The Jim Henson Company is officially looking to the future. While 2026 is dominated by the 50th Anniversary of The Muppet Show and the 40th of Labyrinth, the legendary studio is also returning to its roots in educational children’s television.
The company is currently pitching two new original properties for the 2026/2027 season: Wowzabout and Monster Mix. Both series promise to blend the studio’s classic puppetry magic with modern themes of emotional wellness and awe.
Here is everything we know so far about the new projects.
Wowzabout: Finding Awe in the Real World
The first new project, Wowzabout, marks a return to live-action puppetry shot on location—a style that calls back to the richness of Fraggle Rock’s “Outer Space” segments, but with a modern twist.
- The Premise: The series stars two new puppet protagonists: Roxy the Hedgehog and Ronald the Piglet. The duo travels the globe on a “walking adventure” to discover the “wows” of our planet.
- The Curriculum: Unlike previous shows that focused on letters or numbers, Wowzabout is built around the emotion of “Awe.” Episodes will feature Roxy and Ronald encountering real-world wonders, such as the Northern Lights, hot air balloon festivals, and architectural marvels.
- The Team: The show is co-created by Halle Stanford (Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Sid the Science Kid) and Dorien Davies (performer on Word Party and Julie’s Greenroom).
Why It Matters: In an era of heavy CGI, a show featuring high-quality Jim Henson’s Creature Shop puppets interacting with real-world environments is a major selling point for parents nostalgic for practical effects.
Monster Mix: Dancing Out Your Feelings
The second project, Monster Mix (previously developed under the working title Monster Jam), leans into the studio’s technological side, utilizing the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio to create real-time animation.
- The Premise: Welcome to the “grooviest, funkiest, most monstrous club around.” The show is set on a dance floor where monsters go to express their big emotions through movement and dance.
- The Curriculum: The series focuses on physical movement, creative expression, and emotional regulation—letting kids “let their inner monster out” in a safe space.
- The Team: This is a passion project from John Tartaglia (the puppeteer behind Gobo Fraggle and creator of Splash and Bubbles) and Russell Hicks.
- The Style: The character designs are reportedly based on Jim Henson’s original sketches, translated into 3D animation.
The Henson Educational Legacy
These two pitches represent a strategic two-pronged approach for the company:
- Wowzabout targets the market for “slow TV” and mindfulness, helping kids connect with nature and the physical world.
- Monster Mix targets the high-energy “active” market, encouraging fitness and emotional release.
With Sesame Street moving heavily into its YouTube era and Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock maintaining the studio’s prestige on Apple TV+, these new originals suggest The Jim Henson Company is eager to own the preschool space once again.