Remember that Simpsons episode where Lisa elopes with Abu? Or the one where Homer is abducted by aliens? No? That's because you can see these only on my computer. 'Course, if you had the Simpsons Cartoon Studio CD-ROM, you could make yer own never-before-seen Simpsons cartoons like these.
Fox's Simpsons Cartoon Studio may be more the '90s answer to Colorforms than a finely tuned animation resource, but dang if it isn't fun to watch Smithers and Mr. Burns hula across the monitor as a three-eyed fish swims by. Mix together a slew of ready-made images, pre-animated sequences, available props, and assorted backdrops, then slap your name on the credits and email it to a friend. The droll sound effects include clips of Homer saying "Mmmm, doughnuts," "Mmmm, pork rinds," and two versions of "Mmmm, waffles."
Even with all the editing tools, I flubbed the procedure and created a cartoon where Bart freaks out before his science experiment erupts. (I called it "Bart the Prophet.") For the anally inclined, there's certainly a way to have these cartoons make more sense. But I prefer to toss rhyme and reason out the window. Ned Flanders mows the sky and household appliances rain from above. So what if it's nonsensical? We can't all be Matt Groening.
Simpsons Cartoon Studio: US$39.98. Fox Interactive Inc.: +1 (310) 369 1000.
STREET CRED
Mmmm, Digilicious See Hear
