The writers of The Simpsons have made their fair share of jokes about collectors and their treasures over the years, whether the same old Malibu Stacy doll with a new hat or whatever obscure issue the “comic book guy” is trying to keep in mint condition. They know their fans too well not to razz them a little now and then. It’s the show’s quirky, self-aware humor at its finest, considering what a cash cow The Simpsons has become since its humble beginnings on The Tracy Ullman Show in 1987.
As the longest-running animated show in television history, The Simpsons has spawned countless merchandising tie-ins, including the usual assortment of toys, figurines, t-shirts, and lunch boxes. But, as with any fandom, there will always be those who go after weird ephemera that was never meant to be theirs. These are the items we’ll be focusing on today. Trust me, they’re perfectly acceptable, or “cromulent,” things to collect.
Fiberglass Statues
If you’ve got the room, there’s a surprisingly big market for lifesize (or larger) statues of Springfield’s favorite family. Sets like the one above were sent to theaters to promote the release of The Simpsons Movie in 2007. When the movie’s run was over, they should’ve been sent back, but of course, many were kept by theater staff or thrown out due to wear and tear. Surviving sets, especially with the couch and all family members intact, cost a pretty penny for a Simpsons superfan.
Convenience store chain 7-11 also partnered with the Simpsons’ theatrical release, thanks to its not-so-accidental resemblance to the famed Kwik-E-Mart. Select 7-11 locations served unique flavors of their slushies and donuts styled after those in The Simpsons. A yellow arm proudly hoisting a sprinkle donut was placed on the roof of participating stores. Years later, these giant donut-toting arms have also found their way to the online marketplace for collectors of a particular appetite.
Pinball Machines
The Simpsons had quite the run at arcades in the 1990s and early 2000s. Cabinet games featuring The Simpsons were huge money-makers and led to home video game spin-offs down the line, but no arcade fixture garners quite the fixation of the Simpsons-themed pinball machines. Only about 6,000 of these machines were made, and with the overall decline of arcades in the 2000s, those that remain are highly collectible. Many have been found, restored, and repaired by hobbyists.
There were two versions: one by Data East and the other from Stern. Both pinball machines creatively featured the Simpson family in different ways, with colorful boards and quotes from the show decorating the exterior. Data East’s “The Simpsons” pinball machine came out the year after the show itself, in 1990. The Stern machine, “The Simpsons Pinball Party,” came later, in 2003, and boasted many more bells and whistles. The game featured a skateboarding Bart and a moving, talking Homer head on the board.
Animation Cels
Diehard animation fans should be no stranger to cels, but they may be unfamiliar to casual viewers. Cels are the individual hand-colored cellulose frames of an animated cartoon or film, or at least they were until digital animation became the norm. The Simpsons used traditional cel animation almost exclusively until its 14th season in 2003.
Original production cels and hand-drawn storyboards of the show’s early seasons are highly coveted. Authentic cels autographed by The Simpsons cast or creators sell for hundreds or even thousands. There are also commemorative reproductions of cels of famous scenes from the show. These retail copies are more accessible to fans with shallower pockets and are equally worthy as art pieces.
Cameo Collectibles
Anybody who’s anybody has appeared on The Simpsons at least once, or at least that’s how it seems. Over the years, rock bands, supermodels, authors, and even former presidents have made a pitstop in Springfield. Celebrity guest stars often get “simpsonized” by the animators to resemble their real-life counterparts in the style of the show.
Art prints or scripts from episodes featuring famous folks as they appeared in The Simpsons are doubly desirable to fans of both. Many of these scripts and prints are also autographed by the guest star, the cast, creators, or all of the above, increasing their value. The Simpsons staff would also often gift their guest stars some themed goodies, like this bowling set below, given to John Entwhistle of “The Who.”
Bootlegs And Knock-Offs
There was a time in the mid-1990s when you couldn’t throw a stick in a store without hitting a Simpsons character (I feel like the show’s matriarch, Marge, would point out that you shouldn’t throw sticks in stores, Bart, but still…) The Simpsons appeared on nearly everything sold to kids, sometimes with the creators’ blessing and sometimes not. The show’s extreme popularity led many shady sellers in the US and abroad to slap the series’ beloved characters onto their merchandise.
While many of these unlicensed tie-ins were on par with authentic Simpsons merch, some were poor quality or just downright weird and not in the show’s spirit. Some collectors with a sense of humor actively seek out this more dubious merchandise, not despite but because of how bad it is. Fake Simpsons toys frequently have characters’ names misspelled and designs that are just a little bit off, either on purpose to avoid litigation or accidentally due to a lack of familiarity with the show.
Best. Collection. Ever.
The Simpsons has been a permanent fixture on television for over 30 years and shows no signs of stopping. It’s only natural that the most super of super fans might get bored with collecting the same old, same old, especially those who’ve been there since the heyday of the 90s. Thanks to the show’s record-holding run, owning a piece of the show’s history that wasn’t intended for the mass market, no matter how obscure, is a dream come true for animation fans.
Even though more traditional collectibles like The Simpsons Pop! vinyl figurines and vintage play sets still command plenty of attention, niche items like the ones above can steal the show and make a collection unique. From scraps of scripts to weathered statues from 7/11, is there a limit to what diehard fans of this beloved TV show will try to collect? In the wise words of Ralph Wiggum, it seems “that’s unpossible!”
Rory Tessmer is an eBayer and freelancer from southeastern Wisconsin with over a decade of specialty retail and resale experience under their belt. Rory has had the pleasure of seeing (and sometimes even playing with) hundreds of unusual collectibles over the years, from tesla coils to military mule-branding kits. In their spare time, they enjoy cooking, gaming, and noodling around with their synthesizer.
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