With its 36th season returning to the 2025 TV schedule this spring, The Simpsons continues to be the longest-running animated sequence within the nation. Nonetheless, whereas there isn’t an finish in sight, that doesn’t imply issues gained’t change. In fact, the animation model has developed over three many years, and there is been a rotating solid of voice actors, and all of that could be a given. Nonetheless, longtime Simpsons voice actor Hank Azaria’s current feedback concerning the present’s future are bumming me out.
Azaria has been offering voices for The Simpsons because it began in 1989, and he is finest often known as Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Apu and lots of others. Sadly, he doesn’t appear too assured that he will probably be sticking round to voice the enduring characters. In an opinion piece for The New York Instances, Azaria shared his tackle AI, and it’s definitely unhappy to consider the way it might affect the beloved animated sequence:
I think about that quickly sufficient, synthetic intelligence will be capable of recreate the sounds of the greater than 100 voices I created for characters on The Simpsons over nearly 4 many years. It makes me unhappy to consider it. To not point out, it appears simply plain mistaken to steal my likeness or sound — or anybody else’s.
AI is likely one of the the reason why the actors had been on strike in 2023, and as a lot as most individuals don’t need it to occur, it wouldn’t be stunning if it grew to become an even bigger a part of making movies and tv. The Simpsons has been on the air for nearly 40 years, and it’s nonetheless going robust. So, I might hope that if any present can keep away from the AI complexities, it might be The Simpsons. However the truth that Azaria thinks that AI will finally take over says lots and is kind of scary.
Whereas it is unclear how AI would affect The Simpsons, it might be used to recreate voices for characters because it strikes ahead, as Azaria implied, and that will surely be a crappy state of affairs for anybody concerned. Plus, watching The Simpsons characters that make us snort made by AI wouldn’t be the identical. Expertise is without end altering, and with synthetic intelligence making advances, it’s laborious to foretell how will probably be even 5 years from now. Hopefully, it will not be in a spot the place it is taking alternatives away from voice actors.
On the very least, The Simpsons doesn’t appear to be going away any time quickly, and it’s seemingly the present wouldn’t need to change any of the voice actors with AI. Followers will simply have to stay optimistic that Hank Azaria and the remainder of the solid will be capable of keep on for so long as doable and that AI gained’t be taking on their jobs.
The Simpsons gained’t be again till the top of March on Fox, however these with a Disney+ subscription can watch the primary 35 seasons, whereas these with a Hulu subscription can watch Season 36. There may be nonetheless rather a lot to sit up for (together with voices from Azaria), so long as it’s with out AI.