Matt Groening
From Anipedia
| General Information | |
| |
|---|---|
| Born: | 02/15/1954 |
| Studio: | Gracie Films |
| Works | |
| The Simpsons (1989-Present)
Futurama (1999-Present) Life in Hell (comic) (1977-Present) | |
Matt Groening is an American cartoonist and director. He was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 15th 1954.
Contents |
[edit] Early Work
Groening attended the the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. His first works were the cartoons that used to get published in his campus' newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal.
[edit] Life In Hell
In 1977 Groening moved to Los Angeles. It was here he began his comic strip "Life In Hell." The first issue was called "Forbidden Words," and due to it's success the Los Angeles Reader agreed to publish it. Groening's first published book was "Love In Hell," a series of cartoons from his Life In Hell cartoon based on love. It sold over 20,000 copies in the first week. Though it is not known worldwide, Groening continues to publish his Life In Hell cartoon to this day.
[edit] The Simpsons
The Simpsons was Groening's first experience of creating an animated show. When "Life in Hell" caught the eye of James L. Brooks, a Hollywood producer, Groening was asked to design and script a series of animated shorts to be shown during the intervals in "The Tracy Ullman Show." In order to create an animated series of Life in Hell, Groening would have had to hand over the rights to his series. So instead, he created "The Simpsons."
The "Simpsons shorts" were incredibly popular, so much so that the series got it's own 30 minute Christmas special, "Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire." Series one continued with this, and the show continued to gain popularity.
The show has now been running for 20 years (including the shorts,) making it the longest running American animated show ever. 400 episodes and 18 seasons have been produced so far, with the 19th season being released over 2007 - 2008. A feature length movie was released in 2007, which became a hit.
[edit] Awards
01/14/2000 - Awarded a star on the Hollywood walk of fame
23 Emmy awards
22 Annie awards
1 Peabody award
2000 - Entertainement weekly name The Simpsons as the greatest show of the 1990's
2002 - Named as the #8 greatest show of all time by TV guide
[edit] Futurama
Futurama was Groenings seconds animated show, which he created with David X. Cohen. It is set in the year 3000, as the leading character, Phillip J. Fry, is sent there after accidently freezing himself cryogenically. The show ran for 4 seasons before being cancelled, however, due to large DVD sales, another series is being produced in the future.
