Waldo C. Graphic (The Muppets)

Waldo C. Graphic "I'm Waldo, the spirit of 3-D!" No, you're not! Gender: Male Type: Obnoxious So-Called "Spirit of 3-D" Species: Computer Graphic Portrayed by: Steve Whitmire Status: Alive Media of origin: The Muppets

"What makes a Muppet a Muppet, a hand-crafted design, a well thought out comedic character, does a super obnoxious animal clown computer graphic count?"

— Walter Banasiak

Waldo C. Graphic is a 3-D Muppet character from The Jim Henson Hour where he was the demographics expert for MuppeTelevision. He is a computer graphic, as his name suggests, rather than a standard fleece-and-foam Muppet. As such, he's able to morph into any shape imaginable. He has the playful nature of a clown, yet with the intelligence of a computer. He was also the star of the Disney attraction Muppet Vision 3-D at Disney's Hollywood Studios and formerly Disney's California Adventure.

He was voiced by Steve Whitmire.

Why He's Not the Spirit of 3-D

1. His voice is extremely annoying and grating to listen to, no thanks to Steve Whitmire.
2. His 3-D design is downright ugly and creepy, as he looks more balloon-animal/clown hybrid rather than a computer graphic.
3. His transformations are even more ugly and uncanny such as when he transforms into a clown on The Jim Henson Hour.
4. Most of his jokes are unfunny and corny.
5. His antics usually get in the way of the other Muppets performances on Muppet Vision 3-D that it drives the other muppets crazy.
6. He is also very destructive as well during the fireworks finale on Muppet Vision 3-D where he causes the penguin orchestra to fire a cannon at the projector which ruins the movie.
7. He even transforms into Mickey Mouse near the end of Muppet Vision 3-D and even does his signature voice.
8. He is so disliked by most audiences, that even the Tough Pigs fansite argues that part of the reason why Waldo never caught on with audiences was that he was less of a character and more of a cheap gimmick, having next to nothing to him that makes endearing to the audience and largely only existing as a way to showcase Jim Henson's then-new digital puppetry technology and to provide cheap visual gags.

Redeeming Qualities

Note: These redeeming qualities do not excuse any of the actions that this character has performed.

1. Without him, we wouldn't have the iconic Muppet Vision 3-D attraction.
2. He stopped making appearances in later Muppet media after Muppet Vision 3-D, aside from a cameo on Muppet Babies (2018) where he appeared as a keychain.
3. He does get comeuppance at the end of Muppet Vision 3-D where the Swedish Chef tries to shoot him with a gun and cannon and gets sucked back into a vacuum after transforming into Mickey Mouse.
4. The technology that Jim Henson used to create Waldo was very impressive.

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