The opening credits to The Simpsonsâwhere the entire family rushes home to gather in front of the televisionâis one of the most iconic in television history. Itâs almost impossible to even think about it without whistling the song. Well, to pay tribute to the show for 25 years on the air, one artist has put together a version of the opening credits that would be perfectly appropriate for the version of the show that airs in your nightmares.
Using the same locations and format, this “Weird Simpsons VHS” video re-imagines the opening as some ghoulish hellscape created during an acid trip gone horribly wrong. Creator Yoann Hervo takes a sunny day in Springfield and makes it an adventure in the subversive. Maggie gets squished. The square head of Homer spits out Bart. Itâs like someone took the concept of The Simpsons Halloween episodes, but forgot it’s supposed to be funny and not horrifying.
Under the heading of “25th Anniversary of the First Simpsons Episode,” the creator gives a little background on how the unsettlingâbut strangely enthrallingâvideo came about, saying that, “the opening is just a small part of a collaborative project launched up” with the idea “to invite some animators to produce, in their own style, a short story in The Simpsons universe.” Apparently the project did not come to fruition, so all we have is this opening credit to use as nightmare fuel.
Showing that Hervo truly understands the scariest notion for any TV show, the credits ends with an empty couch staring at a lonely television.
What do you think of this very strange, but very interesting Simpsons video? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or just come so we can work this out together and try to get some sleep tonight.