The Muppets Studio is introducing a new generation of online video fans to classic characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. The Disney-owned entertainment company teamed up with several YouTube celebrities, like Lindsey Stirling and Vsauce3, to film collaboration videos with well-known Muppets at YouTube Space LA through June 2015.
Select Muppets partnered with the aforementioned Stirling, and Vsauce3, as well as Crash Course, Mike Tompkins, Barely Political, Matthew Santoro, and Mental Floss to create music videos, comedy sketches, parodies, and more.
The first video in the Muppet collaboration initiative went live on April 4 and stars Gonzo and Rizzo alongside Santoro and Vsauce’s Jake Roper, who boasts over 2.3 million subscribers on his channel. The four collab for a 1940’s-style detective story in an attempt to try to figure out what would happen if the comic book character Quicksilver ran past you at the speed of Mach 10.
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In addition to Santoro and Roper’s work with Gonzo and Rizzo, Barely Political (boasting over 4.3 million subscribers) interviewed the old hecklers Statler and Waldorf in a video from April 24. More collaboration videos will be released through June on the individual YouTube creators’ channels, as well as on the Muppets’ official channel. The puppet-based studio is also developing its own slate of original content to be released throughout the rest of 2015.
“YouTube Space LA is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of storytellers through innovative programming and partnerships that push the creative envelope,” said Liam Collins, Head of YouTube Space LA, in a release. “It’s not every day that our YouTube creators get to work with the world’s most famous frog, the world’s most beautiful pig, a stand-up comedy bear and the drummer of the almost-legendary band The Electric Mayhem.”
“The Muppets have been entertaining and inspiring YouTube audiences for several years and we are thrilled to re-engage current fans while capturing new ones through these exciting collaborations,” added Debbie McClellan, Vice President of The Muppets Studio. “We really enjoyed our residency at YouTube Space LA and look forward to many future projects together.”
Even Kermit thought the pairing of YouTube and his entertainment company made sense: “We’re excited to work with all their amazing talent and we’re eager to prove that you do not have to be a cat to make great videos. Pigs, frogs, and bears can make them, too!”
Miss Piggy, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker, and the Electric Mayhem will appear in future videos. You can catch all of the Muppets’ online video goodness on their official YouTube channel.
