The Simpsons

[Capt Quirk]

My how they have grown! They started out as a short on the Tracy Ullman show, finally got their own show, and have spun off into several games and comics. Now they have a movie. So what else is left for the Jaundiced and dysfunctional family?

Live action?

This is not a rumor or anything, just a musing. Several other animated or comic subjects have been brought to live action... and most were dismal failures. My question is, would it be possible to bring the Simpsons into a live action setting while keeping the charm that has made the animated series a wildly popular hit?

 

[David Jimerson]

I don't think so.

 

[Terry_Lasater]

I hope not.

 

[HorseFilms]

That would be the biggest abomination I've seen in a long time.

 

[Capt Quirk]

The question was could it be done successfully, not should it be done. Is it possible to do it live and keep the same charm that has made it popular?

 

[HorseFilms]

I really don't see how you could pull that off.

 

[Capt Quirk]

Why not? Would it be too hard to cast it? I mean, if Matt Groening continued writing it the way it is then the hardest part I could see would be matching the actors to the characters. Probably have to do voice overs to get the comedic voices right.

 

[HorseFilms]

Because you're dealing with sacred ground here. This isn't like doing a live action Garfield movie (which was horrible). This is the freaking Simpsons.

 

[oneinfiniteloop]

Because you're dealing with sacred ground here. This isn't like doing a live action Garfield movie (which was horrible). This is the freaking Simpsons.

Agreed. The Simpsons are a lexicon of pop culture, changing the formula would prove idiotic. I think the crossover from animated to live action only works with things of fantasy, i.e. Transformers, etc. When it comes to characters that represent humans, it's an icy slope.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Like This?

Or this....

 

[Terry_Lasater]

Like This?

Yeah, I've seen that and that is exactly what I imagine if the attempt were made. It just doesn't work for me. Too "Flintstones"...

Even if the attempt were made to pull off a "live action" version, it would be chock-full of sfx, etc in an attempt to make it cartoonish - thus, defeating the purpose.

 

[TC]

I mean, if Matt Groening continued writing it the way it is

Just as a side note, Matt isn't really a writer. He has last say over the scripts, but he isn't a staff writer.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Yeah, I've seen that and that is exactly what I imagine if the attempt were made. It just doesn't work for me. Too "Flintstones"..

Completely agree.


On another topic (sort of) I can't tell you how bummed I am that I'm shooting both Saturday and Sunday - which means I have to rig up the studio Friday night...which means I can't go see the Simpsons movie opening night.

Doh!