History WesternAnimation / MuppetBabies

* [[WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies2018 The CGI reboot that started in 2018]]

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[[quoteright:346:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mb_disdrive_group10_5058.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:346:Clockwise from top left: Fozzie Bear, Kermit, Gonzo, Rowlf, Animal, Skeeter, Scooter. In the center (with the book): Miss Piggy.]]
''Muppet Babies'' (1984-1991) was one of the few well-received SpinoffBabies conversions, partially because [[FirstInstallmentWins it was one of the first]]. Spinning off from ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', the show's premise was a takeoff from a sequence in ''Film/TheMuppetsTakeManhattan'' involving baby-versions of the characters, itself later referred to in an amusing callback. It also naturally spawned a side franchise of children's books.

Aside from the original, and otherwise [[TheFaceless unseen]] Nanny character, it featured most of the big Muppet celebrities ([[CanonForeigner Scooter's hitherto unknown sister Skeeter]] notwithstanding) discovering quite mundane things and approaching them in a precocious, childlike way -- before completely blowing them out of proportion with [[DerangedAnimation their overactive imaginations]]. The OnceAnEpisode [[EngagingChansons random song]] and trademark gimmick of spliced Live Action StockFootage (one of the main factors that has prevented it from getting an official DVD release) gave it a rather surreal quality, too. And despite being a Saturday morning spinoff, it managed to contain all the wit and intelligence of its predecessor. Some fans even prefer it to the original Muppet Show.

Later seasons would feature guest appearances from other Muppet characters, including fan favorites JustForFun/StatlerAndWaldorf. The Babies also had a memorable appearance in ''WesternAnimation/CartoonAllStarsToTheRescue''.

A CGI reboot for 2018 is currently in production for [[Creator/DisneyChannel Disney Junior]].

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!!Examples:
* AffirmativeActionGirl: That was why Skeeter was made and put into the show. They didn't have too many female muppets besides Miss Piggy to work with.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Gonzo is hopelessly in love with Piggy. Saying the feelings aren't mutual is an understatement, as she thrashes him in return. See MadLove below.
* AscendedExtra: Rowlf, Scooter and Animal. They were hardly nobodies on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' or in the first three movies, but for many, it was this show that firmly put them into core character territory with Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie and Gonzo.
* TheArtifact: The end credits theme from Season 2 onwards is actually that of "Muppets, Babies and Monsters", the very short-lived pairing of Muppet Babies and Little Muppet Monsters. The castanets and trumpet solo at the end also come from that.
* ArtShift: When we visit Animal's imagination, the artwork becomes ''very'' childish.
* BananaPeel: A major plot point in the episode "Slipping Beauty." See FracturedFairyTale below.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: "Don't wish for elephants unless you own a zoo/ 'cause wishes have a way of coming true!"
* BigEater: Piggy, [[FurryReminder being well, a pig and all.]] One time, when the gang wanted some cupcakes but they were all gone, Piggy demanded to know what happened to the rest of the cupcake with Nanny answered promptly to her, "You ate the last three."...much to Piggy blushing.
** Animal even more so, and in his case, he can (and does) eat almost ANYTHING.
* BrainyBaby: Bunsen is the same brilliant inventor he's always been, [[CaptainObvious only smaller]].
** Also, Scooter, being the little computer whiz he is.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: From the episode "Good Clean Fun"
-->'''Animal:''' [[CouchGag Go bye bye!]]\\
'''Piggy:''' No, Animal, the show's not over yet!\\
'''Animal:''' Sorry.\\
'''Piggy:''' It's ok.
** At the end of The Case of the Missing Chicken, Kermit tells the audience not to worry about Gonzo; he'll be okay by next week.
* BurpingContest: Animal holds this with rocks and some others in "Journey To The Center Of The Nursery".
* ButtMonkey:
** Most of the go bye bye skits feature Animal playing some cruel prank on Gonzo and sending him flying [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Team Rocket]]-style.
** Whenever Fozzie tells a joke, he's ''lucky'' if the worst reception he gets is mere booing.
** Beaker, even as a baby, is still often the unfortunate guinea pig for Bunsen's inventions. The most prominent example being the anti-nightmare device in "I Want My Muppet TV"
* CanonForeigner: Skeeter, though an adult version of her has made appearances in ''Comicbook/TheMuppetShowComicBook'', so (depending on how much you're willing to take the comics or even that storyline as canon), she may be verging into CanonImmigrant territory.
* CatchPhrase:
** Anytime Fozzie tells a joke, he says "Give up?" before the punchline. The rest of the babies yell "Fozzie!" when his joke sucks. He also says "I knew that" after someone corrects him.
** Kermit says "Sheesh" when frustrated.
** Piggy says "Yippee skippee!" when she's excited.
*** And like her adult counterpart, usually referred to herself as "Moi."
** Rowlf when excited says "Far out!"
** Animal's favorite expression is a grotesque "Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!"
** Everytime Piggy abuses Gonzo in some way, he says, lovestruck, "Ooo-hoo! She touched/grabbed/squeezed my nose! She must be in love/into me/proposing marriage/etc.!"
* TheCameo: Tom Selleck (in live action!) as a lovestruck fan of Piggy. It may have helped that both this and ''Series/MagnumPI'' were on Creator/{{CBS}}.
* CallingYourBathroomBreaks: In "The Transcontinental Whoo whoo", while Statler and Waldorf are telling the kids about railroad trains, Bean Bunny says, "This is confusing. Which direction is the bathroom?" And his friends tell him.
* CatFight: Piggy and Skeeter at least 3 times. For someone so young, [[LittleMissBadass Piggy sure can be vicious.]]..
* CharacterFocus: While Gonzo was always a major character in the Muppet franchise, this show really gives him a lot of this, with numerous ADayInTheLimelight episodes and prominent B-plots in others.
* ChekhovsGun: In the beginning of the episode "Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dark?," the kids play with Scooter’s computer pen with a glowing tip. By the end of the episode, it is used by Beaker to ward off and defeat a slime monster (a representation of his fear of the dark).
* ClingyJealousGirl: Piggy for Kermit. Like in The Muppet Show and the movies and...pretty much any Muppet franchise, don't you dare try to come between Piggy and her Kermie. There were times when Skeeter tried to do that, though it may have been just to mess with Piggy.
* CompanionCube: Camilla exists in this series as a stuffed chick owned by Gonzo, who dotes on her almost as much as in regular continuity.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: Fozzie Bear suffers this greatly, not only from his friends but also from his imaginary audiences when they boo and throw tomatoes at him for every joke he tells to them, good or bad.
* ContinuitySnarl: Only if you consider the FridgeLogic: when is this show taking place anyway? Let's not even get started on the later season that introduced Baby Bean Bunny; Bean's a young kid in the normal Muppets! Or that fact that this was all just Piggy's dream sequence in the third film, but ''actual backstory'' in Film/AMuppetFamilyChristmas, but that would contradict Film/TheMuppetMovie ....yup, this is a galaxy-sized snarl. It's somewhat justified, however, by the very nature of The Muppets. In pretty much every continuity they're entertainers, so any works that don't square with others can be called MutuallyFictional. Even Film/TheMuppetMovie included a throw-away line indicating that liberties had been taken with the "real" events.
* [[CoolOldGuy Cool Old Guys]]: Statler and Waldorf had much softer personalities in this series.
* CosmeticallyAdvancedPrequel:
** While ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' was set in the 1970s (the time it was airing) this show has baby Scooter with a personal computer.
** Interestingly, a proposed prequel animated series (which was ultimately scrapped) would have shown the Muppets as teenagers in TheFifties, even though (as ''Film/TheMuppetsTakeManhattan'' makes clear) they graduated from college in the early '80s.
* CouchGag / EveryEpisodeEnding: Animal's "''Go bye-bye!''" [[TheStinger stinger]] occurs in different settings and styles, based on the theme of the episode.
* CowardlyLion: Fozzie fits this bill, as he is shown to be quite fearful of different things.
* CuteBruiser: Piggy. She's an adorable little piglet, but she has a bad temper and could possibly kick anyone's butt."HI-YAH!"
%%* DeadpanSnarker: Piggy has her moments.
* DerailedFairyTale: "Snow White and the Seven Muppets" becomes one when Piggy, who was playing the Evil Queen against her will, realizes that Kermit (Prince Charming) will be kissing Skeeter-as-Snow-White awake, so she starts (via narration) bringing in antagonists from other fairy tales to interrupt the final scene.
%%* DisneyAcidSequence: OnceAnEpisode.
* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Piggy on Gonzo. When Gonzo accidentally annoys her or ticks her off or when he shows romantic feelings to her, she'll thrash him or throw him across the room.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the first two episodes, Fozzie, Gonzo and Rowlf have deeper voices and sound closer to their adult selves. The episode title music is also different.
* EverybodyCries: In "Raiders of the Lost Muppet", all the young muppets are in tears when they can't find Animal in a game of hide and seek.
* ExtremeOmnivore: Animal. If its edible he'll eat it, if its NOT edible he'll eat it, if its something in between he'll also eat that, If its something in NONE of those three categories he'll eat ''that'' too.
* TheFaceless: Nanny. You never see anything about her shoulders, but she has very distinctive socks at least.
** And all non-Muppet adults in the babies' fantasy sequences, although an adult's face is seen briefly from time to time.
* FatherIWantToMarryMyBrother:
** Scooter and Skeeter play a married king and queen in two different "Literature/SleepingBeauty" sequences.
** and Mr and Mrs. Howell in a ''Series/GilligansIsland'' parody.
* FieryRedhead: Skeeter is full of energy and spirit, and loves to have adventures. She's tomboyish, loves sports and ends up clashing with Piggy.
* FirstDayOfSchoolEpisode: Two books based on the series, "I Can Go to Preschool" and "Baby Piggy Goes to Nursery School", focus on Kermit and Piggy's first days of preschool, respectively.
* FracturedFairyTale: Several times throughout the series. For example, in "Slipping Beauty" instead pricking her finger to fall into a deep sleep as in 'Sleeping Beauty', Piggy as the sleeping princess, slips onto a banana peel, falls and then goes into a deep sleep. Slipping Beauty.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** Piggy: "Oh Kermie! Take me! I'm yours!"
** Not to mention Gonzo's nose fetish and his line when Piggy takes him into the closet, "Be gentle with me."
** In "Romancing the Weirdo" Gonzo starts telling Nanny a story. He begins with the phrase "It was a hot and steamy night."
* HalfwayPlotSwitch: Many episodes seem to start this way. The kids are usually involved in some sort of gang or group fantasy, until a little later, something arises (usually started by Nanny) that completely changes the focus of the episode. Such examples include...
** "Dental Hijinks" starts with the babies pretending they are in a big auto race, until they crash, and Fozzie notices he has a loose tooth, triggering the episode's main plot.
** "Eight Take Away One Equals Panic" begins with the babies pretending they are flying on an airliner plane, until they overhear Nanny on the phone and think she's planning on getting rid of one of them. [[spoiler: (She was on the phone with a charity and actually looking at getting rid of an old chair from the nursery but was having trouble deciding which one; naturally, with the babies only hearing part of her end of the conversation ... .)/spoiler]]
** "Gonzo's Video Show" starts with the babies pretending they are enjoying a day out at the beach, until Nanny arrives and lets them borrow her video camera she rented to make some fun videos with it.
** "Piggy's Hyper-Activity Book" begins with the kids trying to build a house out of cardboard boxes until it collapses, and then the babies decide to play with an activity book, thus getting the main plot underway.
** "Bad Luck Bear" starts with the babies in the bathtub pretending they are whale-hunting (with Gonzo as the whale), until Fozzie breaks a mirror and everyone believes he has bad luck.
** "Water Babies" begins with the babies pretending they are in a mine tunnel (actually a series of cardboard boxes) looking for treasure, until Nanny comes in with an aquarium of fish.
* HandcuffedBriefcase: One of their {{Imagine Spot}}s had Kermit as a secret agent trying to transport a briefcase like this, and the others being enemy agents trying to steal it in one of those mystery on the train scenarios. Their attempts to steal it got pretty blatant, up to Gonzo trying to hide it under his hat ''while it was still cuffed to Kermit's wrist''!
* HairTriggerSoundEffect: Gonzo played The Weirdo, and everytime his name was mentioned, Rowlf played a Musical Sting on the piano. Eventually, Gonzo got tired of it and asked Rowlf to knock it off.
* HiddenDepths: Piggy always cast herself as the DistressedDamsel PrincessClassic in their make-believe adventures, only to usually end up saying something like, "Gimme that stupid sword!"
* HypocriticalHumor:
-->'''Piggy:''' I'm not [[SchoolPlay playing]] any [[Literature/SnowWhite wicked queen]]! Why... I haven't got a '''DROP''' of '''''wicked in me!!!'''''
** Gonzo makes fun of Fozzie for sleeping with a teddy bear, but stops when Fozzie pulls Camilla out from behind his back.
* IAmSong in the full version of the OpeningTheme:
-->'''Kermit''': [[TheHero I like adventure!]]
-->'''Piggy''': [[ClingyJealousGirl I like romance!]]
-->'''Fozzie''': [[PluckyComicRelief I love great jokes!]]
-->'''Animal''': [[ThirdPersonPerson Animal dance!]]
-->'''Scooter''': [[TheSmartGuy I've got my computer!]]
-->'''Skeeter''': [[{{Tomboy}} I flip through the air!]]
-->'''Rowlf''': [[ThePowerOfRock I play the piano!]]
-->'''Gonzo''': [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair And I've got blue hair! Ha!]]
-->'''Bunsen''': [[GadgeteerGenius Me, I invent things!]]
-->'''Beaker''': [[TheUnintelligible ME-MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEEEEEEEEP!!!]]
-->'''Nanny''': [[TeamMom Is everything all right in here?]]
-->'''All''': [[ThisIsReality Yes, Nanny.]]
* IJustWantToBeSpecial:
** One episode dealt with Scooter feeling like his computer abilities were nothing compared to the other kids' areas of expertise. Oh, [[ReverseFunnyAneurysm if only he'd]] [[TechMarchesOn been born later]]...
** In one episode, the babies try to figure out how to relate with Gonzo better by finding ways where they are really weird too. It worked too well, and Gonzo wound up coming to the conclusion that he wasn't really weird and if he wasn't a 'weirdo', then he wasn't anything at all. Of course, for the ''Muppet Babies'' version of Gonzo, [[IAmWhatIAm being labeled "weird" was always a point of pride.]]
* IWantSong: "The Biggest Little Pig In Hollywood" in the episode "This Little Piggy Went To Hollywood".
* {{Irony}}: In "The Muppet Museum of Art", Skeeter slips on Gonzo's roller skate and twists her ankle, forcing Nanny to cancel a trip to an art museum to take care of her, and Gonzo has a guilt trip over ruining the trip they were all waiting for. The (dramatic) irony is we see Skeeter slipping on one of Piggy's roller skates, and she swapped it with one of Gonzo's to pass the blame to him. The rest of the episode has the other babies making their own art museum for Skeeter, while Gonzo makes various works of art featuring [[AuthorAppeal Piggy]], subconsciously sneaking a roller skate in; Piggy reacts negatively to each one as it reminds her that Skeeter's accident was ''her'' fault. Additionally, Skeeter gets to stay in the living room with Nanny, watching TV and drinking soda-pop while Nanny pampers her. Not a bad deal at all.
* JerkassBall: Skeeter, just watch "Pigerella." When she stole the cupcakes, Piggy tried to put them back but got framed by Nanny for it. It was to the point that Skeeter acted unfairly mean towards Piggy and even played the Wicked Stepsister from 'Cinderella'.
* MadLove [[LoveTriangle Triangle]]: Piggy's crush on Kermit, Gonzo's crush on Piggy. Things can get crazy. What with Piggy not wanting anyone or anything to get between her and Kermit, and with Gonzo always pouring his heart out to Piggy only to get thrashed by her.
* MayTheFarceBeWithYou: The final stretch of "Gonzo's Video Show" is a ''Star Wars'' parody, and smaller-scale sendups appear in other episodes.
* NarrativeShapeshifting: Baby Beaker, while explaining his fear of the monster under his bed to the other babies (since, like Adult Beaker, all he can say is "Meep!").
* NotQuiteStarring: A weird example: none of the original puppeteers reprised their roles as their respective characters. (Didn't happen with the ''Series/FraggleRock'' AnimatedAdaptation either.)
* OffModel: It is a Marvel Productions cartoon (see also ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends My Little Pony]]'')... But then Creator/{{AKOM}} took over...
* OohMeAccentsSlipping: In the first two seasons Howie Mandel, a Canadian actor, was the voice of Skeeter, Bunsen, and Animal. Occasionally one of them would say sorry as sorr-ee. Though in Animal's case, that's a close approximation of how Frank Oz' Animal says it.
* PhraseCatcher: Fozzie usually catches a '''''[[BigWhat WHAT????]]''''' from the others when he comes up with some bizarre scenarios.
* PirateGirl: In one episode, the kids pretended to be treasure hunters and encountered a trio of female pirates.
* PolarOppositeTwins: Scooter and Skeeter. Scooter is a shy computer geek and Skeeter is an outgoing tomboy.
* {{Pounds are Animal Prisons}}: Discussed and subverted in the episode ''What's New at the Zoo?'' Rowlf applies this trope to zoos because they remind him of dog pounds. Nanny shows Rowlf the importance of zoos to preserving animal life.
* ProducePelting:
-->'''Fozzie''': "Something tells me I oughta give up comedy and go into the tomato sauce business."
* RejectionAffection: Gonzo continually woos Piggy, despite her greeting his advances with contempt and karate chops. This is borrowed from The Muppet Show, where it occurred less frequently.
* RememberTheNewGuy: Skeeter. As of the first episode, she was just plain always there.
* TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation: This show was made with full, good hand drawn animation. Although the show debuted in 1984, it still lasted until 1991.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Beaker.
* RunningGag: What will they find in the closet this time?
* {{Shorttank}}: Skeeter wears shorts and is tomboyish. Although, there are times when she doesn't mind wearing a dress in the imaginations.
* ShoutOut: How many movie references did they have?
** A ''StarWars'' one (just like the original ''Muppet Show'') where Kermit was Luke, Miss Piggy was Leia, and Animal was Vader. (Now, ''that'' is impossible, Luke.) They also did ''Franchise/IndianaJones''.
** ''Muppet Babies'' '''runneth over''' with ''Franchise/StarWars'' references, in fact. Thanks to how close Henson Productions and Lucasfilm were at the time, Lucas basically gave the Henson crew free rein to make [[LawyerFriendlyCameo as many references]] as they liked without fear of lawyers, a privilege they used as much as they could. The target audience being [[SmallReferencePools relatively familiar with the works due to their fame]] helped matters a lot, too.
*** However, it would seem that this ended up being a problem anyway years later as a major factor for why the show has no DVD/Blu Ray release (along with the multitude of other live action snippets). On the other hand, with Disney now owning both the Muppet and Star Wars franchises (along with Marvel, which also had a big hand in making the show), a solution is seemingly possible.
** Another episode had Scooter and Piggy re-enacting Nanny's favorite movie, ''Film/TheAfricanQueen''.
** "Nice to Have Gnome You" is based around shout-outs to (and extensive footage from) ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}'' and the film adaptation of ''Literature/TheWitches'', two of Creator/JimHenson's non-Muppet productions.
** There's a part when Animal comes out of a toy chest dressed in medieval garb while [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail clicking a pair of coconuts together]].
** "It's Only Pretendo" is based around gentle spoofs/pastiches of various UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem games, plus ''Frogger,'' ''VideoGame/FantasyZone'' and of all things, ''VideoGame/KeithCourageInAlphaZones''.
* SickEpisode: In "Scooter's Uncommon Cold," [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Scooter catches a cold]], and in "Slipping Beauty," Piggy catches the chicken pox.
* SpinOffBabies: The TropeCodifier. This and ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstoneKids'' are probably the only two examples of a SpinoffBabies series done right in Western animation.
* Creator/StanLee: Gets web sprayed on his face by Skeeter.
* StraightMan: Rowlf tends to be this.
* StrayingBaby: Animal on more than on occasion.
* ThatsAllFolks / TheStinger: Gooooooooo bye-bye!
* ThemeTuneRollCall: A variation: the characters
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Piggy and Skeeter respectively ([[HiddenDepths No, we did not get that mixed up]] -- Piggy dresses in pink, bows, and lace, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and]] [[CuteBruiser karate chops]] anyone when they set off her HairTriggerTemper, whereas Skeeter is a pants-wearing athlete, but sweeter and much more mellow.)
* ToughRoom: Fozzie getting pelted by tomatoes for telling bad jokes.
* {{Tsundere}}: As in all Muppet productions, Piggy is a mix between this and {{Yandere}}.
* WhenTheClockStrikesTwelve: "Pigerella" had Piggy imagining herself as Cinderella. Gonzo, the Fairy Godmother, changed it to seven for a similar reason it was done to Film/{{Casper}} in his film. Gonzo told her that, because they're kids, they can't stay awake up to midnight.
* WritersBlock: Shows up once where Piggy and Gonzo literally ran into a writers (toy)block and Gonzo explained this trope. It was solved in the most zany fashion possible - writer's termites.
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* OffModel: It is a Marvel animation production (see also ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends MyLittlePony]]'')... But then Creator/{{AKOM}} took over...

* EverybodyCries: All the young muppets are in tears when they can't find Animal in a game of hide and seek.