Legendary Treehouse of Horror animator Mark Kirkland opens the crypt

Ever wondered what happens when the voice of Bart Simpson sits down with the director who helped make Treehouse of Horror iconic? Nancy Cartwright welcomes Simpsons legend Mark Kirkland for a spooky, laugh-packed deep dive into Springfield. Mark lifts the lid on classic Halloween segments—from “The Omega Man” to “Easy-Bake Coven”—sharing how colonial research, crooked sets, and even the color of falling leaves shape the scares. He recalls his path from Hanna-Barbera to CalArts mentors, treating animators as “actors with a pencil,” and why sitcom timing beats long crosses every time. The trio play a chaotic “Simpsons Catchphrase: Halloween Edition,” revisit Bart-the-Fly’s squeaky register, and reveal how lines are stitched together take by take. Mark shouts out Suzie Dieter’s Grinch homage, dishes Easter-egg signage lore, answers fan mail (yes, “The Shinning” wins), and crowns donuts the ultimate studio “candy.” Plus: his favorite to direct (“Last Exit to Springfield”) and what he’s creating in his fine-art life now.

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Produced and showrun by Monica Gil-Rodriguez. From Audacy Podcasts and CRE84U Entertainment—this is your all-access pass to Springfield.

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