Non-English versions of The Simpsons

Lore & Background

The Arabic adaptation, Al-Shamshoon, debuted on MBC 1 after al-Iftar on October 4, 2005, the first night of Ramadan. The show was heavily modified: Homer drinks soda-pop instead of beer, eats beef sausages and ka'ak instead of donuts, and references to alcohol, pork, Moe's Tavern, and Judaism were removed. The characters received Arabic names—Omar, Mona, Beesa, Badr—and Springfield was renamed Rabeea. The adaptation was created by Egyptian creative personalities, with scriptwriter Amr Hosny and Egyptian film star Mohamed Henedi voicing Homer. Only 34 of 52 adapted episodes aired due to poor reception, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where cartoons were perceived as children's programming. The show was described as incoherent by some viewers, and a professor called it 'just beyond the pale.'

Reader's Guide

The non-English versions of The Simpsons illustrate the challenges of cross-cultural adaptation. The Arabic version, Al-Shamshoon, is a case study in how a globally popular show can be transformed to fit local religious and cultural sensibilities, removing references to alcohol, pork, and Judaism, and renaming characters. Despite the effort, the show failed to resonate with audiences, leading to its cancellation after 34 episodes. The French dubs in Quebec and France show different localization strategies: Quebec uses joual for working-class characters and keeps the American setting, while France replaces American political jokes with local references and gives ethnic minorities specific accents. The Czech version, airing since 1993, features well-known local actors. These adaptations highlight that comedy is culturally sensitive, and even a powerful television artwork can be diminished when stripped of its original context.

Did You Know?

• The Arabic dub removed references to alcohol, pork, and Judaism; Homer drinks soda-pop instead of beer.
• The Arabic version aired after al-Iftar on the first night of Ramadan in 2005.
• Only 34 of 52 adapted episodes of Al-Shamshoon were broadcast due to poor reception.
• In the French version from France, Sideshow Bob is called Tahiti Bob because 'sideshow' has no direct translation.