We All Love Marvel’s Multiverse… but ‘The Simpsons’ Have Already Done It Almost 30 Years Ago

As a dedicated fan who has spent countless hours immersed in the vast realms of fiction, I can confidently say that the article’s assertion about The Simpsons’ pioneering role in Multiverse storytelling is nothing short of mind-blowing! I still remember vividly the day I first watched “Treehouse of Horror VI” back in 1995, and the “Homer³” segment left an indelible mark on my young mind.

In simpler terms, the idea of the Multiverse refers to an imaginary collection of various universes, some of which are referred to as “Earth.” Each universe within this collection may have its own unique narrative. By introducing the concept of the Multiverse, storytellers gained more freedom and scope for diverse narratives, allowing them to continually grow and expand their fictional stories.

Currently, numerous Multiverses exist across various franchises, each offering their unique take on this idea. However, the one that stands out in the realm of films and television shows is the Marvel Multiverse, a key element within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which enjoys widespread popularity due to its consistency and coherence.

In this rephrased version: It’s commonly thought that Marvel was the pioneer in bringing a substantial Multiverse to life on screen, but surprisingly enough, The Simpsons had done it nearly 30 years ago. Although it was quite basic, it’s still significant to acknowledge as the inspiration behind this discussion!

On October 29, 1995, the sixth installment of “The Simpsons” famous mini-series titled “Treehouse of Horror,” named “Treehouse of Horror VI,” was broadcasted. This episode is highly regarded and considered one of the best in the series. It was divided into three parts:

  1. “Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores”
  2. “Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace”
  3. “Homer3

In this article, the “Homer3” section stands out as crucial because it subtly hinted at a concept that has become commonplace in major franchises – the idea of the Multiverse. To put it simply, this episode of The Simpsons presented an early depiction of a Multiverse, even though our understanding of it may not be fully defined or precise in this context. In other words, Homer’s journey into a new dimension in this episode can be considered as a forerunner to the concept of a Multiverse.

29 years ago, “The Simpsons” surprisingly hinted at the idea of the Multiverse, a notion that was beyond comprehension in the realm of fiction back then. You can find a clip of this segment online on YouTube now.

In the story, Homer steps out from his own realm and materializes in a three-dimensional Earth. Consequently, he transforms into a three-dimensional version of himself. This innovative concept, though later influenced by the “Little Girl Lost” episode of The Twilight Zone from 1962, was initially intended to explore various universes, each presenting a unique variation of Homer, as explained by Bill Oakley, who served as the showrunner for Season 7.

Originally, I envisioned that Homer would traverse various dimensions. Each one would have distinct aesthetics, such as a flat cutout paper world and a claymation realm. However, we eventually decided to faithfully recreate an episode of The Twilight Zone, beat for beat instead.

Source: SlashFilm

The Simpsons seemed to have predicted the future once again, eh?

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2024-11-29 19:14