Disney is finally addressing one of the most-complained about elements of the streaming service – it is fixing the aspect ratio of classic The Simpsons episodes.
On May 28, those episodes will revert back to their original 4:3 video format, replacing the widescreen footage that had left the animation looking stretched, while actually cutting out some of the show’s jokes in the process.
The first 19 seasons will be available in the original 4:3 aspect ratio on May 28, the entertainment giant said in an announcement announcement on the Disney Plus Twitter account.
That, of course, led to a load of whining about the announcement not being Wandavision, or Loki, or The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
WOO HOO! We love a prediction for #TheSimpsons, especially coming from @AlJean himself in 2015. Episodes in original 4:3 aspect ratio are coming to #DisneyPlus on May 28. #DisneyBundle pic.twitter.com/WxEs9TC5D5
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) May 20, 2020
Of course, the problem with The Simpsons aspect ratio hasn’t been a Disney Plus issue alone. It started when the episodes started airing on FXX in the United States six years ago. It took less than a year for FXX to fix this.
Related: How to find 4K content on Disney Plus
However, the launch of Disney Plus shone light on the issue once again, when many online commentators started noticing punchlines and context was lost from the original episodes when screened in the incorrect format. Here’s the most egregious joke that slipped by thanks to the cropped episodes:
Not only are the classic Simpsons episodes on Disney+ awkwardly cropped, but they're stretched in a lot of places too. Bart's head looks 4 inches wider here: pic.twitter.com/fCpmTPasGj
— Tristan Cooper (@TristanACooper) November 12, 2019
Disney had promised a fix for the issue before the summer and said: “We appreciate our fans’ patience and are working to make the first 19 Seasons (and part of 20) of #TheSimpsons available in 4:3 versions on #DisneyPlus. We expect to accomplish this by the end of May.”
The company has achieved its goal. Just about.
The change comes as Disney continues to enjoy high subscription rates, but is somewhat lacking when it comes to new content. While The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Clone Wars have been hits, Marvel fans are yet to enjoy any new original content on the streaming service. Which is why we saw such a negative reaction to Disney’s tweet today.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
