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Animal (Muppet)
Encyclopedia
Animal is the primitive man and crazed drummer of Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
, the fictional
band from The Muppet Show
. He is one of the Muppets
originally created by Michael K. Frith
.
from his first appearance in the pilot for The Muppet Show until his 1999 appearance in Muppets from Space
, and has been performed regularly by Eric Jacobson
since his 2002 appearance in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
. On The Muppet Show, his drumming is performed by Ronnie Verrell
. Animal has had roles in all of the Muppet movies, and was the only member of The Electric Mayhem to be included regularly on the Muppet Babies cartoons. He was voiced by Howie Mandel
in the first two seasons of Muppet Babies, followed by Dave Coulier
in subsequent seasons. Drew Massey
operated Animal in Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony
. In Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
, Animal was voiced by Hal Rayle
(who also voiced Miss Piggy
and Gonzo
).
From The Muppet Movie
:
Throughout his tenure on the show, Floyd seems to be the only person who can, at least partially, control Animal with a few simple commands suggesting dog training
(such as "Sit!" or "Heel!").
It has been suggested that Animal's character was partially inspired by The Who
drummer Keith Moon
, mainly due to the bushy eyebrows, the hair and the outrageous behavior behind the drumkit and otherwise. However, there is no evidence in the original sketches for the character that suggest that he was based on anyone in particular. Animal is portrayed as an excellent drummer, playing with and/or against both Buddy Rich
and Harry Belafonte
in separate drum-offs on The Muppet Show. (The Rich sketch ended with Animal breaking a drum over Rich's head.) He shows a talent for jazz in a television advert for the Renault Clio
car with French footballer Thierry Henry
.
Animal has also run afoul of Muppet Show guests, such as the aforementioned scene with Buddy Rich. When he kept interrupting Rita Moreno
's rendition of Fever
with loud drumming outbursts, she appeared to become so annoyed that she slammed his head between a pair of cymbals (to which Animal responded by saying "Uh, that's my kinda woman!", before passing out). Animal's attitude towards Dudley Moore
became quite hostile when Moore tried to replace the band with a programmable, music-playing robot.
A regular gag involves someone imparting a figure of speech to Animal: Animal turns to the audience, his eyes go wide and then he goes berserk, taking it literally. For instance, Jim Nabors
once spoke the traditional theatrical good luck wish, "Break a leg," whereupon Animal decided to indulge him by trying to break Nabors' leg. Another gag would occasionally occur when the band plays a slow song: Animal will get about halfway through and then after announcing "Too slow!" launch into a faster paced version of the song. The band would usually comment that Animal lasted much longer than they thought he would.
Animal has been depicted as a literal skirt-chaser. In The Muppets Take Manhattan
, he chases a female co-ed out of the auditorium, chanting "Woo-maaaan!" after her. He also chases cars. Sometimes his wild and crazy appearance, attitude and antics are used as the source of a joke by way of a reversal of what the audience might expect from Animal, such as in this piece of dialog from The Great Muppet Caper
, where it is revealed that Animal has a passion for the impressionist paintings of Pierre-Auguste Renoir
:
In the movie Muppets from Space, Animal meets his match in the form of a security guard played by Kathy Griffin
—after chasing her down a hallway with his "Woo-man" call, he later comes running back around the corner, yelling "HELP HELP!" with Griffin calling after him about how they'll settle down, buy a house, and have children.
Ty Pennington
commented about the possibility of Animal having ADHD when the character appeared on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
.
Animal was the official mascot of the U.S. Ski Team during the 1998 Winter Olympics
. He was also featured in one of eleven commemorative stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
In 2010, Animal was featured in a viral video alongside power-pop band OK Go
, where he challenged the band's drummer, Dan Konopka, to a staring contest. Animal ultimately wins and forces Dan to be his roadie for a year. Also featured in the video are actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis
and radio host Ira Glass
, as spectators.
In 2011, Animal appears in the film The Muppets
, having gone into anger-management therapy since the Muppets broke up. He also made a special appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
as a guest drummer with the Roots house band.
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem is the name of a Muppet rock band of The Muppet Show. Following The Muppet Show, they appeared in various Muppet movies and television specials, and have also recorded album tracks. Dr. Teeth and Animal were designed by Jim Henson, while the rest of the original...
, the fictional
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
band from The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. He is one of the Muppets
The Muppets
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
originally created by Michael K. Frith
Michael K. Frith
Michael Kingsbury Frith born July 8, 1941 in Bermuda, is the former Executive Vice President and Creative Director for Jim Henson Productions. His contributions to Muppet projects have been extensive and varied....
.
Performers
Animal was performed by Frank OzFrank Oz
Frank Oz is a British-born American film director, actor, voice actor and puppeteer who is known for creating and performing the characters Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show, Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover in Sesame Street, and for directing films, including the 1986 Little Shop of...
from his first appearance in the pilot for The Muppet Show until his 1999 appearance in Muppets from Space
Muppets from Space
Muppets from Space is a 1999 science fiction comedy film and the sixth feature film to star The Muppets, and the first since the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson to have an original Muppet-focused plot. The film was directed by Tim Hill, produced by Jim Henson Pictures, and released to theaters...
, and has been performed regularly by Eric Jacobson
Eric Jacobson
Eric Jacobson is a puppeteer and Muppet performer, who has been the primary replacement puppeteer for Frank Oz's characters since 2001.-Career:...
since his 2002 appearance in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a 2002 television film that aired on NBC on November 29, 2002. The film is directed by Kirk Thatcher, written by Tom Martin and Jim Lewis and stars the Muppets and was filmed at Lionsgate Studios. The film revolves a plot similar to "It's A Wonderful...
. On The Muppet Show, his drumming is performed by Ronnie Verrell
Ronnie Verrell
Ronald 'Ronnie' Thomas Verrell was an English jazz drummer. He played in two of the United Kingdom's "most famous" big bands, The Ted Heath Orchestra and The Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Verrell also worked extensively in television, including as a drummer in Jack Parnell's ATV Orchestra and Sunday...
. Animal has had roles in all of the Muppet movies, and was the only member of The Electric Mayhem to be included regularly on the Muppet Babies cartoons. He was voiced by Howie Mandel
Howie Mandel
Howard Michael "Howie" Mandel is a Canadian stand-up comedian, television host, and actor. He is well known as host of the NBC game show Deal or No Deal, as well as the show's daytime and Canadian-English counterparts. Before his career as a game show host, Mandel was best known for his role on...
in the first two seasons of Muppet Babies, followed by Dave Coulier
Dave Coulier
David Alan "Dave" Coulier is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He is well-known for his role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995....
in subsequent seasons. Drew Massey
Drew Massey
Drew Massey is a puppeteer for The Jim Henson Company for the Muppets and has performed in many TV shows, movies, and TV commercials. He also lends his voice for commercials and video games. His film credits include The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, The Producers, Dr. Dolittle, Cats & Dogs, Team...
operated Animal in Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony
Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony
Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony is a multi-award–winning webshow starring the Muppet characters Statler and Waldorf which ran biweekly on Movies.com from June 2005 until September 2006. The series spawned more than 35 episodes and featured many Muppet characters — both well-known classics and...
. In Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
Little Muppet Monsters
Little Muppet Monsters is a short-lived saturday morning animated television series, airing only three episodes on CBS in 1985. The first season of Muppet Babies did so well in the ratings, that CBS decided to expand the series from a half-hour to an hour, pairing Muppet Babies with Little Muppet...
, Animal was voiced by Hal Rayle
Hal Rayle
Hal Rayle is an American voice actor. He has done many roles for both animated series and live action movies.-Career:Rayle has had a number of voice acting jobs over his career. Rayle's animated series roles include Lieutenant Commander Steele in SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Pipes, Snarl and...
(who also voiced Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing the role, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
and Gonzo
Gonzo the Great
Gonzo the Great is a puppet character, one of Jim Henson's Muppets. He was developed and performed by Dave Goelz. The character made his first appearance in a 1970 Christmas special entitled "The Great Santa Claus Switch". Known as a "Whatever" , he is considered one of The Frackles...
).
Characteristics
Animal's vocabulary is generally limited to guttural shouts and monosyllabic grunts, often repeating a few simple phrases. During performances, Animal is usually chained to the drum set, as his musical outbursts are extremely violent.From The Muppet Movie
The Muppet Movie
The Muppet Movie is the first of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson's Muppets. Released in 1979, the film was produced by Henson Associates, Children's Television Workshop and ITC Entertainment....
:
- Animal: Meyagbagada!
- Floyd Pepper: Oh, yeah, that's Animal. Show 'em whatcha do, Animal.
- Animal: Ah, what do! Eat drums! [chews on cymbal]
- Dr Teeth: No, no, no, beat drums, beat drums!
- Animal: [widens eyes] Beat drums! Beat drums! [beats the drums with his head]
- Floyd Pepper: Down, Animal!
- Animal: Down!
- Floyd Pepper: Back!
- Animal: Back!
- Floyd Pepper: Sit!
- Animal: Sit! [sits quietly for 3 seconds, laughs to camera]
Throughout his tenure on the show, Floyd seems to be the only person who can, at least partially, control Animal with a few simple commands suggesting dog training
Dog training
Dog training is the process of teaching skills or behaviors to a dog. This can include teaching a dog to respond to certain commands, or helping the dog learn coping skills for stressful environments. Dog training often includes operant conditioning, classical conditioning, or non-associative...
(such as "Sit!" or "Heel!").
It has been suggested that Animal's character was partially inspired by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
drummer Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
, mainly due to the bushy eyebrows, the hair and the outrageous behavior behind the drumkit and otherwise. However, there is no evidence in the original sketches for the character that suggest that he was based on anyone in particular. Animal is portrayed as an excellent drummer, playing with and/or against both Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
and Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
in separate drum-offs on The Muppet Show. (The Rich sketch ended with Animal breaking a drum over Rich's head.) He shows a talent for jazz in a television advert for the Renault Clio
Renault Clio
The Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation...
car with French footballer Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
.
Animal has also run afoul of Muppet Show guests, such as the aforementioned scene with Buddy Rich. When he kept interrupting Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award....
's rendition of Fever
Fever (1956 song)
"Fever" is a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, who used the pseudonym John Davenport. It was originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956. It has been covered by numerous artists from various musical genres, notably Peggy Lee in 1958....
with loud drumming outbursts, she appeared to become so annoyed that she slammed his head between a pair of cymbals (to which Animal responded by saying "Uh, that's my kinda woman!", before passing out). Animal's attitude towards Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
became quite hostile when Moore tried to replace the band with a programmable, music-playing robot.
A regular gag involves someone imparting a figure of speech to Animal: Animal turns to the audience, his eyes go wide and then he goes berserk, taking it literally. For instance, Jim Nabors
Jim Nabors
James Thurston "Jim" Nabors is an American actor and singer. Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors moved to Southern California because of his asthma. While working at a Santa Monica nightclub, The Horn, he was discovered by Andy Griffith and later joined The Andy Griffith Show, playing...
once spoke the traditional theatrical good luck wish, "Break a leg," whereupon Animal decided to indulge him by trying to break Nabors' leg. Another gag would occasionally occur when the band plays a slow song: Animal will get about halfway through and then after announcing "Too slow!" launch into a faster paced version of the song. The band would usually comment that Animal lasted much longer than they thought he would.
Animal has been depicted as a literal skirt-chaser. In The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppets Take Manhattan is the third of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson's Muppets, and also the final film before Henson's death. This film was produced by Henson Associates and TriStar Pictures, and was filmed on location in New York City during the summer of...
, he chases a female co-ed out of the auditorium, chanting "Woo-maaaan!" after her. He also chases cars. Sometimes his wild and crazy appearance, attitude and antics are used as the source of a joke by way of a reversal of what the audience might expect from Animal, such as in this piece of dialog from The Great Muppet Caper
The Great Muppet Caper
The Great Muppet Caper is a 1981 mystery comedy film directed by Jim Henson. It is the second of a series of live-action musical feature films, starring Jim Henson's Muppets. This film was produced by Henson Associates, ITC Entertainment and Universal Pictures, and premiered on 26 July 1981. The...
, where it is revealed that Animal has a passion for the impressionist paintings of Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty, and especially feminine sensuality, it has been said that "Renoir is the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to...
:
- Kermit the Frog: What's wrong with your drummer? He looks a little crazed.
- Zoot: Oh, he's just upset about missing the Rembrandt exhibit at The National GalleryNational galleryThe National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
. - Animal: [Correcting him in a wild, angry tone] Renoir!!
In the movie Muppets from Space, Animal meets his match in the form of a security guard played by Kathy Griffin
Kathy Griffin
Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedienne, television personality, New York Times best-selling author and an LGBT rights advocate. Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom...
—after chasing her down a hallway with his "Woo-man" call, he later comes running back around the corner, yelling "HELP HELP!" with Griffin calling after him about how they'll settle down, buy a house, and have children.
Ty Pennington
Ty Pennington
Tygert Bruton "Ty" Pennington is an American television host, model, philanthropist and carpenter. He is most notable for being the host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which currently airs on ABC in the US and Ty's Great British Adventure, which airs on UKTV home in the UK and TV LAND...
commented about the possibility of Animal having ADHD when the character appeared on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
.
Animal was the official mascot of the U.S. Ski Team during the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
. He was also featured in one of eleven commemorative stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
In 2010, Animal was featured in a viral video alongside power-pop band OK Go
OK Go
OK Go is a rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois, USA, now residing in Los Angeles, California, USA. The band is composed of Damian Kulash , Tim Nordwind , Dan Konopka and Andy Ross , who joined them in 2005, replacing Andy Duncan...
, where he challenged the band's drummer, Dan Konopka, to a staring contest. Animal ultimately wins and forces Dan to be his roadie for a year. Also featured in the video are actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis
Zach Galifianakis
Zachary Knight "Zach" Galifianakis is an American stand-up comedian and actor known for his numerous film and television appearances including his own Comedy Central Presents special...
and radio host Ira Glass
Ira Glass
Ira Glass is an American public radio personality, and host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life.- Early life :...
, as spectators.
In 2011, Animal appears in the film The Muppets
The Muppets (film)
The Muppets is a 2011 American musical and comedy film, and the first Muppets theatrical release in 12 years, as well as the first Disney-produced Muppets film since 1996's Muppet Treasure Island...
, having gone into anger-management therapy since the Muppets broke up. He also made a special appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
as a guest drummer with the Roots house band.