| The Simpsons | Balenciaga | |
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| Directed by | David Silverman |
| Written by | Joel H. Cohen Al Jean Michael Price |
| Based on | The Simpsons by Matt Groening |
| Produced by | James L. Brooks Matt Groening Al Jean Richard Raynis Denise Sirkot |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Bleeding Fingers Music |
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Running time | 10 minutes |
| Languages | English French |
The Simpsons | Balenciaga[a] is a 2021animatedshort film based on the television seriesThe Simpsons. The production staff ofThe Simpsons collaborated with French/Spanish luxuryfashion houseBalenciaga to produce the film that premiered on October 2, 2021 duringParis Fashion Week. The ten-minute film, directed byDavid Silverman, parodies the fashion industry andhighlights Balenciaga's recent clothing.[1][2]
Homer forgets to buyMarge a birthday present, and while looking for ideas finds her sleeping with aBalenciaga catalog and writes to them, asking if they can send him their cheapest product with the Balenciaga logo on it, or even just a tag. Balenciaga responds by sending him the dress on the cover of the catalog. On Marge's birthday, she is thrilled by the dress, but Homer finds out it costs€19,000. Homer and Marge go out for the evening, and Homer tries to stop anything from staining the dress so he can return it. Marge returns the dress with a note saying she will always remember "those 30 minutes of feeling just a little special."
Demna Gvasalia, the creative director of Balenciaga, receives the dress, and after reading Marge's note decides to go to Springfield where, after finding the town "style-deprived", tells the townspeople he will fly them to Paris to model Balenciaga's clothing duringParis Fashion Week.[b] In Paris, the show starts with everyone modeling different outfits. The spectators express disapproval at first, but change their tune afterAnna Wintour says she enjoys the models.Bart moons the crowd, who are unoffended and moon him back.Lisa is reluctant to model, but decides to participate as "research" and enjoys it. The designers struggle to get Homer into his outfit before they send him onto the catwalk. Marge models a bowed ballgown in the finale of the show, where she is cheered. Following the show, the Springfield townspeople take a boat ride down theSeine and Homer sings "La Mer" to Marge. Homer's clothing catches fire from a cigar and Gvasalia tries to put it out with an expensive bottle of champagne. The fire is put out by covering him with a Balenciaga sheet.
Patty and Selma,Sideshow Mel,Sideshow Bob,Groundskeeper Willie,Chief Wiggum,Julio,Agnes Skinner,Sherri and Terri, andMaggie Simpson also appear as non-speaking models.
After Demna Gvasalia, a longtime fan ofThe Simpsons, presented the idea to the show's creatorMatt Groening in April 2020, the short film was produced in secret for almost a year. The original outline from theSimpsons writers had Balenciaga holding their fashion show inSpringfield, but the location was changed to Paris at Balenciaga's insistence. All of the clothing featured in the short are designs by Balenciaga, with the exception of the fictional dress Marge receives at the beginning. Though Gvasalia was heavily involved with the production, he declined to voice himself.Anna Wintour approved of her likeness being used but declined to voice herself. DirectorDavid Silverman said animating the distinct look and movement of fabrics was particularly challenging.[1]
The film premiered at Balenciaga's "Red Carpet Collection" event for their spring 2022 fashion line at theThéâtre du Châtelet duringParis Fashion Week on October 2, 2021.[3] The film was used in place of a traditionalcatwalk presentation of their clothing, and received a standing ovation.[4] Balenciaga posted the film on theirYouTube channel the same day, where it received over five million views in its first week.[1] Balenciaga also released a tie-inSimpsons clothing collection.[5]
Films directed byDavid Silverman | |
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