Summary
The Simpsonsdirector and animator David Silverman explains how aTreehouse of Horrorsegment had one key animated innovation beforeToy Story. Silverman is a big name in the world of animation, known for work onThe Simpsons,Monsters, Inc. andIce Age. “Treehouse of Horror” is an annualSimpsonsHalloween tradition that began in 1990. 1995’sToyStorywas the firstPixar filmto ever be released.
Speaking withCorridor Crew, Silverman discusses a key innovation in an earlyTreehouse of Horrorepisode.
The Simpsonsseason 7, episode 6, “Treehouse of Horror VI” included computer-generated animation, a feat which Silverman notes “came out a month before Toy Story.” This shocked the Corridor Crew, who note how goodThe Simpsonsepisode looks given its release date. Silverman explains his thought process in positing thatThe Simpsonscould come up with an animated style that was at least as good as the Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” music video, and he and his team looked into it.
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Silverman provided the detail thatThe Simpsonsended up partnering with a group called Pacific Data Images (PDI), who helped the team work on “Treehouse of Horror VI.“This group became the precursor to Dreamworks creatingShrek, so it was a key step in the creation of more 3D animation. Both Silverman and the Corridor Crew break down elements ofThe Simpsonsepisode, including the strength of the shadows and the reflection. One member of the Corridor Crew was “completely blown away by this.”
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Other innovations include “Treehouse of Horror XXXIII,” where a segment is told in an anime style in a spoof ofDeath Note. In addition to the 3D animation,“Treehouse of Horror VI” breaks aSimpsonsconvention by including a live-action sequencewhere Homer enters the real world and finds an erotic cake bakery.Treehouse of Horroris often seen as a time forThe Simpsonsto innovate. Looking back at the pre-Toy Storyepisode in 1995, it is clear that this innovation was part of the fabric ofTreehouse of Horrorfrom the beginning.
Visual style is not the only way in whichtheTreehouse of Horrorepisodesare innovative. The terror-filled episodes also act as homages to films in the tradition by parodying major horror films, or even works of sci-fi or other genres. Some media whichThe Simpsonshas parodied forTreehouse of HorrorincludeThe Shining,2001: A Space Odyssey,The Exorcist,Coraline, andInvasion of the Body Snatchers. These Halloween-themed episodes are among the highest regarded in the series' entire run and still have viewers tuning in every year.
The Simpsons
Cast
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
