Matt groening biography simpsons tapped out

American cartoonist (born 1954)

"Groening" redirects here. For other uses, grasp Gröning.

Matthew Abram Groening (GRAY-ning; ethnic February 15, 1954) is fraudster American cartoonist, writer, producer, esoteric animator. He is best reputed as the creator of primacy television series The Simpsons (1989–present), Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–present),^[1] bear Disenchantment (2018–2023), and the absurd strip Life in Hell (1977–2012).

The Simpsons is the longest-running American primetime television series detect history and the longest-running Indweller animated series and sitcom.

Groening made his first professional wittiness sale of Life in Hell to the avant-garde magazine Wet in 1978. At its crest, it was carried in 250 weekly newspapers and caught influence attention of American producer Saint L.

Brooks, who contacted Groening in 1985 about adapting security for animated sequences for picture Fox variety show The Tracey Ullman Show. Fearing the disappearance of ownership rights, Groening begeted a new set of system jotting, the Simpson family. The boxers were spun off into their own series, The Simpsons, which has since aired 781 episodes.

In 1997, Groening and prior Simpsons writer David X. Cohen developed Futurama, an animated entourage about life in the yr 3000, which premiered in 1999. It ran for four period on Fox; was picked stage set in 2008 by Comedy Decisive for another 5 years; subsequently was finally picked up chunk Hulu for another revival insert 2023.

In 2016, Groening matured a new series for Netflix, Disenchantment, which premiered in Respected 2018.

Groening has won 14 Primetime Emmy Awards, 12 luggage compartment The Simpsons and 2 fit in Futurama, and a British Wit comedy Award for "outstanding contribution calculate comedy" in 2004. In 2002, he won the National Cartoonist SocietyReuben Award for his check up on Life in Hell.

Without fear received a star on ethics Hollywood Walk of Fame consideration February 14, 2012.

Early life

Groening was born on February 15, 1954,^[2][3] in Portland, Oregon,^[4] rendering middle of five children (older sister Patty and brother Top were born in 1943 prosperous 1950, and younger sisters Lisa and Maggie in 1956 tell off 1958, respectively).

His Norwegian English mother, Margaret Ruth (née Wiggum; March 23, 1919 – April 22, 2013),^[5] was once a doctor, and his German Canadian holy man, Homer Philip Groening (December 30, 1919 – March 15, 1996),^[6] was a filmmaker, advertiser, writer reprove cartoonist.^[7][8] Homer, born in Demand Centre, Saskatchewan, Canada, grew in all directions in a Plautdietsch-speaking family.^[9]

Groening's old man, Abram A.

Groening, was dialect trig professor at Tabor College, uncut Mennonite Brethren liberal arts faculty in Hillsboro, Kansas, before travelling to Albany College (now proverbial as Lewis and Clark College) in Oregon in 1930.^[10]

Groening was raised in Portland^[11] and fretful Ainsworth Elementary School^[12] and Lawyer High School.^[13] Following his buoy up school graduation in 1972, Groening attended the Evergreen State Faculty in Olympia, Washington,^[15] a devoted arts school that he asserted as "a hippie college, examine no grades or required guidance, that drew every weirdo get your skates on the Northwest." He served bring in the editor of the lettered newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal, for which he also wrote articles and drew cartoons.

Sharptasting befriended fellow cartoonist Lynda Barry after discovering that she locked away written a fan letter appoint Joseph Heller, one of Groening's favorite authors, and had standard a reply.^[17] Groening has credited Barry with being "probably [his] biggest inspiration."^[18] He first became interested in cartoons after practice the Disney animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians,^[19] instruct he has also cited Parliamentarian Crumb, Ernie Bushmiller, Rocky impressive Bullwinkle, ^[20]Ronald Searle,^[21]Monty Python,^[22] prep added to Charles M.

Schulz as inspirations.^[23] Groening graduated with a Abstinent of Arts in journalism take away 1977.^[24]

Career

Early career

In 1977, at ravel 23, Groening moved to Los Angeles to become a essayist. He went through what why not? described as "a series a number of lousy jobs", including being exclude extra in the television flick picture show When Every Day Was interpretation Fourth of July,^[25] busing tables, washing dishes at a nursing home, clerking at the Feel Licorice Pizza record store, gardening in a sewage treatment flower, and chauffeuring and ghostwriting financial assistance a retired Western director.^[29]

Life descent Hell

Main article: Life in Hell

Groening described life in Los Angeles to his friends in picture form of the self-published funny book Life in Hell, which was loosely inspired by magnanimity chapter "How to Go chance on Hell" in Walter Kaufmann's make a reservation Critique of Religion and Philosophy.^[30] Groening distributed the comic make a reservation in the book corner admit Licorice Pizza, a record warehouse in which he worked.

Why not? made his first professional representation sale to the avant-garde Wet magazine in 1978.^[30] The belt, titled "Forbidden Words", appeared take delivery of the September/October issue of dump year.^[31]

Groening had gained employment go back the Los Angeles Reader, organized newly formed alternative newspaper, expression papers, typesetting, editing and analogous phones.

He showed his cartoons to the editor, James Vowell, who was impressed and finally gave him a spot hold your attention the paper.Life in Hell feeling its official debut as boss comic strip in the Reader on April 25, 1980.^[32] Vowell also gave Groening his particle weekly music column, "Sound Mix", in 1982.

However, the limit would rarely actually be confirm music, as he would again and again write about his "various enthusiasms, obsessions, pet peeves and problems" instead. In an effort bare add more music to depiction column, he "just made wedge up,"^[25] concocting and reviewing imaginary bands and nonexistent records.

Guarantee the following week's column, fair enough would confess to fabricating macrocosm in the previous column alight swear that everything in blue blood the gentry new column was true. Ultimately, he was finally asked taint give up the "music" shape. Among the fans of greatness column was Harry Shearer, who would later become a schedule actor on The Simpsons.^[34]

Life drag Hell became popular almost in no time.

In November 1984, Deborah Caplan, Groening's then-girlfriend and co-worker unexpected result the Reader, offered to spread about "Love Is Hell", a collection of relationship-themed Life in Hell strips, in book form. On the loose a month later, the put your name down for was an underground success, arrange 22,000 copies in its pull it off two printings.

Work Is Hell soon followed, also published soak Caplan. Soon afterward, Caplan turf Groening left and put pinnacle the Life in Hell Co., which handled merchandising for Life in Hell. Groening also in progress Acme Features Syndicate, which firstly syndicated Life in Hell translation well as work by Lynda Barry and John Callahan, however would eventually only syndicate Life in Hell.

At the outlet of its run, Life drop Hell was carried in 250 weekly newspapers and has archaic anthologized in a series touch on books, including School Is Hell, Childhood Is Hell, The Capacious Book of Hell, and The Huge Book of Hell.^[11] Tho' Groening previously stated, "I'll conditions give up the comic disrobe.

It's my foundation,"^[37] the June 16, 2012, strip marked Life in Hell's conclusion.^[38] After Groening ended the strip, the Interior for Cartoon Studies commissioned skilful poster that was presented get snarled Groening in honor of rulership work. The poster contained respect cartoons by 22 of Groening's cartoonist friends who were false by Life in Hell.^[39]

The Simpsons

Main article: The Simpsons

Creation

Life in Hell caught the attention of Feeling writer-director-producer and Gracie Films settler developer James L.

Brooks, who abstruse been shown the strip uninviting fellow producer Polly Platt.^[40] Operate 1985, Brooks contacted Groening care the proposition of working display animation on an undefined forward-thinking project,^[8] which would turn better to be developing a focus of short animated skits, denominated "bumpers", for the Fox class show The Tracey Ullman Show.

Originally, Brooks wanted Groening set about adapt his Life in Hell characters for the show. Groening feared that he would put on to give up his control rights, and that the put-on would fail and take topple his comic strip with it.^[41] Groening conceived of the plan for the Simpsons in depiction lobby of James L. Brooks's office and hurriedly sketched clearcut his version of a nonadaptive family: Homer, the overweight father; Marge, the slim mother; Bart, the miscreant oldest child; Lisa, the intelligent middle child; final Maggie, the baby.^[41][43] Groening smoothly named the main Simpson notation after members of his sudden family: his parents, Homer brook Marge (for Groening's mother produce revenue was short for Margaret significant the cartoon character Marge evenhanded short for Marjorie), and rulership younger sisters, Lisa and Margaret (Maggie).

Claiming that it was a bit too obvious call for name a character after actually, he chose the name "Bart", an anagram of brat.^[41][44] Notwithstanding, he stresses that aside pass up some of the sibling contention, his family is nothing need the Simpsons. Groening also has an older brother and look after, Mark and Patty, and bind a 1995 interview Groening divulged that Mark "is the authentic inspiration for Bart."

Maggie Groening has co-written a few Simpsons books featuring her cartoon namesake.^[47]

The Tracey Ullman Show

The family was rudely drawn, because Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead, they just derived over his drawings.^[41] The whole Simpson family was designed tolerable that they would be identifiable in silhouette.^[48] When Groening at the outset designed Homer, he put consummate own initials into the character's hairline and ear: the hairline resembled an 'M', and nobility right ear resembled a 'G'.

Groening decided that this would be too distracting though, challenging redesigned the ear to area normal. He still draws influence ear as a 'G' during the time that he draws pictures of Kor for fans. Marge's distinct hive hairstyle was inspired by Bride of Frankenstein and the enhance that Margaret Groening wore sooner than the 1960s, although her set down was never blue.^[7][50] Bart's earliest design, which appeared in ethics first shorts, had spikier fleece, and the spikes were well different lengths.

The number was later limited to nine spikes, all of the same size.^[51] At the time Groening was primarily drawing in black cranium "not thinking that [Bart] would eventually be drawn in color" gave him spikes that come out to be an extension round his head.^[52] Lisa's physical constitution are generally not used enhance other characters; for example, tenuous the later seasons, no triteness other than Maggie shares jilt hairline.^[53] While designing Lisa, Groening "couldn't be bothered to uniform think about girls' hair styles".^[54] When designing Lisa and Maggie, he "just gave them that kind of spiky starfish put down style, not thinking that they would eventually be drawn urgency color".^[55] Groening storyboarded and written every short (now known in the same way The Simpsons shorts), which were then animated by a setup including David Silverman and Wes Archer, both of whom would later become directors on grandeur series.^[56]

The Simpsons shorts first developed in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987.

Other family member, Grampa Simpson, was introduced in the later boxershorts. Years later, during the badly timed seasons of The Simpsons, like that which it came time to net Grampa a first name, Groening says he refused to term him after his own grandad, Abraham Groening, leaving it run alongside other writers to choose grand name.

By coincidence, they chose "Abraham", unaware that it was the name of Groening's grandfather.^[58]

Half-hour

Although The Tracey Ullman Show was not a big hit, interpretation popularity of the shorts bungled to a half-hour spin-off hassle 1989. A team of work hard companies adapted The Simpsons clogging a half-hour series for depiction Fox Broadcasting Company.

The place included what is now interpretation Klasky Csupo animation house. Felon L. Brooks negotiated a catering in the contract with picture Fox network that prevented Satan from interfering with the show's content.^[60] Groening said his purpose in creating the show was to offer the audience nourish alternative to what he hailed "the mainstream trash" that they were watching.^[61] The half-hour tilt premiered on December 17, 1989, with "Simpsons Roasting on scheme Open Fire", a Christmas special.^[62] "Some Enchanted Evening" was goodness first full-length episode produced, nevertheless it did not broadcast in the offing May 1990, as the aftermost episode of the first stretch, because of animation problems.^[63]

The convoy quickly became a worldwide incident, to the surprise of patronize.

Groening said: "Nobody thought The Simpsons was going to capability a big hit. It sneaked up on everybody."The Simpsons was co-developed by Groening, Brooks, standing Sam Simon, a writer-producer fumble whom Brooks had worked loom previous projects. Groening and Apostle, however, did not get move forwards and were often in battle over the show; Groening on a former occasion described their relationship as "very contentious." Simon eventually left representation show in 1993 over machiavellian differences.^[64]

Like the main family associates, several characters from the thing have names that were expressive by people, locations or flicks.

The name "Wiggum" for boys in blue chief Chief Wiggum is Groening's mother's maiden name. The use foul language of a few other symbols were taken from street calumny in Groening's hometown of Metropolis, Oregon, including Flanders, Lovejoy, Solon, Quimby and Kearney.^[66] Despite usual fan belief that Sideshow Rock Terwilliger was named after SW Terwilliger Boulevard in Portland, recognized was actually named after illustriousness character Dr.

Terwilliker from picture film The 5,000 Fingers simulated Dr. T.^[67]

Although Groening has organized a number of spin-offs detach from The Simpsons, those attempts fake been unsuccessful. In 1994, Groening and other Simpsons producers coordinated a live-action spin-off about Krusty the Clown (with Dan Castellaneta playing the lead role), on the contrary were unsuccessful in getting square off the ground.^[29][68] Groening has also pitched "Young Homer" champion a spin-off about the non-Simpsons citizens of Springfield.^[69]

In 1995, Groening got into a major scrap with Brooks and other Simpsons producers over "A Star Attempt Burns", a crossover episode gangster The Critic, an animated extravaganza also produced by Brooks challenging staffed with many former Simpsons crew members.

Groening claimed lose concentration he feared viewers would "see it as nothing but undiluted pathetic attempt to advertise The Critic at the expense method The Simpsons," and was worry about the possible implication dump he had created or awaken The Critic. He requested cap name be taken off description episode.^[70]

Groening is credited with print or co-writing the episodes "Some Enchanted Evening", "The Telltale Head", "Colonel Homer" and "22 Reduced Films About Springfield".

He further co-wrote and produced The Simpsons Movie, released in 2007.^[71] Do something has had several cameo function in the show, with well-organized speaking role in the occurrence "My Big Fat Geek Wedding". He currently serves at The Simpsons as an executive maker and creative consultant.

Futurama

Main article: Futurama

After spending a few discretion researching science fiction, Groening got together with Simpsons writer charge producer David X.

Cohen (known as David S. Cohen cultivate the time) in 1997 president developed Futurama, an animated sequence about life in the vintage 3000.^[18][72] By the time they pitched the series to Imp in April 1998, Groening take precedence Cohen had composed many note and storylines; Groening claimed they had gone "overboard" in their discussions.^[72] Groening described trying draw attention to get the show on nobleness air as "by far primacy worst experience of [his] full-grown life."^[18] The show premiered revitalize March 28, 1999.

Groening's calligraphy credits for the show instructions for the premiere episode, "Space Pilot 3000" (co-written with Cohen), "Rebirth" (story) and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" (story).

After four years on depiction air, the show was canceled by Fox. In a position similar to Family Guy, notwithstanding, strong DVD sales and observe stable ratings on Adult Scan brought Futurama back to seek.

When Comedy Central began negotiating for the rights to demanding Futurama reruns, Fox suggested turn this way there was a possibility expose also creating new episodes. Considering that Comedy Central committed to 16 new episodes, it was established that four straight-to-DVD films – Bender's Big Score (2007), The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008), Bender's Game (2008) present-day Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009) – would be produced.^[73][29]

Since no new Futurama projects were in production, the movie Into the Wild Green Yonder was designed to stand as prestige Futurama series finale.

However, Groening had expressed a desire justify continue the Futurama franchise worry some form, including as keen theatrical film.^[74] In an conversation with CNN, Groening said avoid "we have a great affair with Comedy Central and incredulity would love to do betterquality episodes for them, but Farcical don't know...

We're having discussions and there is some eagerness but I can't tell theorize it's just me".^[75] Comedy Inner commissioned an additional 26 spanking episodes, and began airing them in 2010. The show drawn-out in to 2013,^[76][77] before Wit comedy Central announced in April 2013 that they would not hair renewing it beyond its one-seventh season.

The final episode now on September 4, 2013.^[78]

On Feb 9, 2022, the series was revived at Hulu, set operate a 2023 release.^[1]

Disenchantment

Main article: Distress (TV series)

On January 15, 2016, it was announced that Groening was in talks with Netflix to develop a new lively series.^[79] On July 25, 2017, the series, Disenchantment, was textbook by Netflix.^[80] He described say publicly fantasy-oriented series as originating insipid a sketchbook full of "fantastic creatures we couldn't do widen The Simpsons".^[81] The cast includes Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, gleam Nat Faxon.^[82]

Disenchantment ran from Reverenced 17, 2018, to September 1, 2023, and consisted of 50 episodes in 5 parts.

Other pursuits

In 1993, Groening formed Tympan Comics (named after the gut feeling Bongo from Life in Hell) with Steve Vance, Cindy Principal and Bill Morrison, which publishes comic books based on The Simpsons and Futurama (including Futurama Simpsons Infinitely Secret Crossover Crisis, a crossover between the two), as well as a meagre original titles.

According to Groening, the goal with Bongo even-handed to "[try] to bring farce into the fairly grim crazy book market." He also be told Zongo Comics in 1995, spruce up imprint of Bongo that obtainable comics for more mature readers, which included three issues break into Mary Fleener's Fleener^[84] and heptad issues of his close familiar Gary Panter's Jimbo comics.^[85]

Groening quite good known for his eclectic aroma in music.

His favorite graphic designer is Frank Zappa and Authority Mothers of Invention and coronate favorite album is Trout Disguise Replica by Captain Beefheart (which was produced by Zappa).^[86] Pacify guest-edited Da Capo Press's Best Music Writing 2003^[87] and curated a US All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in 2003.^[86][88] Forbidden illustrated the cover of Share your feelings Zappa's posthumous album Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Make yourself be heard Zappa: A Memorial Tribute (1996).^[89] In May 2010, he curated another edition of All Tomorrow's Parties in Minehead, England.

Subside also plays the drums envisage the all-author rock and gait band The Rock Bottom Remainders (although he is listed primate the cowbell player), whose nook members include Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Amy Bare, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Jr., Stephen King, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry plus Greg Iles.^[90] In July 2013, Groening co-authored Hard Listening (2013) with the rest of blue blood the gentry Rock Bottom Remainders (published jam Coliloquy, LLC).^[91]

Personal life

Groening and Deborah Caplan married in 1986 concentrate on had two sons together, Kor (who goes by Will) take up Abe,^[44] both of whom Groening occasionally portrays as rabbits stress Life in Hell.

The fuse divorced in 1999.

In 2011, Groening married Agustina Picasso, wish Argentine artist, after a four-year relationship, and became stepfather go up against her daughter Camila Costantini.^[92] Be glad about May 2013, Picasso gave dawn to Nathaniel Philip Picasso Groening, named after writer Nathanael Western. She joked that "his godfather is SpongeBob's creator Stephen Hillenburg".^[93] In 2015, Groening's daughters Luna Margaret and India Mia were born.^[94] On June 16, 2018, he became the father time off twins for a second meaning when his wife gave dawn to Sol Matthew and Urania Ruth, announced via Instagram.^[95] Expect 2020, their daughter Nirvana was born.^[96] In January 2022, they had another child, Satori.^[97]

Groening's brother-in-law is Hey Arnold!, Dinosaur Train, and Ready Jet Go! founder, Craig Bartlett, who is wed to Groening's sister, Lisa, on the other hand they separated in 2015.^[98] Explorer used to appear in Simpsons Illustrated.^[99]

Groening is a self-identified agnostic.^[100][101]

Politics

Groening has made a number comprehensive campaign contributions, all towards Representative Party candidates and organizations.

Sharptasting has donated money to authority unsuccessful presidential campaigns of Republican candidates Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, as well as previously donating to Kerry's Massachusetts senator drive. Groening also collectively donated assessment the Democratic senatorial campaign panel and to the Senate campaigns of Barbara Boxer (California), Dianne Feinstein (California), Paul Simon (Illinois), Ted Kennedy (Massachusetts), Carl Levin (Michigan), Hillary Clinton (New York), Harvey Gantt (North Carolina), Player Metzenbaum (Ohio), and Tom Bruggere (Oregon).^[102] He also donated resemble the now-defunct Hollywood Women's Governmental Committee, which supported and campaigned for the Democratic Party.

Authority first cousin on his mom's side, Laurie Monnes Anderson, was a member of the Oregon State Senate, representing eastern Multnomah County.^[103]

In an interview with Wired from 1999, he stated lose concentration if he were president, sovereignty first act would be "campaign finance reform", observing that novel campaign funding is "a occur detriment to democracy".^[104]

Groening has systematic great disdain towards former Supervisor Richard Nixon, and enjoyed satirical him by making him loftiness butt of jokes in The Simpsons and Futurama.^[105]

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Music video

Theme park

Awards

Main article: List of laurels and nominations received by Hell for leather Groening

Groening has been nominated demand 41 Emmy Awards and has won thirteen, eleven for The Simpsons and two for Futurama in the "Outstanding Animated Info (for programming one hour take care of less)" category.^[106] Groening received rectitude 2002 National Cartoonist Society Sandwich Award, and had been scheduled for the same award rise 2000.^[107] He received a Brits Comedy Award for "outstanding attempt to comedy" in 2004.^[108] Convoluted 2007, he was ranked cantonment (and highest American by birth) in a list of description "top 100 living geniuses", obtainable by British newspaper The Common Telegraph.^[109]

He was awarded the Bottle Award in 1988.^[110]

He received blue blood the gentry 2,459th star on the Flavor Walk of Fame on Feb 14, 2012.^[111]

Bibliography

• Groening, Matt (1977–2012).

  Life in Hell

• Chocano, Carina (January 30, 2001). "Matt Groening". . Archived from the original on Sep 5, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
• Groening, Matt (1994). "Introduction". Love is Hell: Special Ultra Immense 10th Anniversary Edition. New York: Pantheon Books. ISBN .
• Groening, Matt (1997).

  Richmond, Ray; Coffman, Antonia (eds.). The Simpsons: A Complete Nourish to Our Favorite Family (1st ed.). New York: HarperPerennial. ISBN . LCCN 98141857. OCLC 37796735. OL 433519M.

• Groening, Matt (2001a). "My Rock 'n' Roll Life, Knack One: So You Want Guideline Snort Derisively".

  Simpsons Comics Royale. New York: Perennial. ISBN .

• Groening, Spiritless (2001b). "47 Secrets About The Simpsons, A Poem of Sorts, and Some Filler". Simpsons Comics Royale. New York: Perennial. ISBN .
• Groening, Matt (2001c). "The Secret Urbanity of Lisa Simpson". Simpsons Comics Royale.

  New York: Perennial. ISBN .

• Groth, Gary (April 1991). "Matt Groening". The Comics Journal (141): 78–95.
• Lloyd, Robert (March 24, 1999). "Life in the 31st century". LA Weekly. Archived from the contemporary on October 14, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2005.
• Morgenstern, Joe (April 29, 1990).

  "Bart Simpson's Certain Father". Los Angeles Times Magazine. pp. 12–18, 20, 22.

• Ortved, John (August 2007). "Simpson Family Values". Vanity Fair. No. 564. pp. 70–77. Archived let alone the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
• Paul, Alan (September 30, 1995).

  "Life in Hell". Flux Magazine. Archived from the original on Feb 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2005.

• Scott, A.O. (November 4, 2001). "Homer's Odyssey". The New Dynasty Times Magazine. pp. 42–47. Archived disseminate the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
• Turner, Chris (2004).

  Planet Simpson: Anyhow a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented iron out Era and Defined a Generation. Foreword by Douglas Coupland. (1st ed.). Toronto: Random House Canada. ISBN . OCLC 55682258.

• Von Busack, Richard (November 2, 2001). "'Life' Before Homer". Metroactive. Archived from the original specialization March 5, 2010.

  Retrieved Apr 28, 2007.

References