Cartoons The Simpsons

[VampireLord1024VampireLord1024's icon]

I want to say that I did like the episode where Moe turned his bar into a family restaurant.

 

[Ikagura]

lifelong simpsons simp here, but i hadn't actually significan't rewatched it since childhood despite parroting its memes throughout my life.

i did however watch a couple of the earlier season episodes a couple of months ago, and i was gobsmacked at how TIGHT and DENSELY PACKED it is, constantly, with gags and humour one doesn't recognize as a child. and the obvious "sympathizing more with the parents" watching as an adult type thing, but holy crap, the writing was sharp and simply incredible.

amazing channel for fellow simpers:

this one was a particularly interesting topic to dwell on:

Are writers afraid of making the Simpsons age (even just 2 years) or even just assuming it still happens in the 90's?

It's weird to see Bart and Lisa both knowing Floppy Disks and iPhones.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

It's weird to see Bart and Lisa both knowing Floppy Disks and iPhones.

Yeah, that's pretty weird. Springfield itself seems to change at random, too.

 

[Ikagura]

On a side note, I miss when Lisa had some moments reminding us she's a young kid even if she's smart.

Lisa acting like an adult is uncanny imo, as if she's a mouthspeaker for the writers instead of being a proper character.

Even actual kids that are way above average in I.Q. (as much as this doesn't represent intelligence as a whole) are still kids with emotional immaturity, not miniature adults.

In fact even Bart has shown us that he could be actually smart but only for his pranks. They're not that far from each-others, just two side of the same coin.

 

[miguk]

Are writers afraid of making the Simpsons age (even just 2 years) or even just assuming it still happens in the 90's?

It's weird to see Bart and Lisa both knowing Floppy Disks and iPhones.

That's the big problem with floating timelines. You can't tell what era the story takes place in, and if they try to update the origins to make it more recent, it just feels wrong based on what we know is canon for the current running story. And the more definitively rooted in a time period a story is, the harder it is to float the timeline and make people comfortable with it.

If you grew up watching The Simpsons and relating to Bart because he's your age and in your generation while Homer is from your dad's generation, it's pretty uncomfortable to be told Homer is not just canonically your age, but in your generation, not the age and generation you've been told he was since the start of the ongoing series. The "millennial Homer" is completely at odds with basically everything we've seen about how he relates to his millennial kids. Everything about Homer, from his seemingly tetraethyllead-soaked brain to his way too conventional perspective on the world, just screams Boomer.

This sort of thing works better in more fantastical stories. Ash/Satoshi can be a 10 year old Pokémon trainer for eternity because he lives in a fantasy world that never gets effected by our real world. Superheroes have to adjust to the times to some degree (usually when origin stories involve historical events), but usually manage on the basis of just not acknowledging the real world. (Although they do that quite often anyways, as reality is hard to avoid.)

The Simpsons can't easily do that, though, because so much of it is connected to reality. Groening's works are always a commentary on the state of the world, so reality needs to be a part of it. Otherwise, it just becomes "the family travels to ___" stories with nothing being said beyond "aren't other locations funny?"

It's possible the series might need a reboot at some point. But there's no guarantee that will work, as other long-running series (DC Comics, Scooby-Doo) have tried that with mixed results. Personally, I'd rather it just went into the public domain so we can get enough permutations of it that something completely different will eventually be done with it.

 

[Ikagura]

That's the big problem with floating timelines. You can't tell what era the story takes place in, and if they try to update the origins to make it more recent, it just feels wrong based on what we know is canon for the current running story. And the more definitively rooted in a time period a story is, the harder it is to float the timeline and make people comfortable with it.

If you grew up watching The Simpsons and relating to Bart because he's your age and in your generation while Homer is from your dad's generation, it's pretty uncomfortable to be told Homer is not just canonically your age, but in your generation, not the age and generation you've been told he was since the start of the ongoing series. The "millennial Homer" is completely at odds with basically everything we've seen about how he relates to his millennial kids. Everything about Homer, from his seemingly tetraethyllead-soaked brain to his way too conventional perspective on the world, just screams Boomer.

This sort of thing works better in more fantastical stories. Ash/Satoshi can be a 10 year old Pokémon trainer for eternity because he lives in a fantasy world that never gets effected by our real world. Superheroes have to adjust to the times to some degree (usually when origin stories involve historical events), but usually manage on the basis of just not acknowledging the real world. (Although they do that quite often anyways, as reality is hard to avoid.)

The Simpsons can't easily do that, though, because so much of it is connected to reality. Groening's works are always a commentary on the state of the world, so reality needs to be a part of it. Otherwise, it just becomes "the family travels to ___" stories with nothing being said beyond "aren't other locations funny?"

It's possible the series might need a reboot at some point. But there's no guarantee that will work, as other long-running series (DC Comics, Scooby-Doo) have tried that with mixed results. Personally, I'd rather it just went into the public domain so we can get enough permutations of it that something completely different will eventually be done with it.

I was gonna comment on Scooby Doo with your pfp but then again most series are reboots of themselves set in various eras. I loved Mystery Inc because they were aware that it's a self contained story.

This is also why Skinner can no longer be a Vietnam veteran because he would've been too young to get drafted.

Real world events set in fiction are a big issue. You cannot have a WWI vet nowadays since it was over a century ago and someday even the Cold War era will be something that nobody of their living would've witnessed anymore.

Pokémon is set in our world but with them replacing actual animals, the second Gen happened three years after G/R&B because of the real world time separation. The anime is less canon but I can accept that Ash doesn't age since it's not a matter of being the real world.

Even Conan from case closed didn't age despite the manga running for over 20 years.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

If you grew up watching The Simpsons and relating to Bart because he's your age and in your generation while Homer is from your dad's generation, it's pretty uncomfortable to be told Homer is not just canonically your age, but in your generation, not the age and generation you've been told he was since the start of the ongoing series. The "millennial Homer" is completely at odds with basically everything we've seen about how he relates to his millennial kids. Everything about Homer, from his seemingly tetraethyllead-soaked brain to his way too conventional perspective on the world, just screams Boomer.

My homer's favorite band will always be grand funk railroad

Honestly, I really don't care that they got rid of Apu. The same people complaining about it often aren't watching it now, and quite often are not South Asian. If the South Asian audience isn't happy with the character, why keep him in?
Cause he's funny
Are writers afraid of making the Simpsons age (even just 2 years) or even just assuming it still happens in the 90's?

It's weird to see Bart and Lisa both knowing Floppy Disks and iPhones.

For a while even if they reference current events they still made springfield look like the late 80s early 90s. Then they started having modern tech. Then they changed the timeline. I hate it

It's so stupid to have Otto, Kent Brockman, Bart, Homer, Krusy...all characters that are very time specific, and say it's supposed to be 2016
The show must go on I guess

Didn't Maude get killed off because of a pay dispute with the voice actress? I remembered reading somewhere that that's why Maude's death was treated the way it was.

Her voice actress, who also voiced Hellen Lovejoy, had to fly from new york to los angeles every time a new episode needed to recorded so she asked FOX if they can pay for her flight

And they said no

That episode is where Iost interest, they really crossed a line with making homer involved in a serious death that wasn’t a surreal thowaway gag like killing moleman

That's great to hear.

The fact that a show known for kneeling before no-one would give up such an important character just like that never sat right with me.

Right? Also I watched that soyboy's comedy netflix special; he wanted to smear hank hazaria and the classic writers yet they are all infinetly more skilled and creative than he is

All he can do is buzzfeed-tier jokes about his race and airport staff and american politics I've heard 1000 times on the internet

He was butthurt about stereotypes?
All of his jokes were about how he's indian, that all he's got

What a smuck

 

[Ikagura]

For a while even if they reference current events they still made springfield look like the late 80s early 90s. Then they started having modern tech. Then they changed the timeline. I hate it

It's so stupid to have Otto, Kent Brockman, Bart, Homer, Krusy...all characters that are very time specific, and say it's supposed to be 2016
The show must go on I guess

I'd say that some small US towns are still... very in their epoch (if I can say that without sounding mean).

Many small European villages are still looking like Middle Ages ones (with water and electricity) which creates a "technological dichotomy" of seeing old construct with modern technologies, like antennae on a millennium old church's roof.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

I'd say that some small US towns are still... very in their epoch (if I can say that without sounding mean).

Many small European villages are still looking like Middle Ages ones (with water and electricity) which creates a "technological dichotomy" of seeing old construct with modern technologies, like antennae on a millennium old church's roof.

You'd find towns with news reporters from the 70s and hair metal dudes, kids actually dreassing like kids, metal dudes listening to cassette players and analog tecnology?

If so I wanna go there!!

 

[Nidoking's iconNidoking]

I watched up until around season... 10ish? After that, I definitely tried to keep up with it and stay into it but I just... couldn't stay interested. I miss the characters, but I just can't enjoy the show itself anymore.

 

[Ikagura]

Random video I stumbled upon.

One of the rare moments where Abe was badass and not a comic relief/commentary about how we treat our elders.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

Random video I stumbled upon.

One of the rare moments where Abe was badass and not a comic relief/commentary about how we treat our elders.

The part where bart lights up to flare only for burns to be behind him was so sick, straight out of an action film

Also him kicking bart into an agonizing death was way more evil than blocking out the sun lol

 

[Ikagura]

The part where bart lights up to flare only for burns to be behind him was so sick, straight out of an action film

Also him kicking bart into an agonizing death was way more evil than blocking out the sun lol

Seasons 6 and 7 were quite the peak (before the slow and painful fall).

Burns is rarely being punished for his misdeeds so it felt nice that he got finally put in his place.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

Seasons 6 and 7 were quite the peak (before the slow and painful fall).

Burns is rarely being punished for his misdeeds so it felt nice that he got finally put in his place.

Fans underestimate how good the animation and framing of 90s simpsons was
Look at this near 180 turn

 

[Ikagura]

Fans underestimate how good the animation and framing of 90s simpsons was
Look at this near 180 turn

I don't know when they transitioned into digital animation but this is legit impressive.


Although sometimes it may look too uncannily different from the usual "Simpsons animation style"

But it was an earlier season, way before they homogenised the art style and animation.

This is also a good video telling how much it changed

RIP those unnamed Springfieldians.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

I don't know when they transitioned into digital animation but this is legit impressive.


Although sometimes it may look too uncannily different from the usual "Simpsons animation style"

But it was an earlier season, way before they homogenised the art style and animation.

This is also a good video telling how much it changed

RIP those unnamed Springfieldians.
View attachment 32632

They switch to digital after the movie iirc
Ive seen it, I already new of the chara sheets
I really dont like the homogenised look they got from s10 onwards

So stiff and sterile, I like the big irises and eyes
This is easily my fav version of homer, he looks so dopey ajd childish

 

[Ikagura]

They switch to digital after the movie iirc
Ive seen it, I already new of the chara sheets
I really dont like the homogenised look they got from s10 onwards

So stiff and sterile, I like the big irises and eyes
This is easily my fav version of homer, he looks so dopey ajd childish

Sorry, I didn't mean HD but I quickly searched and they used digital ink for Season 14 in 2002-2003

The Simpsons season 14 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But I do agree they're looking so stiff and sterile with the turn to HD...

 

[Dyne]

The Simpsons was amazing for the first 8-10 years, then it seemed like most people agreed it was going downhill. Around that time, things like South Park, Futurama, and Family Guy were getting popular and The Simpsons seemed to fade into the background.

I know it's been running this whole time, but for me it will always be a 90s show, as it was a huge front-and-center part of 90s culture in my experience.

 

[Asian girls lover]

The show is great until season 9, the tenth is still good after all. Then the dowfall starts.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

The Simpsons was amazing for the first 8-10 years, then it seemed like most people agreed it was going downhill. Around that time, things like South Park, Futurama, and Family Guy were getting popular and The Simpsons seemed to fade into the background.

I know it's been running this whole time, but for me it will always be a 90s show, as it was a huge front-and-center part of 90s culture in my experience.

The show doesnt make a lick of sense if its not set in the 90s
Everyone in town looks and acts like 90s teens and young adults, the older men are clearly from the 70s

Post automatically merged: Feb 25, 2025

Sorry, I didn't mean HD but I quickly searched and they used digital ink for Season 14 in 2002-2003

The Simpsons season 14 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But I do agree they're looking so stiff and sterile with the turn to HD...

My mistake

Even before going digital, season 10-13
It looked too perfect and uniform, barely cartoony

Post automatically merged: Feb 25, 2025

That's why S4 is my favorite, it's just nailed joke after nailed joke after nailed joke. It's straight up perfection.

Can superman outrun the flash?

 

[Toppis]

I watch every episode of The Simpsons when new episodes arrive on Disney+

 

[Gold]

The show is great until season 9, the tenth is still good after all. Then the dowfall starts.

I'm thinking my feelings are these whereabouts. Give or take a season.

 

[Tonberry]

The "true" decline started when Mike Scully became showrunner, which is season 9. I wouldn't say any specific episode is the catalyst, but him taking over sees the series shifting tons of element at the same time such as tone, joke structure, characterization among other things.

AAANYWAYS, anyone ever read any Simpsons comics? I know I owned at least one as a kid, but I don't remember anything of it. I kind of like the art in it, and the stories seem pretty wild and varied, in a good way, but it's not something I've actually looked into. I'm kind of tempted to get a Trade with some of the more out-there sci-fi/superhero/treehouse-feeling stories.

This video popped up in my feed so I gave it a watch out of curiosity.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

The "true" decline started when Mike Scully became showrunner, which is season 9. I wouldn't say any specific episode is the catalyst, but him taking over sees the series shifting tons of element at the same time such as tone, joke structure, characterization among other things.

AAANYWAYS, anyone ever read any Simpsons comics? I know I owned at least one as a kid, but I don't remember anything of it. I kind of like the art in it, and the stories seem pretty wild and varied, in a good way, but it's not something I've actually looked into. I'm kind of tempted to get a Trade with some of the more out-there sci-fi/superhero/treehouse-feeling stories.

This video popped up in my feed so I gave it a watch out of curiosity.

Much as I don't like the guy, the Mike Reiss years were peak Simpsons, then the shift felt evident and tragic.

As for the comics... I have read the Bartman and Radioactiveman ones. They are really cool.

 

[Tonberry]

Much as I don't like the guy, the Mike Reiss years were peak Simpsons, then the shift felt evident and tragic.

As for the comics... I have read the Bartman and Radioactiveman ones. They are really cool.

Yeah I think seasons 3 and 4 are the best, along with 7, but the entire 1-8 run is good, imo. I even like how they're aware it's an "old show" in S8 when making the Poochy episode, which would probably sound unreal to someone who didn't grow up with it.

It's not like I refuse to watch anything past that (Hell I used to say S17 was the best because it was the one I had on DVD when I was 12), but it's kind of a whole other world.