The Muppets have become one of the most enduring and lovable creations ever created by Jim Henson. Ever since 1955, these characters have endured and offered laughs for viewers of all ages. Now, with their resurgence on Disney+, new fans have discovered characters like Kermit, Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy, and can see the fun and hijinx that often follow them. But one of the most interesting aspects of these characters that hardly anyone has noticed ties directly to their genetic makeup -- they're left-handed.
Studies have shown that roughly 90% of the human population is right-handed. As a result, those who are left-handed or ambidextrous are a rare breed and have often been attributed to being far more creative than the average right-handed individual. While most of these claims are a mix of fact and speculation, it's interesting when attributing a similar mindset to The Muppets. But the reason that most of the show's characters are lefties is tied to the people who have controlled the characters over the decades.
The main reason that so many of the characters are left-handed on the show can be tied directly to the right-handed puppeteers who control them. While they appear incredibly animated on camera, they are essentially hand puppets controlled by the motions of one puppeteer, along with their voices and a free hand to move the Muppet's hands. It's a complex art where, even though audiences can't see who's in control, timing and performance are still important to sell the illusion.
With a mostly right-handed cast of puppeteers, that would be the hand used to control the face of a Muppet while their left hand would control the character's hand motions. Since they were often shown in a 2D-style setting, the characters were often shown facing each other but away from the camera. This simple storytelling style allowed for the Muppets to animate around an environment fully and let the puppeteer's free left-hand work through musical numbers or with special guests. Essentially, a left-handed Muppet likely meant an easier time controlling them behind the scenes.
Ironically, The Muppets being a cast of mostly left-handed creatures has worked well both for the franchise and from a scientific perspective. With studies leaning towards the more creative being left-handed, it's inadvertently shown thanks to the inventive creations of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker or the catchy songs of Kermit and the showbiz focus of Miss Piggy. While that's not to say right-handed people can't be creative, as that's simply untrue, it does speak to the study provided and the inadvertent coincidence of Muppet creativity.
In the end, The Muppets have remained a mainstay of humor and fun for countless people worldwide. But that couldn't have been possible without the ingenuity of Jim Henson and the hilarious puppeteers who have brought these characters to life ever since. Now, audiences can see them reenact even more hilarious moments from showbiz as well as their own funny skits. But what will make each viewing different from all others is that more will hopefully notice how many left-handed Muppets there are in the world.
Check out all the Muppets media on Disney+.