What Jim Henson Company does

The Jim Henson Company is a privately held, family-controlled entertainment production company founded in 1955 by Jim Henson and Jane Henson and headquartered in Los Angeles, with additional operations in New York and London. The Company operates as an independent production studio producing television series, feature films, and live touring shows for major Western streaming and broadcast platforms — Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, and PBS KIDS — anchored by an iconic 70-year intellectual property portfolio that includes Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, The Storyteller, and Farscape. Its most recent and notable productions include the Emmy-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Apple TV+), the Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Netflix), and the Apple TV+ holiday special The First Snow of Fraggle Rock (December 2025).

The Company is home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop, a separately operated service division that provides digital puppetry, animatronics, animatronic creatures, and soft puppets to international film, television, theater, advertising, and theme park clients; the Creature Shop's proprietary technology includes the Henson Performance Control System (Academy Scientific and Engineering Award, 1992) and the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio (Primetime Engineering Emmy, 2009). Beyond production, the Company monetizes its IP through consumer products licensing (anchored by shop.henson.com and master toy licensee MGA Entertainment for Fraggle Rock), live touring shows and museum exhibits (including a 2026-2027 QAGOMA exhibition in Australia), and the Henson Alternative label for adult-oriented content. Subsidiaries include Jim Henson's Creature Shop, Jim Henson Productions, HIP (Henson Independent Properties) for third-party licensing, Jim Henson Video, and Jim Henson Records.

Name

Jim Henson Company

Legal name

The Jim Henson Company

Website

https://henson.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Jim Henson Company is a privately held family entertainment production studio founded in 1955 that produces television, feature films, and live shows for Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, and PBS KIDS, while operating Jim Henson's Creature Shop — a proprietary puppetry, animatronics, and digital animation services division — and licensing its 70-year IP portfolio across consumer products and live experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Entertainment Production

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993), Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

SIC

Dolls & Stuffed Toys (3942), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Puppetry & Marionette Theatre (MPAGABAK)

Keywords

• Family entertainment production
• Puppetry and animatronics
• Television and film production
• Intellectual property licensing
• Creature shop services

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Television and Streaming Production: Production of television content for major streaming platforms including Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, and broadcast networks such as PBS. Revenue generated through production deals, licensing fees, and advertising.
2. Feature Film Production: Production of theatrical feature films including Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. Revenue through theatrical distribution, streaming deals, and home entertainment.
3. Consumer Products and Licensing: Extending brands through toys, books, apparel, games, collectibles, and merchandise. Includes partnerships with licensees for branded products and the official online store shop.Henson.com.
4. Jim Henson's Creature Shop Services: Providing performed digital visual effects, animatronic creatures, animation and soft puppets to international film, television, theme park, and advertising clients.
5. Live Events and Exhibits: Live stage shows (Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE), touring exhibits (The Jim Henson Exhibition), and themed entertainment experiences.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Jim Henson Company is a family entertainment production company that develops, produces, and licenses television series, feature films, and live entertainment built around puppetry, animatronics, and digital animation. It operates Jim Henson's Creature Shop, a service division that builds characters and creatures for external film, television, advertising, and theme park clients. The company also licenses its intellectual property for consumer products, live shows, and themed entertainment through direct deals and retail partners.

Product overview

The Jim Henson Company is a family entertainment production company operating as a single unified production house rather than a software platform. It produces television series (including Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Dinosaur Train, Word Party, Slumberkins, Sid the Science Kid, Splash and Bubbles), feature films (Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, The Portable Door, The Happytime Murders), and live touring shows. The company's portfolio includes the core production business and Jim Henson's Creature Shop, a separately operated service division that provides puppetry, animatronics, and digital animation to external film, television, theater, advertising, and live event clients worldwide. Henson Alternative produces adult-oriented content, while HIP (Henson Independent Properties) handles third-party licensing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Henson Alternative: The Company's label for content created specifically for adult audiences, continuing the tradition of irreverent creative comedy projects established with Sam & Friends
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop
• HIP (Henson Independent Properties)

Products and services

• Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Emmy-winning Apple TV+ series reboot of the original Fraggle Rock featuring subterranean creatures called Fraggles who live alongside Doozers and Gorgs. Targeted at family audiences.
• The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Emmy-winning Netflix original series continuation of The Dark Crystal world, following young Gelflings who discover the Skeksis' secret and ignite a rebellion.
• Dinosaur Train PBS KIDS animated series that helps children ages 3-6 apply scientific thinking while discovering dinosaur species and embracing paleontology.
• Word Party Interactive Netflix preschool show featuring four baby animals who learn new words through singing, dancing, and playing.
• Labyrinth Classic 1986 fantasy feature film starring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie, with a sequel in development.
• Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Stop-motion animated feature film released on Netflix that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2023.
• The Portable Door Feature film released by MGM+ produced by The Jim Henson Company.
• The Happytime Murders Henson Alternative film starring Melissa McCarthy, an adult-oriented puppet comedy.
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop World-renowned puppet and creature-building group providing digital puppetry, animatronic creatures, animation, and soft puppets to international film, television, theater, live event, and advertising industries. Operates from Los Angeles and New York with international satellite capabilities.
• Sid the Science Kid Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS series that helps preschoolers develop scientific inquiry and thinking skills.
• Splash and Bubbles PBS KIDS series introducing children to ocean exploration and marine biology through underwater adventures.
• Slumberkins Apple TV+ series teaching social-emotional learning through magical creature adventures.
• Harriet the Spy Apple TV+ series based on the novel about a girl who observes and writes about the people around her.
• Earth to Ned Disney+ series featuring an alien who comes to Earth to make television shows with human celebrities.
• Pajanimals PBS KIDS series following four magical pet characters who help children overcome bedtime fears.
• Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live Live touring show featuring Fraggle Rock characters on a quest to restore the Celebration Stone.
• The First Snow of Fraggle Rock Apple TV+ holiday special tied to the Fraggle Rock franchise.
• Jim Henson's Monster Dance Amazon Kids+ short film created by John Tartaglia.
• shop.henson.com Consumer Products Store Official direct-to-consumer e-commerce store selling licensed merchandise, collectibles, toys, apparel, books, and branded products based on Henson franchises.
• Branded Toy Licensing (Fraggle Rock and other IP) Multi-year master toy licensing program with MGA Entertainment (announced 2023-09-26) to produce toys, collectibles, and play experiences for Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock and related Henson IP.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (2023)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2026Hosting the major exhibition 'Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company' from September 2026 to April 2027 at GOMA's entire ground floor, featuring the Great Hall set from Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock.
• Wattpad WEBTOON StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024Partnership to adapt Third Shift Society as a series, combining Henson's production expertise with WEBTOON's digital platform reach.
• Felix & Paul StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024Collaboration on Jim Henson's The Storyteller: The Seven Ravens, an augmented reality installation presented at Place des Arts in Montreal.
• The Operating RoomminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2024Partnership to develop CG animated series Adrenaline Lemmings, combining Henson's puppetry expertise with The Operating Room's animation capabilities.
• Paramount's Ananey StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2024Partnership to develop The Season Keepers, a new animated series inspiring climate hope, working with Paramount's Ananey Studios.
• MGA EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 September 2023Master toy licensee for Emmy-winning series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock in a multi-year agreement to produce toys, collectibles, and play experiences.
• Apple TV+flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary streaming partner for Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Emmy-winning), Harriet the Spy, and Fraggle Rock content including The First Snow of Fraggle Rock holiday special. The company produces original content exclusively for the platform.
• NetflixflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreaming partner for Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Emmy-winning The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and children's series Word Party.
• Disney+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreaming partner for Earth to Ned and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip. Disney acquired Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House rights in 2004.
• PBS KIDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast partner for educational preschool programming including Dinosaur Train, Sid the Science Kid, and Splash and Bubbles. Content designed to meet early childhood education standards.
• Center for Puppetry ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to the permanent Jim Henson Gallery featuring the largest collection of Jim Henson's puppets and extensive global puppetry collection in the US. Company collaborates on exhibitions.
• Museum of the Moving ImagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to the permanent Jim Henson Gallery. Company collaborates on exhibitions and Falk serves on the museum's board.
• Henson Independent Properties (HIP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party licensing banner formed in 2009 to acquire and service global media distribution and consumer products programs for external entertainment properties including Elias: Rescue Team Adventures and Teddy Ruxpin.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Puppet Heap: Independent puppet fabrication and performance company serving film/TV/ads, founded by ex-Henson puppeteers. Smaller, focused competitor in the puppet services market Creature Shop dominates.

Broad incumbents

• DreamWorks Animation: Major family animation studio producing franchise films and TV series. Henson's VP of Children's Television previously worked at DreamWorks, and the company competes for streaming platform family content commissions.
• Netflix Animation: In-house animation arm of Netflix, a key Henson commissioning partner. Functions as both client and competitor for premium family animated and hybrid live-action content.
• The Walt Disney Company: Diversified global entertainment conglomerate that owns the Muppets IP since 2004 and operates Disney+, a key Henson distribution partner. Comparable as a family-entertainment production studio with streaming, theatrical, consumer products, and theme park arms.

Others

• Weta Workshop: New Zealand-based creature, prop, and visual effects company serving film, TV, and themed entertainment. Comparable as a premium creature/craft services provider competing with Jim Henson's Creature Shop globally.
• Industrial Light & Magic: Lucasfilm's visual effects and creature design division. Direct competitor to Jim Henson's Creature Shop for film/TV creature effects, animatronics, and digital character services.

Direct peers

• Aardman Animations: Craft-led British stop-motion studio (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). Comparable family-owned, character-driven studio operating from the UK — Henson runs its Creature Shop from London — competing for premium family content commissions.
• Laika: Stop-motion animation studio known for Coraline and feature-length family films. Comparable as a craft-driven, family-owned, family-entertainment production studio with a focus on tactile character-driven storytelling.
• Illumination: Major animation studio producing family films for Universal/NBCUniversal. VP of Children's Television previously worked at Illumination, and the company competes for the same preschool/family streaming commissioning slots.
• Sesame Workshop: Non-profit producer of Sesame Street and related family educational content, originally co-founded with Henson's Muppet characters. Direct competitor in preschool educational television and licensing, sharing comparable mission and puppetry craft.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hensoncompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/hensoncompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-jim-henson-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jim Henson Company