Matt Groening, the dad of “Simpsons”, tells every little thing | EUROtoday

LA legend goes right into a gale. Faced with us, for fifteen minutes included: Matt Groening, the person who invented Simpsons. In denims, sneakers and shirt arms, the screenwriter/producer/designer, flanked by the historic director of the sequence David Silverman (he signed the very first episode in 1989) and the chief producer Matt Selman, responded to the invitation of the Annecy animated movie pageant for the handing over an honor crystal rewarding his profession.

Very moved by the excellence, the 71 -year -old colossus (he’s ten much less) gave himself up on Tuesday to a masterclass in entrance of the enamored public of the pageant, in a big room within the Bonlieu house full as an egg. Man is more and more uncommon within the media – and much more in France, the place his final go to dates again to … 2010, on the event of the 50^e Festival anniversary. It was then his second arrival by the lake, after a primary look in 2008.

“Because of their breast -shaped eyes!” »»

We are due to this fact all of the happier, at Pointto have been capable of tear this brief interview with the mind of probably the most well-known animation sequence on the planet: greater than 800 episodes on the clock, 36 seasons, a dissemination assured at the very least till 2029 in additional than 100 international locations, and an viewers of greater than 200 million viewers on the planet. Nevertheless: 1 / 4 of an hour to method a piece of 35 years of age, it is steep! Besides, why a lot public love and such longevity? “Because the eyes of the Simpsons look like a pair of breasts!” “Hastens to answer the semily Matt Selman in place of groening, who explodes laughing in front of us:” Wow, I had by no means heard that one, glorious rationalization! ” »»

End of laughter, Matt Groening resumes his seriousness without ever getting away from a cordial smile, leaving good thanks to the exercise: “We proceed to attempt to shock ourselves and that is how we shock the general public, that is all I can say. We really feel very, very privileged that the sequence continues to draw new generations after so lengthy. What different sequence than Simpsons Can you boast of getting had spectators who have been the age of Bart and Lisa and who now have thirty or his forties and take a look at her with their kids aged 8 or 10?

And as well as, they will watch new episodes collectively, whereas revising the episodes of their childhood. It is a novel household tv expertise that, happily for us, no different sequence has by no means been capable of provide. Some of those kids grew as much as work on Simpsons ! One of our writers was born throughout season 4 (laughs). And her son has simply been born throughout season 36. My personal daughters are sufficiently old to go to school, they grew up with Simpsonsit is a part of their lives. I take a look at new episodes with their little pals, and if they don’t chortle, I shout them! »»

From confidential beginnings to planetary controversies

Born in 1989 on Fox, produced by James L. Brooks, SimpsonsChronicle of an odd household of the village of Springfield (whose unique state continues to be an unfathomable enigma), skilled a prehistoricity in 1987 in one other format: “In its very first form, the series was broadcast in the Tracey Ullman Showvia sequences of 15 seconds, approximately four per program. As they aroused enormous laughs in the audience, it ended up drawing the attention of Fox TV leaders, and that’s how we had the series. In a flash, the Garment Bart, his sister Lisa, their parents Homer and Marge, as well as all the little world of Springfield have conquered the globe. In France, the VF turbo-cult Simpsoncarried by the tandem Philippe Peythieu and Véronique Augereau (present in Annecy) in the respective roles of the parents, has largely contributed to its popularity.Read too Complicated beginnings, tensions …: the book that says behind the scenes of “Simpsons”

In addition to three decades, Matt Groening saw the modes, mentalities and many tunes of time pass. Despite less corrosive content than South Park,, Simpsons also experienced its controversies – religious, political or racial, with, among other things, the accusation of racial stereotypes concerning the Indian character of Apu in 2017. But the DeMiurge Groening prefers to protect its authors from the vicissitudes of the offensive era, without wishing to put a play in the machine: “I made the error as soon as, a number of years in the past, to say that we have been in a time after we have been in a time after we have been like folks in an period after we have been in a time after we favored folks after we have been in a time after we favored folks after we have been in an period after we have been like folks in an period through which fake to be offended. It is as if I had walked on a nest of bees, sad! But what have you learnt? Everything goes. People are offended on the time, after which they transfer on.

All these episodes which have aggravated the general public are at all times obtainable to look at on Disney+… ”in contrast to South Park,, Simpsonsof the admission of Matt Selman and Matt Groening, avoids strictly political satire for the good thing about social satire: “What makes me the happiest is when we make people laugh who do not agree with us”, confides to the Point Matt Groening. “But to tell the truth, I laugh much more in front of some of our gags which have nothing to do with a socio-political commentary but which are much more raw. Like this episode where Marge tells Homer: “Homer, I don’t mind if you pee in the shower, but only when you really take a shower!” »And Matt Groening laughs more beautiful!

A captain always at the helm

We laugh, we laugh, but casually, under his guys, the father of Simpson Stay firmly at the helm, even after 35 years, while leading other projects: “I have so much confidence in the direction of the series that I can turn my attention to my two other projects, which are Futurama… And my own children! On SimpsonsI intervene very early, from the first reading of an episode around the table, and then I give my notes on the rewritings. If I am excited by a new idea, I call Matt and tell him about it. »Selman confirms:« We exchange a lot of texts! “Groening continues:” And in addition to continuing to get involved in the designs of characters, accessories and backgrounds, I work at the end of the sound effects. Without the right sound effects, it’s incredible as the series can be flat! »»

And Matt Groening to tell us, with force onomatopoeia, an episode where Homer fought with Smithers (the right arm of M. Burns, the odious director of the nuclear power plant which employs Homer Simpson – editor’s note) and the difficulty that the team had to find the right effect for the Uppercuts: “Homer and Smithers struck the face, one of them From a phone, but it was just painful to watch, not funny at all! We tried different solutions but nothing was walking – it was too realistic or too silly. I then proposed, just for a test, that we cut all the assault sounds squarely to leave only the “ouch!” And the “yellows”! And it labored, as a result of it’s the maso facet of the scene that was humorous, not the sadistic facet. »»

The artwork of element in keeping with groening

Matt Groening additionally applies, in its directives, to underline the significance of sounds within the sequence: “The noise of step should never be generic. I always point out: “sounds of sneakers on linoleum” or “sneakers grip on a basketball court”. “And Matt Groening to laugh again, all of a sudden (we love it!), On a memory coming back to him:” There was additionally this episode the place Homer was descending a disgusting water slide, and we placed on a noise of bathroom flush. Wow, it was so… metaphorical! »The subsequent time you watch an episode of SimpsonTake your ear too …

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Answer

We can not depart Matt Groening with out asking him the everlasting question-the worst, to inform the reality, as he appears to bear it (smiling, at all times) to virtually each latest interview: he already in thoughts an final episode of the last word episode Simpsona remaining farewell? ” No ! And this query was so typically requested by your colleagues that she impressed us a false remaining episode: Bart’s Birthdaythe primary episode of season 36 (broadcast on September 29, 2024 on Fox – Editor’s observe)! An episode which we reveal that it was truly written by an AI and the place we comply a number of potential ends for Simpsonsutterly rotten (in one in every of these functions created by AI, Bart lastly ages and celebrates his eleventh anniversary – editor’s observe). »»

Invent a false finish generated by an AI… what an excellent thought of ​​the group – another – for instance an virtually philosophical drawback for Simpsons : It is, narratively, unimaginable to invent an actual remaining for a sequence whose very idea is to keep up an everlasting establishment. Ouch: the end-the actual one, that one-of our interview will deprive us of a number of different questions for the god Matt Groening. A legendary creator, and continually creative … together with the artwork of placing you in a field!