MUMBAI: A few days ago Jim Henson and his beloved Muppets were immortalised on US postage stamps in Los Angeles at the Academy of the Television Arts & Sciences (Atas).
The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Jim Henson: The Man Behind the Muppets commemorative stamp sheet coincides with the 50th anniversary of Henson's most famous Muppet, Kermit the Frog.
US Postal Service chief marketing officer and executive VP Anita Bizzotto said, "The strong legacy of family fun Jim Henson created still resonates around the world. When people see the stamps, they will be a reminder of the man who taught us to not take human flaws so seriously -- a reminder that one person can make 'a difference in this world'. "
Lisa Henson characterised the stamps as fitting her father's sense of humour. "We are honored that the US Postal Service chose to recognise our father's legacy with this fun and irreverent stamp collection -- a perfect reflection of his inspired silliness and creativity."
Her brother Brian welcomed the stamps as a homage to his father's work. "Our father created wonderful characters that continue to be loved around the world. These stamps are also a tribute to his millions of fans who continue to support his work and believe in his vision".
At the ceremony a tongue 'n' cheek Kermit the Frog viewed the stamps from the Muppets' perspective. "On behalf of the Muppets, it is a great honour to be featured on our own set of stamps. These commemorative stamps couldn't have come at a better time -- to celebrate my 50th Anniversary, I'm hitting the road next month on a 50-stop World Tour. I'll need to send a lot of letters home to Miss Piggy if I want to stay in her good graces!"
Atas president Dick Askin testified to Henson's legacy. "Jim Henson was a master storyteller and technical innovator who created unforgettable characters and entertainment. He left us far too soon, but it's a testament to his unique talents that we still are captivated by his whimsical creations."
When applied to a white envelope, each of the individually photographed Muppet stamps appears to burst through. This effect was created by photographing the characters and torn white paper separately to enhance highlights and shadows. The two images were merged and digitally enhanced to produce a fun and lighthearted stamp sheet. The back of each stamp sheet features humorous autographed notes from each of the Muppet characters.
