Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 5, “Treehouse of Horror XXXV”
WhileThe Simpsonsseason 36’s Treehouse of Horror special wasn’t perfect, the episode did bring back a welcome trope from earlier Halloween outings.The Simpsonshave produced38 Treehouse of Horror Halloween specialsand these have varied in quality over the decades. Some, like season 6, episode 6, “Treehouse of Horror V,” are among the best episodes ofThe Simpsons. Others could reasonably be called examples of the show’s nadir. Others still, likeseason 16, episode 1, “Treehouse of Horror XV,“represent the momentThe Simpsonsdivisively transitioned its focus from character comedy into absurd zaniness.
The Simpsons Season 36 Just Parodied A Movie That Hasn’t Even Come Out Yet
The Simpsons season 36 episode 4 parodies ’80s neo-noir movies, but the episode’s plot also borrows from a movie that has not even been released yet.
However, even the worst Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials represent an opportunity forThe Simpsonsto upend its usual routine. Season 36, episode 5, “Treehouse of Horror XXXV,” is no different. The outing comprises a weakPacific Rimparody built around toothless, disappointingly vague political satire, a far strongerEdgar Allan Poe parody that seesThe Simpsonsspoofthe iconic horror author for a second time, and aVenomparody in which Homer buys a pair of jeans inhabited by an alien symbiote. Although imperfect, this final segment managed to keep a fun series tradition alive.
The Simpsons Season 36’s Venom Parody Changes Its Usual Animation Style
Homer’s Sentient Jeans Are Animated Via Stop-Motion
Like many earlier standalone segments,“Denim” from “Treehouse of Horror XXXV” temporarily changesThe Simpsons’ animation style. According toVariety, the creators ofThe Simpsonspaired up with Stoopid Buddy, the stop-motion animation studio behindRobot Chicken. Voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, Homer’s jeans were animated via stop-motion puppets made of real-life denim, and this was seamlessly incorporated into the traditional 2D animation of the rest of the segment. This is far from the first time that the show has used its Treehouse of Horror Halloween episodes as a chance to play around and experiment with alternative animation techniques.
“Treehouse of Horror XXVIII” featured two 3D animated segments, “The Sweets Hereafter” and “Coralisa.”
Well beforeThe Simpsonsseason 36’s Treehouse of Horror episode, there was the final segment of season 7, episode 6, “Homer3.” In this segment, Homer was rendered in 3D animation after he accidentally entered an alternate universe. The segment ended with the 3D Homer venturing into the real world, blending 3D animation with live-action footage. This groundbreaking segment was an early example of 3D animation working in tandem with traditional 2D animation, and the show revisited 3D animation decades later. Season 29, episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII” featured two 3D animated segments, “The Sweets Hereafter” and “Coralisa.”
The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror Episodes Have Changed The Show’s Style Many Times
The Simpsons Utilized 3D Animation For Four Treehouse of Horror Segments
The former segment parodiedSausage Partywhile the latter was a spoof ofCoraline. Season 32, episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror XXXI,” included “Toy Gory,” a gruesome spoof of Pixar’sToy Storyfranchise that was also 3D animated. Meanwhile, another one ofThe Simpsons’ many movie parodiesallowed the show to switch its style to a beautifully detailed anime aesthetic for season 34, episode 6, “Treehouse of Horror XXXIII.” “Death Tome,” a hilariously darkDeath Notespoof, proved thatThe Simpsonscould work as an anime, a stop-motion animated series, a 3D-animated show, or a unique blend of all these mediums.
New episodes ofThe Simpsonsair at 8 pm on Sundays on Fox.
