a childhood classic, Dragonheart, as a bridge between April's YA month and our upcoming theme for May: dragons! We reflect on the movie, discuss the lore behind the original script, lament at the lost potential for a romance between Dennis Quaid and Draco, and then deep dive into the fantasy films that we feel nostalgic for (they're just not making them like Ladyhawke anymore . . .) MENTIONS Films/TV: Jurassic Park, 1993 Starship Troopers, 1997 Excalibur, 1981 Robin Hood, 1991 Ladyhawke, 1985 Willow, 1988 Conan the Barbarian, 1982 How to Train Your Dragon, 2010 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, 2002 The Matrix, 1999 Akira, 1988 Neon Genesis, 1995 Princess Bride, 1987 The Dark Crystal, 1982 Hook, 1991 Inkheart, 2008 A Knight's Tale, 2001 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, 2003 The Lord of the Rings, 2001 The Mummy, 1999 Night at the Museum, 2006 Scarface, 1983 Lionheart, 1987 Red Sonja, 1985 Flesh and Blood, 1985 Braveheart, 1995 Kingdom of Heaven, 2005 Bridge to Terabithia, 2007 The Chronicles of Narnia, 2005 Reign of Fire, 2002 Beowulf, 2007 Hercule, 2014 Clash of the Titans, 2010 Jason and the Argonauts, 2000 Game of Thrones, 2011 House of the Dragon, 2022 Willow (TV Series), 2022 Dinotopia, 2002 Dragonheart: Vengeance, 2020 Slipper and the Rose, 1976 Authors: Charles Edward Pogue Actors: Dennis Quaid Sean Connery Dina Meyer David Thewlis Liam Neeson Helen Mirren Tim Allen Jackie Chan Tom Hanks Jim Henson Paul Bettany Daniel Craig Rachel Weisz Michelle Pfeiffer Eric Stoltz Jennifer Jason Leigh Christian Bale Dwayne Johnson Other: Rob Cohen, Director & Film Maker LINKS
The Night Stalker (1972), Dracula (1973), and Trilogy of Terror (1975) Horror fans from the 1970s may not have known the name Dan Curtis, but they certainly knew his work. From his early gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, where one of the main characters just happened to be a vampire, to the countless adaptations of classic novels, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Jekyll and Hyde, to even more throughout the '70s. Curtis continued to give TV viewing audiences plenty of nightmares during that time, blending classic monsters with new and unique ones and delivering all of them to the small screen in ways that really resonated with audiences at the time. Modern audiences might be even less familiar with Curtis' work than those who grew up with his films, but his influence has never gone away, and his body of work is more than worth revisiting, or if you've never experienced it yet, then now is the perfect time to start down that journey. Films Mentioned in this episode: Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Burnt Offerings (1976), The Changeling (1980), City Slickers (1991), Curse of the Black Widow (1977), The Dark Crystal (1982), Dark Shadows (1966-71), Demons of the Mind (1972), Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971), Dracula (1931), Dracula (1973), Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Frankenstein (1973), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), In My Skin (2002), Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1973-74), The Night Stalker (1972), The Night Strangler (1973), The Norliss Tapes (1973), Nosferatu (1922), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968), Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Trilogy of Terror (1975), Vampyres (1974), War and Remembrance (1988), The X-Files (1993-2018)
Iris Compiet is illustrator en kunstenaar. Haar fantasy-kunst is internationaal bekend. Ze illustreerde haar eigen boek ‘Faeries of the Faultlines' en de boeken ‘The Dark Crystal Bestiary' en ‘The Labyrinth Bestiary'. In 2020 won ze de Jack Gaughan Award voor Best Emerging Artist en later won ze de Chesley Award voor Best Interior Art van de film ‘The Dark Crystal'. Ook heeft ze werk gemaakt voor ‘Wizards of the Coast', Harper Collins en Netflix. Nu staat ze op We Are Playgrounds Festival waar ze een demo geeft over haar technieken en karakterontwerpen. Ellen Deckwitz gaat met Iris Compiet in gesprek.
Caleb returns for the third entry in his series looking at the books he read in 2025! Many more books are covered in this one, but this is not the end of his series as one more entry will be needed to close out the series. What will think of this set of books? Find out now! Email the show at thenoviceelitists@gmail.com Books Included on this list: 1. Web (1979) [John Wyndham] 2. The Crysalids (1955) [John Wyndham] 3. The Andromeda Strain (1969) [Michael Crichton] 4. Alien: Sea of Sorrows (2014) [James A. Moore] 5. The Wendigo (1910) [Algernon Blackwood] 6. Mean Spirited (2024) [Nick Roberts] 7. Eaters of the Dead (1976) [Michael Crichton] 8. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein (2015) [Kiersten White] 9. The Cavern (2019) [Alister Hodge] 10. Inferno (1321) [Dante Alighieri] 11. Domain (2001) [Steve Alten] 11. Jaws the Revenge (1987) [Hank Searls] 12. Alien: River of Pain (2014) [Christopher Golden] 13. Alien vs. Predator: Prey (1994) [Steve and Stephani Perry] 14. The Deep (1976) [Peter Benchly] 15. The Dark Crystal (1982) [A. C. H. Smith] 16. We Love you, Bunny (2015) [Mona Awad] 17. Vostok (2014) [Steve Alten] 18. Predator: Incursion (2015) [Tim Lebbon] 19. Watership Down (1972) [Richard Adams]
When Puppets Get Grotesque: The Dark Crystal and the Gateway to Nightmare FuelKrissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell sit down with special guest Eric Weir—a tattoo artist and lifelong Jim Henson devotee—to tackle The Dark Crystal (1982), the film that proved Muppets could die on screen and parents could regret their viewing choices. One host comes in fresh with zero childhood nostalgia, while the other two grapple with how a movie this dark and grungy holds up against the comfort of Labyrinth.What Fuels the ConversationThe tension here isn't about plot—it's about whether The Dark Crystal still works when you strip away the rose-colored glasses or, conversely, whether it even lands if you never wore them. Eric makes a case for the film as a top-ten masterpiece, Nathan admits a soft spot despite rotating it out of the lineup, and Krissy finds herself surprised by how much she enjoyed a movie that seemed designed to keep her away as a kid. The trio wrestles with Jim Henson's ambition to make something intentionally less cuddly, the grotesque beauty of the Skeksis (each hideous in its own special way), and whether the absence of songs was a missed opportunity or a bold choice. They also dig into the puppet mechanics, the nightmare-fuel death scenes, and how this film became a visual gateway drug for darker fantasy.Why You'll Want to ListenThis one's warm, weird, and genuinely curious—spoiler-light enough to stay at the premise level, but rich with debate over nostalgia, artistry, and what happens when you ask Muppets to walk like humans. Whether you're Team Labyrinth or Team Dark Crystal, there's plenty here to chew on.LinksTruStory FMMembership (early, ad-free access + bonus content): JoinSocials: Facebook | Instagram | BlueskyLearn more about the hosts: Neighborhood Comedy Theatre | Squishy StudiosIf you could only show one Jim Henson project to someone who'd never seen his work, would you pick the cute and cuddly or the dark and crumbling—and why? ---Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.
"Another world, another time, in the age of wonder." We watched "The Dark Crystal," directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, and that "other time" was back when they made movies for kids creepy as all get out. They really don't make 'em like they used to, and this movie is proof. The eerie Skeksis still haunt our dreams, the bohemian Mystics are living out our hippie desert dwelling fantasies, and the ethereal Gelflings are giving us fashion inspo for days. Henson and Oz stretched the limits of puppetry on film and created an entire handmade world without a human to be seen. The art of illustrator Brian Froud and his fantasy creatures is on full display, and The Dark Crystal transports us to a fantastic place that exists only in our memories— the 1980s. Thank you for listening, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review us on Apple Podcasts! www.patreon.com/moviesthatmadeusgay Facebook/Instagram: @moviesthatmadeusgay Bluesky: @MTMUGPod.bsky.social Scott Youngbauer: Twitter @oscarscott / Instagram @scottyoungballer Peter Lozano: Twitter/Instagram @peterlasagna Cover Art by Shaun Piela
Third episode of Sharkbites where we review shows or movies and share our thoughts with you guys.
In this Fanbase Feature, The Fanbase Weekly co-host Bryant Dillon is joined by special guests Barbara Kesel (editor – Watchmen, writer - Marvels Snapshots: Avengers, Legends of the Dark Crystal) and David Accampo (writer – Fanbase Press' The Margins, Lost Angels, Spectral: A Showcase of Fear) to participate in a thorough discussion regarding Watchmen (1986) in light of the groundbreaking comic book miniseries' 40th anniversary, with topics including Kesel's memories working as an editor on the book, what the story has to say in the context of modern-day politics, and more. (Beware: SPOILERS for Watchmen abound in this panel discussion!)
Welcome Back to the Dead Tv Podcast As me and Artist Chandra continue our coverage of Dark Crystal ep 3 Brea struggles with her unsavory new duties, Deet and Hup get a hostile welcome from the Stonewood clan, and Rian begs his Maudra for help. ep 4 While Brea races to solve a puzzle in […]
Primer Bloque ✨Castor y Tony mueren de hambre, descubrimos Ta Bueno, Che!, bautizamos el nuevo estudio de grabación catódico, fuimos a la juntadita de Cosas Inútiles VHS, el mundo continúa yéndose a la mierda y Olgo pide QUE CAIGA!Cafecitos ☕Consumos Consumibles
Jim and Lauren follow the winding path of Labyrinth as it turns 40, exploring how a film that underperformed in 1986 became one of the most beloved cult classics of the home video era - and how its legacy nearly intertwined with Disney in a much bigger way. In this episode of I Want That Too, we connect the dots between Jim Henson's ambitious fantasy film, its surprising international success, and the long road that led Disney to acquire the Muppets - but not Labyrinth. Along the way, we look at the massive 40th anniversary merch push and what it says about the power of nostalgia-driven consumer products. NEWS • Disney Consumer Products wins big at North America's Toy Fair, taking home Doll of the Year for the American Girl Moana collection and Plush Toy of the Year for the interactive Stitch • How upcoming theatrical releases - including The Mandalorian and Grogu, Toy Story 5, Moana (live-action), and Spider-Man: Brand New Day - are shaping Disney's 2026 merchandise strategy • A new Haunted Mansion wedding venue debuts at Disneyland as Disney Fairy Tale Weddings celebrates its 35th anniversary • Disney unveils a 35th anniversary light-up wedding gown featuring 500 embedded lights and 35 programmable lighting effects • Labyrinth kicks off its 40th anniversary celebration with anniversary screenings, a 60-city concert tour, new collectibles, and specialty footwear collaborations FEATURE • Why Labyrinth struggled at the box office in 1986 despite an A-team creative lineup that included George Lucas and David Bowie • The international box office story that softened the blow - and helped build the film's cult following • How Labyrinth's disappointing domestic performance factored into Jim Henson's decision to sell his company • The original 1989 Disney acquisition deal that would have given the Mouse the entire Henson film library - including Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal • Why the Henson family ultimately retained key IP like Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock, and The Dark Crystal when Disney finalized its Muppets purchase in 2004 • The newly announced Labyrinth sequel in development at TriStar Pictures and what it signals about the brand's enduring power HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by Unlock Magic. If a Disney or Universal trip is on your radar for 2026, Unlock Magic helps you secure great ticket prices with expert guidance from people who truly know the parks. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to lock in the best deals and make your next trip a little more magical. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As our Gelfing heroes unite in the Dreamscape, Lauren reunites with us in the Pod(ling)scape, to get real with us about Deet, the realest of real ones, to further examine the strange role of Podlings in Thra, and to chat with us about all of our first concerts that we attended.
Train With Duane!This week on Geek Off The Street, we're doing a “How Have You Not Seen This?” episode as we talk about our collective first watch of Jim Henson's, The Dark Crystal! We get into all things like the incredible production from the puppeteering to the set design, but we also talk about how aged the movie has become and how some of the story elements are a bit boring and slow. All that and so much more on this week's exciting episode of the GOTS Official Podcast!Podcast Timecodes![4:50] What are we drinking this week?[7:00] Pre Show Rating[12:40] Positives[25:40] Negatives[37:35] Post Show Rating[40:10] What Are We Into This Week?Check Out These Books!When The Frog and the Snake Meet: A Killing Love! by J. Leroy Tucker!Wilbur Mckesson's Retribution!Greg Sorber's Mechhaven!Pax Machina Audio Book!Join Us In The Discussion!Email: thegeeksoffthestreet@gmail.comInstagram: @thegotspodSubscribe on Youtube! Like Our Facebook!Twitter: @thegotspodTrent Personal: @trentctuckerMusic: @erictucker__Stuff We Mentioned!Chikara Ramen!Trent Tucker Vlogs!Jujutsu Kaisen!Street Fighter!People We Mentioned! Tree of Dreams Music@chikara_ramen@badicalradness@lights.camera.rant@thenerdlounge2.0@gregerationx@author_wilbur_m@mcpodcast@z_daughter_of_light@mindmattermystery
As three different Gelflings from disparate parts of Thra find themselves drawn to the path of resistance against the cruelty of the Skeksis, Blythe Rudloff finds herself drawn to the podcast by the siren song of Dark Crystal! We're covering the first part of the Age of Resistance tie-in comic, as well as the first three episodes of the TV show, which means we'll be analyzing how well this world translates to the page, pondering the confusing nature of the Podlings, and worshipping at the altar of precious and pure Deet. Also, squirrels!
In this episode of Dreamspace: A Dark Crystal Podcast, Phil and Sydnni return for a brand new year and welcome a very special guest Paul Alexander Butler from Games and Stuff. Paul joins us to tell the incredible story of how he unexpectedly became the owner of the screen-used Crystal of Truth from The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance after Julien's Auction. From bidding drama and surprise emails to shipping a seven-foot prop like a priceless artifact, this is a true collector's quest, and a win for the entire Dark Crystal community. We also talk about fandom, storytelling spaces, tabletop gaming culture, and why it matters that this legendary prop will be displayed publicly for fans to experience. Shownotes Games and Stuff - https://www.gamesandstuffonline.com/ ICV2 article - https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61212/games-stuff-acquires-the-dark-crystal-prop Contact Email – darkcrystalpodcast@gmail.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/thedarkcrystalpodcast Instagram – www.instagram.com/darkcrystalpodcast
In this episode, we venture into the alien world of Thra to dissect Jim Henson and Frank Oz's 1982 landmark film, The Dark Crystal. We explore how this ambitious "dark fantasy" project pushed the boundaries of puppetry and storytelling, moving away from the lightheartedness of the Muppets to create a rich, somber, and deeply mystical universe on the Back to the Past Podcast from the M&J Creations Studios on the Lion's Den Podcast Network powered by Stark Roofing! For all things Back to the Past Podcast, including feedback, episode suggestions and even how to purchase your very own shirt, please visit BacktothePastPodcast.com! Please support our sponsors: Stark Roofing LLC M&J Creations Pasta House in High Ridge Granite Pros, LLC Terri Anne The Moon & Back Photography and Doula Services If you have any feedback or questions, email - thelionsdenpodcast32@gmail.com Also please "Like" and DM The Lions Den Podcast Facebook Page here. You can also follow The Lions Den Podcast on: Instagram at @TheLionsDenPodcast TikTok at The Lions Den Podcast Feel free to DM us at The "2 Dumb Dads" Show Facebook Page.
Back to continue our delve into the world of Muppet-adjacent movies, it's JM8 (and Ludo!) of Design Delve! We embark on a fantasy epic in The Dark Crystal (1982), with an incredibly clear quest and many many questions that go unanswered. Where to find JM8 and Ludo:Twitter: @JM8andLudoDesign Delve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTE6o3zGGx0&list=PLUBKwq0XD0uc3-bC1m0IYvbdu8dEX4rd2&ab_channel=SecondWindDev Heads Pod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0lJmFdHNRI&list=PLUBKwq0XD0uch3cRSwbebfiCBtkfbgUsq&ab_channel=SecondWindtContact the Podmoviestruckpod@gmail.comwww.moviestruck.transistor.fmPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/moviestruckDiscord: https://discord.gg/cT2vm3KdeSBlueSky: @moviestruck.bsky.socialTheme by Prod. DomSoundcloudThank you to our $10 Patrons!Kaeldrannas, Cai, Maddy New, Adam Bagnall, UwU, Zas, Ken M, Madidid, Ethan, Jim8333, Jacob Hunt, Azraq Shinji, Case Aiken, Ebony Voigt, AnOptimist, Lairde Ray, the Norwegian one, Travis Poe, William Warren, Stag Hart (Deer Deer), Rusty_Fork, Mura Purcell, insomnite, Nathan Dunlap. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Return to Oz might be marketed as a fantasy sequel—but rewatching it as adults reveals something far darker. From electroshock therapy and abandoned children to the Wheelers, Princess Mombi's Hall of Heads, and the terrifying Nome King, this Disney film feels more like a full-blown horror movie than a family classic.In this episode of How I Met Your Monster, we continue our Scarytales triple feature by breaking down Return to Oz through the lens of monster introductions, childhood trauma, and nightmare fuel imagery. We explore why this movie terrified so many of us as kids, how it stays unsettling as adults, and why it might be Disney's most disturbing film.We also dive into behind-the-scenes facts, Walter Murch's direction, the film's connection to the original Oz books, and how Return to Oz embraces darker fantasy in the tradition of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeFor bonus content and commentaries, check out our PatreonFollow the show on Instagram, TikTok, and FacebookWant to support the show and save 20% on Fangoria? Visit Fangoria and enter PROMO CODE: HOWIMETYOURMONSTER at checkout!Looking for How I Met Your Monster merch? Check out TeePublic for shirts, stickers, mugs, and more!Questions and comments: howimetyourmonsterpodcast@gmail.com
TVC 720.5: Award-winning radio producer Doug Thompson talks to Ed about working with Ringo Starr on the nationally syndicated radio series Ringo's Yellow Submarine; with Jim Henson on both The Dark Crystal and The Fantastic Miss Piggy Special; and with The Monkees on a radio documentary that Doug produced for broadcast in Canada in 1967.
In this episode of the show we are venturing even further into the world of 1980's fantasy by discussing two movies directed by Jim Henson: The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Over the course of our conversation you will hear us talk about Jim Henson as a tech-driven filmmaker, and storyteller keen on applying the "X with Muppets" to other contexts. We talk about The Dark Crystal functioning much like Avatar of its time with its high concept of making a movie without human characters, which posed certain technical challenges. We also discuss how Henson's movies essentially appropriate storylines from The Lord of the Rings and Wizard of Oz, how the world-building outside of the field of vision of the characters is increasingly barren (and how it might be more acceptable in one of the two movies) and that relying on a gimmick alone suffers from incredible diminishing returns.Tune in and enjoy!Hosts: Jakub Flasz & Randy BurrowsHead over to uncutgemspodcast.com to find all of our archival episodes and more!Follow us on Twitter (@UncutGemsPod), IG (@UncutGemsPod) and Facebook (@UncutGemsPod)Buy us a coffee over at Ko-Fi.com (ko-fi.com/uncutgemspod)Subscribe to our Patreon! (patreon.com/uncutgemspod)
Returning (dare we say regular) guest "Sven" joins us to discuss a classic entry in the gen x nightmare fuel cannon, The Dark Crystal (1982). Purportedly inspired in equal parts by Grimm fairytales and 'New Age' channeling, Dark Crystal is a tour de force of Muppetry. RIP that orphaned landstriderThe Only Existing Video of Seth Speaking Through Jane Roberts With Some Additional GoodiesWAR/OCCUPATION IS NOT OVERgazafunds.orglifeline4gaza.comSameer Project+++++
It's a full-on wiener roast as we nerd out with The Baron Against the Demons, a Spanish fantasy oddity that plays like The Dark Crystal colliding with the Star Wars prequels and an all-consuming fertility obsession. It's puppets, miniatures, foam-muscle warriors, green screens, archaic CGI, and body horror pushed as far as $200 can possibly go. PLUS: How Have You Been, Battle of the Bands, and so much more! we think we should be given Free Money so join our Patreon if you can! Hey, why not call us on our hotline? (724) 246-4669!
As a mysterious hooded traveler sits us down to explain the origins of Thra, we find ourselves joined by Jake Beal, who helps us usher in Phase 8 of the podcast! We catch up on Star Visions season 3 and some recent Star Wars comics and chat about our personal histories with The Dark Crystal, before diving into our new adventure and the strange, wonderful, and terrible world of Gelflings, Skeksis, Aughra, Raunip, and Gyr!
http://www.UnderThePuppet.com - Louise Gold is puppetry royalty. A trained theatre performer, Louise began her puppetry career working on the second season of The Muppet Show, where she played many characters — including the role of Annie Sue, much to Miss Piggy's dismay. In addition to continuing her work with The Muppets, she went on to perform in The Dark Crystal, Sesame Street, and the Sesame Street spin-off The Furchester Hotel, where she played the hotel's proprietor, Funella Furchester. She's also performed on Spitting Image, The Ghost of Faffner Hall, Dodge's Pup School, and many, many more puppetry projects. I talk to Louise Gold about her incredible career on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Louise Gold by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Louise Gold: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gold7046 IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0325028/ Muppet Wiki - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Louise_Gold Discussed on the show: The Muppet Show - https://shows.disney.com/the-muppet-show Annie Sue - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Annie_Sue The Dark Crystal - https://www.darkcrystal.com/ Sesame Street - https://www.sesamestreet.org/ The Furchester Hotel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Furchester_Hotel The Ghost of Faffner Hall - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The_Ghost_of_Faffner_Hall Dodge's Pup School - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33665574/ Spitting Image - https://www.youtube.com/c/SpittingImage Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.comhttp://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com
For the year 2025, we wanted to explore the directors who created the magical movie moments and see how these legendary directors left their stamp on cinematography for years to come.Intro Music: Fly Forward by YariThe Talkers:HoppocalypseItisdpaynehttps://twitch.tv/itisdpayne
The Pacific Northwest Insurance Corporation Moviefilm Podcast
'The Dark Crystal' is a monument to craft, a movie made entirely with puppets, primative robots, strings, fog machines, lighting rigs, and spit. A true monument to analog filmmaking. But is it any good? We discuss. Matt rec. Corbin rec. Corbin apoligizes for rambling about rap lists like a weirdo at the end of this episode. Check out the show on Letterboxd if you're into that thing. Matt is also on there. We also got a Bluesky going! Our next episode is about Nouvelle Vague, watch it here.
Send us a textWe're going mega-nerd this week reviewing the 1982 dark fantasy film, The Dark Crystal. So nerdy, in fact, that show co-host Mike had to recuse himself. Actually, Mike is out this week and he asked show superfan, Dr. K @pinotjones to sit in for this odd but beautiful mess of a movie. K had some big (smelly) shoes to fill, but he knocked it out of the park. #thedarkcrystal #wheresmike
The Pacific Northwest Insurance Corporation Moviefilm Podcast
Earlier this year Ari Aster released a movie About Now that some people liked and some people didn't like. Corbin and Matt and friend of the program John Wilmes DID like it and we get into it! Feelings! Politics! Money! The whole gang is here, folks! Corbin recommends a book. Ellis recommends this article. Wilmes recommends a Jazz musician. Check out the show on Letterboxd if you're into that thing. Matt is also on there. We also got a Bluesky going! Out next episode is about THE DARK CRYSTAL, which you can watch on Tubi and probably somewhere else but cmon man give it up for tubi! They got all the Looney Tunes over there!
Another world, another time, in the age of wonder.. In 1982, a movie was made that terrified and confused a generation. It was The Dark Crystal. A movie that asked the question “is everything better with puppets?” Check out our Instagram (@yamIlykethispodcast), and visit our Facebook fan page. Tune in every other Thursday for new episodes!
The Jim Henson Company is auctioning off hundreds of items from their archives, including props, puppets, and more from productions like Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and Muppet Christmas Carol.Naturally, we have a ton of questions, so we went to the source: Jim Henson Company archivist Karen Falk. Listen as we chat with Falk about how the auction came together, why they're doing it, and how you might be able to take home some Henson history.
This episode is, obviously, filled with mouth sounds. Proceed at your own risk.Today we're bringing you the sequel that nobody wanted but is actually very necessary. We wonder what 'DDS' stands for as we bite into these chonky boys from tubes, barrels and sticks. The masticatory vibes are real for take offs and landings so while we're minimally flavored, and softer for longer, we hope to someday RESPAWN as the Dark Crystal. Happy chewing! Episode 78: Gum Support Spilled Milk Podcast!Molly's SubstackMatthew's Bands: Early to the Airport and Twilight DinersProducer Abby's WebsiteListen to our spinoff show Dire DesiresJoin our reddit Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This week Josh and Drusilla discuss the baby of the Universal Monsters, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). From wiki: “Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 American black-and-white 3D monster horror film produced by William Alland and directed by Jack Arnold, from a screenplay by Harry Essex and Arthur Ross and a story by Maurice Zimm. It stars Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, and Whit Bissell. The film's plot follows a group of scientists who encounter a piscine amphibious humanoid in the waters of the Amazon; the Creature, also known as the Gill-man, was played by Ben Chapman on land and by Ricou Browning underwater. Produced and distributed by Universal-International, Creature from the Black Lagoon premiered in Detroit on February 12, 1954, and was released on a regional basis, opening on various dates.”Also discussed: non-alcoholic spirits, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and the Muppets, Matango (1963), Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell, Kill Bill, Monster Squad, and more, NEXT WEEK: Double Feature: The Black Cat (1934) and The Raven (1935) Bloodhaus:https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/@sisterhyde.bsky.socialJoshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/
We're about a month late to the balance-of-day-and-night party, but it's still very much a season of shifting light, so it's appropriate that we're wandering down the Equinox Road this week. As the last book planned for the original run of Changeling: the Lost 1e, there was a lot riding on this conclusion to the line that dealt with endgames and the final portentous trek into Faerie... except the developers then decided to keep going because the game was so popular, and the road wound on. So! We've done our best to do justice to its twists and turns, in the hopes that Storytellers might find it useful at any step in their chronicle's journey. Hang out a while, flip some pages with us, et cetera. The book is available at https://www.storytellersvault.com/en/product/57384?affiliate_id=3063731, and currently 40% off for the Month of Darkness sale on the Storytellers' Vault. The devastating opening story that we mention in this episode can be read by clicking on the Preview for the title. We also encourage you to check out other titles, especially Changeling homebrew by members of our community (of which there is ample). Otherwise, find us at: Discord: https://discord.me/ctp Email: podcast@changelingthepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082973960699 Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@ChangelingPod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChangelingThePodcast your hosts Pooka G (any pronoun/they) wonders if anyone has used "Equinox" as a name for a brand of horse tranquilizer. Amelia Fetch (she/her) played a move in the Game of Immortals with this recording, but it'll be a while before the consequences are apparent... End, begin, all the same. Big change. Sometimes good, hmph, sometimes bad. —Aughra in The Dark Crystal
HEART/FELT – A DARKER, CAVERNOUS PLACE: THE DARK CRYSTAL In this episode of Heart/Felt, I'm joined by fellow One of Us podcaster Rhett O'Hara to explore The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson's bold departure from the Muppets into darker, more immersive fantasy. We discuss the film's groundbreaking puppetry, rich world-building, and its lasting impact on Henson's […]
This episode, hosts Phil and Sydnni return to the Dreamspace to dive into a spirited discussion just in time for the spooky season — could The Dark Crystal actually be considered a Halloween movie? With Fathom Events bringing Jim Henson's fantasy classic back to theatres in October, the hosts explore the film's darker tones, eerie atmosphere, and the haunting beauty that makes it a perfect addition to any Halloween watchlist. From mysterious trailers that once scared theater audiences in 1982, to the film's near-Christmas release and its potential as both a Halloween and Christmas classic, Phil and Sydnni unpack the uncanny magic that makes The Dark Crystal timeless. Along the way, they share updates from the wider Henson world and reflect on how the changing seasons — both in life and in Thra — always bring new reasons to return to The Dark Crystal. Shownotes The Dark Crystal with Fathom Entertainment https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/the-dark-crystal-2025/ The Labyrinth Experience https://www.labyrinth-experience.com/ Juliens Auctions https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/auctions/the-jim-henson-company-70th-anniversary-auction Labyrinth Experience Contact Email – darkcrystalpodcast@gmail.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/thedarkcrystalpodcast Instagram – www.instagram.com/darkcrystalpodcast
Michael Eisner didn't start the trend of the Disney Company acquiring intellectual properties, but he did speed up the process that was then taken to Ludicrous Speed by Bob Iger. The Muppets characters were among those that Eisner spent years trying to bring into the Disney umbrella.
Send us a textTWO HUNDRED EPISODES AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS 200TH EPISODEThe Good, the Pod, and the Ugly boys take a break from their ongoing Squib Season to commemorate the pod's 200th episode. With over 400 movies covered across 14.5 seasons, this also marks a great entry point for new listeners as hosts Ken, Thomas, and Ryan reveal the three films they consider as the most influential to their cineast lives. Exclusive to this episode: Chapter breaks to conveniently skip or relisten to your favorite host's/s' divulgences. Bo-Bo-Bonus: The three hosts (two of which are put on the spot) throw in three influential musical artists and writers. Extra bonus material: Ken reveals previous host Jack's top three. Another fun episode to skip unless you're a former prime minister of Britian enjoying her time in hell, the creepreditor (portmanteau of “creep + creator+ director”) of 20th Century Fox's X-Men movie franchise, the listener from the end of time, or any of the pod's legend and bits mentioned throughout this bicentennial ep. In that case, mbe listen. Cut from this celebratory episode are the hosts' selection of their three horniest movies (i)“Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” (ii)“Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,” & (iii)“Hillbilly Elegy”; (i)“Cats”; (ii)“The Dark Crystal,” ¶ “Chicken Little”; and (i)“Incredible Shrinking Woman,” (ii)“9 to 5” & (iii)“The Late Show,” attribution not needed. THEME SONG BY: WEIRD A.I.Email: thegoodthepodandtheugly@gmail.comFacebook: https://m.facebook.com/TGTPTUInstagram: https://instagram.com/thegoodthepodandtheugly?igshid=um92md09kjg0Bluesky: @goodpodugly.bsky.socialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6mI2plrgJu-TB95bbJCW-gLetterboxd (follow us!):Podcast: goodpoduglyKen: Ken KoralRyan: Ryan Tobias
Episode 132 - Dave Barclay - My Life With Animatronics. Movies, Puppets and Beyond!At just 19 years old, Dave Barclay found himself stepping into the role of chief puppeteer for Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back. It was the start of an extraordinary career in animatronics and puppetry that would see him bringing to life some of cinema's most beloved and memorable characters. In this episode, Dave takes us back to his creative beginnings, growing up in a family of puppeteers, and the serendipitous chain of events that led from working in Hamleys toy shop to meeting Mark Hamill — and ultimately joining Stuart Freeborn's Yoda team. We cover:His early inspirations from Planet of the Apes to making masks at home.The technical and creative challenges of performing Yoda alongside Frank Oz.Becoming chief puppeteer for Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi.Working on The Dark Crystal, Little Shop of Horrors and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.The importance of collaboration between puppeteers, animators, special effects teams and actors.The process of writing his new autobiography My Life with Animatronics, Movies, Puppets and Beyond, filled with stories and photos from across his career.Dave's journey is a mix of artistry, technical problem-solving, and being in the right place at the right time — but also about saying “yes” when opportunity knocks. Listen now to hear stories from a man whose work has shaped how we see and believe in some of cinema's most iconic creatures. Find Dave's book:My Life with Animatronics, Movies, Puppets and Beyond – available now at Cool Waters Productions.All my links
On this episode of Dreamspace, Phil and Sydnni return for a deep dive into The Heretic and The Wanderer, a four-part Dark Crystal comic story from the Jim Henson Presents anthology. Join them as they explore the long-awaited reunion of SkekGra and UrGoh as we unpack both the lore and the emotional weight behind the characters' journeys. The hosts reflect on how the story builds on themes from Age of Resistance, and examine the comic's visual style, narrative decisions, and connection to the broader Dark Crystal mythos. Contact Email – darkcrystalpodcast@gmail.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/thedarkcrystalpodcast Instagram – www.instagram.com/darkcrystalpodcast
We ask the questions, you give the reply on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!Jodie Sweetin has been in show business for most of her life. She's famous for her role as Stephanie Tanner on "Full House." She'll tell us what it was like being on a major TV show at such a young age and how she revisited that time in her podcast, "How Rude Tanneritos."Marc Evan Jackson is best known for his stoic performances across a number of TV roles including for "The Good Place" and "Brooklyn 99." He'll tell us why he loves the fans of the shows he's a part of and explain why the art of improv is so important. Areas of Expertise:Marc: The TV show “The Office,” vessels in the Maine windjamming fleet, and the lyrics to the song “Knockin' Boots” by CandymanJodie: Jim Henson movies, the TV show “Arrested Development,” and American Girl Dolls. What's the Difference: Treasure IslandWhat's the difference between to treasure and to cherish?What's the difference between a traffic median and a traffic island?Guest Experts:Candyman: Rapper and producer who co-wrote and performed the hit song “Knockin' Boots.”Dave Goelz: Emmy-winning performer and producer who's worked with the Muppets for more than 50 years – and in several movies with Jim Henson.Hosts: J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!
Diane and Sean discuss the creepier side of Jim Henson and Frank Oz with their film, The Dark Crystal. Episode music is, "The Dark Crystal Theme" by Trevor Jones from the OST.- Our theme song is by Brushy One String- Artwork by Marlaine LePage- Why Do We Own This DVD? Merch available at Teepublic- Follow the show on social media:- BlueSky: WhyDoWeOwnThisDVD- IG: @whydoweownthisdvd- Tumblr: WhyDoWeOwnThisDVD- Follow Sean's Plants on IG: @lookitmahplants- Watch Sean be bad at video games on TwitchSupport the show
A big thank you to Flydigi for sponsoring this video! Visit shops.flydigi.com and enter the discount code "resonantarc" for 10% off your order! In today's episode, we're collaborating with Daryll from @FinalFantasyUnion to bring the development history of Final Fantasy IX. This is part 1 of a series where we will break down the story of FF9 chapter by chapter, explaining the thought process of the development team, the storytelling techniques employed, and what it all means at its core. Understanding the creative process really helps in understanding why certain choices were made, and can be vital to truly appreciating a classic like Final Fantasy IX. Join us as we begin our journey through one of the greatest RPGs ever made! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Flydigi sponsorship (1:20) 3. Greetings (3:02) 4. Introduction to Daryll and Final Fantasy Union (3:43) 5. Guardians of the Crystal Kickstarter: (4:57) 6. Our personal feelings about Final Fantasy IX (8:33) 7. Sakaguchi and Kitase disagreed on how FF should be made (13:12) 8. FF9's visuals are inspired by the Dark Crystal (31:41) 9. Classic Final Fantasy's theatrical-style presentation (35:08) 10. The split in the FF team also split the fanbase (42:44) 11. FF9 was the first FF to be made in America? (48:47) 12. Understanding the creator's process helps us appreciate their work more (50:26) 13. Final Fantasy was always a collaborative process. Many developers are responsible for its success (59:16) 14. How FF9 saved lives--not even the devs themselves realized how important their work is (1:06:35) 15. Final Fantasy IX isn't just a video game. Its story touches on many deeply human subjects that we all wrestle with (1:09:18) 16. Nobuo Uematsu's unusual process for writing the music of FF9 (1:20:16) 17. Where to play for next week's discussion (1:24:12) Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc Subscribe Star: https://www.subscribestar.com/resonant-arc Twitter: https://twitter.com/resonantarc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resonantarc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@resonantarc