Matt Groening: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Matt Groening built The Simpsons out of underground comix sensibility, newspaper-strip economy, and a Portland kid's suspicion of institutions. This mix traces the alt-weekly Life in Hell years, the Pacific Northwest cartoonists he came up beside, and the animation dynasty that followed.

The Kynda mix for Matt Groening

• Key Influence · Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz (1950). Groening has repeatedly named Schulz as the model for a daily strip built on melancholy, cruelty among children and a fixed cast of anxious archetypes. Life in Hell's one-eared rabbit Binky carries Charlie Brown's existential defeat into alt-weekly territory, and the Simpsons' habit of letting kids voice adult despair descends directly from Schulz's insistence that comedy could be sad without apologizing.
• Influencia Obscura · Jimbo by Gary Panter (1982). Panter's ratty punk-apocalypse strips ran in the same early-1980s Los Angeles underground and RAW-adjacent orbit as Life in Hell, and his 'ratty line' aesthetic defined the era's alternative cartooning. Panter went on to design Pee-wee's Playhouse, the other great 1980s children's-format subversion; the two careers map the same route from LA punk zines to mainstream television.
• Local Roots · Ernie Pook's Comeek by Lynda Barry (1979). Barry and Groening met as students at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where Groening edited the campus paper and championed her drawings; they remained lifelong friends and their strips ran side by side in the same alt-weeklies. Barry's raw, hand-lettered childhood memoir strips are the emotional counterweight to Life in Hell's deadpan misery.
• Beyond the Medium · Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band (1969). Groening is a committed record obsessive who curated an All Tomorrow's Parties festival and has long evangelized Beefheart and Frank Zappa. The album's collision of blues structure with deliberate dissonance models the Simpsons' method: familiar sitcom scaffolding filled with material that shouldn't fit. Groening's music writing predated his cartooning career in Los Angeles.
• Peer · Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson (1985). Watterson's strip ran through the exact years Life in Hell peaked and The Simpsons launched, and both cartoonists fought the syndication and merchandising machine on their own terms — Watterson by refusing licensing outright, Groening by negotiating unusual creative control at Fox. Both centered a subversive child whose imagination indicts the adult world around him.
• From the Canon · Life in Hell by Matt Groening (1977). The self-published strip that started in Los Angeles record stores, made its first professional sale to the avant-garde magazine Wet in 1978, and eventually ran in some 250 weekly papers. Binky, Bongo and the fez-wearing couple Akbar and Jeff carried Groening's whole worldview — school as prison, work as humiliation, love as negotiation — and it was Life in Hell that caught James L. Brooks's eye.
• Key Collaborator · Taxi by James L. Brooks (1978). Brooks discovered Life in Hell, hired Groening for The Tracey Ullman Show shorts, and used his industry standing to secure The Simpsons unusual protection from network interference. Taxi shows the craft he brought: ensemble comedy where lovable losers are written with real dignity, the sensibility that keeps Springfield from curdling into pure cynicism.
• Legacy · Family Guy by Seth MacFarlane (1999). MacFarlane has been explicit that The Simpsons made his career possible, and Fox greenlit Family Guy specifically to replicate the Sunday-night animation formula. The yellow-family template — dim father, exasperated mother, hyper-verbal baby, talking pet — is a direct structural echo, and the two shows eventually crossed over in a full Simpsons/Griffin episode.

What influenced Matt Groening

• Walt Disney. Groening cites Walt Disney as an animation influence. (also via One Hundred and One Dalmatians) “as well as Golden Age animators such as Walt Disney , Bob Clampett , Max Fleischer , Tex Avery , Chuck Jones , and Jay Ward as influences on his animation” (Wikipedia)
• Star Trek by Gene Roddenberry (1966). The Simpsons has parodied Star Trek in multiple episodes. (via The Simpsons, Futurama) “The Simpsons and Futurama television series and others have had many individual episodes parodying Star Trek or with Trek allusions” (Wikipedia)
• Lynda Barry. Groening names Lynda Barry as his biggest inspiration. (also via Ernie Pook's Comeek) “Groening has credited Barry with being "probably [his] biggest inspiration."” (Wikipedia)
• Chuck Jones. Groening cites Chuck Jones as an animation influence. (also via What's Opera, Doc?) “as well as Golden Age animators such as Walt Disney , Bob Clampett , Max Fleischer , Tex Avery , Chuck Jones , and Jay Ward as influences on his animation” (Wikipedia)
• Charles M. Schulz. Groening lists Charles M. Schulz among cartoonist influences. (also via Peanuts) “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Robert Crumb. Groening lists Robert Crumb among cartoonist influences. (also via Zap Comix) “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Charles Addams. Groening lists Charles Addams among cartoonist influences. “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Monty Python. Groening admires Monty Python. “He also admires Nick Park , Monty Python , Woody Allen , Mel Brooks and Jackie Chan” (Wikipedia)
• Frank Zappa. Frank Zappa is stated as Groening's favorite artist. “His favorite artist is Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention” (Wikipedia)
• George Herriman. Groening lists George Herriman among cartoonist influences. “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Dr. Seuss (1904). Groening lists Dr. Seuss among cartoonist influences. “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Tex Avery. Groening cites Tex Avery as an animation influence. “as well as Golden Age animators such as Walt Disney , Bob Clampett , Max Fleischer , Tex Avery , Chuck Jones , and Jay Ward as influences on his animation” (Wikipedia)
• One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Walt Disney. Watching this film sparked Groening's early interest in cartoons. “He first became interested in cartoons after watching the Disney animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (Wikipedia)
• James Thurber. Groening lists James Thurber among cartoonist influences. “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Woody Allen. Groening admires Woody Allen. “He also admires Nick Park , Monty Python , Woody Allen , Mel Brooks and Jackie Chan” (Wikipedia)
• Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. Groening names Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band as his most formative musical influence. “The band that meant the most to me when I was in high school was Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band.” (Fresh Air (NPR))
• E.C. Segar. Groening lists E.C. Segar among cartoonist influences. “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Nick Park. Groening admires Nick Park. “He also admires Nick Park , Monty Python , Woody Allen , Mel Brooks and Jackie Chan” (Wikipedia)
• Carl Barks. Groening lists Carl Barks among cartoonist influences. “Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb , Kim Deitch , Dr. Seuss , Jules Feiffer , Al Capp , Charles M. Schulz , Walt Kelly , George Herriman , Charles Addams , James Thurber , Ronald Searle , Ernie Bushmiller , Carl Barks , E.C. Seg…” (Wikipedia)
• Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart. Trout Mask Replica is named as Groening's favorite album. “his favorite album is Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart (which was produced by Zappa)” (Wikipedia)
• Citizen Kane by Orson Welles (1941). Citizen Kane (Orson Welles) — culture for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “Voice actor Maurice LaMarche is known for his Welles impression, heard in Ed Wood (in which he dubbed the dialog of Vincent D'Onofrio); the 1994–95 primetime animated series, The Critic; a 2006 episode of The Simpsons; and a 2011 episode…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Shining by Stanley Kubrick. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick) — culture for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “Kubrick is widely referenced in popular culture; for example, the TV series The Simpsons is said to contain more references to Kubrick films than any other pop culture phenomenon.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• SCTV. Groening states the show's large supporting cast concept was drawn from SCTV. (via The Simpsons) “the show adopted the concept of a large supporting cast from the comedy show SCTV” (Wikipedia)
• Tube Bar recordings. Bart's prank calls to Moe are noted as apparently based on the real Tube Bar prank call recordings. (via The Simpsons) “These calls were apparently based on a series of prank calls known as the Tube Bar recordings, though Groening has denied any causal connection.” (Wikipedia)
• Critique of Religion and Philosophy by Walter Kaufmann. Life in Hell was inspired by a chapter in Kaufmann's philosophy book. (via Life in Hell) “which was loosely inspired by the chapter "How to Go to Hell" in Walter Kaufmann 's book Critique of Religion and Philosophy” (Wikipedia)
• James Finlayson. Castellaneta says Homer's 'D'oh!' catchphrase was borrowed from actor James Finlayson. (via The Simpsons) “Dan Castellaneta says he borrowed the phrase from James Finlayson, an actor in many Laurel and Hardy comedies, who pronounced it in a more elongated and whining tone.” (Wikipedia)
• Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz (1950). Peanuts (Charles M. Schulz) — titan for Matt Groening “Schulz is regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists in history, influencing cartoonists including Jim Davis, Murray Ball, Bill Watterson, Matt Groening and Dav Pilkey.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Zap Comix by Robert Crumb (1968). Zap Comix (Robert Crumb) — titan for Matt Groening “== Influences == Groening has cited cartoonists Robert Crumb, Kim Deitch, Dr.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band (1969). Trout Mask Replica (Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band) — culture for Matt Groening “Cartoonist and writer Matt Groening first saw Beefheart and the Magic Band perform in the front row at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in the early 1970s.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon (1973). Gravity's Rainbow (Thomas Pynchon) — culture for Matt Groening (openlibrary.org)
• The Flintstones by Hanna-Barbera (1960). The Flintstones (Hanna-Barbera) — titan for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “For six seasons, it became the longest-running animated show in American prime time at the time (until The Simpsons beat it in 1997), a ratings and merchandising success and the top-ranking animated program in syndication history, all wh…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• What's Opera, Doc? by Chuck Jones (1957). What's Opera, Doc? (Chuck Jones) — titan for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) (themoviedb.org)
• The Ernie Kovacs Show by Ernie Kovacs (1952). The Ernie Kovacs Show (Ernie Kovacs) — ghost for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) (themoviedb.org)
• MAD by Harvey Kurtzman (1952). MAD (Harvey Kurtzman) — titan for Matt Groening (also via The Simpsons)
• Evergreen State College. Groening attended Evergreen State College.
• Powerhouse Pepper by Basil Wolverton (1943). Powerhouse Pepper (Basil Wolverton) — ghost for Matt Groening
• Rocky and His Friends by Jay Ward (1959). Rocky and His Friends (Jay Ward) — titan for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons)
• The Sopranos by David Chase (1999). The Simpsons parodied The Sopranos' title sequence. (via The Simpsons)

Peers and kindred spirits

• Conan O'Brien (1963). Conan O'Brien was a writer on The Simpsons before his talk show career. (via The Simpsons, Late Night with Conan O'Brien) “Conan O'Brien , who was brought into SNL from The Groundlings in 1988, went on to write for The Simpsons , and eventually began hosting his own show .” (Wikipedia)
• Greg Daniels (1993). Establishes Daniels's prior writing work on The Simpsons before The Office. (via The Simpsons) “Daniels joined the writing staff of the Fox show The Simpsons in 1993. He was hired in the fifth season following the departures of many of the original team of writers.” (Wikipedia)
• The Iron Giant by Brad Bird (1999). The Iron Giant (Brad Bird) — collaborator for Matt Groening (also via The Simpsons) “Brooks and Sam Simon, who with Matt Groening were developing The Simpsons, the first prime time animated sitcom in decades for Fox.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Trey Parker (1969). The Simpsons (Matt Groening) — peer for Trey Parker (via The Simpsons, South Park) (wikidata.org)
• Sam Simon. Sam Simon co-developed The Simpsons with Groening and Brooks. (via The Simpsons) “The lyrics of that were written by Sam Simon, one of the original producers who developed the show, along with Jim Brooks, and basically set the tone for the show.” (Fresh Air (NPR))
• Taxi by James L. Brooks (1978). Taxi (James L. Brooks) — collaborator for Matt Groening “He hired cartoonist Matt Groening to create a series of shorts for the television show, which led in 1989 to The Simpsons.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Zongo Comics. Groening founded Zongo Comics in 1995. “He also formed Zongo Comics in 1995, an imprint of Bongo that published comics for more mature readers” (Wikipedia)
• Craig Bartlett. Craig Bartlett, creator of Hey Arnold!, is Groening's brother-in-law and family connection. “Groening's brother-in-law is Craig Bartlett , the creator of Hey Arnold! , Dinosaur Train , and Ready Jet Go!” (Wikipedia)
• All Tomorrow's Parties. Groening curated the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival. “curated a US All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in 2003” (Wikipedia)
• The Tracey Ullman Show by James L. Brooks (1987). The Tracey Ullman Show (James L. Brooks) — geography for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “He is the founder of Gracie Films and co-created the sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, as well as co-developed The Simpsons.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Ren & Stimpy Show by John Kricfalusi (1991). The Ren & Stimpy Show (John Kricfalusi) — peer for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “He animated the opening couch gags of two episodes of The Simpsons, "Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts", which aired in October 2011 and "Treehouse of Horror XXVI", which aired in October 2015.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• King of the Hill by Mike Judge (1997). King of the Hill (Mike Judge) — peer for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “Fox was uncertain of the viability of Judge's concept for an animated comedy based in reality and set in the American South, so the network teamed him up with The Simpsons writer Greg Daniels.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Batman: Original Motion Picture Score by Danny Elfman (1989). Batman: Original Motion Picture Score (Danny Elfman) — collaborator for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “The series' distinctive theme song was composed by musician Danny Elfman in 1989, after Groening approached him requesting a retro-style piece.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien by Conan O'Brien (1993). Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Conan O'Brien) — collaborator for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “One of the best-known former writers is Conan O'Brien, who contributed to several episodes in the early 1990s before replacing David Letterman as host of the talk show Late Night.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• David X. Cohen. David X. Cohen co-developed Futurama with Groening. (via Futurama) “Groening got together with Simpsons writer and producer David X. Cohen (known as David S. Cohen at the time) in 1997 and developed Futurama” (Wikipedia)
• The Critic. The Critic crossed over with The Simpsons in the episode A Star Is Burns. (via The Simpsons) “Marge invites Jay Sherman, the main character of The Critic, to be a judge for a film festival in Springfield.” (Wikipedia)
• Ricky Gervais (1961). Ricky Gervais collaborated with The Simpsons as writer and guest star. (via The Simpsons, The Office)
• Jim Brooks. Groening credits Jim Brooks alongside Sam Simon as a producer who developed the show and set its tone. (via The Simpsons) “The lyrics of that were written by Sam Simon, one of the original producers who developed the show, along with Jim Brooks, and basically set the tone for the show.” (Fresh Air (NPR))
• Ernie Pook's Comeek by Lynda Barry (1979). Ernie Pook's Comeek (Lynda Barry) — geography for Matt Groening “He befriended fellow cartoonist Lynda Barry after discovering that she had written a fan letter to Joseph Heller, one of Groening's favorite authors, and had received a reply.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Jimbo by Gary Panter (1982). Zongo Comics published Gary Panter's Jimbo, a close friend of Groening. “According to Groening, the goal with Bongo is to "[try] to bring humor into the fairly grim comic book market." He also formed Zongo Comics in 1995, an imprint of Bongo that published comics for more mature readers, which included three …” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Beavis and Butt-Head by Mike Judge (1993). Beavis and Butt-Head (Mike Judge) — peer for Matt Groening (themoviedb.org)
• Seinfeld by Larry David (1989). Seinfeld (Larry David) — peer for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) (themoviedb.org)
• Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson (1985). Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson) — peer for Matt Groening
• The Far Side by Gary Larson (1980). The Far Side (Gary Larson) — geography for Matt Groening
• Bongo Comics. Groening founded Bongo Comics in 1993.
• Seth Rogen (1982). Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg collaborated with The Simpsons by writing an episode. (via The Simpsons)
• Tony Bennett (1926). Tony Bennett guest starred as himself on The Simpsons, a notable first. (via The Simpsons)

Who Matt Groening influenced

• Family Guy by Seth MacFarlane (1999). Family Guy (Seth MacFarlane) — legacy for Matt Groening (also via The Simpsons) “MacFarlane has also acknowledged that Family Guy was heavily influenced by not just All In The Family , but also South Park rival The Simpsons” (Wikipedia)
• James L. Brooks (1940). Life in Hell (Matt Groening) — culture for James L. Brooks (via Life in Hell, The Simpsons, Taxi) “In 1985, Brooks contacted Groening with the proposition of working in animation on an undefined future project” (Wikipedia)
• South Park by Trey Parker (1997). South Park (Trey Parker) — legacy for The Simpsons (via The Simpsons) “the complexities of the American family like "The Simpsons" does” (Fresh Air (NPR))
• Bob's Burgers by Loren Bouchard (2011). Bob's Burgers (Loren Bouchard) — legacy for Matt Groening (also via The Simpsons) (themoviedb.org)
• The Office by Ricky Gervais (2001). Gervais names The Simpsons as an influence on his show The Office. (via The Simpsons) “Ricky Gervais called The Simpsons an influence on The Office” (Wikipedia)
• Spaced. Director Edgar Wright describes Spaced as an attempt to do a live-action version of The Simpsons. (via The Simpsons) “an attempt to do a live-action The Simpsons” (Wikipedia)
• Malcolm in the Middle. Malcolm in the Middle is described as influenced by The Simpsons' style of sight gags and lack of a laugh track. (via The Simpsons) “The Simpsons has also influenced live-action shows like Malcolm in the Middle, which featured the use of sight gags and did not use a laugh track unlike most sitcoms.” (Wikipedia)
• The Samsonadzes. The creator of Georgian show The Samsonadzes acknowledged its strong resemblance to The Simpsons. (via The Simpsons) “the animated television sitcom The Samsonadzes, launched in November 2009, has been noted for its very strong resemblance with The Simpsons, which its creator Shalva Ramishvili has acknowledged.” (Wikipedia)
• Frank Gehry (1929). Gehry appeared as himself in an episode of The Simpsons designing a fictional concert hall. (via The Simpsons) “He also voiced himself in a 2005 episode of The Simpsons , " The Seven-Beer Snitch ", where he designs a concert hall for the fictional city of Springfield” (Wikipedia)
• Krusty the Klown. Groening states Krusty's original design was based directly on Homer Simpson in clown garb. (via Homer Simpson) “the idea of the design of him is he actually is basically, originally, Homer in clown garb.” (Fresh Air (NPR))
• Diwali (The Office episode). Kaling references The Simpsons' character Apu as part of the cultural backdrop she satirized in the Diwali episode. (via The Simpsons) “then when "The Simpsons" came on, which actually Greg wrote on there was a character named Apoo, and that was sort of the other thing you knew” (Fresh Air (NPR))
• Smoking on My Ex Pack. The song compares SZA’s former partners to a character from The Simpsons. (via The Simpsons) “" Smoking on My Ex Pack " contains a comparison between SZA's former romantic partners and Sideshow Bob , a character from The Simpsons who is both a clown and a criminal.” (Wikipedia)
• Mitski (1990). The Simpsons (Matt Groening) — culture for Mitski (via The Simpsons) (wikidata.org)