Television and Screen Writing, 4th Edition

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Animation, Interactive and New Media, and Nonfiction Entertainment

Writing for Animation Series

In an article entitled “Writing for The Simpsons,” Executive Producer Michael Scully agrees with the Hollywood wisdom of not sending a spec script to the same series you're trying to write for.¹ If you're considering doing a spec script for a half-hour animation sitcom, then don't submit a spec script to “The Simpsons.” Scully suggests sending one somewhere else, like “King of the Hill” or “Family Guy.”

Scully advises writers not to confuse the “edge” of the characters. He describes Homer as “the quintessential American,” asserting that many spec scripts depict Homer as uncharacteristically mean. He feels that pitfalls like mistaking Homer's nature ...