Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Muppet Treasure Island arrived from Walt Disney Pictures in 1996, the fourth theatrical feature to pair the Muppets with a literary property, following the troupe's earlier outings under Jim Henson's creative legacy after his passing in 1990. Directed by Brian Henson, it recast Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure novel with Muppet performers alongside human co-stars, and it remains a touchstone for how the franchise blended puppetry with classic storytelling for a new generation of viewers, keeping the brand alive theatrically through the mid nineties.
This cell preserves Kermit the Frog in his role as Captain Abraham Smollett, a rare instance of the character stepping fully into a period costume role rather than his usual variety-show persona. Smollett commands the ship in the Stevenson story, a position of authority and reluctant partnership with the film's pirates and treasure hunters, making this frame significant to collectors who value Kermit's range beyond his standard identity. As a 35mm frame from the feature, it documents an actual moment of theatrical release printing rather than promotional artwork.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Muppet Treasure Island (1996).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges look clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, consistent with a mono or stereo optical print; Dolby Digital pixel blocks appear present in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge, indicating a Dolby Digital optical composite track.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer codes or key numbers.
Base & colour
The base shows a warm amber-orange tint typical of a colour dye-coupler print; the dye image appears saturated with no obvious fading.
Projection history
Light vertical scratching is visible across the frame area, consistent with a print that has been projected.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot and the character visible matches the Muppet Treasure Island (1996) production.
Era check
The composite Dolby Digital optical track format and warm colour print stock are consistent with a mid-1990s theatrical release print, matching the 1996 release date on record.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000063440
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
