TMC
07-17-2022, 06:49 PM
https://www.looper.com/930602/how-long-it-really-takes-to-create-just-one-episode-of-the-simpsons/
The Simpsons takes half a year to get to the couch
While estimates vary, it generally takes anywhere between six and nine months to make an episode of "The Simpsons." While certain aspects of making the show have evolved over the decades, the process itself evidently remains more or less the same (via The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/25/9457247/the-simpsons-al-jean-interview)).
After being written and having voices recorded, storyboards are produced which illustrate the script in a visual, comic-like format. Those storyboards get turned into a story reel, which showcases the storyboards in video format. This is crucial to understanding the camera moves, acting beats, and staging before the animation is done. From there, the design department handles any character, costume, and prop designs. Once all story and design aspects are approved, the layout artists create all the finished backgrounds and important character key poses within each scene, which are then sent over to an animation studio in Korea to complete the animation. Afterward, the crew adds music and edits the episode as needed (via The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQC9BM63ng)).
While production on "The Simpsons" is certainly a lengthy venture, it's not too out of place for animated series. While there are rare exceptions of shows such as "South Park" that take as little as six days (https://www.slashfilm.com/577677/the-quarantine-stream-6-days-to-air-the-making-of-south-park/) to produce, others such as "Rick and Morty" can take as long as 9 to 12 months to create just one episode (via Inverse (https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/rick-morty-season-4-episode-6-delay-release-date-coronavirus-covid19-hulu)). But you know what they say — if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And for a show that's been on the air for over 30 years, it seems that their system has yet to crack.
The Simpsons takes half a year to get to the couch
While estimates vary, it generally takes anywhere between six and nine months to make an episode of "The Simpsons." While certain aspects of making the show have evolved over the decades, the process itself evidently remains more or less the same (via The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/25/9457247/the-simpsons-al-jean-interview)).
After being written and having voices recorded, storyboards are produced which illustrate the script in a visual, comic-like format. Those storyboards get turned into a story reel, which showcases the storyboards in video format. This is crucial to understanding the camera moves, acting beats, and staging before the animation is done. From there, the design department handles any character, costume, and prop designs. Once all story and design aspects are approved, the layout artists create all the finished backgrounds and important character key poses within each scene, which are then sent over to an animation studio in Korea to complete the animation. Afterward, the crew adds music and edits the episode as needed (via The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQC9BM63ng)).
While production on "The Simpsons" is certainly a lengthy venture, it's not too out of place for animated series. While there are rare exceptions of shows such as "South Park" that take as little as six days (https://www.slashfilm.com/577677/the-quarantine-stream-6-days-to-air-the-making-of-south-park/) to produce, others such as "Rick and Morty" can take as long as 9 to 12 months to create just one episode (via Inverse (https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/rick-morty-season-4-episode-6-delay-release-date-coronavirus-covid19-hulu)). But you know what they say — if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And for a show that's been on the air for over 30 years, it seems that their system has yet to crack.