Disney+ will fix The Simpsons' aspect ratio by the end of May. Now in its 31st season, the animated series still remains massively popular while continuing to keep things relevant with its often-biting (and always hilarious) social commentary.
Though The Simpsons was originally found on Fox, the past year has brought a multitude of changes to the entertainment industry as a whole. Disney has achieved a status unlike never before, and because of that status, a new home for the dysfunctional town of Springfield has arrived. The launch of Disney’s subscription streaming service Disney+ was indeed substantial, but before the initial novelty of it all could even begin to fade, Simpsons fans were already bothered by the service’s handling of the iconic comedy series. The aspect ratio was all wrong and fans began pointing this out in November of 2019, right after Disney+’s launch. Because The Simpsons has been on TV for so long, a large number of its seasons were released in the 4:3 aspect ratio. This somewhat compact ratio was the broadcasting standard until the proliferation of flatscreen TVs allowed for the now standard 16:9 ratio, (which The Simpsons officially adopted in 2009).
With a swift outcry from fans on its hands, Disney was quick to admit that a mistake had been made and that they would set to fixing it as soon as possible. Exactly how soon was possible? The Mouse House initially said that aspect ratio issues with The Simpsons would be cleared up by early 2020. Much time has passed since then without any changes, but now, according to a Tweet from the official Disney+ Twitter account, all aspect ratio issues with The Simpsons first 19 seasons (and part of the 20th) will be fixed by the end of May. You can see the full announcement below:
This is great news for those fans who have been waiting since Disney+’s launch for a solution to this problem. A compromised aspect ratio is never a good thing, and in the case of The Simpsons, utilizing 16:9 instead of 4:3 on the older seasons will result in many of the comedy’s rich visual gags being cut out or altered. The end of May isn’t exactly soon, but now that Disney has at least given a timeline for the completion of this project, fans will be able to rest easy. Of course, some would argue that there are more pressing matters in the world right now to concern one’s self with, but the fact of the matter is that if Disney is streaming The Simpsons, then it has to be done right. The inclusion of the series on Disney+ was a factor in some people signing up for the service, and as such, it’s only fair to deliver the right product.
When a series that has been around as long as The Simpsons has, the expectations of its fanbase can often be quite high. This is something that Disney should have anticipated with their handling of the iconic series, and something that the entertainment juggernaut should learn a valuable lesson from. Fans will notice when the franchise they are familiar with doesn’t meet up to the necessary standards. If Disney wishes to continue to dominate the entertainment industry, they would do well to also be sure they completely understand the properties they take on.
Source: Disney+