The Great Muppet Caper

The bike riding sequence was accomplished by using a combination of radio-controlled bikes, marionette rigging, and in some cases, attaching several bikes together with rods so they could stand upright on their own. The end of the bicycle scene (where all of The Muppets are shown riding together) was done by putting all of the Muppet characters onto their bikes, hooking them together, and pulling them. Brian Henson, on an oversized tricycle, was amongst those who pulled the bikes.

Director Jim Henson did not like the working title for this movie, "Muppet Mania", and had various friends, staff members, and relatives suggest titles for the movie. Some of the more interesting titles included "The Rocky Muppet Picture Show" and "A Froggy Day in London". The winning title was suggested by nineteen-year-old Lisa Henson, who came up with "The Great Muppetcapade", but also included several alternative choices of words including "escapade", "escpigaide", and "caper" in her submission.

A full body Miss Piggy was used in this movie three times. Once when Miss Piggy was leaving the supper club, during the motorcycle chase scene, and another time when she was diving in a pool during her fantasy.

Miss Piggy's underwater musical number was the most difficult scene to shoot, mostly because of communication problems. Lighting, cameramen, cameras, speakers, and monitors were all underwater. Eighteen professional swimmers had to dive into the pool at the same moment. In the June 1981 issue of the children's magazine Dynamic, Producer Frank Oz said, "The water ballet scene with Miss Piggy was really wonderful. I was under the water for a week. I had three days of scuba training and then down I went. Having them swim for the first time really was exciting!"

The scene with Kermit the Frog's dancing shadow took forty-three takes to get right.