Matt Danner happy to speak for new version of Muppet Babies
Matt Danner has been working in animation for more than two decades, starting while he was still in high school. Over the years, he’s worked on a variety of programs, including “Gravity Falls,” “The Looney Tunes Show,” “Dan. Vs.,” “Wander Over Yonder” and “WWE Slam City.” None of those projects has excited him as much as being named the supervising director for the new version of “Muppet Babies.”
His excitement isn’t just being in charge of a franchise he’s loved since he was a youngster. It’s even more of a thrill because Danner will supply the voice of the young Kermit.
His passion is so real for the group, in his office is the plush Kermit the Frog toy his parents would put in his crib with him.
The biggest difference between this version and the original one in 1984 is the animation world has advanced and now the characters come closer to looking like puppets rather than two-dimensional drawings.
To get the design right, the team went back to the 1984 film “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” where the idea was first shown. It was a dream sequence in which Miss Piggy imagined what it would be like if she and Kermit had grown up together.
The new series ages the babies just slightly to being toddlers for Kermit the Frog, Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and Animal. Joining the group is Summer Penguin, a new character designed to add a female perspective and a way of introducing young viewers to the group.
Along with Danner as the voice of Kermit, the cast includes Jenny Slate as Miss Nanny, Melanie Harrison as Piggy, Dee Bradley Baker as Animal, Ben Diskin as Gonzo, Eric Bauza as Fozzie and Jessica DiCicco as Summer.
The gang will hang out in the playroom of an urban brownstone with an expansive backyard. This will give them everything they need to go on their fantastical adventures. The backyard is home to Kermit’s bouncy pond, Piggy’s dressing room, Summer’s art table, Gonzo’s chicken coop, Fozzie’s stage and a communal tree house. In every episode, through a rainbow transition, the Muppet Babies use their imaginations to go into a fantasy sequence, each with a distinct style ranging from collage to comic book to classic cartoons to live-action footage.
Each episode will feature a theme centred on one of the characters. The story will use the zany comedy the Muppet Babies are known for to introduce young viewers to the problem-solving power of imagination.
The series airs on Disney Junior Canada beginning Saturday at 9:50 a.m.