The evolution of the Kermit the Frog puppet. For the character's age changes, see Kermit the Frog's Alternate Ages.
Image | As seen in / Year | Notes |
---|---|---|
Sam and Friends (1955-1965) |
The original Kermit is an abstract character, and not yet a frog. His feet are rounded, and he doesn't wear his signature collar yet. | |
The Ed Sullivan Show (1965-1968) |
Kermit sports a red sweater as his trademark attire during this period. By 1966, Kermit's skin becomes a brighter shade of green. Also, a distinctly angular arch begins to develop on his snout. The puppet was used again in a 1971 appearance on The Dick Cavett Show performing "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." | |
Sesame Street Season 1 (1968-1970) |
Kermit is now officially a frog. From this redesign, he gains a single collar with thirteen points,[1] a more rounded body, and flippers. The position of Kermit's eyes give him an almost cross-eyed appearance. | |
Sesame Street (1970-1976) |
Kermit sports a double collar, although it's never visible when he wears his reporter outfit for the News Flash segments. His eye focus has also been improved. | |
The Muppet Show (1976-1978) |
When The Muppet Show begins, Kermit's collar is a single layer with eleven points.[1] A series of Kermit puppets built at the same time specifically for Sesame Street remained in use on the show until 1981. | |
The Muppet Movie (1978-1981) |
In 1978, the company that produced the green cloth from which Kermit was made went out of business.[2] Beginning with The Muppet Movie, Kermit was built from fleece custom-manufactured by Malden Mills. (The same fleece was used to make the licensed Fisher-Price Kermit puppets in 1978.)[3] This gave him a sleeker, cleaner look. This puppet would also be used for the remaining production run of The Muppet Show (starting with Episode 314) and surrounding Muppet projects of the time. | |
The Great Muppet Caper (1981-1982) |
The arch down the middle of Kermit's snout (held together by what's known as "the Henson stitch") is more prominent on this puppet. | |
A Muppet Family Christmas (1982-1990) |
This version of Kermit has more of a pointier mouth. | |
The Arsenio Hall Show (1990-1996) |
Kermit's skin is lighter than the previous version. | |
Muppets Tonight (1996-2002) |
His eyes are slightly repositioned. | |
Promotional photo (2002-2005) |
Kermit now has a thinner diamond-like shape for his head, with eyes pointed more inward. | |
The Muppets' Fan-A-Thon (2005-present) |
Kermit has a rounder body and dons a slightly thicker collar. | |
Alternate Kermit Puppets | ||
Disney's Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade | A slightly larger "weatherproof" version of Kermit with a much sturdier collar was built for Disney's Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade parade that ran in early 2010. The puppet was later re-used for special sing-along performances at the El Capitan Theatre, preceding screenings of The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted. |