A Whole Animated World It would be hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of "The Simpsons". At the very least, almost everyone is familiar with the name. Today, it’s difficult to imagine our world without this truly legendary animated series, which first appeared back in 1989. Since then, as its popularity has continued to grow, the stories of its characters have kept viewers eagerly following the life of the entire town of Springfield — a place filled with countless memorable characters and storylines. "The Simpsons" is more than just a TV show. First and foremost, it is sharp satire — initially aimed at American society, and later at the world as a whole. The creators present a wide variety of storylines, most of which focus on the main characters, the Simpson family. But just as often, the show shifts its attention to their neighbors, coworkers, friends, and enemies. Over the decades, this approach has allowed The Simpsons to build its own mythology and history, populated by a huge cast of memorable characters, each of them a well-developed personality with a unique set of traits and an instantly recognizable character. Even though these figures are exaggerated, a knowledgeable viewer can always identify a character at a glance and recall the many milestones of their development. The series impresses with its richly detailed world, where something unusual is constantly happening within the city. From episode to episode, viewers discover something new: a previously unseen neighborhood or an organization that had never been mentioned before. Celebrities visit Springfield as well — and quite often they even voice themselves. We see a fully realized city with its own nuclear power plant polluting the river, a hospital, a police station, a church that the head of the family so dreads attending, as well as shops, bars, and much more. All of this, appearing episode after episode and season after season, creates the feeling of a complete, almost real society. The show also has an overarching narrative. Yes, it consists of small, self-contained stories about twenty minutes long, but overall the characters evolve or regress from episode to episode. Some fall in love and get married, others grow old and pass away, some leave the city while others arrive. At times, even the events of a single episode can drastically affect the larger picture. I believe this approach makes the series far more engaging and cohesive. The main characters, of course, deserve special attention. Each of them is a unique individual, and together they form a complete family with its own problems, strengths, and weaknesses. Homer is a good-natured, overweight father of three — a typical oaf with a kind heart but often unbearable behavior. He loves donuts and beer, shows little interest in family matters, and enjoys eating anything that’s bad for his health. Balancing him out is his wife Marge, a woman who devotes herself entirely to household chores and raising the children. Marge occasionally gets into trouble, but she always remains the guardian of the family hearth. Then there’s Bart, the mischievous troublemaker, and Lisa, the diligent student with a familiar set of traits. The former is a prank-loving delinquent; the latter is a girl who wants everything to be perfect, both in school and beyond. Each of them suffers from their own personality in one way or another. And there’s also baby Maggie, just one year old, who seems to have never spoken a single word throughout the entire series — though she’s come close many times. The world of The Simpsons is filled with dozens of other characters, far too many to cover here. It’s better to see them for yourself. What matters is that they’re interesting, distinctive people whose stories are just as engaging to follow. "The Simpsons" is great. At times it becomes less compelling, and at others it surprises with unexpectedly strong storylines. The series has famously predicted real-life events more than once, offers a sharp look at American society, and isn’t afraid to laugh at other countries as well. It can be funny, crude, sometimes downright rude — but always heartfelt. This animated series has long since become iconic, continuing year after year to delight fans with new stories from a small town somewhere in America. 10 out of 10