Simpsons Executives Share Ambitious Vision for Show’s Finale

On Friday, The Hollywood Reporter celebrated its inaugural Animation Power List by hosting the first-ever Most Powerful People in Animation breakfast. The event, which brought together industry icons alongside rising talents, was held at Spago Beverly Hills and sponsored by Paramount Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, and ASIFA.

Keynote Conversation with Animation Legends

The gathering featured a keynote discussion between The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and showrunner Matt Selman, moderated by THR‘s Scott Roxborough. The pair reflected on the monumental achievements of the long-running series, which recently surpassed 800 episodes. Selman expressed his gratitude for the past 30 years, humorously stating, “I’m grateful that I got to spend 30 years, even in the most stressful days, having fun and being silly with fun, silly people, and that’s the big deal.” His lighthearted remarks included a joking reference to former colleagues regretting their departure from the show.

During the conversation, Groening and Selman discussed the show’s remarkable ability to predict future events. Groening quipped about the potential for live executions to be streamed, suggesting that animators inject “wacky sound effects” to mitigate the grimness of such a scenario. They also touched on the much-anticipated Simpsons Movie 2, which is set to release 20 years after the original film.

The Future of The Simpsons

When reflecting on the future of The Simpsons, Groening quipped, “I always say, ‘No end in sight.’ And that’s how we all want to die, right? By surprise,” eliciting laughter from the audience. Selman added, “I would love to not cling to the show forever and let fresh people keep it amazing forever. I hope the show goes on forever, but I don’t need to be the guy forever, and I had a good run.”

Groening elaborated on the lengthy gap between films, explaining, “We still haven’t recovered from the first movie, basically,” attributing the exhaustion to the intense workload of the original production.

Highlight on Tangles

The event also showcased Tangles, an animated film that premiered at Cannes this year. The story follows a young woman returning to her conservative hometown after her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Voice actors Abbi Jacobson and Samira Wiley joined Roxborough for a discussion about their experience working on the film, particularly noting the rare opportunity to record their lines together in the same booth.

Wiley emphasized the importance of chemistry in the booth, stating, “I do think that the performances in the film would not be what they are without having that chemistry in the room.” Jacobson also shared her emotional first viewing experience of Tangles, expressing how it delicately balances humor with the serious themes surrounding Alzheimer’s disease. “Going through it is so sad but there are really funny moments,” she noted, commending the film’s ability to strike an incredible balance.

The breakfast garnered significant attendance from notable figures in the animation industry, including DreamWorks Animation’s Margie Cohn and Kristin Lowe, Skydance Animation’s Carolyn Roach, Warner Bros. Animation’s Peter Girardi and Matt Matzkin, and many others.