Controversial Simpsons Opening

[pap64]

I just saw this on Animated Views and thought it would make for a neat discussion.

The controversy lies in that this episode's couch gag is actually a dark satire on how The Simpsons and its merchandise are produced. The short was created by artist Banksy.

Here's the clip:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/184819/the-si ... sy-opening

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oc ... psons-bart

What I find ironic about this is that while I am sure they did this as a joke on the concept of franchise merchandising and capitalism the Simpsons themselves have become part of the machine as well. I mean, in the last few years we have gotten a movie, video games, a theme park attraction, toys, board games, kids meal toys and many other things.

So in a way, this might be the greatest piece of self-deprecation ever put on television: The Simpsons are mocking a concept they themselves are guilty of and have exploited in the last few years.

Now, what do you guys think? Is the opening too much or is it just silly satire?

[TheValentineBros]

Don't worry, it's just satire. It could be worse.

[pap64]

Don't worry, it's just satire. It could be worse.

Yeah, I know. It just comes off as being weird. Maybe its because the Simpsons has been so tame in the last few years that this comes off as surprising. Like, I expect South Park and Family Guy to do this sort of thing, not the Simpsons.

[PixarFan2006]

I really don't think you should think too much about it. It's just satire as everyone else has said.

[pap64]

I really don't think you should think too much about it. It's just satire as everyone else has said.

I'm a lonely nerd, overthinking stuff is my passion, the fuel that powers my life .

[pap64]

I really don't think you should think too much about it. It's just satire as everyone else has said.

I'm a lonely nerd, overthinking stuff is my passion, the fuel that powers my life .

[Sotiris]

What I find ironic about this is that while I am sure they did this as a joke on the concept of franchise merchandising and capitalism the Simpsons themselves have become part of the machine as well. I mean, in the last few years we have gotten a movie, video games, a theme park attraction, toys, board games, kids meal toys and many other things.

The Simpsons are mocking a concept they themselves are guilty of and have exploited in the last few years.

I think you're right. The satirical opening does serve as a sort of guilt-outlet on the part of the creators but without really blaming themselves. It's like they're saying "Yeah, we are part of the machine but it's not really our fault, it's capitalism; at least we're conscious of what's happening".

[SpringHeelJack]

What I find ironic about this is that while I am sure they did this as a joke on the concept of franchise merchandising and capitalism the Simpsons themselves have become part of the machine as well. I mean, in the last few years we have gotten a movie, video games, a theme park attraction, toys, board games, kids meal toys and many other things.

So in a way, this might be the greatest piece of self-deprecation ever put on television: The Simpsons are mocking a concept they themselves are guilty of and have exploited in the last few years.

The last few years? Does no one remember the merchandise bonanza the show had in the first seasons? It's not recently become part of some corporate thing, it's always been there.

More than anything, it's the creators taking a knock at Fox. A grimmer one than usual, but they've always bitten the hand that feeds them.

[pap64]

What I find ironic about this is that while I am sure they did this as a joke on the concept of franchise merchandising and capitalism the Simpsons themselves have become part of the machine as well. I mean, in the last few years we have gotten a movie, video games, a theme park attraction, toys, board games, kids meal toys and many other things.

So in a way, this might be the greatest piece of self-deprecation ever put on television: The Simpsons are mocking a concept they themselves are guilty of and have exploited in the last few years.

The last few years? Does no one remember the merchandise bonanza the show had in the first seasons? It's not recently become part of some corporate thing, it's always been there.

More than anything, it's the creators taking a knock at Fox. A grimmer one than usual, but they've always bitten the hand that feeds them.

Yeah, I know there were merchandise back in the day, but what I am saying is that the Simpsons have a far stronger presence now than they did back in the day, almost rivaling Disney in their efforts.

I also know that its a knock on Fox and its something they have done for many years. But I doubt the creators are fully innocent of the issues going on. Yeah, I can see how in the beginning they saw the licensing deal as a way to help them produce the show when it was still very young, and then got out of control. But I like to think that they are aware of what is created with their names on it.

[TheValentineBros]

Don't worry, it's just satire. It could be worse.

Yeah, I know. It just comes off as being weird. Maybe its because the Simpsons has been so tame in the last few years that this comes off as surprising. Like, I expect South Park and Family Guy to do this sort of thing, not the Simpsons.

I also expect South Park, Family Guy, and American Dad to be tame or surprising. I agree.

[milojthatch]

I hear the animators in Hollywood that work on the show almost walked away from their jobs over this opening.

[Disney's Divinity]

^

Why would they want to quit their jobs?

I don't watch The Simpsons, but I just found it a bit depressing really. It's hard to imagine watching the rest of the show after that though.

[Duckburger]

The animators have contracts to go by, not to mention a steady job in the animation industry which is hard to come across (or so I've read). So I'm pretty sure that rumor is inaccurate.

This is just another (partly) indirect little jab at 20th Century Fox, which obviously participates in the mass production of merchandise in the developing and 3rd world countries (like Disney, Time-Warner, Sony, etc also do). The amount of satire is really easy to spot, though. First of all, every Simpsons episode is done completely digitally as of a few seasons ago, which devaluates the whole cell-drawing scene. And second, I highly doubt they throw little fluffy animals into a shredder, use a dolphins head to close boxes or use a unicorn's horn (WTF?) to remove the circular thingy in a DVD. Overall... I think it's pretty mediocre, and it was obviously just created to cause controversy where controversy is not needed. Everybody is aware of the issues going on, and the people who are not either a) live under a rock or b) choose to not care about it (ignorance is bliss, after all). Producers will go through anything to keep something relevant. The Simpsons was a great show years back, but now it's completely worn out.

I do like the last scene with the prison bars and lights around the 20th Century logo. That was clever.

[milojthatch]

The animators have contracts to go by, not to mention a steady job in the animation industry which is hard to come across (or so I've read). So I'm pretty sure that rumor is inaccurate.

This is just another (partly) indirect little jab at 20th Century Fox, which obviously participates in the mass production of merchandise in the developing and 3rd world countries (like Disney, Time-Warner, Sony, etc also do). The amount of satire is really easy to spot, though. First of all, every Simpsons episode is done completely digitally as of a few seasons ago, which devaluates the whole cell-drawing scene. And second, I highly doubt they throw little fluffy animals into a shredder, use a dolphins head to close boxes or use a unicorn's horn (WTF?) to remove the circular thingy in a DVD. Overall... I think it's pretty mediocre, and it was obviously just created to cause controversy where controversy is not needed. Everybody is aware of the issues going on, and the people who are not either a) live under a rock or b) choose to not care about it (ignorance is bliss, after all). Producers will go through anything to keep something relevant. The Simpsons was a great show years back, but now it's completely worn out.

I do like the last scene with the prison bars and lights around the 20th Century logo. That was clever.

No, they threatened a strike, and I read it on Yahoo News. They didn't, so maybe it was just talk, but it did seem to make them grumpy.