created by Matt Groening
(Season Eight) 1996

Matt Groening generated such a massive cult following with his landmark series “The Simpsons” (1989) that the popular TV show recently began its eighteenth season and, as of a couple years ago, became the longest running comedy series in television history. While it’s difficult to overestimate the series’ obvious fame, I think many fans fail to acknowledge the show’s cultural significance over the past sixteen years.

“The Simpsons” is easily the most iconic phenomena of recent times--a series that possesses universal appeal and a worldwide audience. Groening and his teams of extremely talented writers and animators (many of whom are replaced every several years) have parodied some of the finest examples of art in almost every imaginable medium, touched on socially relevant issues through clever satire, and revitalized post-modernism in the most unexpected form. “The Simpsons” has given audiences plenty more than what one would typically expect from a comedy.

Groening’s deceptively simple premise of a middle-class family of five dealing with everyday life establishes the perfect foundation for North American audiences to immediately identify with. Homer is the clueless, but lovable father; Marge, the doting mother; Bart, the rebellious pre-teen; Lisa, the brainy sister; and Maggie, the all-but-ordinary baby. Admittedly, I’ve reduced these roles to simple stereotypes for the purpose of this review, but the aforementioned characters each embody at least a single quality that everyone can identify in their respective family (therein lies a considerable portion of the show’s appeal).

The setting for the series is Springfield, a fictional town that easily calls to mind the prototypical urban backdrop. Here Groening sets the stage for one of the most fascinating locales one could possibly imagine. But rather than flashy aesthetics, it’s the simple touches that often make the most difference in Springfield. Examining the Simpson family home reveals the tremendous detail that animators and concept artists have put into the endlessly imaginative series. Marge’s kitchen curtains with the infamous corncob print, Bart’s Krusty-the-Clown alarm clock, and the often crooked painting of a sailboat that hangs in the family room are just a few of the subtle touches that contribute to the feel of an authentic home environment. The fine details are hardly confined to the Simpson residence and extend throughout the city to mold Groening’s expansive cartoon universe.

To bring the writers’ vision to life, animators have distinguished “The Simpsons” with an unmistakable vibrant style. The emphasis on vivacious primary colors calls to mind Jean-Luc Godard’s famous use of cinemascope in the 1960s. It wouldn’t be surprising if Groening and his animators were influenced by Godard given their vast knowledge of cinema, which dates back to Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” (1927) (see the oscillating rings in the subtitle sample). But beyond all instances of presumable inspiration, the animators should be recognized for consistently experimenting with the hand-drawn medium. The integration of 3D and live-action is impressive to some degree (these episodes were created in the mid 1990s); however, it’s the mastery of fluid movement that’s particularly astounding. Groening’s characters move about with actions and reactions that ring of accuracy--an integral source for the show’s humor. In a scene where Homer eats an extremely spicy pepper, the humor lies solely in the animator’s ability to convey the unexpected pain Homer experiences. Other animated shows often rely too much on a clever quip or precise staging to generate laughter, but animators working on “The Simpsons” have the sound judgment to carefully balance their methods of delivery.

Above all else, the success of the series is shaped by Groening’s ability to seamlessly integrate art and satire. Having paid homage and relentlessly parodied numerous classic films including “Citizen Kane” (1941), “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), and “The Shining” (1980), “The Simpsons” has renewed the excitement and philosophy that was originally generated by these very subjects. Audiences are able to draw what they choose from the stabs at politics (i.e. Bill Clinton) and blind traditions (i.e. Whacking Day), but the persistence in proposing social and cultural re-evaluation is always ingrained in every single episode.

With new executive producers onboard for season 8, there is a definite shift in focus towards supporting characters and camaraderie in unlikely places. Most notably, Lenny and Carl’s familiar banter in later seasons would originate here. Other incidences include Homer befriending Mr. Burns during a company outing, Lisa and Nelson briefly becoming an item, and Moe offering to manage Homer’s temporary boxing career. These episodes still revolve around various members of the Simpson family, but it’s clear the producers desired a new direction for the series. More supporting characters were created (i.e. Disco Stu) and older characters (i.e. Edna Krabappel) received more airtime.

Season eight’s “El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer” (1997) is a breakthrough episode for the series and one that showcases a variety of impressive techniques. It’s a relatively bizarre chapter in “The Simpsons” library, but it’s a personal favorite of mine because of its spiritual tone and obvious departure from typical scripts and animation (if there is such a thing in “The Simpsons”). To complement the episode’s surreal hallucinatory sequence and psychedelic imagery, animators have made use of graphical continuity and a series of events that appear to be inspired by the work of artist Salvador Dali. But aside from the visuals, issues of guidance and meaning are resonant and considerably more message-driven than one would expect from an episode of “The Simpsons.” This is enhanced by the voice of guest star Johnny Cash (as the coyote Homer encounters in his dream), which encourages an aura of folklore. Contrary to the popular belief of skeptical parents, there are moments in the series with profound morality.

Kurtis Beard

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Television Premiere: December 17th, 1989

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DVD Review: 20th Century Fox (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Kurtis Beard for the Review!

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