Growing up in Quebec, Joshua Biasotto developed a deep affection for watching The Simpsons in the Québécois French dialect. He cherished the show’s eccentric characters, witty humor, and satirical approach to life, as well as his admiration for Quebec dubbing.
In a surprising turn of events last August, Corus Entertainment’s Télétoon chose not to renew the Canadian broadcast rights for the 36th season of Les Simpson, jeopardizing the beloved show. Distraught by this decision, Biasotto took action by launching an online petition on Change.org titled Sauvons le doublage québécois des Simpsons, which translates to “Let’s save the Quebec dub of The Simpsons.”
The Quebec version of the show incorporated local expressions and cultural references, giving it a distinct identity. Characters spoke with regional Quebec accents, including the colloquial dialect of joual, and local references replaced American elements in the show.
Ian Lafrenière, Quebec’s deputy premier and a devoted Simpsons fan, emphasized the importance of preserving the Quebec version, praising its cultural and geographical references as “sublime.” The public outcry to save Les Simpson tapped into a larger sentiment beyond mere nostalgia.
Dubbing has long been integral to Quebec’s culture, offering audiences a way to experience international entertainment in their own language while maintaining familiar voices, expressions, and references. Daniel Béland from McGill University notes that Quebec’s distinct culture and language often make French content from France feel foreign to local audiences.
For voice actors like Thiéry Dubé, who voices Québécois Homer Simpson, the potential loss of Les Simpson struck a deep chord in Quebec’s cultural identity. The fans’ unwavering loyalty played a crucial role in reviving the show, with Biasotto’s petition garnering over 35,000 signatures and leading to a deal between Bell Media and Disney Entertainment to bring back Les Simpson for its new season.
The return of Les Simpson comes at a time of growth for Quebec’s dubbing industry, with difuze, a leading French dubbing facility, seeing an increase in content volume due to streaming platforms like Disney, Netflix, Amazon, and Crave. Despite the challenges of tighter production timelines, the industry remains robust, driven by the dedication of human voice actors.
The revival of Les Simpson not only celebrates the show’s enduring popularity but also highlights the influence of its dedicated fan base in shaping the cultural landscape of Quebec.