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{{Short description|2002 The Muppets film}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2008}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2008}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox television
| name = Kermit's Swamp Years
| image = | image = Kermit's Swamp Years.jpg
| image_size = | alt =
| alt = | caption = DVD cover
| caption =
| director = David Gumpel | director = David Gumpel
| based_on = {{Based on|'']''|]}}
| producer = Ritamarie Peruggi | producer = Ritamarie Peruggi
| writer = ] (teleplay and story)<br>] (teleplay) | screenplay = ]<br>]
| narrator = ] (]) | story = Jim Lewis
| narrator = ] (])
| starring = William Bookston<br>John Hostetter<br>Christian Kebble<br>Kelly Collins Lintz<br>]<br>'''Muppet Performers''':<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| music = ]<br>Peter Thom
| music = Joe Carroll<br>Peter Thom
| cinematography = ]<br>Rufus Standefer
| cinematography = Stephen Campbell<br>Rufus Standefer
| editing = Katina Zinner
| studio = ] | editor = Katina Zinner
| distributor = ] | company = ]
| released = September 3, 2002 | network = ]
| released = {{Start date|2002|08|18}}
| runtime = 82 minutes | runtime = 82 minutes
| country = USA | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
}} }}
'''''Kermit's Swamp Years''''' is a 2002 American ] ] ] ] directed by David Gumpel and featuring ]. The plot recounts ] of ], offering a ] to the ].
'''''Kermit's Swamp Years''''' is a 2002 ] film, directed by David Gumpel, featuring ]'s ], including a 12-year-old Kermit and best friends Goggles and Croaker, who travel outside their homes in the swamps of the Deep South to do something extraordinary with their lives. The film, which tells the story of Kermit the Frog's early life, is a ] to '']''. As of 2002, this is the last Muppet film to receive a ] rating from the ], as a few later Muppet films, starting with the TV Christmas film '']'', which aired in the same year, have received a ] rating from the ]. This is the first Muppet movie that does not feature the Muppets, expect: ], ] & ]


Young Kermit ventures beyond his swamp home for the first time, alongside friends Goggles and Croaker, all sharing an extraordinary adventure.
==Plot==
{{expand section|date=March 2013}}
The movie opens in the swamp lands that ] calls home. After meeting his old friend Horace D'Fly again, he recaps an adventure about his childhood back when he was twelve years old where he enjoyed a serene amphibian's life with his buddies Croaker the ] and Goggles the ], where Kermit wonders what else the world has to offer and what lies beyond the swamp, but is companions do not think the same. When they run into two scientists named Dr. Hugo Krassman (John Hostetter) and Mary (Kelly Collins Lintz), before they are caught by them, Arnie the ] saves them and warns them about the dangers lurking outside the swamp. The next day while they talk about their dreams, they run into the bully of the swamp named Blotch, an ], who brutally attacks Goggles after he mistakes him for mooning him, but this causes them to get kidnapped by a pet store owner named Wilson, and Kermit and Croaker have no choice but to venture forth in order to save their friends.


''Kermit's Swamp Years'' was first broadcast on August 18, 2002 on the ] network, with VHS and DVD releases the following month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/tv/20020818tvweek2.asp|title=Kermit the Frog stars in his own movie prequel|website=old.post-gazette.com|access-date=2019-02-14}}</ref>
After getting run over by Wilson's truck and having tire tracks on his chest, Croaker is no longer able to hop. When Goggles and Blotch are taken into a pet store, Blotch's anger causes problems, especially when they get stuck in a cage with Vicki the ], but Goggles is able to save them by making Vicki's skin itch with his slime. Along the way, Kermit and Croaker meet a stray dog named Pilgrim (voiced by ]), who saves them from Krassman and Mary, who decides to help them with finding Goggles and Blotch and getting back to the swamp, and her knowledge of the outside world proves vital in helping them reach the pet shop. Along the way, Kermit discovers the excitement of the movies, the power of a wishing star, and even what it's like to fly. Meanwhile, the other animals at the store manage to convince Goggles and Blotch in a lively musical number that being sold to someone as a pet isn't such a bad idea. Kermit is able to find Wilson's truck by using balloons, but because Goggles isn't in the box anymore, he finds a monkey in a box. A bumpy ride causes Kermit to fall off of the truck, losing the truck again. But, the idea of a pet is spoiled for Goggles and Blotch, who still don't know that the next day they are being taken to George Washington's High School for biology class's dissection. Kermit is able to find Pilgrim and Croaker again, and together they finally find the pet store, but they find out from Vicki that she overheard them going to George Washington's.


Although produced at ], film rights are held by ] rather than ].
The next day, Kermit and Croaker are able to get discovered on purpose by Wilson to get to George Washington, but they are able to escape the box they are in by starting a fire. They meet Pilgrim in the high school again, who followed them, but while trying to find Goggles and Blotch, Pilgrim and Croaker get captured by Wilson, anyways. Kermit overhears Wilson heading to biology class, so he hitches a ride on a student's backpack whose heading to the same class, but all of the students don't want to dissect the frogs. Krassman decides to dissect Goggles, but Blotch takes his place to return the favor for rescuing them from Vicki. But, Krassman changes his mind when Wilson brings Croaker in. Mary refuses to show how the dissection is done, so she leaves the classroom and she and Wilson find out that Pilgrim is a friend of the frog. In a daring rescue, Kermit manages to free Croaker from the dissection table and fend off Dr. Krassman using some swashbuckling techniques he picked up at the movie theater from the movie '']'', but Krassman is able to defeat Kermit, Croaker, and Blotch. Goggles finds the knife that Kermit dropped, but after he picks it up, Krassman spots him. Despite the warnings that Kermit should never talk to humans, Kermit stops Krassman from killing Goggles by talking, and he addresses Krassman directly asking him to please release the frogs. This also reveals that Pilgrim can talk. This fortuitous decision reveals that Krassman, as a child, when he was going to dissect his first frog, the frog he was going to dissect told him to stop, but he refused to say it out loud to everyone else in Krassman's classroom, which caused him to be humiliated. With the truth at long last revealed that frogs can indeed talk, Krassman frees all the frogs and dismisses the class and enables Kermit and his friends to return home. When they hitch a ride back on Wilson's truck, Wilson adopts Pilgrim and the four frogs head home.


==Plot==
Back in the present, Kermit enters the swamp to meet up with his three old frog friends, and Horace D'Fly is seen again singing.
The movie opens in the swamp lands that ] calls home. After meeting his old friend Horace D'Fly again, he recaps an adventure about his childhood where he enjoyed a serene amphibian's life with his two best friends, Croaker, a smooth and confident ], and Goggles, a nervous and cowardly ]. Young Kermit wonders what lies beyond the swamp, but his companions do not think the same. The friends run into two scientists, Dr. Hugo Krassman (]) and Mary (Kelly Collins Lintz), who intend on capturing frogs. Arnie the ] saves them and warns them about the dangers lurking outside the swamp. The next day, they run into the bully Blotch, a ], who attacks Goggles. The fight spills onto a road, where the pair are taken by a pet store owner named Wilson (William Bookston), and Kermit and Croaker venture forth on a quest to save their friends.


When Goggles and Blotch are taken into a pet store, Blotch's anger causes the pair to be put in a cage with Vicki the ], who intends to eat Blotch. Goggles saves him by goading Vicki to attack him and then using his poison gland. Meanwhile, the other animals at the store manage to convince Goggles and Blotch in a lively musical number that being sold to someone as a pet isn't such a bad idea.
==Cast==
* William Bookston - Wilson
* John Hostetter - Hugo Krassman
* Christian Kebble - Young ]
* Kelly Collins Lintz - Mary
* ] - Pilgrim the Dog, Kermit the Frog's Mom (voice)
* Ringo the Dog - Pilgrim the Dog (wide shots)


After getting run over by Wilson's truck and having tire tracks on his chest, Croaker is no longer able to hop and starts to lose his bravery. Kermit and Croaker meet a stray dog named Pilgrim (voiced by ]), who saves them from Krassman and Mary, then decides to help them find their friends. Kermit is able to find Wilson's truck by using helium balloons, but discovers they are no longer in the vehicle. Kermit reconnects with Pilgrim and Croaker again, and together they find Wilson's Pet Store. After Kermit gives him a short pep talk, Croaker finally manages to hop again by hopping through the window and helps Kermit up the window, but they find out from Vicki that their friends have gone to George Washington High School.
===Muppet Performers===
{{main|List of Muppets}}
* ] - Kermit the Frog, Young Kermit the Frog, Jack the Rabbit, Chico the Frog
* ] - Goggles the Toad, Joe the Armadillo, Turtle #1
* ] - Croaker the Frog, Horace D'Fly, Roy the Frog, Turtle #2
* ] - Vicki the Snake, Performer of Kermit the Frog's Mom, Performer of Pilgrim the Dog
* ] - Arnie the Alligator, Blotch the Bullfrog, Monkey
* ] - Young ]
* ] - Young ]


The next day, Kermit and Croaker intentionally get discovered by Wilson to get taken to the high school and escape upon arrival. They meet Pilgrim again, who followed them. While trying to find Goggles and Blotch, Pilgrim and Croaker get captured by Wilson. Kermit overhears Wilson heading to biology class, so he hitches a ride on a student's backpack. Krassman decides to dissect Goggles, but Blotch takes his place to return the favor for rescuing them from Vicki. Krassman discides to dissect Croaker instead, when Wilson brings him into the class. Mary refuses to show the class how the dissection is done, so she leaves the classroom. In a daring rescue, Kermit manages to free Croaker from the dissection table and fend off Krassman using some swashbuckling techniques he picked up earlier at a movie theater. Despite the warnings that Kermit should never talk to humans, Kermit stops Krassman from dissecting Goggles by talking and asks him to please release the frogs. This action leads Krassman to reveal that as a child, he was about to dissect a frog, who spoke to him, but refused to speak out loud to everyone else in Krassman's classroom, which caused him to be humiliated. With the truth revealed that frogs can talk, Krassman frees all the frogs, dismisses the class and enables Kermit and his friends to return home. After a ride back to the swamp's border in Wilson's truck, Wilson adopts Pilgrim and the four friends head back home.
==Crew==
* ] - Voice Casting


Back in the present, Kermit says that he is still friends with Croaker, Goggles, Blotch, and Pilgrim. He then enters the swamp to meet up with his three old friends.
==Production notes==
Although the supporting characters were created specifically for this movie, the performers behind them are no strangers to the world of the Muppets. Croaker was performed by Bill Barretta, who also performs Pepe the King Prawn. Goggles was performed by ], a writer, lyricist, and puppeteer for '']'' who also co-wrote the teleplay for Kermit's Swamp Years and '']''. Blotch was performed by ], who has been a supporting Muppet performer for years.


==Cast==
Originally, Bill Barretta was supposed to play Goggles and Joey Mazzarino was supposed to play Croaker, but they traded roles after they tried the characters out, due to their voices not sounding good enough for the characters.<ref>http://themuppetmindset.blogspot.com/2010/02/interview-with-muppeteer-bill-barretta.html</ref>
* ] – Dr. Hugo Krassman
* Kelly Collins Lintz – Mary
* William Bookston – Wilson
* ] – Pilgrim, Kermit's Mom, Star (voices)
* Christian Kebbel – Young ]


===Muppet performers===
The opening and closing sequence also introduces Horace D'Fly (voiced by Bill Barretta), one of the few computer-animated Muppets (In the outtakes reel that rolls during the end credits, Horace complains about having to be swallowed up by Kermit and asks, "Can't we use CG in this scene?").
* ] – Kermit the Frog, Jack Rabbit, Chico
* ] – Croaker, Horace D'Fly, Roy, Turtle #2
* ] – Goggles, Turtle #1
* ] – Blotch, Arnie the Alligator, Monkey
* ] – Vicki, Pilgrim (puppeteer), Kermit's Mom (puppeteer)
* ] – Young ]
* ] – Young ]

==Production notes==
Goggles and Croaker were performed by ] and ], respectively. Mazzarino was a writer, lyricist, and puppeteer for '']'' at the time of the film's production. Mazzarino also co-wrote the teleplay for the film. Blotch was performed by ].


Originally, Barretta was going to play Goggles and Mazzarino was going to play Croaker, but they traded roles after they tried out the characters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://themuppetmindset.blogspot.com/2010/02/interview-with-muppeteer-bill-barretta.html | title=The Muppet Mindset: Interview with Muppeteer Bill Barretta - Part 2 | date=2 February 2010 }}</ref>
The character Pilgrim was realized in some scenes as a trained dog, and other scenes as a Muppet that was identical to the live dog.


The opening and closing sequence also introduces Horace D'Fly (voiced by Barretta), one of the few computer-animated Muppets (In the outtakes reel at the end of the film, Horace complains about having to be inside Kermit's mouth and asks, "Can't we use CG or something?").
The outtakes reel at the end of the film includes an alternate version of the song "]" performed by ].


The character Pilgrim was depicted in some scenes using a real dog, and other scenes as a puppet that was identical to the live dog.
Some of the puppets that appeared in '']'' appear in the pet shop scene singing "Life as a Pet." The puppets included Chauncey the ], Billy Bob the Lemur, Rhonda the ], Hector the ], Galahad the ], Pearl the ], Penelope the ], and Ernie the ]. Also, the Farmer's Dog from '']'' makes an appearance in this scene as well.


The film's outtakes reel includes an alternate version of the song "]" performed by ].
The behind-the-scenes featurette involves a Muppet named Joe the Armadillo (who is a recycled version of Dooley the Armadillo from '']'') interviewing various members of the production staff and crew (Watch for his "big scene" in which he is inserted into the pet store sequence with some clever post-production editing).


Joe the Armadillo (performed by Mazzarino) hosts the DVD behind-the-scenes featurette, interviewing various members of the production staff and crew.


==References== ==References==
==Featured Muppets==
*]
*] (in the scene were Young Kermit, Croaker & Pilgrim leave the movie theater)
*] (in the scene were Young Kermit, Croaker & Pilgrim leave the movie theater)
*] (in the "Live As A Pet" song)
==Not Featured Muppets==
*] (although when Young Kermit is being chased by a real pig he says: "A pig, huh? well I hope I'll never see one of them in my entire live"!)
*]
*]
*] (although in a blooper reel grown up Kermit does an impression of him)
*]
*]
*]
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official|http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/kermitsswampyears/}}
* {{Official website|http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/kermitsswampyears/}}
* at ]
* at ]
* {{Muppets}}
* {{IMDB title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}


{{The Muppets}} {{The Muppets}}


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] ]
] ]
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Latest revision as of 22:10, 27 November 2024

2002 The Muppets film
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Kermit's Swamp Years
DVD cover
Based onThe Muppet Show
by Jim Henson
Screenplay byJim Lewis
Joey Mazzarino
Story byJim Lewis
Directed byDavid Gumpel
StarringSteve Whitmire
Bill Barretta
Joey Mazzarino
John Kennedy
Narrated byKermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire)
Music byJoe Carroll
Peter Thom
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerRitamarie Peruggi
CinematographyStephen Campbell
Rufus Standefer
EditorKatina Zinner
Running time82 minutes
Production companyJim Henson Home Entertainment
Original release
NetworkStarz
ReleaseAugust 18, 2002 (2002-08-18)

Kermit's Swamp Years is a 2002 American direct-to-video buddy road adventure film directed by David Gumpel and featuring The Muppets. The plot recounts the early life of Kermit the Frog, offering a prequel to the 1979 Muppet Movie.

Young Kermit ventures beyond his swamp home for the first time, alongside friends Goggles and Croaker, all sharing an extraordinary adventure.

Kermit's Swamp Years was first broadcast on August 18, 2002 on the Starz network, with VHS and DVD releases the following month.

Although produced at Disney-MGM Studios, film rights are held by Sony Pictures rather than The Walt Disney Company.

Plot

The movie opens in the swamp lands that Kermit the Frog calls home. After meeting his old friend Horace D'Fly again, he recaps an adventure about his childhood where he enjoyed a serene amphibian's life with his two best friends, Croaker, a smooth and confident frog, and Goggles, a nervous and cowardly toad. Young Kermit wonders what lies beyond the swamp, but his companions do not think the same. The friends run into two scientists, Dr. Hugo Krassman (John Hostetter) and Mary (Kelly Collins Lintz), who intend on capturing frogs. Arnie the Alligator saves them and warns them about the dangers lurking outside the swamp. The next day, they run into the bully Blotch, a bullfrog, who attacks Goggles. The fight spills onto a road, where the pair are taken by a pet store owner named Wilson (William Bookston), and Kermit and Croaker venture forth on a quest to save their friends.

When Goggles and Blotch are taken into a pet store, Blotch's anger causes the pair to be put in a cage with Vicki the Snake, who intends to eat Blotch. Goggles saves him by goading Vicki to attack him and then using his poison gland. Meanwhile, the other animals at the store manage to convince Goggles and Blotch in a lively musical number that being sold to someone as a pet isn't such a bad idea.

After getting run over by Wilson's truck and having tire tracks on his chest, Croaker is no longer able to hop and starts to lose his bravery. Kermit and Croaker meet a stray dog named Pilgrim (voiced by Cree Summer), who saves them from Krassman and Mary, then decides to help them find their friends. Kermit is able to find Wilson's truck by using helium balloons, but discovers they are no longer in the vehicle. Kermit reconnects with Pilgrim and Croaker again, and together they find Wilson's Pet Store. After Kermit gives him a short pep talk, Croaker finally manages to hop again by hopping through the window and helps Kermit up the window, but they find out from Vicki that their friends have gone to George Washington High School.

The next day, Kermit and Croaker intentionally get discovered by Wilson to get taken to the high school and escape upon arrival. They meet Pilgrim again, who followed them. While trying to find Goggles and Blotch, Pilgrim and Croaker get captured by Wilson. Kermit overhears Wilson heading to biology class, so he hitches a ride on a student's backpack. Krassman decides to dissect Goggles, but Blotch takes his place to return the favor for rescuing them from Vicki. Krassman discides to dissect Croaker instead, when Wilson brings him into the class. Mary refuses to show the class how the dissection is done, so she leaves the classroom. In a daring rescue, Kermit manages to free Croaker from the dissection table and fend off Krassman using some swashbuckling techniques he picked up earlier at a movie theater. Despite the warnings that Kermit should never talk to humans, Kermit stops Krassman from dissecting Goggles by talking and asks him to please release the frogs. This action leads Krassman to reveal that as a child, he was about to dissect a frog, who spoke to him, but refused to speak out loud to everyone else in Krassman's classroom, which caused him to be humiliated. With the truth revealed that frogs can talk, Krassman frees all the frogs, dismisses the class and enables Kermit and his friends to return home. After a ride back to the swamp's border in Wilson's truck, Wilson adopts Pilgrim and the four friends head back home.

Back in the present, Kermit says that he is still friends with Croaker, Goggles, Blotch, and Pilgrim. He then enters the swamp to meet up with his three old friends.

Cast

  • John Hostetter – Dr. Hugo Krassman
  • Kelly Collins Lintz – Mary
  • William Bookston – Wilson
  • Cree Summer – Pilgrim, Kermit's Mom, Star (voices)
  • Christian Kebbel – Young Jim Henson

Muppet performers

Production notes

Goggles and Croaker were performed by Joey Mazzarino and Bill Barretta, respectively. Mazzarino was a writer, lyricist, and puppeteer for Sesame Street at the time of the film's production. Mazzarino also co-wrote the teleplay for the film. Blotch was performed by John Kennedy.

Originally, Barretta was going to play Goggles and Mazzarino was going to play Croaker, but they traded roles after they tried out the characters.

The opening and closing sequence also introduces Horace D'Fly (voiced by Barretta), one of the few computer-animated Muppets (In the outtakes reel at the end of the film, Horace complains about having to be inside Kermit's mouth and asks, "Can't we use CG or something?").

The character Pilgrim was depicted in some scenes using a real dog, and other scenes as a puppet that was identical to the live dog.

The film's outtakes reel includes an alternate version of the song "The Rainbow Connection" performed by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

Joe the Armadillo (performed by Mazzarino) hosts the DVD behind-the-scenes featurette, interviewing various members of the production staff and crew.

References

  1. "Kermit the Frog stars in his own movie prequel". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  2. "The Muppet Mindset: Interview with Muppeteer Bill Barretta - Part 2". 2 February 2010.

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