Behind the Scenes of The Simpsons

Tim writes "The Seattle Times is running a short article about the production process behind 'The Simpsons.' Nothing too elaborate, but there are some interesting pieces of information scattered throughout the piece, including a few jokes from a future episode." From the article: "Invitations to the table read are considered among the hottest tickets in Hollywood, and each visitor has an assigned seat. Celebrities, usually with children in tow, are a fixture. It takes about 40 minutes to run through an episode that will run 22 minutes and 30 seconds (plus commercials) when it airs next season. After the session, there is applause and stretching. Groening and most cast members linger to chat, autograph the scripts and pose for snapshots."

Comments

In a TRAILER?

[LividBlivet]

I mean how many billions in advertising has the Simpsons made over the years?
Well whatever works I guess.

I always wondered if the animation was crafted to match the voices or vice versa, at least the article cleared that up.

'A little out there'

[RonnyJ]

The most interesting part of the article for me, especially considering that many people consider Simpsons has hugely declined in quality (including me):

Outside the trailer, Groening chats with Azaria about the episode they have just read. Groening wonders whether some aspects of the plot are "a little out there." Well, Azaria replies sarcastically, it is Season 4,063.

Offshoring the drawing...

[IAAP]

FTA:Until about five years ago, "The Simpsons" was hand-made and hand-drawn. Now, black-and-white storyboards and digital drawings called "animatics" are done in Los Angeles at Film Roman Studio. Then the material is shipped to South Korea, where characters' movements are filled in and the coloring is done

I was once told this by a filmaker. He said that it went to Mexico in other cases. I just think it's amazing that they can get the movements down so that it's smooth. I remember when the Simpsons first came on the "Tracy Ullman" show. They were poorly deawn and had jerky movements, and I didn't think they were funny. Now, I think they're funny and quite relevent.

The show with Bart eating from the vending machines and getting really fat touched on a lot of issues these days. One of them is local school boards putting junk food vending machines (Coke) in their schools to help pay the bills and adding to the childhood obesity problem.

more info on the soundstage

[rtphokie]

Fox's website has more info and a photo of the Marge Simpson Soundstage where the voices are recorded. Next time you are watching, picture the actors sitting, often alone, in this room recording their lines.

Re:Pretty good article

[insertwackynamehere]

i agree fox makes a lot of bad decisions, and like I said, its a matter of opinion, I just still dont mind watching simpsons, personally. and also Fox is a conservative station so maybe thier demographic doesnt match with the people who actually watch thier shows? like, even though people regardless of politics like some of thier shows, maybe they feel they dont apply enough to the "conservative population" which is another way of saying the people are making really stupid decisions. at least I think thats a possibility :P

Futurama v. Simpsons

[Josh teh Jenius]

For XMAS this year, the fiance gave me Simpsons season 7. Halfway through it, I realized that *THIS* was the season (IMO) that marked the end of the greatest television show in history. I will still watch season 3-6 now and again, and quite a few later episodes are real gems. But nothing past season 7 is getting my $40. Sorry. I bought my tshirt, I ate my butterfingers, but I draw the line with season 8. However, I would gladly pay $160 for another season of Futurama.