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Simpsons fans slam Disney+ for changing format of original episodes: 'Some of the jokes have been lost'

Disney+ / Fox
Disney+ / Fox

Fans of The Simpsons have criticised Disney+ for changing the format of many of the show’s original episodes.

Disney+ launched on 12 November with 30 seasons of the animated show (which is currently in its 31st series) available to stream.

The Simpsons used a 4:3 aspect ratio throughout its first seasons before switching to a more rectangular 16:9 format.

On Disney+, episodes from the show’s first 20 seasons are currently streaming in a 16:9 format, meaning the image appears stretched.

Some fans have pointed out that some essential elements located towards the edges of the screen have been cropped out in some instances.

For example, as pointed out by Twitter user Tristan Cooper, in the sixteenth episode of the Simpsons‘ fourth season, “Duffless”, Bart Simpson tours a Duff brewery, where his beloved Duff beer is made.

While the brewery claims to sell three different versions of the beverage – original, lite and dry – but an extended shot in the 4:3 format reveals that all three brews are poured from the same tube.

In the 16:9 version available on Disney+, the tubes are partially cropped out, meaning it’s not clear that all three beverages are actually the same.

This isn’t the first time that The Simpsons‘ aspect ratio has become a subject of controversy.

Back in 2014, the US cable channel FXX aired a Simpsons marathon that also switched earlier episodes from a 16:9 to a 4:3 ratio, also attracting criticism.

The Independent has contacted Disney+ for comment.

You can browse our list of every programme available on Disney+ here. The streaming platform will become available in the UK on 31 March, 2020.