The Day the Violence Died/References
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"The Day the Violence Died"
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Cultural references
- The relationship between Roger Meyers Sr. and Chester J. Lampwick mirrors the real-life relationship between Walt Disney and his chief animator in the 1920s, Ub Iwerks, who created Mickey Mouse, but never received the credit. There are also parallells with the controversy over Felix the Cat, of whom is disputed whether Pat Sullivan or Otto Messmer actually created him.
- Roger Meyers Sr. being cryogenically frozen is a reference to the myth that Walt Disney was similarly frozen.
- When Roger Meyers Jr. pleads his case in court, he mentions that several animated television series and characters were plagiarized from other series and characters: "Animation is built on plagiarism! If it weren't for someone plagiarizing The Honeymooners, we wouldn't have The Flintstones. If someone hadn't ripped off Sergeant Bilko, there'd be no Top Cat. Huckleberry Hound, Chief Wiggum, Yogi Bear? Hah! Andy Griffith, Edward G. Robinson, Art Carney."
- The Manhattan Madness cartoon in "The Day the Violence Died" is based on very early animated cartoons such as Felix the Cat and Gertie the Dinosaur.
- The "Amendment To Be" segment is a parody of the educational show Schoolhouse Rock!, and more specifically "I'm Just a Bill", and refers to the Flag Desecration Amendment. Jack Sheldon, who sang the original song in "I'm Just a Bill", voices the song in the "Amendment to Be" segment.
- The cartoon "Itchy and Scratchy Meets Fritz The Cat" is a reference to the 1972 animated film Fritz the Cat that depicts drug use and sexual situations openly. Fritz the Cat was also the first animated movie to be rated X, before the NC-17 rating existed.
- The first Itchy & Scratchy cartoon entitled "Steamboat Itchy", which originally appeared in "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie", is a reference to Steamboat Willie, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon, and Joseph P. Kennedy, father of former United States President John F. Kennedy, is listed as one of the cartoon's producers.
- The episode's title alludes to the line "the Day the Music Died" from Don McLean's 1971 song "American Pie".
- The tune that Lampwick is whistling as he leaves the Simpsons' house is "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)."
- The Itchy & Scratchy cartoon title "Remembrance of Things Slashed" is a reference to Proust's Remembrance of Things Past.
- Lampwick bites the check he is given—presumably to see if it is genuine—in the same way that people used to bite silver and gold coins as a test to see if they were genuine.
- Lampwick's rocket car is a reference to the "Blue Flame".
Trivia
- The print of the early Itchy cartoon that burned on the projector is cellulose nitrate stock, which degrades rapidly with time. It's unlikely that a print as old as this would survive at all, much less being carried around outdoors by a bum.
Continuity
Goofs
- As pointed out in special features, the film case changes color from black to pink after it is tossed in the garbage.
- During the cut to the basement (after the scene where Bart first sneaks into the house and says "The coast is clear"), Bart's image seems to jump from a point at the top of the basement stairs to the middle (without any animation in between) when telling Chester that there is where he is going to sleep.
- The Empire State Building can be seen in Manhattan Madness, even though it opened in 1931, whereas Manhattan Madness was created 22 years earlier.
- Judge Snyder's skin is yellow instead of brown in this episode.
- It would be impossible for Bart to see Lester skateboard past the house because the window he looks through faces the backyard.
