There’s a few reasons behind the yellow choice
They’re arguably the most famous family in television, and have been on our screens for more than three decades – but when you think about it, it’s quite weird that Matt Groening decided to make the Simpsonsyellow.
Well, it turns out there was an understandable thought process behind the choice to make the Simpsons yellow – and it may have had a whole host of benefits.
Groening revealed in an interview back in 2007 that an animator came up with the idea of yellow.
He said that he wanted his cartoon to be eye-catching. When someone is flipping through channels, he wanted the bright yellow colour of the Simpsonsto catch the eye and make them go back to watch it. And so, the iconic yellow Simpsons family was created.
“An animator came up with the Simpsons’ yellow and as soon as she showed it to me I said, ‘This is the answer!’ When you’re flicking through channels with your remote control, and a flash of yellow goes by, you’ll know you’re watchingThe Simpsons,” he told CBBC.
That wasn’t the only reason behind the yellow choice though.
In his book, show writer Mike Reiss shared a lot of the show’s secrets and according to him, the decision to make the family yellow was also to do with hair lines.
He said: “Bart, Lisa and Maggie have no hairlines — there’s no line that separates their skin from their hair points. So the animators chose yellow — it’s kinda skin, kinda hair.”
Furthermore, there seems to be some scientific logic and benefit behind the colour choice.
Esquire reports that the colour yellow has a unique psychological effect on the human brain, and represents optimism and joy.
It’s also the most visible colour to the human eye because of the way our eyes process light, which is why taxis and warning signs are yellow.
So there you have it, a whole host of reasons why Springfield’s most famous family have their recognisable skin colour.
Along with being yellow and it being one of the best television shows of all time, The Simpsons has also become famous for another thing – predicting the future.
Whether it’s Donald Trump’s presidency, the Super Bowl lineup or last summer’s fuel shortages, it’s incredible how many times the show has foreseen what’s in store for humanity.
You can find a comprehensive rundown of every eerie prediction here.
Related links:
- Why Simpsons fans think 1998 episode predicted Stranger Things’ Vecna
- Amazing reason Maggie was scanned in the opening credits of The Simpsons has been revealed
- Fan remakes Simpsons: Hit and Run as open-world game and it looks unbelievably good
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As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of animation and television production, particularly with a keen understanding of the iconic show "The Simpsons," allow me to delve into the fascinating reasons behind the distinctive yellow hue of the Simpson family.
The decision to make the characters yellow, as revealed by the creator Matt Groening in a 2007 interview, was a deliberate and strategic choice. The primary motive was to capture viewers' attention as they scrolled through channels. Groening wanted the bright yellow color of the Simpsons to stand out, ensuring that anyone passing by would be immediately drawn to the show. This intentional effort to be eye-catching highlights Groening's thoughtful approach to making his cartoon visually distinctive.
Moreover, show writer Mike Reiss, in his book, shared additional insights into the yellow choice. He explained that characters like Bart, Lisa, and Maggie lacked hairlines, meaning there was no clear separation between their skin and hair points. To address this, the animators opted for the color yellow, serving as a compromise that could represent both skin and hair.
Beyond the artistic considerations, there's also a scientific rationale behind the color choice. Esquire reports that the color yellow has a unique psychological impact on the human brain, symbolizing optimism and joy. Additionally, yellow is the most visible color to the human eye due to the way our eyes process light. This visibility factor is why taxis and warning signs are often yellow. The deliberate use of the color yellow aligns with the show's desire to be visually appealing and easily recognizable.
In summary, the choice of yellow for the Simpson family was multi-faceted. It served the purpose of catching the viewer's eye, addressing artistic considerations like hairlines, and capitalizing on the psychological impact and visibility associated with the color yellow. This decision-making process not only reflects the thoughtfulness of the creators but also contributes to the show's enduring visual identity.
If you have any further questions or if there's anything specific you'd like to explore within the realm of animation or television, feel free to ask.
