Should an animator write an episode?

[Malaise Forever]

We have a voice actor who regularly writes so why not an animator. Most of them on the commentaries show a good understanding of the show and have funny inputs so why not try to write an episode. It would only count as 30 percent of an episode anyway. And the episode itself would probably be special and different.

It wouldn't be fair for the writers since it probably wouldn't work the other way around. But..whatever

I would personnally love to see an episode written by David Silverman.

Opinions?

[HMS pinafore]

If they can write well then I don't see why not.

[Dobbie]

Why not? They are part of the staff and know the show inside out and it's not like they have to live up to any expectations!

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

Opinions?

Well... Certain people are good at certain things and I can imagine an animator having a particularly good episode, I can't see why an animator wouldn't be allowed to write an episode but only if they write well.

[shoz999]

Dude, their have been some animators that wrote episodes and who have also been directors. One really well known example is David Silverman. He's the one who directed The Simpson's Roasting On Fire, the very first Simpson Episode released. He's known to be an animator, writer, and a director holding the most Simpson episodes in the series and well known for directing The Simpsons Movie. It's amazing how he still has that Simpsons Touch even after all that modernization of The Simpsons, right?

[Paul]

their writing couldn't be much worse, so why the heck not.

[zartok-35]

Sounds like a good idea. When cartoons are written by artists who can actually draw, they can better take advantage of the animated medium.

Dude, their have been some animators that wrote episodes and who have also been directors. One really well known example is David Silverman.

Davey has never written an episode before. He is a credited producer though, so he might have influence in the playroom.

[The Thompsons]

Dude, their have been some animators that wrote episodes and who have also been directors. One really well known example is David Silverman. He's the one who directed The Simpson's Roasting On Fire, the very first Simpson Episode released. He's known to be an animator, writer, and a director holding the most Simpson episodes in the series and well known for directing The Simpsons Movie. It's amazing how he still has that Simpsons Touch even after all that modernization of The Simpsons, right?

Doesn't Mark Kirkland have the record for most episodes directed as well? It's either him or Reardon.

[zartok-35]

Kirkland has the most, seconded by Steven Dean Moore and Jim Reardon.

[The Thompsons]

Forgot about Steven Dean Moore. I guess he's been directing since around season 6 so that makes sense.

[Knightboat]

Yeah, I don't see why not. It's more than likely that the said episode would be heavy on the visual storytelling, mind. Then again, if the script isn't any good then I'm sure it won't make it past a table read. As for who I'd like to see write an episode, I'd also have to vote for David Silverman. I'm sure he has some great ideas.

[Gran2]

Well Brad Bird and Jim Reardon have proved that animators/directors are also capable of writing excellent stories, so why not? It's not like the actual writers have come with anything good recently.

[hammster]

I guess. Depending on their talent, natch.

Also kind off topic but it's kinda about people doing different roles, I'd like to see an episode written by Harry Shearer.

[Magaggie Simpson]

I would say that it's worth a try, the writing really can't get much worse...

[jbauer]

I recommend doing some homework before posting a thread like this.

There's a very simple reason as to they don't write episodes: this is a TELEVISION SHOW. This isn't Disney or Pixar, where animators are auteurs.

Most TV animators are hired guns, contracted to do one job: to draw and animate. That's what Gracie Films and Fox expect of them.

Even supervising folks like David Silverman, Mike B. Anderson, Jim Reardon or Brad Bird aren't allowed to have their name on the script. Of course, they've contributed a valid story point or the occasional uncredited joke, every now and then, but the point stands. This is television. There's a hierarchy, and directors are at the bottom of the totem pole on a writer-dominated industry.

If Brad Bird wanted to write an episode now, he could, since he's technically an unattached freelancer. But that's the only case. You're not going to see the likes of Steve Moore and Mark Kirkland putting their names on a script (and it's not like they have the time to do so; we're talking about break-neck speed TV animation here; you're lucky if you get time to breathe).

[Matlock]

Yes why not.

[Matty]

jbauer, you're totally missing the point of this thread. Everyone knows the animators on the Simpsons are hired to draw. And everyone knows Gracie Films expects them to be too dumb to be able to write or something while they are churning out pages of terrible dialogue, puns and unstructured stories.

But would you yourself be interested in an animator writing for the show? Remember, just because they are animators, doesn't mean they can't 'write'. A lot of animators are not just some guy who likes to draw pictures. They are auteurs who use the art of animation to tell their story, and know how to use that artform to the fullest. So yes, of course it would be intriguing to see a Simpsons episode written by an animator. Even if it is TELEVISION, the one medium animators supposedly can't write for for some reason. Even though there are plenty of shows where they do.

[jbauer]

jbauer, you're totally missing the point of this thread. Everyone knows the animators on the Simpsons are hired to draw. And everyone knows Gracie Films expects them to be too dumb to be able to write or something while they are churning out pages of terrible dialogue, puns and unstructured stories.

But would you yourself be interested in an animator writing for the show? Remember, just because they are animators, doesn't mean they can't 'write'. A lot of animators are not just some guy who likes to draw pictures. They are auteurs who use the art of animation to tell their story, and know how to use that artform to the fullest. So yes, of course it would be intriguing to see a Simpsons episode written by an animator. Even if it is TELEVISION, the one medium animators supposedly can't write for for some reason. Even though there are plenty of shows where they do.

It doesn't really matter whether i'd be interested or not.

I never said they couldn't write or tell a story. They certainly can (Brad Bird and Jim Reardon being shining examples).

But that's not what they're being paid to do. There's one other reason why they can't do it:

They don't have the TIME. They have to animate multiple episodes within a year. Even with Korean support, that's an insane amount of work within a short time-frame. A 90 minute animated film can take over two years to be made. These guys have to produce multiple episodes in half that time. Do the math.

And supervising directors usually have even LESS time than the others.

Writing a 30 page episode script that's well structured isn't easy either. It takes precious time to make it good and funny, as well. Time which they usually don't have. Believe me, I've tried.

That's why there are 20 staff writers. Dan Castellaneta can write episodes because he works a mere 10 hours a week doing voiceover work. Therefore, he has the spare time to pursue other projects.

Even if an animator were to write an episode, it would still go through mutiple revisions by every single writer/producer on staff, including the showrunner.

Bottom line is, they can't and won't write an episode, because it's simply impossible. Plus, they'd have to be paid extra for their draft. Fox would never allow that, especially given the recent budget cut.

[Matty]

This is an internet messageboard. Speculating is fun!

I both write and direct animation. I know all about the time and amount of work it costs. That's not what this thread is about. Besides, you could just hire the animator to write for a production season instead of him/her doing directing/animation work. Maybe let him/her do the whole storyboard for the episode after the script is finished.

[lovedartsandsimpsons]

Judging by the DVD commentaries, Silverman has by far the most knowledge of the writing process of the show of any animator (not that that should be surprising). He sometimes even gives his opinion on whether a certain joke could have been written better, or whether a storyline flows well or not. So yeah, let him have a go.

[zartok-35]

Jim Reardon doesn't appear to be up to anyhting, knows the show well enough, and he's a very credible writer. He would be a good choice as well.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Yeah, except Wreck-It Ralph and pitching other ideas for Disney.

[zartok-35]

So THATS what he's doing. Good for him!

[Sinister Burns]

Way to totally kill the discussion, jbauer.

[The Governor]

I'D rather see a writer with little artistic ability animate an episode.

[The Thompsons]

Then you would get Teh Samsins.

[Cartoonnetwork]

I think it's an excellent point and they should totally do it.

Jbauer does have a point but couldn't that animator get paid for this other job for once and the rest of the animators do their work without him for some time? Maybe not, because that would imply that there are more animators than what they actually need, but it doesn't seem totally impossible to do it.

I just went to watch Maggie Simpson In The Longest Daycare today. That could have been written by an animator. I didn't have the time to read the credits but I think Al Jean was in the script, among others and the result was pretty good, but maybe an animator would have add even more visual gags, though I guess Silverman really showed some of his own in the direction.