Timeless, Unchanging Simpsons: The Secret of Their Everlasting Success
The 'Simpsons' developers prefer to maintain a timeless aesthetic for their character designs. - Characters from the Simpsons series are purposefully kept from growing older by their creators.
The creators of the iconic series, including Matt Selman, have opted to keep the Simpsons characters frozen in time to preserve the show's timeless charm. With the Simpsons family-led series broadcast in over 100 countries and 26 languages, fans worldwide can share the experience with their own offspring.
Selman explains that by keeping the characters unchanged, the Simpsons can maintain their relevance, allowing viewers to connect with their struggles and daily lives. "We just need to stay true to our characters, their essence, their spirit, their relationships," said Selman. Groening seconds this sentiment, stating that the Simpsons' kids, like Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, can "do what they want" without worrying about the constraints of aging.
Alas, a sequel to the successful 2007 film, The Simpsons Movie, is seemingly out of the question for now. "The pitiful truth is, we don't have the time to work on both the series and a film simultaneously," says Groening.
Birthed in the '90s, The Simpsons is the longest-running American animated series, though its U.S. viewership has dropped from a staggering 13.4 million in the first season to under two million during the 35th season in 2023/24. The Simpson family's home is the fictional Springfield, where the patriarch Homer is portrayed as a lazy beer drinker. A myriad of celebrities, such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, have graced the show with their presence, often voicing their own characters.
A closer look at the series' formula reveals an innovative approach: while the world around the Simpsons evolves to stay current, the characters themselves remain the same, ensuring an ever-lasting run without grappling with the issues that come with aging characters. This approach allows the show's creators, like Groening, to keep surprising viewers and themselves by crafting new storylines and experimenting with different episodes.
The creator, Matt Groening, shares a common sentiment with fellow Simpsons creator Matt Selman, believing that the Simpsons' characters, such as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, should never change to maintain their relevance and appeal across generations. Despite the series' longevity spanning numerous countries and languages, it continues to air on movies-and-tv platforms worldwide, providing entertainment for families and children alike.
