The Evolution of Animal from The Muppets

Animal was never meant to be a stand out character, but due to his famous performers and his endearing personality, he's become one of the most recognizable Muppets!
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[@patrickmanway290]

The one thing about Animal is his design is very asthetically pleasing! His hair moves around when he moves. The way his eyelids blink is amazing. His eyelashes are great. The puppet is just awesome to look at!

[@TheBoomerPlace]

I still have my Animal muppet puppet from 42 years ago. I’m 65. I refuse to grow up 😂😂😂.

[@ModernMouse]

I geek out on Muppets all the time so you are in good company. One of the biggest highlights of my year last year was getting to walk around the Jim Henson Studio lot.

[@iancowan3527]

Animal... Has hands down been my favorite muppet! I love them all... But Animal... "Is my spirit Muppet!" Thank for you history and behind the current story!

[@geraldduncan5646]

Mine as well!

[@iancowan3527]

@@geraldduncan5646 Could become a movement!

[@icecreamhero2375]

My mom said Animal is her favorate character.

[@ModernMouse]

Your mom has good taste!

[@RoStopMotion]

Same haha

[@55twintv39]

@@ModernMouse 0:10 Animal is a Muppet Monster

[@Bliffenstimmers]

My mom’s favorite muppet is also Animal :)

[@doktor_ghul]

I know that any concept of a Muppet movie has to center around Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the central group, but damn it, my kind of Muppet movie has always centered around Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. I think the ideal version of this would be akin to a road movie centered around restored footage of a seventies tour of the Mayhem, filmed as it happened, with the band getting ready for the tour, their time on the bus between gigs, both good and bad motel time, footage of the band performing live, with all the mayhem that might have happened when things went wrong, and footage of them being interviewed as they looked back at the tour and revealed all the stuff that didn't get filmed. That would let all the characters really become three dimensional people, even Animal. It wouldn't be SPINAL TAP; it would be the band at its height, roaring across America, and creating the legend that is Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

[@Prettygirlcn5]

“A common gag for the character is showing a sophisticated side to him” @ 2:18 I think that relates to why I love his “Mama!” part in Bohemian Rhapsody, one word, but so many layers of emotion! ☺️❤️‍🔥

[@oneworldfamily]

When I was a young child, I did not like Animal at all. He used to scare me with his aggressive unpredictability. But now he's my favourite. I especially love the scene when Animal and Floyd went to confront Dudley Moore about his jukebox! I don't know if Dudley improvised the hand waving bit, but it was genius 😆

[@aidanelizabeth]

This video was so well put together! My knowledge on Animal is lacking (at least compared to other characters), so this was super informative

[@ModernMouse]

Glad it was helpful and informative. I love the Muppets so doing videos like this hopefully comes off as a passion of mine. Now I need to sit down and think about what the next Muppet will be!

[@StormX6]

Animal was always my favorite Muppet. He’s so wild and funny

[@IsaacWale2004]

The most influential drimmer of all time.

[@DanJackson1977]

Closest real life drummer I can think of is Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor of Motorhead. He was just as wild as Animal, though hes not based on him at all.

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

Animal is not covered in fur head to toe, just his head. he is clearly meant to represent a wild human musician(much like Keith Moon).

[@ModernMouse]

I would believe that if his vocabulary was better

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

@@ModernMouse Animal had too many bath salts man.

[@ModernMouse]

Florida man!

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

@@ModernMouse xD

[@AsifKhan-ky4og]

I thought animal was a tiger 🐅

[@matturban9103]

My brother got to talk to Frank Oz on the phone years ago. Mr. Oz sent my brother an autographed picture of Miss Piggy.

[@kevinnelson66]

Kermit, Animal, Janice, Oscar, and Grover are my all time favorite Muppets.

[@ModernMouse]

All great picks!

[@Poketuber33-c2l]

Animal is interesting he went from as crazy monster drummer to a character who grew over the past 4 plus decades. He even gained intelligence post The Muppets 2011 film he even guessed some question's right during a question segment in the 2015 TV show. He also helped in some instances including 3 years ago in Muppets Now helping Scooter stay awake. Not saying he will win any awards for intelligence but it's cool to see him evolve and grow over the years. Also it was cool to see some of his backstory in Muppets Mayhem recently.

[@ModernMouse]

Absolutely loved the backstory in Muppet Mayhem. Couldn't agree more!

[@JerryMunoz-fm7bp]

Animal is my favorite character in this world ❤

[@avidfather1864]

I thought he was supposed to be based on a mix of John Bonham, Keith Moon and Ginger Baker.

[@tempestates13]

I love Animal's drum battle with Dave

[@ModernMouse]

One of the best moments from the ABC show!

[@sunshineann5543]

It's about time someone did a great video on the Muppets thank you

[@ModernMouse]

I've got a ton of Muppets videos on the channel! I'm currently working on a new one that should be out early next year too!

[@Gorettyrocha-xs7kl]

The best drummer of all time!!!!

[@miahlester3375]

i’ve always thought of him as either a demon or a cave man i think it would be cool if floyd and janice were hippies who summoned a demon to make kind and help them aka animal

[@ModernMouse]

That would actually be a funny premise for an episode of the upcoming series they are working on.

[@peterwhiteman2122]

Always thought Animal was based on the late great Ginger Baker.

[@firerun777]

A part two covering the Muppets Mayhem would be nice. Good animal backstory yhere

[@ModernMouse]

Unsure if you saw the latest video on the channel. It isn't a part two necessarily but it is an additional piece with plenty of talk about Muppets Mayhem in it. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXivkGl5ermLd7s)

[@firerun777]

Thanks

[@55twintv39]

0:53 The Muppet Show:Sex and Violence (1975)

[@heartofglass7235]

he has a little pet bunny

[@colinwilliams553]

To me, Animal is a cross between Ginger Baker( for the hair) and drumming of KEITH MOON.

[@dallesamllhals9161]

a bit of John 'Drumbo' French, too?

[@bkrbyex4339]

I thought animal's image was modelled after John Bonham,....but Keith moon?

[@eddierivera1860]

bkrbyex4339 NO! HEs modelled after Ginger Baker dig the red hair and slender build. and his fantastic drumming! and hes wild.

[@isabellaprusse]

Hi, I recently discovered the world of Jim Henson. I am 22 years old. I am blind and I have autism. I just got Disney+ where I watched this show recently and I discovered that this guy is my favorite. I’ve always loved the 80s and I’ve always loved aliens, and this guy is kind of like a mix between. ALF and a gremlin and then a little bit like ET as well, especially when it comes to his grammar I even wrote a song about this dude.

[@ModernMouse]

Thank you so much for sharing your story! The Muppets are great because they each have their own personality traits that connect with people.

[@isabellaprusse]

@@ModernMouse thank you very much for replying to this comment. It means a lot to me. What do you think about the fact that I am literally comparing this dude with both ALF and a Gremlin and ET when it comes to grammar? The fact that you also gave my comment a red heart also means a lot because last time I commented on a video that meant a lot to me and told that I had autism I got a hate comment in return from somebody who thought I was faking that somebody told me that if I had really had autism, I would have been bedridden, and that comment really hurt me so to tell somebody that I have autism while telling them how much their video means to me like I did this time and getting such a positive response like you did because I really do have autism that means a lot to me! and the reason why I love this dude, so much is because yes, he is weird and primitive and everything and a little extra terrestrial as well, but I also see a few autistic traits in him, like his obsession with making noise that is a special interest if you ask me and I think the bassist might be his guardian? Also, I just think that weird misunderstood creatures are kind of adorable really and this guy is not evil just misunderstood. That’s how I view the situation and I’d like to know what you think about that statement. also, I would like if you could make a video about this, I know you already sort of did you don’t necessarily have to, but it would be kind of nice..

[@ModernMouse]

I think a major part of Animal and his place within the Muppets is that everyone treats him as an equal and even though, yes, the bassist is his guardian, everyone looks after him because he's a part of the group. I'm a big believer in that mentality. People deserve to be treated fairly and as you would like to be treated. As for Alf, the Gremlins, and ET, I definitely see the connection. Alf can talk, but the others have to communicate differently but can still be understood by the people who care about them. I think that's a sweet sentiment. Animal also fits the gremlin description because he is a bit chaotic.

[@isabellaprusse]

@@ModernMouse I couldn’t agree with you more! At first I thought he was abused, but then I found out that they are just taking care of him so he doesn’t get in trouble at first I thought they were trying to be mean to him, but I realize that well, since he is so chaotic, he needs a guardian much like a lot of others that are like that like different and I am very happy that you understood my comparison with this dude and my three favorite kinds of aliens

[@michelam7458]

I love Animallllll ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@javierramirez4722]

He is my favorite lunik animal

[@ModernMouse]

I'm really finding out how many people love animal. I didn't realize so many people consider him their favorite? What draws you to him?

[@kdrapertrucker]

Animal:Drums are food.

[@ModernMouse]

Fun fact: I used to play in a band and our drummer was very much the Animal type. I could honestly see him saying "Drums are Food" as a joke.

[@johnrowley3721]

Yeah, loved Kermit’s interview with Animal on “The Muppet Show”.After Animal says, “Drums are food! Eat drums! Eat cymbals!” Kermit replied with, “How symbolic!” Animal looks at the camera, his eyes go wide in reaction, and turns back to Kermit and yells, “BAD PUN!!!” Loved that! Animal knowing what a pun was really showed that in spite of who he was and what he appeared to be, he was still aware of the world around him regardless!! 😁👍

[@alfredfrazier1807]

I love Animal!!!

[@vaneram1006]

God bless him 😢😢😢 my favorite ❤

[@tK-be6ns]

I have heard that he is influenced by Mick Fleetwood, but I see a lot of Ginger Baker in him

[@ModernMouse]

There are definitely those influences too! The whole 60/70s rock scene had a slew of wild drummers.

[@55twintv39]

0:10 Animal is a Muppet Monster

[@annieh43]

I am so excited ! I love ❤️ Animal!!!

[@vaneram1072]

❤❤ my favorite

[@markfrancis1210]

Animal rules

[@ModernMouse]

He really does!

[@deshawnedwards6412]

Woman! Woman!

[@ModernMouse]

I can't believe I didn't add a clip of him yelling that!

[@elizabethturczyk1533]

I 💘 love ANIMAL! Many thanks for the documentary about him! I am looking for a stuffed toy of him. Do you know of any?

[@ModernMouse]

If you go to Walt Disney World, you might be able to find him or on ShopDisney.com. I know when a new Muppets movie comes out, sometimes you can find the plush figures are the Disney store if you have one near you, but that is really it. Amazon or Ebay might be good options as well.

[@elizabethturczyk1533]

@@ModernMouse Thank you so much for replying. We really need to see more of ANIMAL! I will look into those options you suggested!