There aren’t many of us whose childhood wasn't in some way influenced by Jim Henson. Whether you learnt arithmetic from Sesame Street, had nightmares about The Dark Crystal, or re-watched your copy of Muppets Take Manhattan so many times that it broke the family VCR, the Mississippi-born puppeteer helped create some of the most iconic characters of all time, shaping literally millions of lives in the process.
In celebration of Henson's incredible career, ACMI are hosting a three-week retrospective, one they've fittingly titled Muppets, Music and Magic: Jim Henson's Legacy. Beginning September 21, the program includes screenings of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal as well as specially produced compilations such as Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments, Muppets 201: Rarities from the Henson Vault and Miss Piggy: A Sow is Born. Also included are a pair of documentaries on Sesame Street's biggest stars, in Being Elmo and I Am Big Bird.