Franchise animator David Silverman explains why character designs in The Simpsons have changed over time. Created by Matt Groening, the beloved comedy revolves around the Simpson family and other residents of Springfield. Dan Castellaneta and Julie Kavner voice Homer and Marge, respectively, while other cast members include Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer and Hank Azaria. The humor and strangely accurate foresight of The Simpsons remain notable qualities, and after premiering on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987, the animation has changed considerably.

During Corridor Crew’s latest video, Silverman revealed why designs for Homer Simpson and other characters transformed as The Simpsons progressed. Check out the video (the explanation ends around 6:54):

Silverman, who also directed several episodes of The Simpsons, shared that animators didn’t have a model sheet to reference, and that early on, “we took a cue looking at The Muppets.” He noted that they quickly adjusted to a new style, which is noticeable when watching the series back. Read some of Silverman’s comments below:

We didn’t really have a model sheet. So, it was a matter of like, ‘Well how are you drawing Bart this week? How are you drawing Homer this week?’ Yeah, literally it was like that because we had no time to really make a model sheet. Usually it’s the character turned around, like here’s the side view, here’s a front view, here’s a three-quarter view, here’s a rear view and so forth.

We were thinking about the characters, okay yes, they’re of a flat design, but we have to start thinking about them dimensionally. Lisa can’t just have all these random points. We have to start figuring out how many there are and can we design them a little bit more artistically. But actually, if you watch these, especially if you watch or even just skim through them in order, I think you’ll see the evolution, and it took us not too long to get us kind of in the ballpark.

How Much Have The Simpsons’ Designs Changed?

The Alterations Were Beneficial To The Show

When Fox aired 30-minute episodes of The Simpsons in 1989, Homer and his family had gone through noticeable changes. Individual characteristics remained the same, but the animation was updated. The short videos from The Tracey Ullman Show depicted basic features, including taller heads for Homer and Bart, and less-rounded mouths. Silverman mentioned that Groening gave the animators advice about using lines, or lack thereof, to create expressions. Those adjustments, along with character movements, were evident in early seasons of The Simpsons, and have only gotten better.

It’s not uncommon for animated shows, particularly long-running ones, to improve their style. The Simpsons season 36 is already confirmed, and the character designs today look even more dissimilar to their original counterparts. Considering Silverman’s comments about model sheets, it’s worth wondering what Homer’s evolution could have been without them, and how rapidly the series would have changed. He also joked about The Tracey Ullman Show using four fingers and the potential work involved, had he been required to draw more.

It’s interesting to hear why The Simpsons animation has changed over the years and the importance of model sheets when continuing something like this. Although the changes were apparent at the time, it is hard to imagine Homer, Marge, and any other character looking different. It seems like it would be easy to keep character designs consistent, but Silverman’s comments show it takes real work.

Source: Corridor Crew