Bullwinkle and The Simpsons

Matt Groening's biggest inspiration was Jay Ward's Rocky and Bullwinkle as he said in these interviews that I can use thanks to The Simpsons Archive.

By Rob Holly

"The Simpsons' Father Speaks"
© Cards Illustrated, Issue 9, September 1994

Which ones in particular did you grow up with?

Groening: All the Warner Brothers cartoons: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner. I was also a big fan of Droopy by Tex Avery and the Fleisher Brothers' Popeye and Betty Boopcartoons. Of course, Disney features, shorts, and I think the biggest influence as far as my work in animation was Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Rocky and Bullwinkle was a cartoon that was very cheap looking, but it worked anyway. And I figured that what made this cartoon work was great writing, great voices and great music, and that the animation didn't matter as much.

By John W. Kim

"Keep 'em Laughing"

Groening's inspiration to create a show came from such classic television animators as Jay Ward. "When I saw Rocky and Bullwinkle I realized that you didn't necessarily have to be a great cartoonist or artist to make a great cartoon," says Groening. "All you needed was great writing."

Also before the end of this post, here is some trivia you may not have known

Homer, Abraham, Bart and Chester Lampwick's middle intial `J' is a tribute to Rocky & Bullwinkle (Rocket J. Squirrel & Bullwinkle J. Moose), whose initials were in honor of their creator, Jay Ward. 

Thanks to The Simpsons Archive