Muppet Wiki

Kermiteye Welcome to Muppet Wiki!


Please visit Special:Community to learn how you can collaborate with the editing community.

READ MORE

Muppet Wiki
Register
No edit summary
No edit summary
Tag: sourceedit
(42 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{performer2|Frank Oz|1975 - 2000|Eric Jacobson| 2002 - present}}
+
{{character|image=AN_004.jpg|performer=[[Frank Oz]]|note=1975-2000|performer2=[[Eric Jacobson]]|note2=2002-present|more=Casting history|debut=1975|design=[[Jim Henson]]|designnote=designer|design2=[[Dave Goelz]]|designnote2=builder}}
[[Image:AN_004.jpg|thumb|300px]]
+
[[File:Animalsketch.jpg|thumb|300px|Concept sketches by Bonnie Erickson and Jim Henson]]
{{designer|[[Jim Henson]]|designer|[[Dave Goelz]]|builder}}
 
[[Image:Animalsketch.jpg|thumb|300px|Concept sketches.]]
 
 
[[Image: animal02.jpg|thumb|300px|Animal at his drum set.]]
 
[[Image: animal02.jpg|thumb|300px|Animal at his drum set.]]
[[File:Animal_triangle.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[File:Animal_drums_2011.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:US-SnowboardingTeam-Mascot-Animal01-NEW.jpg|thumb|300px|Animal, official mascot of the 1998 U.S. Snowboarding Team.]]
 
[[Image:MuppetFamilyChristmas-Animal&BabyAnimal.jpg|thumb|300px|Animal bursting through an old home movie of [[Muppet Babies (puppets)#babyanimal|his]].]]
 
 
[[Image:Animaleatdrums.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:Animaleatdrums.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:Animal_drums_2011.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:Animal bluebackground.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:Animal bluebackground.jpg|thumb|300px]]
[[Image:AnimalS1.JPG|thumb|300px]]
+
[[Image:Animal_triangle.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:Animal_sig.png|right|300px]]
 
[[Image:Animal_sig.png|right|300px]]
   
<center>"You don't mess with Animal. He eats glass, man."<br />- Frank Oz <ref name="hensonsplace">''[[Henson's Place]]''</ref></center>
+
<center>"You don't mess with Animal. He eats glass, man."<br />- Frank Oz<ref name="hensonsplace">''[[Henson's Place]]''</ref></center>
   
'''Animal''' is the drummer on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', performing with [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem]]. Animal is a crazed percussionist with three styles of music -- loud, louder, and deafening. He speaks in a guttural shout, often repeating a few simple phrases, such as "BEAT DRUMS! BEAT DRUMS!" or "WO-MAN!" In relatively calmer moods, he is capable of more coherent conversation, but these instances are infrequent.
+
'''Animal''' is the wild drummer on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', performing with [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem]]. Animal is a crazed percussionist with three styles of music -- loud, louder, and deafening. He speaks in a guttural shout, often repeating a few simple phrases, such as "BEAT DRUMS! BEAT DRUMS!" or "WO-MAN!" In relatively calmer moods, he is capable of more coherent conversation, but these instances are infrequent.
   
 
Animal first appeared in the 1975 pilot, ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'', chained up in a basement cell when he wasn't onstage performing with the Electric Mayhem. He later became a main character on ''The Muppet Show'', and his unrestrained style has made him popular with young people for decades.
 
Animal first appeared in the 1975 pilot, ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'', chained up in a basement cell when he wasn't onstage performing with the Electric Mayhem. He later became a main character on ''The Muppet Show'', and his unrestrained style has made him popular with young people for decades.
Line 25: Line 20:
 
Animal's family life is generally non-existent, and outside of the band, the ''Muppet Show'' troupe, and women in general, he has no other relationships. A significant exception is depicted in the book ''[[The Case of the Missing Mother]]'', which reveals the existence of Animal's [[mother]], [[LaVerne]]. LaVerne is also a drummer, and it's implied that percussion skills are a family trait.
 
Animal's family life is generally non-existent, and outside of the band, the ''Muppet Show'' troupe, and women in general, he has no other relationships. A significant exception is depicted in the book ''[[The Case of the Missing Mother]]'', which reveals the existence of Animal's [[mother]], [[LaVerne]]. LaVerne is also a drummer, and it's implied that percussion skills are a family trait.
   
It is a popular legend that Animal was inspired by Keith Moon, the wild drummer of the Who. <ref>[http://www.keithmoon.co.uk/ Front page, Keithmoon.co.uk.]</ref><ref>BBC News, "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4298548.stm Myers 'to play' Who's Keith Moon]". September 30, 2005.</ref> Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is also sometimes cited as the inspiration for Animal. <ref>"[http://www.artistfacts.com/detail.php?id=210 Fleetwood Mac Artistfacts]", Artisfacts.com.</ref> However, there is no evidence in the original sketches for the character that suggest that he was based on anybody in particular.
+
It is a popular legend that Animal was inspired by Keith Moon, the wild drummer of the Who.<ref>[http://www.keithmoon.co.uk/ Front page, Keithmoon.co.uk.]</ref><ref>BBC News, "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4298548.stm Myers 'to play' Who's Keith Moon]". September 30, 2005.</ref> Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is also sometimes cited as the inspiration for Animal.<ref>"[http://www.artistfacts.com/detail.php?id=210 Fleetwood Mac Artistfacts]", Artisfacts.com.</ref> However, there is no evidence in the original sketches for the character that suggest that he was based on anybody in particular.
   
 
Three of the other members of the Electric Mayhem were created by Muppet designer [[Michael K. Frith]], and the sketches reproduced in the 1981 book ''[[Of Muppets and Men (book)|Of Muppets and Men]]'' show that they were based on famous musicians. [[Dr. Teeth]] is a cross between [[Dr. John]] and [[Elton John]]; [[Sgt. Floyd Pepper]] is based on [[the Beatles]]' ''Sgt. Pepper'' album, and the original concept for [[Janice]] was a skinny, long-haired male character based on [[Mick Jagger]]. Animal, on the other hand, was designed by [[Jim Henson]], and the rough sketch (also seen in ''Of Muppets and Men'') doesn't appear to be related to any real musician.
 
Three of the other members of the Electric Mayhem were created by Muppet designer [[Michael K. Frith]], and the sketches reproduced in the 1981 book ''[[Of Muppets and Men (book)|Of Muppets and Men]]'' show that they were based on famous musicians. [[Dr. Teeth]] is a cross between [[Dr. John]] and [[Elton John]]; [[Sgt. Floyd Pepper]] is based on [[the Beatles]]' ''Sgt. Pepper'' album, and the original concept for [[Janice]] was a skinny, long-haired male character based on [[Mick Jagger]]. Animal, on the other hand, was designed by [[Jim Henson]], and the rough sketch (also seen in ''Of Muppets and Men'') doesn't appear to be related to any real musician.
   
However, it's not surprising that Animal is often compared with famous drummers -- as [[Buddy Rich]] said in [[Episode 522: Buddy Rich|his ''Muppet Show'' episode]], "All drummers are animals." Animal himself considers Rich one of his musical influences, along with Gene Krupa, Keith Moon of The Who and Ginger Baker of Cream and Blind Faith.<ref>''What's That Dude Play?'' [http://www.whatsthatdudeplay.com/2011/11/wtdp-exclusive-mayhem-returns-2/ "Mayhem Returns!"] November 7, 2011</ref>
+
However, it's not surprising that Animal is often compared with famous drummers -- as [[Buddy Rich]] said in [[Episode 522: Buddy Rich|his ''Muppet Show'' episode]], "All drummers are animals." Animal himself considers Rich one of his musical influences, along with Gene Krupa, Keith Moon of The Who, and Ginger Baker of Cream and Blind Faith.<ref>''What's That Dude Play?'' [http://www.whatsthatdudeplay.com/2011/11/wtdp-exclusive-mayhem-returns-2/ "Mayhem Returns!"] November 7, 2011</ref> The actual drumming for Animal was performed by [[Ronnie Verrell]], a veteran drummer and member of [[Jack Parnell|Jack Parnell's]] house band for ''The Muppet Show''.
   
 
==Notable performances==
 
==Notable performances==
Line 36: Line 31:
 
When drumming legend [[Buddy Rich]] appeared on ''The Muppet Show'', one sequence featured a "drum battle" between Rich and Animal in homage to the legendary face-off album between Rich and his contemporary Gene Krupa.
 
When drumming legend [[Buddy Rich]] appeared on ''The Muppet Show'', one sequence featured a "drum battle" between Rich and Animal in homage to the legendary face-off album between Rich and his contemporary Gene Krupa.
   
Although Animal battled Buddy Rich, in an earlier episode, [[Episode 110: Harvey Korman|episode 110]], it was mentioned during an interview Kermit gave Animal that Buddy Rich was one of Animal's idols. Also during this interview, Animal revealed that he had been playing the drums for five years, which would mean that he's been playing the drums since 1971.
+
Although Animal battled Buddy Rich, in an earlier episode, [[Episode 110: Harvey Korman|episode 110]], it was mentioned in an interview with Animal that Buddy Rich was one of Animal's idols. Also during this interview, Animal revealed that he had been playing the drums for five years, which (assuming a literal timeline) would mean that he's been playing the drums since 1971.
   
 
One of Animal's most memorable performances with a guest star was in [[Episode 105: Rita Moreno|episode 105]], in which he wildly played the drums in [[Rita Moreno]]'s number "[[Fever]]". Other guest stars who have had scenes with Animal include [[Lou Rawls]], [[Leo Sayer]], [[James Coburn]], [[Harry Belafonte]], and [[Kaye Ballard]].
 
One of Animal's most memorable performances with a guest star was in [[Episode 105: Rita Moreno|episode 105]], in which he wildly played the drums in [[Rita Moreno]]'s number "[[Fever]]". Other guest stars who have had scenes with Animal include [[Lou Rawls]], [[Leo Sayer]], [[James Coburn]], [[Harry Belafonte]], and [[Kaye Ballard]].
   
 
Animal has also had roles in all of the [[:Category:Muppet Movies|Muppet movies]]. In ''The Muppet Movie'', he ate [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]]'s Insta-Grow Pills, causing him to grow ten times his size and scare away [[Doc Hopper]]. He also appeared in ''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'', ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'', ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'', ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'', ''[[Muppets from Space]]'', ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'' and ''[[The Muppets' Wizard of Oz]]''.
 
Animal has also had roles in all of the [[:Category:Muppet Movies|Muppet movies]]. In ''The Muppet Movie'', he ate [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]]'s Insta-Grow Pills, causing him to grow ten times his size and scare away [[Doc Hopper]]. He also appeared in ''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'', ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'', ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'', ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'', ''[[Muppets from Space]]'', ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'' and ''[[The Muppets' Wizard of Oz]]''.
  +
  +
In ''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'', Animal is found in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, being sponsored by [[Jack Black]]. Animal has learned to stay calm (occasionally mumbling "IN CONTROL"), but goes wild when he hears the word "drums." Animal rejoins the Muppets but Jack Black encourages him to stay away from drums. It's only after a moment of [[psychomachia]] when Animal decides play the drums again, during the Muppets' performance of "[[The Rainbow Connection]]."
  +
  +
In ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'', Animal was the first to notice that Kermit had been replaced by [[Constantine]].
   
 
Animal is probably the most popular member of the Electric Mayhem. He has certainly been included in more merchandise than the rest of the band. He was also the only member of the band to be included regularly on ''[[Muppet Babies]]''.
 
Animal is probably the most popular member of the Electric Mayhem. He has certainly been included in more merchandise than the rest of the band. He was also the only member of the band to be included regularly on ''[[Muppet Babies]]''.
Line 50: Line 49:
 
==Casting history==
 
==Casting history==
 
'''Main Performers''':
 
'''Main Performers''':
* Frank Oz - from ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'' (1975) to ''[[Muppet Race Mania]]'' (2000)
+
* Frank Oz - from ''[[The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence]]'' (1975) to ''[[Muppet RaceMania]]'' (2000)
 
* Eric Jacobson - from ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas]]'' (2002) to Present
 
* Eric Jacobson - from ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas]]'' (2002) to Present
   
 
'''Alternate Performers:'''
 
'''Alternate Performers:'''
* Rob Mills - ''[[Episode 112: Food]]'' of ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'' (1990)
+
* Rob Mills - [[Episode 112: Food]] of ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'' (1990)
 
* Kevin Clash - Occasionally on ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' (1996)
 
* Kevin Clash - Occasionally on ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' (1996)
* John Kennedy - [[MasterCard]] commercial (2002); [[Muppet Party Cruise]] video game (2003)
+
* John Kennedy - [[MasterCard]] commercial (2002); ''[[Muppets Party Cruise]]'' video game (2003)
* Drew Massey - [[Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony]], Episode 9 (2005)
+
* Drew Massey - ''[[Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony]]'', Episode 9 (2005)
* David Rudman - [[Saturday Night Live]] (2004) (puppetry only; voice provided live by Eric Jacobson)
+
* David Rudman - ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (2004) (puppetry only; voice provided live by Eric Jacobson)
 
'''Animal's Drumming:'''
 
* [[Muppet Show Musicians#Ronnie_Verrell_-_Animal.27s_Drumming|Ronnie Verrell]] - performed Animal's side of his drum battle with [[Buddy Rich]] in [[Episode 522: Buddy Rich|episode #522]]
 
   
 
==Book appearances==
 
==Book appearances==
Line 80: Line 76:
 
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #3 (2009)
 
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #3 (2009)
 
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #4 (2009)
 
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' issue #4 (2009)
  +
*''[[Muppet Snow White]]'' (2010)
 
  +
*''[[Kermit's Costume Caper]]'' (2012)
<br clear="all" />
 
  +
*''[[The Muppets Character Encyclopedia]]'' (2014)
==Gallery==
 
<gallery bordersize="none" bordercolor="transparent" spacing="small" widths="150" position="center" captionalign="center">
 
Image:Animaldrums.png
 
Image:Animal_at_peace.png
 
File:Animal_new.jpg
 
Image:Animal_crazed-NEW.png
 
animal_bottom.png
 
</gallery>
 
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
Line 96: Line 85:
 
*[[Animal (Muppet Kids)]]
 
*[[Animal (Muppet Kids)]]
 
*[[Baby Animal]]
 
*[[Baby Animal]]
  +
*[[:Image:Animal-Naked-Magnet.jpg|Official speculation on Animal's name]]
  +
  +
<gallery orientation="landscape">
 
Image:MuppetFamilyChristmas-Animal&BabyAnimal.jpg|Animal bursting through an old home movie of [[Muppet Babies (puppets)#babyanimal|his]].
 
Image:US-SnowboardingTeam-Mascot-Animal01-NEW.jpg|Animal, official mascot of the 1998 U.S. Snowboarding Team.
  +
Image:AnimalS1.JPG
  +
Image:Deleted-Scenes.png|Animal and Kermit
  +
Image:Muppets-Basketball.jpg
  +
AnimalSaturdayNightTakeaway.jpg|Animal on [[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]
 
</gallery>
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==

Revision as of 06:28, 25 June 2015

AN 004
PERFORMER Frank Oz 1975-2000
  Eric Jacobson 2002-present
  CASTING HISTORY...
DEBUT 1975
DESIGN Jim Henson designer
  Dave Goelz builder
Animalsketch

Concept sketches by Bonnie Erickson and Jim Henson

Animal02

Animal at his drum set.

Animaleatdrums
Animal drums 2011
File:Animal bluebackground.jpg
Animal triangle
Animal sig
"You don't mess with Animal. He eats glass, man."
- Frank Oz[1]

Animal is the wild drummer on The Muppet Show, performing with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Animal is a crazed percussionist with three styles of music -- loud, louder, and deafening. He speaks in a guttural shout, often repeating a few simple phrases, such as "BEAT DRUMS! BEAT DRUMS!" or "WO-MAN!" In relatively calmer moods, he is capable of more coherent conversation, but these instances are infrequent.

Animal first appeared in the 1975 pilot, The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence, chained up in a basement cell when he wasn't onstage performing with the Electric Mayhem. He later became a main character on The Muppet Show, and his unrestrained style has made him popular with young people for decades.

Frank Oz says that he had his character down to five words: Sex, sleep, food, drums and pain.[1] Occasionally, two of those essentials, food and drums, are interchangeable. In The Muppet Movie, Dr. Teeth had to remind Animal to beat, and not eat, his drums. In The Muppet Show episode 110, when asked by Kermit if he preferred drumming to food, Animal replied that drums are food.

Animal's wild attitude can be compared to Cookie Monster. In A Muppet Family Christmas, after observing Cookie Monster eating all of Janice's cookies in his signature manner, Animal comments, "That my kind of fella!"

Animal's family life is generally non-existent, and outside of the band, the Muppet Show troupe, and women in general, he has no other relationships. A significant exception is depicted in the book The Case of the Missing Mother, which reveals the existence of Animal's mother, LaVerne. LaVerne is also a drummer, and it's implied that percussion skills are a family trait.

It is a popular legend that Animal was inspired by Keith Moon, the wild drummer of the Who.[2][3] Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is also sometimes cited as the inspiration for Animal.[4] However, there is no evidence in the original sketches for the character that suggest that he was based on anybody in particular.

Three of the other members of the Electric Mayhem were created by Muppet designer Michael K. Frith, and the sketches reproduced in the 1981 book Of Muppets and Men show that they were based on famous musicians. Dr. Teeth is a cross between Dr. John and Elton John; Sgt. Floyd Pepper is based on the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album, and the original concept for Janice was a skinny, long-haired male character based on Mick Jagger. Animal, on the other hand, was designed by Jim Henson, and the rough sketch (also seen in Of Muppets and Men) doesn't appear to be related to any real musician.

However, it's not surprising that Animal is often compared with famous drummers -- as Buddy Rich said in his Muppet Show episode, "All drummers are animals." Animal himself considers Rich one of his musical influences, along with Gene Krupa, Keith Moon of The Who, and Ginger Baker of Cream and Blind Faith.[5] The actual drumming for Animal was performed by Ronnie Verrell, a veteran drummer and member of Jack Parnell's house band for The Muppet Show.

Notable performances

Animal has performed a number of solos on The Muppet Show, including "Sweet Tooth Jam", "Wild Thing", and "Foggy Day."

When drumming legend Buddy Rich appeared on The Muppet Show, one sequence featured a "drum battle" between Rich and Animal in homage to the legendary face-off album between Rich and his contemporary Gene Krupa.

Although Animal battled Buddy Rich, in an earlier episode, episode 110, it was mentioned in an interview with Animal that Buddy Rich was one of Animal's idols. Also during this interview, Animal revealed that he had been playing the drums for five years, which (assuming a literal timeline) would mean that he's been playing the drums since 1971.

One of Animal's most memorable performances with a guest star was in episode 105, in which he wildly played the drums in Rita Moreno's number "Fever". Other guest stars who have had scenes with Animal include Lou Rawls, Leo Sayer, James Coburn, Harry Belafonte, and Kaye Ballard.

Animal has also had roles in all of the Muppet movies. In The Muppet Movie, he ate Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's Insta-Grow Pills, causing him to grow ten times his size and scare away Doc Hopper. He also appeared in The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets from Space, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz.

In The Muppets, Animal is found in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, being sponsored by Jack Black. Animal has learned to stay calm (occasionally mumbling "IN CONTROL"), but goes wild when he hears the word "drums." Animal rejoins the Muppets but Jack Black encourages him to stay away from drums. It's only after a moment of psychomachia when Animal decides play the drums again, during the Muppets' performance of "The Rainbow Connection."

In Muppets Most Wanted, Animal was the first to notice that Kermit had been replaced by Constantine.

Animal is probably the most popular member of the Electric Mayhem. He has certainly been included in more merchandise than the rest of the band. He was also the only member of the band to be included regularly on Muppet Babies.

Animal was the mascot of the U.S. snowboarding team for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Animal made a television appearance in Nagano with CBS reporter Kennedy, during which she stapled his feet to a snowboard.

In Muppets TV, an original French-only show, Animal talks in full-formed sentences.

Casting history

Main Performers:

Alternate Performers:

Book appearances

See also

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 Henson's Place
  2. Front page, Keithmoon.co.uk.
  3. BBC News, "Myers 'to play' Who's Keith Moon". September 30, 2005.
  4. "Fleetwood Mac Artistfacts", Artisfacts.com.
  5. What's That Dude Play? "Mayhem Returns!" November 7, 2011

External links