I purchased the "Simpsons" first and second season box sets a couple years ago, and what I was most astonished at is the shift in animation (more so than the humor itself) - the Simpsons look more like the Berenstain Bears than the familiar yellow cartoon characters we've grown accustomed to over the years.
The animation is rough, edgy and the transitions are awkward - there are no quick cuts punctuated by clips from the "Simpsons" theme song (which is what they use today to often transition scenes) - all of this isn't instantly noticeable, but after seeing older episodes a couple times I started to realize what was subconsciously making it feel like an entirely different television show.
Still, they had to start somewhere, and for what it is this is a very good pilot for the TV show.
It takes place at Christmas time (obviously). Mr. Burns announces that there will be no Christmas bonuses this year, meaning less spending money. Bart goes to the mall and gets a tattoo, and when Marge has it removed, it costs them all of their Christmas stash.
Homer takes advice from Barney and dresses up as Santa Claus at the mall, then bets on a dog at a local race track with the poor amount of money he's earned, but things continue to spiral downhill and Homer is left feeling like a failure - until, of course, everything is wrapped up quite nicely (without spoiling it).
Compared to episodes from Seasons 4 & 5 this is a rather flat and poorly animated "Simpsons" fare. However, when you take into account that this was the pilot and the start of everything, you know they had to start somewhere and, all considered, this was a good place to begin.
The animation is rough, edgy and the transitions are awkward - there are no quick cuts punctuated by clips from the "Simpsons" theme song (which is what they use today to often transition scenes) - all of this isn't instantly noticeable, but after seeing older episodes a couple times I started to realize what was subconsciously making it feel like an entirely different television show.
Still, they had to start somewhere, and for what it is this is a very good pilot for the TV show.
It takes place at Christmas time (obviously). Mr. Burns announces that there will be no Christmas bonuses this year, meaning less spending money. Bart goes to the mall and gets a tattoo, and when Marge has it removed, it costs them all of their Christmas stash.
Homer takes advice from Barney and dresses up as Santa Claus at the mall, then bets on a dog at a local race track with the poor amount of money he's earned, but things continue to spiral downhill and Homer is left feeling like a failure - until, of course, everything is wrapped up quite nicely (without spoiling it).
Compared to episodes from Seasons 4 & 5 this is a rather flat and poorly animated "Simpsons" fare. However, when you take into account that this was the pilot and the start of everything, you know they had to start somewhere and, all considered, this was a good place to begin.