The Simpsons is as much of a TV institution as the news. It’s run for 29 seasons, 639 episodes and 28 years — making it the longest running sitcom and longest running animated show ever. There are a thousand Instagram accounts dedicated to niche Simpsons references (@existentialsimpsons, @scenicsimpsons, @springfieldcuisine). It predicted Trump would become president.
So unsurprisingly, people are all in a flutter over details of a new show by its creator Matt Groening. It’ll be his first new show in 20 years, the last being Futurama (7 seasons, 140 episodes, 1999-2003, RIP). Here’s everything we know so far.
It’s called Disenchantment
disenchantment:
ˌdɪs(ɪ)nˈtʃɑːntm(ə)nt/
noun
1. a feeling of disappointment about someone or something you previously respected or admired; disillusionment.
It will take place in a medieval kingdom called Dreamland
Not to be confused with Dream world, a funfair and amusement park in Margate, Kent.
It stars Abbi Jacobson from Broad City
Which is great news, because we were were concerned about imminent Abbi withdrawal symptoms following the news that Broad City will finish after season 5. Abbi will be playing the lead character, Princess Bean — flanked by a demon called Luci and an elf named Elfo.
It seems… somewhat timely?
The fact that the show called Disenchantment, about a royal, is announced just five days after the world spontaneously combusted over the holy matrimony of a very royal wedding does not seem like a coincidence. Is… Matt Groening about to take down the monarchy? Is… Meghan going to turn to the drink as the show’s title character appears to? Is… Harry the elf or the demon?
So anyway, The Brain is in it! The Brain off Pinky and the Brain!
His other name is Maurice LaMarche and he tweeted this:
Maurice also confirmed that David X Cohen is working on the show, who was the head writer of Futurama and occasional writer on Beavis and Butthead and The Simpsons. Fun fact: he’s credited with inventing the word “cromulent” after writing it into a Simpsons episode. Apparently it means “acceptable” or “fine”.
Rough Draft Studios, Inc. are drawing the pictures and making them move
The Korean/American animation studio was behind Futurama, and have also worked on the likes of the Looney Tunes, Spy Vs. Spy, Napoleon Dynamite and Star Wars. They’ve won lots of awards. According to Wikipedia the studio’s “known for its blending of 2-D with computer animation, or non-photorealistic rendering,” which sounds quite fancy doesn’t it.
Some people are already quite disenchanted with Disenchantment
This comes on the back of significant controversy about The Simpsons’ character Apu, who many people called out as a racist stereotype. Comedian Hari Kondabolu made a whole documentary investigating the subject. Groening, however, shrugged off the criticism entirely: “I think it’s a time in our culture where people love to pretend they’re offended.” Or maybe we just now live in a world where people aren’t prepared to accept racist stereotyping and will call shows out accordingly.
It’s out on Netflix on August 17
Mark your calendar. Or don’t.