This article is part of a directory: The Simpsons Season 36: Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know

The Simpsons Season 36 Confirms Return Of Sideshow Bob For Hit TV Show Parody

Summary

The Simpsons season 36 premiere date is September 29, with season 35 arriving on Disney+ on October 2.
Four new full-length episodes, plus a Halloween-themed short, will also be released exclusively on Disney+.
Longtime viewers, though, may find it challenging to accept The Simpsons' shift to exclusive Disney+ releases.

With Springfield's favorite family taking to the stage at D23, long-running animated sitcom's 35th season previously aired on Fox from October 2023 to May 2024, concluding with its 18th episode, "Bart's Brain" on May 19th. Season 35 featured a grim alternate ending to a classic episode in "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV", two Doctor Who icons in a tender romantic tale for Groundskeeper Willie (Dan Castellanetta), a nerdy cruise mystery, and the death of a longstanding character.

As Screen Rant attended D23's adult animation-focused The Animation Greats + Bob's Burgers, Futurama, and The Simpsons Presented by Hulu Animayhem , it was confirmed that alongside The Simpsons season 36's star-studded premiere episode's September 29 airing date that season 35 would arrive on Disney+ shortly after on October 2. Alongside the recent season's streaming premiere, four new full-length episodes will be released exclusively on the service, as well as a new Halloween-themed short. The new episodes include "The Past and the Furious", the White Lotus-parodying "Yellow Planet", and the two-part "O C'mon All Ye Faithful" seasonal special.

Is The Simpsons' Streaming-Exclusive Episodes A Good Move?

Could familiar story structures and milestone episodes bring viewers to Disney+?

With new full-length episodes now releasing exclusively to Disney+, The Simpsons is heading into uncharted territory as a brand. While the show has had Disney+ exclusive stories in the past, this has been largely limited to non-canon shorts celebrating its parent company's other recognizable properties. Furthermore, while the series has not seen a home media release since 2019 as greater emphasis was placed on digital storefronts, these new episodes will likely never reach this distribution method. As such, many longtime fans may have difficulty accepting this new change in release method.

Homer looking horrified over an image of Springfield from The Simpsons

The Simpsons Season 35 Sidelined Two of Its Most Pivotal Characters (& Season 36 Needs To Fix It)

While The Simpsons season 35 improved the show's writing, a pair of pivotal characters were still badly underused in this shorter outing's episodes.

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Furthermore, with each episode's title, The Simpsons' Disney+ exclusive outings seem set to take on classic episode formulae. While "Yellow Planet's" parody subject has already been confirmed, "The Past and the Furious's" title structure hints towards the return of the enjoyable, but often timeline-muddling flashback episode. What stands out most may be "O C'mon All Ye Faithful", which was described in the as both a seasonal adventure and intentionally timed to celebrate the show's anniversary, something that some fans may feel should warrant it having a traditional broadcast release, rather than just dropping onto a streaming platform.

Though it remains to be seen if The Simpsons' venture into Disney+ exclusive programming could be a hit, many will welcome the series' D23 update. Alongside a star-studded season 36 premiere that could see the return of a beloved Danny Devito-voiced early-season character, new exclusive adventures are undoubtedly going to draw viewers to Disney+ for its recently released season's streaming release. Though there is no word on what comes next for the show after season 36, it is clear Springfield's residents remain a vital asset to Disney's streaming programming.