Nearly 40 years after it first appeared on television, The Simpsons still refuses to slow down.
The creators of the iconic animated series have shared the secret behind its incredible run as the show approaches four decades on air and celebrates its 800th episode.
Executive producer Al Jean said the team never wanted the show to follow one long storyline.
Instead, every episode starts fresh, allowing new viewers to jump in at any time.
We have done 800 episodes, and I am really glad we did not do a big overarching story. You always return to square one at the end of the show. And there is no question that was a big influence on the longevity.
Current showrunner Matt Selman said the characters’ refusal to age gives writers the freedom to tell fresh stories without worrying about events from hundreds of previous episodes.
Series creator Matt Groening also said the team keeps pushing itself to improve the show’s animation and storytelling instead of relying on its long history.
I have spent 38 years now trying to get them to draw the characters correctly. We have got to figure out how to shift perspective and do it more cinematically and we are always trying to improve.”
The Simpsons debuted in 1989 after first appearing as short sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show.
Since then, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie have become some of television’s most recognisable characters.
The series has won dozens of awards, inspired countless animated comedies and built a loyal fan base around the world.
Even after 800 episodes, the creators say they still have plenty of stories left to tell.