This Avant-Garde Simpsons Couch Gag Is Like a Bad Acid Trip

[JaredJones]

This Avant-Garde Simpsons Couch Gag Is Like a Bad Acid Trip


"I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows...your mind."

In the 26 years that The Simpsons have been on the air (a statistic that is just bonkers no matter how many times you type it), they have utilized over 500 "couch gags" [http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_couch_gags] in their now iconic opening credits sequence.

Everyone from Banksy to Guillermo Del Toro have contributed a gag at one time or another, and last February, Australian artists Paul Robertson and Ivan Dixon released an 8-bit version of the intro [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIZ_gDOrzGk] so brilliant that it actually made it into a Simpsons episode -- season 26's "My Fair Lady."

The Simpsons has become more than just a staple of American culture at this point; it's nothing short of a global phenomenon. As such, artists from all different walks of life (and corners of the world) are attempting to add their own incarnation of these infamous couch gags into the Simpsons canon.

Take French artist/character designer Yoann Hervo, for instance, who recently shared his own take on the Simpsons intro with the world. Without giving too much away, I will say that it is by far the most freakish, insane intro I have ever seen -- like a mix between Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and a Disney nightmare sequence. Let's hope Hervo is bestowed with the same honor as Robertson and Dixon for his incredible effort, because this intro will surely serve as a departure from the norm.

Permalink

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

It's amazing how often auto correct replaces 'loud and obnoxious' with avant-garde isn't it?

 

[visiblenoise]

Looks like someone couldn't draw the characters properly and just decided to go with it

 

[deleted+75193]

DELETED

 

[Fdzzaigl]

Pretty freakish and funny. Not the first popular work he made fun of.

 

[BeerTent]

THIS is what staring into the mouth of madness is like. Got it.

 

[Vigormortis]

Ah, avant-garde. The code word(s) for "loud, pretentious, obnoxious shit".

Really, there was nothing creative or enjoyable about that intro. It was weird simply for the sake of being weird, which is as unimaginative as it is lazy. In fact, I'd rather watch David Fynch's Crazy Clown Time again than watch this intro a second time, and I fucking HATE Crazy Clown Time.

 

[TheVampwizimp_v1legacy]

Uhh, that wasn't even interesting. From the comments, both positive and negative, I was expecting something at least completely bonkers, even if it wasn't good. All I got was something I could have imagined in an undirected daydream.

Hell, most of what you see in Adventure Time is just as crazy as this. And Adventure Time does what it does for a purpose, in service to a theme, or at least a laugh. I honestly see no point to this. It says nothing, and watching it gained me nothing. I am disappointed.

 

[Dragonlayer]

Well that was a load of meaningless, surrealist garbage. Besides, they already used the Scream in a much better scene!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nWTqRSrLfY

>_> I can't find it in English.

Or indeed figure out how to preview videos.

 

[FPLOON]

Uh... I like the part that had "Lisa" in it...

Other than that, it needed to be more weirder and more trippy if it's ever going to become an official couch gag, even if I unironically like this version more than others...

 

[Victim of Progress]

Can I used that hated phrase and say that it's "trying too hard"? It does feel like they tried to make an abstract and cool intro, but failed miserably.
I think it was done much better in the "Clown In The Dumps" couch gag, where homer accidentally presses the fast-forward button.

 

[CaitSeith]

Thank you, Escapist! You saved me the effort of going to that part of the Internet by myself today...

 

[Gorrath]

Can I used that hated phrase and say that it's "trying too hard"? It does feel like they tried to make an abstract and cool intro, but failed miserably.
I think it was done much better in the "Clown In The Dumps" couch gag, where homer accidentally presses the fast-forward button.

I had to look up this "clown in the dumps" intro you mentioned and to me it looks like Adult Swim original programming.

OT: Eh, I liked it. General consensus so far is that it sucks but I find the imagery to be interesting. Art, it is what you make of it!

 

[CaitSeith]

Looks like someone couldn't draw the characters properly and just decided to go with it

Ironically they look much more like in the first two seasons.

 

[kat-pottz]

speaking as an animator the drawing may be a bit crude but the motion is pretty fluid and seems work for what the artist wanted to get across in the work. I admit the iconography is a bit heavy handed (the baby especially) but in general I think it's a pretty decent animation, not great by any means but it's pretty decent. (also I don't think fox would ever allow this to be shown on tv considering how wide of a demographic they want to appeal to with the show.)