One artist reimagines the moms of The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Rick and Morty, and Family Guy in a new style. All four shows are among the most beloved animated series airing today, becoming sterling examples of how to do the genre justice. While viewers may be divided on their favorite character from each show, Marge Simpson, Linda Belcher, Beth Smith, and Lois Griffin are integral to the success of each series.
An artist with the username bubblegum_bronxbabe has shared a creative reimagining of the four animated moms, with each taking on the style of one of the others.
Each character maintains the most iconic part of their appearance with their clothes and expressions intact. However, the art offers a clever twist with the inclusion of another show’s trademark look.
Why Animation Crossovers Are So Popular
Crossover art is a popular subset of the fan art genre, and it’s easy to see why. It lets artists flex a different muscle, in this case, thinking critically about animation styles and how they differ. It’s equally fun for viewers, giving them insight into what a real crossover would look like on screen. However, with Bob’s Burgers, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Rick and Morty, audiences don’t have to imagine.
Characters from all four shows have appeared on at least one of the others, with The Simpsons‘ couch gag a popular vehicle for their interactions. In most cases, the shows’ writers lean into the meta aspect of crossovers, with Linda Belcher commenting on The Simpsons characters’ “big eyes,” for example. Whether a feasible explanation is offered or not, the crossovers are always a treat, rewarding viewers who watch more than one of the shows.
Interestingly, in most of the crossovers between the four shows, including Rick and Morty, the characters hang onto their own animation styles instead of adapting to the show they’re visiting. This makes the crossovers differ from the fan art. One notable exception is The Simpsons season 25 premiere, which sees characters from Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy take on The Simpsons‘ usual yellow coloring. While that may be the closest viewers come to seeing the characters in other shows’ animation styles, the fan art offers a realistic alternative.
