There are several steps in the making of the Simpsons. We start with : 1. The Script Of course, when you are making a cartoon, you first need a script... The script of the Simpsons is rewritten several times (each scene is rewritten about eight times). If the script is complete, there's a table read, which is a gathering of the cast and all the producers so the writers can hear the script out loud and still make changes to it. 2. Recording the Voices When the final script is ready, the voices are recorded. They do this like an old radio play : The cast stands in a semi circle so they can see each other. The voices are recorded before making the drawings because it's easier to do the timing of the animations that way. Click here to see who does which voice (with pictures) 3. Soundtrack After the recording of the voices, a soundtrack or 24 minutes is made. This soundtrack, together with the script is then sent to Korea, where they make the animations. 4. The Animation A. The Storyboard First a storyboard is made. This are panel by panel illustrations of each scene. The average storyboard contains 200 pages which contain 4 or 5 shots each. B. Reviewing the scenes Once the storyboard is made, each scene is reviewed scrupulously. Nothing is left to the chance. Everything is carefully gone over by a team of people. C. Creating new characters and locations Each episode contains new characters and locations. These are designed on a show-by-show base. D. Creation of a mini-movie When the rough drawings are drawn, all these drawings are shot by a camera which is connected to a computer. On the computer all images are placed behind each other and a mini-movie of the show is made. This mini-movie is called an animatic. This way the producers can see how the animation flows, how the jokes work and if the timing is right. E. Animation in color After the making of the animatic, they start making the final animations. Those are colored with a limited palette. 5. Final About three months after sending the script and soundtrack to Korea the animation comes back to the writers. Then the script is sometimes rewritten AGAIN. The 24 minutes of animation that return from Korea are cut down to 22 minutes (22 minutes is the duration of the show). Now (after 10 months!) the episode is finally ready to hit the air.