[Images via The Simpsons]
The human whose name is written in this note shall die…
The Simpsons is getting a full anime makeover for its upcoming Halloween special, which will feature a tribute to the iconic Japanese manga and anime Death Note. In anticipation of the episode, the show has dropped a series of teaser images and a short video snippet, showing what Lisa, Marge and Homer look like as anime characters – and it sure is a trip.
First created in 2003 as a manga (and later adapted into an anime), Death Note follows teenager Light Yagami after he discovers a notebook called the “Death Note”, which possesses the supernatural ability to kill any person whose name is written within it. Echoing the original, the teaser for The Simpsons spoof shows Lisa finding the Death Note – rebranded as the “Death Tome”. Presumably, chaos ensues.
Alongside Lisa, the teaser images also show off a saké-drinking Homer and an uncannily smooth-haired Marge.
Chatting about the upcoming episode on the podcast Four Finger Discount, Matt Selman (The Simpsons executive producer), said they’d worked with South Korean animation studio DR Movie to create the anime. In fact, DR worked on the original Death Note and Death Note Relight 2.
“It is legit anime,” Selman said, “animated by this fantastic animation company called DR Movie, who executed The Simpsons universe in pitch-perfect Death Note anime style.”
The decision to work with DR Movie has certainly paid off, with people blown away by the quality of the anime and eagle-eyed fans picking out plenty of anime-ified easter eggs.
Every year, The Simpsons make an annual Halloween-themed episode as part of their ‘Treehouse of Horror’ series. The upcoming episode marks the thirty-third – although this year, the show offered up a bonus ‘Treehouse of Horror’ episode, which aired over the weekend.
‘Treehouse of Horror XXXIII’ will air on October 30. Catch a teaser snippet below.
— Out of Context Simpsons Treehouse of Horror 🎃 (@OOCCouchGags) October 25, 2022
ANIME SIMPSONS LOOKS FIRE WHAT LMAO pic.twitter.com/yd6uKqC3D1
— SLO (@SLOplays) October 26, 2022
Get a load of Homer Simpson’s official anime design pic.twitter.com/hCmYv7lned
— Mr. Duby (@misterduby) October 25, 2022
Krusty Burger and Duff as corporate overlords 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/JV8QToKGqz
— DreBone1986 (@DreBone1986) October 26, 2022
Sherri and Terri as well pic.twitter.com/A2om8D9KMk
— RETRO: OLD MEDIA ENTHUSIAST 🇨🇦 🏳️⚧️ 🏳️🌈 (@ThatRetro) October 25, 2022
Since we are getting the parody on the show, don't forget that the Simpsons comics parodied Death Note. pic.twitter.com/QZbDUxK47B
— Out of Context Simpsons Treehouse of Horror 🎃 (@OOCCouchGags) July 22, 2022
