What do you think?
Rate this book
Rainbow Connections: Volume One: Meeting the People Who Brought Jim Henson’s Vision to Life
What was it really like to work with Jim Henson?
Jim Henson changed the way the world sees puppetry, captivating audiences with a unique blend of humour and heart that appealed to both children and adults alike. He quickly became the face of the Muppets, as recognisable as any of the characters he brought to life. But behind Jim was a team of talented individuals who shared in his vision.
Jonathan Melville talks to performers, writers, directors, producers and other creatives who either worked alongside Jim or carried his influence forward to new generations. Contributors from productions such as Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, The Storyteller, Dinosaurs and Muppets Tonight reflect on how Jim's approach enriched their work and shaped their lives.
Featuring interviews Bill Barretta, Steve Barron, Fran Brill, Tony Charmoli (previously published chapter from Tony's autobiography), Mark Eades, Louise Gold, David Gumpel, Bruce McNally, Rob Mills, Larry Mirkin, Victor Pemberton, Austin Pendleton, Mike Quinn, Gord Robertson, John Stephenson, John Stevenson, Jocelyn Stevenson and Jeremy Swan.
This is an unofficial book and is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, The Jim Henson Company, Children's Television Workshop or anyone connected to the properties discussed in the book.
Jim Henson changed the way the world sees puppetry, captivating audiences with a unique blend of humour and heart that appealed to both children and adults alike. He quickly became the face of the Muppets, as recognisable as any of the characters he brought to life. But behind Jim was a team of talented individuals who shared in his vision.
Jonathan Melville talks to performers, writers, directors, producers and other creatives who either worked alongside Jim or carried his influence forward to new generations. Contributors from productions such as Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, The Storyteller, Dinosaurs and Muppets Tonight reflect on how Jim's approach enriched their work and shaped their lives.
Featuring interviews Bill Barretta, Steve Barron, Fran Brill, Tony Charmoli (previously published chapter from Tony's autobiography), Mark Eades, Louise Gold, David Gumpel, Bruce McNally, Rob Mills, Larry Mirkin, Victor Pemberton, Austin Pendleton, Mike Quinn, Gord Robertson, John Stephenson, John Stevenson, Jocelyn Stevenson and Jeremy Swan.
This is an unofficial book and is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, The Jim Henson Company, Children's Television Workshop or anyone connected to the properties discussed in the book.
248 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2025
3 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Melville
5 books21 followersAs a film journalist and critic, Jonathan Melville contributed to the likes of BBC Radio Scotland, SFX Magazine and the Edinburgh Evening News.
2022 sees the publication of his third book, Local Hero: Making a Scottish Classic, going behind the scenes of the 1983 film with contributions from cast and crew.
His second book, A Kind of Magic: Making the Original Highlander, was released in 2020 and looked at the making of the 1986 film. It features new interviews with more than 60 cast and crew, including Christopher Lambert and Clancy Brown, plus Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor.
Melville's first book, Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors, went beneath the surface of the horror comedy franchise, combining extensive research with more than 50 brand new interviews with the cast and crew of all five Tremors films and the short-lived TV series.
Read an interview with the author about Seeking Perfection
2022 sees the publication of his third book, Local Hero: Making a Scottish Classic, going behind the scenes of the 1983 film with contributions from cast and crew.
His second book, A Kind of Magic: Making the Original Highlander, was released in 2020 and looked at the making of the 1986 film. It features new interviews with more than 60 cast and crew, including Christopher Lambert and Clancy Brown, plus Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor.
Melville's first book, Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors, went beneath the surface of the horror comedy franchise, combining extensive research with more than 50 brand new interviews with the cast and crew of all five Tremors films and the short-lived TV series.
Read an interview with the author about Seeking Perfection
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 5, 2025
Loved this book! A must-read for any fans of the Muppets and Jim Henson. Wonderful insights and behind-the-scenes peeks from Henson collaborators that you don’t typically hear from, offering new and unique thoughts on working with Jim and the creation of his magical worlds.
Hoping for a Volume 2!
Hoping for a Volume 2!
September 26, 2025
Interviews with individuals who worked with and continue to work on the projects begun by Jim Henson. What more could a Muppet fan ask for?
January 22, 2026
Just lovely. Though i will say Bill Barreta is overly harsh on new Muppets projects.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews