The end credits of one The Simpsons season 33 episode feature a dedication to Ian Wilcox, an animator and contributor whose work appeared throughout the series. The Simpsons has been known to dedicate episodes of the long-running series to behind-the-scenes voice actors who passed away during the show’s 33 years on the air. Before replacing Ms. Krabappel, The Simpsons dedicated an episode to her late voice actor Marcia Wallace, while the series also offered tributes to Stephen Hawking, George Harrison, and Phil Hartman.
However, The Simpsons has also occasionally dedicated episodes to writers and animators who worked on the series, as evidenced by the memorial for Sam Simon featured in “Waiting for Duffman.” Similarly, one season 33 episode of The Simpsons featured a memorial for animator Ian Wilcox, who passed away in April 2022. In this way, The Simpsons season 33, episode 20, “Marge the Meanie,” is dedicated to his memory.
Wilcox was the lead background layout artist on The Simpsons for many years, whose resume also included work on King of the Hill and Family Guy. He was also the background designer for four episodes, including The Simpsons’ Christmas special “White Christmas Blues.” His work can be seen in 28 episodes of King of the Hill, where he was a background layout artist from 1998 until 2007, and in one early-season Family Guy outing where Wilcox worked as a background designer back in 1999.
The Simpsons primarily dedicates episodes of the series to celebrity guest stars more often than behind-the-scenes workers who played a part in the series. However, this is still far from the first time that The Simpsons included a sweet tribute to a former member of the show’s creative team. “Homer’s Barbershop Quartet” is dedicated to Gracie Films executive Michael P. Schoenbrun, while the aforementioned “White Christmas Blues” features a caricature of the show’s late writer Don Payne drawn as an angle beside Ms. Krabappel. As a result, the reason that Simpsons celebrity guests receive tributes more often than the show’s creators is likely simply because more audience members are familiar with their work and aware of their passing before the episode airs.
That said, The Simpsons’ tribute to Ian Wilcox is a touching reminder of how many behind-the-scenes artists, technicians, animators, and writers work on the series and acts as a poignant chance to appreciate Wilcox’s contributions anew. Even longtime Simpsons viewers may not have been familiar with Wilcox’s work before the episode’s dedication, making it a welcome addition to the outing. It takes the hard work of hundreds to make a series as complex as The Simpsons look as good as the show does, and the late Ian Wilcox’s contributions made the iconic series all the more beloved by fans.