Jim Henson Idea Man to premiere in May on Disney+

It’s hard for folks of a certain generation to think about Jim Henson without crying. The genius of children’s television (and much more) helped shape many childhoods and continues to have a dramatic impact on society long past his sudden death in 1990. So you’ll forgive us if we got a little choked up at the mere mention of a premiere date for Ron Howard’s upcoming documentary, Jim Henson Idea Man.

Directed by Howard, the movie will premiere May 31 on Disney+, and according to a press release provided to The Parent Watch, “takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim's personal archives, Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.”

And not only that, Disney+ also shared the key art for the movie, depicting Henson looking at one of his greatest creations, Kermit The Frog. Oops, got a little dust in my eye again, very weird!

On the off chance your kids haven’t been inducted into the wide world of Henson yet, you can get them prepped as all five seasons of The Muppet Show are streaming now on Disney+; and frankly, most of them really hold up, even with the ‘70s-‘80s stars and non-widescreen production values. Not only that, but all the Muppet movies including the iconic original are on the service. And you can even watch shorter running series like ABC’s The Muppets and Muppets Now.

So what are you waiting for? You’ve got a month and a half to prepare your children to watch Jim Henson Idea Man, so they have the context. You might also want to prepare them for why you’re crying so much while you watch.