[9] The initial creation of this series proved difficult with a myriad of complications like cultural clashes with prospective native talent, many of whom were resistant to emulating the American style of puppetry created by Jim Henson.

Instead, they proposed native puppetry material that the producers like Rogoff could not accept as they were too violent, frightening, or went against the educational curriculum of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW).

Some of the first scripts produced by the Russian team included "lecturing, tough-talking adults," which CTW pushed back on.

Several celebrities were guests on the show, including actors Leo Durov and Mary Aronov, composer Grigory Gladkov, and opera singer Vyacheslav Voynorovsky.

An intact oak tree grows in the center of this courtyard, and windows from surrounding houses face each other so neighbors can pop their heads out to greet one another.

One of the show's primary goals was to teach children about living in a democratic and diverse society, particularly with the recent fall of the Soviet Union.

[6][14] The pilot episode shown to the press in January 1996 showed children from various Russian ethnic groups exploring Moscow's Pet Market.

[16] In 2022 the original producer, Natasha Lance Rogoff, released a non-fiction book, Muppets in Moscow, detailing the show's production.