� � � "That year [1984] Jim also began working on another feature film called Labyrinth, the story of a young girl who wishes that the goblin king would take her crying baby brother away--and before she knows it, he does! She must then make her way through a maze called the Labyrinth, fight her way through the goblin city, and enter the goblin king's castle to rescue her little brother. The film spectacularly combines Muppets with live actors. The special effects include talking doorknobs that ask riddles and a knighted fox who rides a sheepdog. The goblins are scary,
but there are also very Muppetlike creatures in Labyrinth, including a huge, gentle monster who befriends the young girl.
� � � Jim was happy to be able to work with three of his children on this film. Jim, Lisa and Cheryl had discussed the concept for the film a great deal. Cheryl worked as a hand-puppet builder and performed one of the small creatures. Brian worked as the film's puppeteer coordinator. He
also helped perform Hoggle, one of the puppets that helps the young girl complete her quest. He even did Hoggle's voice!
� � � But not many people saw Labyrinth when it opened in 1986--and many people who did see it didn't really like it. Jim was very disappointed that his audience didn't understand this film, because it meant a lot to him. It was unusual for Jim to be down, but this was a real lowpoint.
� � � 'I think that was the closest I've seen him to turning in on himself and getting quite depressed,' his son Brian explained. 'It was a rather bad time, and he went to the south of France for a few days to wallow in it.'
� � � However, Jim didn't give himself much time to feel bad. He stayed busy constantly. 'Many people think of work as something to avoid,' Jim once said. 'I think of work as something to seek.'"
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