The Simpsons – More Than Just an Animated Show

The animated series The Simpsons has always been famous for its eerily accurate predictions of the future, from Disney‘s acquisition of Fox to Trump’s presidency to 21st-century inventions like smartwatches and video calls. This has elevated The Simpsons beyond being just a cartoon for kids. However, its prestige and the values it brings go beyond that, and I’ll tell you the position, and the value of The Simpsons for many viewers.

The Simpsons presents a series of simple yet everyday situations, with a touch of absurdity typical of American society – where anything can become reality – happening to the quintessential American family, the Simpsons. The family comprises 5 members:

• Homer Simpson: constantly likened to a monkey, a “dimwitted” husband.
• Marge Simpson: the number one homemaker of the show.
• Bart Simpson: the mischievous elder brother one might encounter anywhere, academically challenged, enjoys teasing many people.
• Lisa Simpson: the intelligent younger sister, an “unrecognized genius,” sometimes dissatisfied with the family.
• Marge Simpson: a character with fewer lines than even Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800.

In addition, there are also archetypal characters such as:

• Ned Flanders: the devout sheep, the friendly neighbor.
• Mr. Burns: the twisted, ambitious CEO.
• Waylon Smithers: the devoted assistant, “in love” with the boss.
  And so on…

The attraction of the show comes from here. People tend to enjoy watching and laughing at those who are less fortunate than themselves, finding amusement in their misfortunes, and that’s what the show delivers through its ordinary characters. Like Homer with his bald head, in S2E15 – “Simpson and Delilah”, you’ll appreciate your hair more when you see the Simpson family’s life turn upside down as Homer goes to great lengths to have a charming hairstyle.

Or Bart with his foolish pranks turned into a brand, making unimaginable decisions – how much would you pay your lawyer if you were awarded $100.000 in compensation? Bart, being Bart, pays a whopping $900.500 (S6E12 – “Round Springfield”).

After all, the endings always leave behind real values. Homer doesn’t need hair to make his family happier, and Bart doesn’t need $100.000 to bring joy to his little sister. We always chase after numbers, after the glitz and glamour, forgetting the foundation of the family. We think we need a lot of zeros in our bank accounts for our families to be happy, and for our partners to stay by our side… No!! Everything is right there beside us, just a turn back away. And sometimes, you shouldn’t laugh or mock anyone, no matter how weak they may seem.

Not only that, but it’s not just through simple stories following a recurring pattern that The Simpsons has achieved such great success (it’s now in its 30th season) and left such a huge mark on the audience. The story revolving around the Simpson family is increasingly expanded throughout Springfield and dreamy America, delving deep into social issues such as education, healthcare, politics, and more, creating a space with depth, with many more perspectives, thoughts, and humorous situations that force viewers to contemplate.

For example, in S5E13 – “Homer and Apu,” a Kwik-E-Mart convenience store employee in Springfield – Apu – loses his job after selling spoiled meat to Homer. He then has to apologize to the entire Simpson family, acting as a housekeeper, until one day Marge realizes how much Apu misses his old job, and his ideal way of life, and suggests Homer helps him get his job back. The solution is quite simple: go to the first Kwik-E-Mart store for an interview. Homer and Apu … walk from Springfield to India and get nothing in return. During that time, an A-list actor is temporarily doing Apu’s job to get inspiration for his upcoming film. But it fails, and he begs Apu to take his job back. End of the story.

You see, it’s very simple, very absurd, and very nonsensical to many people, but think about it, isn’t the show addressing the issue of paperwork in a very cumbersome job, the issue of ethical selling when the seller himself has been fired and apologizing to his customers? Has anyone seen that happen yet? I haven’t.

Moreover, if you watch this episode, you’ll learn about the sales tricks in supermarkets, exposed through Apu’s dialogue. Then there’s the ideal way of life of a convenience store clerk or the truth about the items inside them… it’s a real eye-opener!!! And there’s a small line about going to space for inspiration for the film role?!

In addition to the stories surrounding the Simpson family, the show also tackles pressing issues of the time. A prime example is Mr. Burns’ nuclear power plant, which provides energy for the entire Springfield. The employees there prove the saying “Men are just big children.” They lack responsibility and awareness of what they are doing. Sound familiar with your coworkers?

Regarding Mr. Burns, I could say he epitomizes the typical American businessman in the late 20th century, wouldn’t you agree? Inheriting a vast fortune always wants everything in exchange for money, is authoritarian, is fond of control, and… doesn’t remember his employees’ names. But everything stems from his excessively materialistic childhood, lacking a true friend in his colossal family estate. Fortunately, this loneliness doesn’t entirely consume Mr. Burns.

For example, in S5E4 – “Rosebud,” I think it might be a prediction about a future where humans are under comprehensive surveillance. If you’re familiar with the show, you’ll notice what Burns sees every day is quite plentiful. Additionally, the three-eyed fish due to genetic modification (which appears frequently when transitioning to scenes at the nuclear power plant, later joined by a three-eyed cow) in the show has been captured in real life as well.

In S6E12 – “Two Dozen and One Greyhounds,” Mr. Burns also resembles us in that he can’t bring himself to harm those cute little dogs, even though his initial purpose was to bring them home to make a coat (I wonder if this might have inspired the movie “102 Dalmatians” in 2000? because this episode aired in 1995). Additionally, there’s another detail I wonder about: does the show reference the trend of wearing fur coats?

The show helps us see our own lives, and the lives of those around us, from a fourth perspective, the perspective of an observer. It’s not difficult to find ourselves during the time we watch the show, so for those who feel themselves in the show, try to correct mistakes and do better than what we did yesterday.

In conclusion, The Simpsons is a true-to-life animated series about family, where everyone in the family can feel something after each episode. Someone once told me, “After each lesson, all you need to learn is one thing, and you’ve succeeded.”