It’s time to light the lights, and thank goodness! The Brattle is bringing us one of their most celebrational, Muppetational series yet starting this Saturday, September 4th. Tales of the Muppet Diaspora features several Muppet film classics, opening with the original (and perfect) The Muppet Movie on 35mm.

But it’s not just Kermit and friends coming our way: the Brattle is screening several Henson-adjacent projects featuring some of the best puppetry special effects in the game. From Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, to Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, to… whatever MirrorMask is about (I haven’t seen it but I’ll be at this screening!), this program just proves the far-reaching influence of Jim Henson and his team. Plus, the following films will be screening on 35mm prints: The Muppet Movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Follow That Bird, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Great Muppet Caper. I’d recommend seeing any and all of these films, but if you have to make a choice, go with The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper. Personally, I’ll be taking Manhattan with Miss Piggy, then seeing Follow That Bird, The Dark Crystal, and MirrorMask as they’re extremely rare rep features.

This is only one of the several exciting programs the Brattle has in store this fall, and I cannot wait to see what else will play on that flickering screen.

Tales of the Muppet Diaspora begins Saturday, September 4th with The Muppet Movie on 35mm and continues through Sunday, September 19th.