Watch grafitti artist's couch gag

Graffiti artist Banksy has created a grim title sequence for The Simpsons.

The episode that aired in America last night opened with a ‘couch gag’ that he created, exposing exploitation in Asia.

During the minute-long sequence, dozens of child sweatshop workers are shown in a utilitarian warehouse painting cartoon cells and making Simpsons merchandise. Kittens are thrown into a wood chipper producing fur to stuff Bart Simpson dolls, and a chained unicorn is used to punch holes in DVDs.

The Simpsons outsources the bulk of their animation to a company in South Korea.

It is the first time an artist has been invited to storyboard part of the show, bun Banksy said his ideas caused controversy among production staff on the show.

‘This is what you get when you outsource,’ joked executive producer Al Jean.

The episode, called MoneyBart, will be shown on Sky One on October 21.

Banksy has previously created a piece of street art called I Must Not Copy What I See On The Simpsons, in which a character dressed like Bart is doing his lines on a wall in New Orleans.

Here is the sequence:

And click here to watch a CNN report about the real Korean production of the Simpsons.

Published: 11 Oct 2010