The Dark Crystal is a 1982 American–British
fantasy-
adventure film directed by
Jim Henson and
Frank Oz. The plot revolves around Jen, an elflike 'Gelfling' on a quest to restore balance to his alien world by returning a lost shard to a powerful but broken gem. Although marketed as a family film, it was notably
darker than the creators' previous material. The
animatronics used in the film were considered groundbreaking. The primary
concept artist was the fantasy illustrator
Brian Froud, famous for his distinctive
faerie and
dwarf designs. Froud also collaborated with Henson and Oz for their next project, the 1986 film
Labyrinth, which was notably more light-hearted than
The Dark Crystal. The film stars the voices of
Stephen Garlick,
Lisa Maxwell,
Billie Whitelaw, and
Percy Edwards.