# Does anyone here hate the Simpsons artwork as much as I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** cartoons-animation\ **Created:** [October 30, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273 "2026-10-30T20:41:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/21 "2026-10-31T07:17:40Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > ETA: Ooh, these are the books I own, which are probably in a box in the garage somewhere. I’ve been rewatching The Simpsons right from the start on Disney+ (I’ve got all the series 1 - 14 on dvd but it’s more convenient for watching on my phone) and I swear the small characters in the picture for Big Book of Hell became one of the fairly anonymous background schoolkid characters, in the early episodes at least. The character design is very familiar. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/22 "2026-10-31T07:21:28Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I swear the small characters in the picture for Big Book of Hell became one of the fairly anonymous background schoolkid characters, in the early episodes at least. That’s Akbar and Jeff! They had their own book. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179434671i/916783.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179434671i/916783.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/23 "2026-10-31T11:25:56Z")
A strikingly Homer Simpson-ish figure also appears in _Work Is Hell_. (Look for “The Incompetent Manager” under “The 81 Types of Employees.”) [![](https://lars.ingebrigtsen.no/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-06-12-21.jpeg) ](https://lars.ingebrigtsen.no/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-06-12-21.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/24 "2026-10-31T15:10:30Z")
That’s not so surprising; artists have their own style, so it would make sense to see a resemblance. (And regarding Akbar & Jeff, I remember _years_ ago, Matt Groening was asked if the duo were brothers or lovers or what. His answer? Whatever offends you the most.) Some here may have come to The Simpsons later, but I’m old enough to have watched the show since the beginning. The first five or ten years were probably the peak for the show, when it was at the heart of popular culture, with really clever writing and episodes that referenced various books, movies and television shows. Even the opening animated sequences (the “couch gag”) often drew on the styles of other animators or visual artists. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/25 "2026-10-31T15:30:17Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > regarding Akbar & Jeff, I remember _years_ ago, Matt Groening was asked if the duo were brothers or lovers or what. His answer? Whatever offends you the most. I recall him once describing them as “possibly both.” ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/26 "2026-10-31T15:38:52Z")
I feel exactly the same way about Van Gogh’s murals in the Sistine Chapel. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/27 "2026-10-31T15:50:06Z")
Also, during the early days, The Simpsons were at the forefront of popular culture and even politics. During his 1992 election campaign, George H. W. Bush said at a convention of religious broadcasters, “We’re going to keep trying to strengthen the American family. To make them more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons.” And then a few days later, Bart Simpson replied on the show, “Hey, we’re just like the Waltons. We’re praying for an end to the Depression, too.” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/28 "2026-10-31T17:22:17Z")
There is a similar pair of twins on _Disenchantment_. > **[Vip and Vap](https://disenchantment.fandom.com/wiki/Vip_and_Vap)** > > Vip and Vap are recurring characters in Disenchantment. They are members of the Dreamland Royal Court and attendants to King Zøg. They were initially a trio, before Voop was killed and stuffed by Dagmar. They appear to be identical twins and wear... ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/29 "2026-10-31T19:38:19Z")
I’m old enough to remember the Tracy Allman show with the original Simpsons as decoration. I enjoyed both, but appreciate how the art work evolved in later years. I also read _Life in Hell_ when it was a syndicated cartoon in underground newspapers (remember newspapers?). Interesting, but I wasn’t a big fan of MG just from that. Anyone remember the episode(s) where the cast was drawn in 3-D? Or when the alternate “Evil Bart” took over? Quite innovative, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/30 "2026-10-31T19:55:49Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Anyone remember the episode(s) where the cast was drawn in 3-D? Or when the alternate “Evil Bart” took over? I believe those were both from “Treehouse of Horror” episodes which are among the best episodes of the show. I loved the episode with the haunted Krusty doll that was trying to kill people (Chucky style) until it was discovered that there was a switch on its back that you have to flip from “Evil” to “Good”. Or my all-time favorite Halloween bit which was the parody of _The Shining_. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/31 "2026-10-31T20:04:03Z")
Treehouse of Horror poll coming in a few minutes-PLEASE don’t reply in the poll thread when I link it here! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/32 "2026-10-31T20:05:13Z")
Personally, I always favored crudely-drawn cartoons with great writing over slickly-drawn ones that were unfunny. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/33 "2026-10-31T20:13:38Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Guess that was a different strip, now I look into it, Presumably syndicated, not tied to a particular paper. _Life in Hell_, as several have noted, was Groening’s comic strip, which preceded _The Simpsons_. It was, indeed, syndicated, and typically appeared in alternative newspapers (along with other subversive and often NSFW content). I discovered Groening and _Life in Hell_ when I was attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1980s, and reading _Isthmus_, the city’s alternative weekly; I also discovered _The Straight Dope_ column in that same paper. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/34 "2026-10-31T20:23:26Z")
[Favorite Treehouse of Horror stories from the first 15 eps?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/7124) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273/35 "2026-10-31T20:49:32Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Personally I dislike the visual style of Bob’s Burgers. > > I was joking with a friend last weekend about how that show takes place in a parallel dimension where human beings evolved without chins for some reason. The chinlessness may be what turned me off Bob’s Burgers (and other shows with the same animation style). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-hate-the-simpsons-artwork-as-much-as-i-do/1034273.md?page=1)