History Creator / MattGroening

* BoardingSchoolOfHorrors: ''Life in Hell'' even has a volume called ''School Is Hell''.
** Also a prominent theme in ''The Simpsons''.

* BeliefMakesYouStupid: Several jokes in Groening's work poke fun at the absurdities and inconsistencies of religion.

* ScaryAmoralReligion: The absurdities and inconsistencies of religion, its purveyors, and its practitioners are frequent targets.

* ArtisticLicense: Both "The Simpsons" and "Futurama" follow a certain reality, but sometimes this is thrown out of the window for absurd gags. WordOfGod says that his work is mainly based on "what I know I real and what I know is fictional."

* CrossOver: References to Groening's other works are often made.
** In the fall of 2014 two crossover episodes were made between ''The Simpsons'' and ''Futurama'' and ''The Simpsons'' and ''Family Guy''.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' is a DysfunctionalFamily DomCom which satirizes [[ReferenceOverdosed just about all of contemporary American (pop) culture]].
** ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'' is clearly a parody of ScienceFiction stories set in [[TheFuture the distant future]].
** ''{{WesternAnimation/Disenchantment}}'' is likewise a spoof of {{Medieval European|Fantasy}} HighFantasy in general.
%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

!!Other appearances:
* ''Peefeeyatko'': A 1991 documentary about Music/FrankZappa.
* ''Revenge Of The Dead Indians'': A 1992 documentary about composer Music/JohnCage.
* ''The BBC Late Show Special: Frank Zappa'': A 1993 documentary about Music/FrankZappa.
* ''The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart'': A 1993 (broadcast in 1997) documentary about Music/CaptainBeefheart.
* ''Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens'': A 2000 documentary about animator Creator/ChuckJones.
* ''The Devil and Daniel Johnston'': A 2005 documentary about Music/DanielJohnston.
* ''Theory of Obscurity: A Film About the Residents'': A 2005 documentary about Music/TheResidents.

* HumansAreBastards / HumansAreMorons: Most people in Groening's works are either [[TheDitz foolishly incompetent]], [[{{Jerkass}} downright mean-spirited]], [[InsufferableImbecile or simultaneously both]]. Though non-human characters in ''Futurama'' and ''Disenchantment'' are not any better.

* ''WesternAnimation/OliveTheOtherReindeer'': The voice of Arturo.
* ''WesternAnimation/HairHigh'': The voice of Will.
* ''{{Series/Portlandia}}'': Appears as himself in the episode "Fashion" to sue Spyke over his "Bart Ska-mpson" shirts.

Matthew Abram Groening[[note]]pronounced "GRAY-ning"[[/note]] (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator, known as the creator of ''''ComicStrip/LifeInHell'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Disenchantment}}''.

Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon) began his career in 1977 as an underground cartoonist, best known for his comic strip ''ComicStrip/LifeInHell''. Influenced by ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'', UndergroundComics and cult artists like Music/FrankZappa, Music/CaptainBeefheart, Music/TheResidents and Music/TheFugs, the comic is perhaps Groening's most personal work. Its central characters are two gay little men called Akbar and Jeff and a white rabbit family. The cartoons already poked fun at topics that Groening would later attack in his animated shows: politics, religion, school, family, work, relationships and modern society in general. The comic became a cult success and by the mid 1980s Groening was approached by Creator/JamesLBrooks to make an animated TV adaptation of ''Life In Hell''. Initially Groening agreed, until he learned that he would lose the rights to the comic strip. So instead, he redrew his rabbit characters as people, named them after members of his family, and that's how Groening came up with one of America's most enduring animated comedies: ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' started off in 1987 as extremely short cartoons used as bumpers before and after commercials during ''Series/TheTraceyUllmanShow''. Despite being crudely animated with lots of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, the segments caught on with the American public. By 1989 Groening got the chance to turn the series into a full-length prime time animated series, something that hadn't been done since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' in the 1960s (or, if you want to be anal, since ''WesternAnimation/WaitTillYourFatherGetsHome'' in the early 1970s). The show quickly became a [[BreakthroughHit critically lauded mainstream success]], especially thanks to BreakoutCharacter Bart Simpson (though later, Homer Simpson would be the breakout star and later still, it would be all the ancillary characters). It was the first primetime cartoon series since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' to become popular both with children and adults. Its clever satire, edgy subversiveness ([[FairForItsDay of its time]]), hilarious gags and all above emotional depth were praised. Its cult success paved the way for other adult cartoon series such as ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Yet, the show wasn't without its critics. Especially in the early years many parents and educators complained about certain scenes they deemed to be offensive or unsuitable for children. Even President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush attacked the series during the 1992 Republican National Convention by claiming that "the American family should be a lot more like ''Series/TheWaltons'' and a lot less like The'' Simpsons''." Only a week later ''The Simpsons'' reacted by rerunning an episode and, before the episode proper began, letting Bart say: "Hey, we're just like ''The Waltons''. We're all praying for an end to the [[TheGreatDepression Depression]] too." Coincidence or not, but Bush lost the election later that year.

''The Simpsons'' continued its successful run and is still on television to this day, though many fans believe that the show's quality has long since faded away (thanks, in no small part, to all the FollowTheLeader shows that have proven themselves to be better at ''The Simpsons'' -- some of which did have former writers of the show itself). In 1999, Groening launched another animated series, ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', around a totally different concept. Set in the far future (and playing out more like a "fish-out-of-water" story mixed with a workplace comedy and a DeconstructiveParody of sci-fi and futuristic pulp stories), ''Futurama'' mostly spoofs every science fiction or future dystopia concept in a similar satirical way like ''The Simpsons''. The program never reached ''Simpsons''-level popularity (mostly due to Creator/{{Fox}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwing the show out of a potential audience]]) and was cancelled by FOX, but developed a rabid cult following through reruns via Creator/CartoonNetwork's Creator/AdultSwim block (and DVD sales) and was eventually revived and given a proper ending (albeit left with the possibility of another continuation) on Creator/ComedyCentral a few years later. In 2022, a second revival, this time on Creator/{{Hulu}}, was announced.

Groening's third animated series, a ''very'' self-referential medieval fantasy spoof called ''{{WesternAnimation/Disenchantment}}'', premiered on Creator/{{Netflix}} in 2018. Much like ''Futurama'', ''Disenchantment'' isn't as beloved as ''The Simpsons'', but it does have its share of fans.

''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' started off in 1987 as extremely short cartoons used as bumpers before and after commercials during ''Series/TheTraceyUllmanShow''. Despite being crudely animated with lots of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, the segments caught on with the American public. By 1989 Groening got the chance to turn the series into a full-length prime time animated series, something that hadn't been done since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' in the 1960s (or, if you want to be anal, since ''WesternAnimation/WaitTillYourFatherGetsHome'' in the early 1970s). The show quickly became a [[BreakthroughHit critically lauded mainstream success]], especially thanks to BreakoutCharacter Bart Simpson (though later, Homer Simpson would be the breakout star and later still, it would be all the ancillary characters). It was the first primetime cartoon series since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' to become popular both with children and adults. Its clever satire, edgy subversiveness ([[FairForItsDay of its time]]), hilarious gags and all above emotional depth were praised. Its cult success paved the way for other adult cartoon series such as ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Yet, the show wasn't without its critics. Especially in the early years many parents and educators complained about certain scenes they deemed to be offensive or unsuitable for children. Even President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush attacked the series during the 1992 Republican National Convention by claiming that "the American family should be a lot more like ''Series/TheWaltons'' and a lot less like The'' Simpsons''." Only a week later ''The Simpsons'' reacted by rerunning an episode and, before the episode proper began, letting Bart say: "Hey, we're just like ''The Waltons''. We're all praying for an end to the [[UsefulNotes/GreatDepression Depression]] too." Coincidence or not, but Bush lost the election later that year.

''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' started off in 1987 as extremely short cartoons used as bumpers before and after commercials during ''Series/TheTraceyUllmanShow''. Despite being crudely animated with lots of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, the segments caught on with the American public. By 1989 Groening got the chance to turn the series into a full-length prime time animated series, something that hadn't been done since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' in the 1960s (or, if you want to be anal, since ''WesternAnimation/WaitTillYourFatherGetsHome'' in the early 1970s). The show quickly became a [[BreakthroughHit critically lauded mainstream success]], especially thanks to BreakoutCharacter Bart Simpson (though later, Homer Simpson would be the breakout star and later still, it would be all the ancillary characters). It was the first primetime cartoon series since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' to become popular both with children and adults. Its clever satire, edgy subversiveness ([[FairForItsDay of its time]]), hilarious gags and all above emotional depth were praised. Its cult success paved the way for other adult cartoon series such as ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Yet, the show wasn't without its critics. Especially in the early years many parents and educators complained about certain scenes they deemed to be offensive or unsuitable for children. Even President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush attacked the series during the 1992 Republican National Convention by claiming that "the American family should be a lot more like ''Series/TheWaltons'' and a lot less like The'' Simpsons''." Only a week later ''The Simpsons'' reacted by rerunning an episode and, before the episode proper began, letting Bart say: "Hey, we're just like ''The Waltons''. We're all praying for an end to the [[UsefulNotes/TheGreatDepression the Depression]] too." Coincidence or not, but Bush lost the election later that year.

''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' started off in 1987 as extremely short cartoons used as bumpers before and after commercials during ''Series/TheTraceyUllmanShow''. Despite being crudely animated with lots of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, the segments caught on with the American public. By 1989 Groening got the chance to turn the series into a full-length prime time animated series, something that hadn't been done since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' in the 1960s (or, if you want to be anal, since ''WesternAnimation/WaitTilYourFatherGetsHome'' in the early 1970s). The show quickly became a [[BreakthroughHit critically lauded mainstream success]], especially thanks to BreakoutCharacter Bart Simpson (though later, Homer Simpson would be the breakout star and later still, it would be all the ancillary characters). It was the first primetime cartoon series since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' to become popular both with children and adults. Its clever satire, edgy subversiveness ([[FairForItsDay of its time]]), hilarious gags and all above emotional depth were praised. Its cult success paved the way for other adult cartoon series such as ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Yet, the show wasn't without its critics. Especially in the early years many parents and educators complained about certain scenes they deemed to be offensive or unsuitable for children. Even President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush attacked the series during the 1992 Republican National Convention by claiming that "the American family should be a lot more like ''Series/TheWaltons'' and a lot less like The'' Simpsons''." Only a week later ''The Simpsons'' reacted by rerunning an episode and, before the episode proper began, letting Bart say: "Hey, we're just like ''The Waltons''. We're all praying for an end to the depression too." Coincidence or not, but Bush lost the election later that year.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: All his animated series have hundreds of characters, all whom appear regularly in the series.

* MoralDilemma: His characters regularly face moral dilemmas. Sometimes they just do whatever they please. Other times they do follow their conscience.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' (1987/1989-present)
* ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'' (1999-2003, 2007-2013, [[UnCancelled TBA]])

** WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow is probably the most deranged Groening's work ever got.

* ParentalBonus: Parents will enjoy and understand the majority of his work better than children would.

* MoralDissonance: Trying to do the good thing is usually avoided by his characters. And even when they try to there's always a chance that their efforts won't be rewarded in the way that they would want to. They even fail more often than they win.

* CatchPhrase: Most of his characters have at least one catchphrase.

*** Even in his heyday, Bart could almost be a subversion. While he genuinely enjoyed causing mayhem, most of his antics were more meant to drive authority figures crazy rather than cause any genuine harm. There were lines that [[EvenEvilHasStandards even Bart wouldn't cross]], and when he realized he went too far, he'd actually feel bad about it and try to make up for it.

* NoPronunciationGuide: His surname is pronounced ''"GRAY-ning"'', not ''"Groaning"''.

''The Simpsons'' continued its successful run and is still on television to this day, though many fans believe that the show's quality has long since faded away (thanks, in no small part, to all the FollowTheLeader shows that have proven themselves to be better at ''The Simpsons'' -- some of which did have former writers of the show itself). In 1999, Groening launched another animated series, ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', around a totally different concept. Set in the far future (and playing out more like a "fish-out-of-water" story mixed with a workplace comedy and a DeconstructiveParody of sci-fi and futuristic pulp stories), ''Futurama'' mostly spoofs every science fiction or future dystopia concept in a similar satirical way like ''The Simpsons''. The program never reached ''Simpsons''-level popularity (mostly due to Creator/{{Fox}} [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwing the show out of a potential audience]]) and was canceled by FOX, but developed a rabid cult following through reruns via Creator/CartoonNetwork's Creator/AdultSwim block (and DVD sales) and was eventually revived and given a proper ending (albeit left with the possibility of another continuation[[note]]though with Groening busy on ''Disenchantment'' for Netflix, there may not be a ''Futurama'' continuation or proper finale, no matter how much the fans whine, scream, cry, and beg for it[[/note]]) on Creator/ComedyCentral a few years later.

* ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'' (1999-2003, 2007-2013)

* ItIsPronouncedTroPay: His last name is actually pronounced "Gray-ning".

** "Angry Dad: The Movie" has stylistic parodies of ''WesternAnimation/TheTripletsOfBelleville'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Persepolis}}'', WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'', and ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'', all animated in their respective styles.

''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' started off in 1987 as extremely short cartoons used as bumpers before and after commercials during ''Series/TheTraceyUllmanShow''. Despite being crudely animated with lots of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, the segments caught on with the American public. By 1989 Groening got the chance to turn the series into a full-length prime time animated series, something that hadn't been done since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' in the 1960s (or, if you want to be anal, since ''Wait Til Your Father Gets Home''[[note]]a Hanna-Barbera animated sitcom that took place in the late 1960, early 1970s, about a conservative restaurant equipment salesman named Harry Boyle trying to find some normalcy during a time of a lot of tumultuous cultural change in America, especially with his wife, Irma, who wants to be more than just a housewife, and his children: Chet, the college dropout who won't find a job and is very much a hippie who hates his parents' strait-laced ways; Alice, a chubby high school girl who isn't afraid to be sexually liberated, even though she's very naive about what that entails; and Jamie, the youngest son who agrees with his father's conservative mindset and finds new ways to make money[[/note]] in the early 1970s). The show quickly became a [[BreakthroughHit critically lauded mainstream success]], especially thanks to BreakoutCharacter Bart Simpson (though later, Homer Simpson would be the breakout star and later still, it would be all the ancillary characters). It was the first primetime cartoon series since ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' to become popular both with children and adults. Its clever satire, edgy subversiveness ([[FairForItsDay of its time]]), hilarious gags and all above emotional depth were praised. Its cult success paved the way for other adult cartoon series such as ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'', ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Yet, the show wasn't without its critics. Especially in the early years many parents and educators complained about certain scenes they deemed to be offensive or unsuitable for children. Even President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush attacked the series during the 1992 Republican National Convention by claiming that "the American family should be a lot more like ''Series/TheWaltons'' and a lot less like The'' Simpsons''." Only a week later ''The Simpsons'' reacted by rerunning an episode and, before the episode proper began, letting Bart say: "Hey, we're just like ''The Waltons''. We're all praying for an end to the depression too." Coincidence or not, but Bush lost the election later that year.

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Mostly cynical, but with a nugget of idealism throughout. His worlds are usually populated by [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold jerks with hearts of gold]] who are selfish but mostly want to be good people deep down and even the grossest amoral behavior is strictly [[BlackComedy tongue-in-cheek]].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: A show mostly seen by children and teenagers not taken seriously by most adults, but full of very subversive content.