Muppetize Me!

November 10, 2008 11:27 AM

F.A.O. Schwartz (doesn't everybody think of that first when they hear the name?) has come up with a Design Your Own Muppet Workshop (with appropriate video intro). Limited design options (they're the "Whatnot" Muppet extras, no identifiable characters) and a $90 pricetag for a custom-made Mup, but the design process is still fun (and better than their previous Design Your Own Tutu).
posted by wendell (27 comments total)

This is pretty cool.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:49 AM on November 10, 2008

Fun site, but when did the muppets get so concerned about clothing? All kermit has is a little neck frill, and plenty of others are just a lot of fuzziness.

In my quick perusal for DIY Muppet sites, I found this MS Paint beauty, and I think there habe to be better guides. I guess I shouldn't complain too much - I still have my stupid sock creatures that I haven't made yet.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:54 AM on November 10, 2008

I'm having trouble putting Bush together.
posted by gman at 11:57 AM on November 10, 2008

An available monkey suit would have been nice.
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 11:58 AM on November 10, 2008

Needs AJAX. I want to see my design choices in real time, don't make me hit "submit" to see what it all looks like put together!

I wonder what the build quality on these are, because it could actually be pretty cool with more available options.
posted by kyleg at 11:59 AM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

Schwarz, not Schwartz with a t.

Funny, I always thought of it as you spelled it, but looking it up now it's Schwarz.

FAO Schwarz in my mind is always on the corner of 58th, in the Squibb Building, before it moved into the sterile, corporate and very uninviting new place in the GE Building.

Originally it was in 303 Fifth avenue between 30th and 31 St.

2003: In the season of Santa Claus and peak toy shopping across America, FAO, owner of the magical FAO Schwarz toy stores, said it would file for bankruptcy protection and intended to break up an empire known not just for toys but also for a certain retail fantasy and style in selling them.

aww, wendell, I love the design your own tutu link of your OP. My inner 7 year old ballerina thanks you.
posted by nickyskye at 12:09 PM on November 10, 2008

My bad. I still have to correct myself to keep the "t" out of Charles Schulz. And Arnold Schwarzenegger. I blame Sgt. Schultz in Hogan's Heroes. I know nothing!
posted by wendell at 12:28 PM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

Not customizable, but I think FAO Schwarz's food chain friends are also kind of cool.
posted by teg at 12:53 PM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

Schwartz with a t would be equally delicious.
posted by gman at 12:56 PM on November 10, 2008

Question: are these actually Muppets that you stick your arm in? Or are they just stuffed animals?
posted by ALongDecember at 1:04 PM on November 10, 2008

Pretty kinky Real Doll.
posted by quintessencesluglord at 1:13 PM on November 10, 2008

i've been waiting for this all my life
posted by onkelchrispy at 1:32 PM on November 10, 2008

Schwarz, not Schwartz with a t.

I have a friend who used to work there. He said that in new employee orientation, HR hammers it in that it is spelled and pronounced Schwarz (and not Schwartz).
posted by ericb at 1:58 PM on November 10, 2008

My friend also mentioned that many employees used to report that they ended up absolutely hating the store song -- Welcome to Our World of Toys (aka The Clock Song) that played on a loop in their stores.
posted by ericb at 2:09 PM on November 10, 2008

Is there a way to make Elmo not exist?
posted by longsleeves at 3:18 PM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

I wanted to like it. I failed.
posted by tkchrist at 3:42 PM on November 10, 2008

Question: are these actually Muppets that you stick your arm in? Or are they just stuffed animals?

Yes, these are fully-functional hand-and-rod Muppets.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 4:12 PM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

That makes the $90 price tag far more reasonable. I couldn't believe anyone would pay $90 for a stuffed animal.
posted by lilac girl at 4:19 PM on November 10, 2008

The price seems oddly low to me. Aren't professional puppets a $100+ investment? I'd think (perhaps incorrectly?) that Muppets would pretty much be the gold standard.
posted by roll truck roll at 5:06 PM on November 10, 2008

Great idea, and I would really, really want one, if the options were better.
posted by paisley henosis at 7:52 PM on November 10, 2008

Everything I make just ends up looking like Phyllis Diller.
posted by brain cloud at 10:21 PM on November 10, 2008

Cool post. If I could afford this, I'd definitely get one made.
posted by drezdn at 4:57 AM on November 11, 2008

God, how I wish the dollar was still weak.
posted by mippy at 5:48 AM on November 11, 2008

There should be an option to leave out the nose. Will it be detatchable, Bert style, in the final version?
posted by JHarris at 1:33 PM on November 11, 2008

There should be an option to leave out the nose. Will it be detatchable, Bert style, in the final version?

Nope. But this guy had the same thought as you, and got them to leave the nose off when making a Muppet in person at the NY store.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 2:18 PM on November 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oh, and I should link to his review as well -- it's the only actual review I've been able to find so far.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 2:22 PM on November 11, 2008

And oh hey here's a thread over on Muppet Central with a few hands-on reviews. (The reviews start coming in around page 5.)

The online ordering is down until February of next year.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 4:08 AM on December 7, 2008