The Force Awakens from Its Nap

Last updated

The Force Awakens from Its Nap
The Force Awakens from Its Nap film poster.jpg
Disney+ promotional poster
Directed by David Silverman
Written by
Based on The Simpsons
by Matt Groening
Produced by
Production
companies
Distributed by Disney+
(Disney Platform Distribution)
Release date
  • May 4, 2021 (2021-05-04)
Running time
3 minutes
CountryUnited States

Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens from Its Nap" is an animated short film based on the television series The Simpsons . The short was released on May 4, 2021, on Disney+ in celebration of Star Wars Day. [1] [2]

Contents

It is the third short film featuring Maggie Simpson, following The Longest Daycare (2012) and Playdate with Destiny (2020). It is the first Simpsons short film related to Star Wars , followed by Rogue Not Quite One (2023; also featuring Maggie Simpson) [3] and May the 12th Be with You (2024). The promotional short is the first of several from The Simpsons that Disney+ has released since 2021, to tie in with the service's marquee brands and titles. [2]

Plot

Marge drives Maggie to The Ayn Rand School for Tots daycare, but Maggie refuses, so Marge takes her to the Jabba's Hut Jedi Preschool, entering through the Sky toddlers door. In there, they see a Jedi prepare sandwiches with the use of a lightsaber and the force, while Ahsoka Tano puts a baby in carbonite for being bad.

Marge takes her to General Grievous that was changing a kid's diaper next to R2-D2, using it as a trash bin. The cyborg takes the pacifier and throws it away. Maggie panics and is approached by BB-8, which wants to help her retrieve the pacifier, so Maggie gives it her bow tie.

BB-8 starts running toward the next room but finds itself trapped in the middle of many other BB-8s. Maggie tries to reach it but the other BB-8s attack and damage it. BB-8 manages to find and give Maggie the pacifier before Baby Gerald, dressed as Darth Maul, stabs it in the back.

Maggie and Gerald start fighting, Maggie using a prolonged pacifier, and when she reaches a "new improved Death Star guaranteed unexplodable" she hits it, making it explode on Gerald. However, he is not stopped and makes her lose the pacifier. Maggie retrieves it and makes him lose his diaper.

Gerald uses the Force to crush her under a wardrobe. BB-8, still alive, arrives at the scene, and Maggie emerges from the wardrobe, alive, with Yoda ears. BB-8 wonders how she's alive and she shows it how in the Star Wars rules, beloved characters never really die. In the end, Maggie and a restored BB-8 watch the twin suns of Tatooine set.

Production

The idea behind a Star Wars short starring Maggie Simpson came up in January 2021. As the Disney+ Simpsons library was well received, executive producer James L. Brooks proposed to do a series of shorts where the show interacted with other franchises available in the streaming service. Showrunner Al Jean, a long-time Star Wars fan, pitched the idea of making a Star Wars-centric short in which Maggie is sent to a Jedi preschool. Two shorts starring Maggie, The Longest Daycare and Playdate with Destiny , had been previously produced in 2012 and 2020, respectively. Both Lucasfilm and Disney+ showed enthusiasm for the idea, and asked the Simpsons crew to have the short ready for May 4, 2021, given how "Star Wars Day" is celebrated on that date. [4]

Jean wrote the script along with Joel Cohen and Mike Price and the Simpsons director David Silverman directed the short. The first draft for the short was ready by January 18. They worked closely with Lucasfilm throughout the short's development, providing suggestions and making sure that the Simpsons crew used the full universe of their characters. Among the characters included in the short was a "Darth Maul Baby" and BB-8, but Grogu (better known as "Baby Yoda") was only referenced yet not included, as Jean felt that the character is probably the most sought-after of Disney, so they did not want him to be overexposed. The Lucasfilm team also helped them to transliterate the chalkboard writing to Aurebesh. The short was finished on April 30, four days before its release date. [5]

Reception

Critical reception

Rich Knight of CinemaBlend ranked Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens from Its Nap" third in their top of The Simpsons Short, acknowledged the references to the Star Wars franchise, and praised the humor and the gags of the animated short film, despite stating that The Force Awakens from Its Nap does not offer much of a story. [6] Eden Arnold of Bleeding Cool found the short film to be an endearing celebration of Star Wars Day, while saying it shows off Disney's properties. [7] Raul Velasquez of TheGamer.com complimented the humor of the short film, stating it manages to be a cheerful and carefree short that is funny enough to entertain Star Wars fans, and claimed that the crossover manages to capture the humor of The Simpsons franchise at the same time. [8]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2021
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Short Form Animated Program James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Matt Selman, Richard Sakai, Denise Sirkot, Richard Raynis, Tom Klein, Joel H. Cohen, Al Jean, Michael Price, David Silverman, Acacia Caputo, K.C. Johnson and Mike Frank PolcinoNominated [9]
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Animated ProgramThe Force Awakens from Its NapNominated [10]

Followups

In 2023, another short film was released with Maggie Simpson celebrating Star Wars Day called Rogue Not Quite One . [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Star Wars</i> American epic space opera media franchise

Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. Star Wars is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obi-Wan Kenobi</span> Fictional character in the Star Wars franchise

Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi is a character in the Star Wars franchise. In the original film trilogy, he is a Jedi Master who trains Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Force. In the prequel trilogy, he mentors Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan is portrayed by Alec Guinness in the original trilogy and by Ewan McGregor in the prequel films. McGregor also plays the character in the television series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Guinness' performance in Star Wars (1977) earned him the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoda</span> Fictional character in the Star Wars universe

Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force. He first appeared in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, in which he is voiced and puppeteered by Frank Oz, who reprised the role in Return of the Jedi (1983), the prequel trilogy, the sequel trilogy, and the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Other actors who voice Yoda are Tom Kane, Piotr Michael, John Lithgow, Tony Pope and Peter McConnell. In addition to films and television series, Yoda appears in comics, novels, video games and commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggie Simpson</span> Fictional character from The Simpsons franchise

Margaret Lenny "Maggie" Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the youngest member of the Simpson family. She first appeared on television in the Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Maggie was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. She received her first name from Groening's youngest sister. After appearing on The Tracey Ullman Show for three years, the Simpson family was given their own series on the Fox Broadcasting Company which debuted December 17, 1989.

<i>Star Wars</i> video games Video games based on the Star Wars franchise

Over one hundred video games based on the Star Wars franchise have been released, dating back to some of the earliest home consoles. Some are based directly on films while others rely heavily on the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

The Star Wars sequel trilogy is the third trilogy of the main Star Wars franchise, an American space opera created by George Lucas. It is produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The trilogy consists of episodes VII through IX, chronologically following the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy, serving as the final act of the "Skywalker Saga". Lucas had planned a sequel trilogy as early as 1976, but canceled it by 1981. He produced only the first six episodes, and for a time described these as comprising the complete story. The sequel trilogy concept was revived when the Walt Disney Company entered negotiations to acquire Lucasfilm in 2011. Lucas produced new story treatments, but these were largely discarded. Both the acquisition and plans to produce the trilogy were announced in late 2012.

Cultural impact of <i>Star Wars</i>

George Lucas's epic space opera multi-film Star Wars saga has had a significant impact on modern popular culture. Star Wars references are deeply embedded in popular culture; references to the main characters and themes of Star Wars are casually made in many English-speaking countries with the assumption that others will understand the reference. Darth Vader has become an iconic villain, while characters such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 have all become widely recognized characters around the world. Phrases such as "evil empire", "May the Force be with you", "Jedi mind trick" and "I am your father" have become part of the popular lexicon. The first Star Wars film in 1977 was a cultural unifier, enjoyed by a wide spectrum of people.

Lego Star Wars is a Lego theme based on the Star Wars media franchise created by George Lucas. It includes over 928 Lego building toy sets, 1389 Lego minifigures, an eponymous video game series containing six games, and multiple animated short films and television series.

<i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> 2015 film by J. J. Abrams

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a 2015 American epic space opera film co-produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. The sequel to Return of the Jedi (1983), it is the seventh film in the "Skywalker Saga". Set thirty years after Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens follows Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Han Solo's search for Luke Skywalker and their fight in the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa and veterans of the Rebel Alliance, against Kylo Ren and the First Order, a successor to the Galactic Empire. The ensemble cast includes Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Max von Sydow.

<i>Star Wars</i> Day Star Wars-themed observance on May 4 since 2011

Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4 to celebrate the Star Wars media franchise created by filmmaker George Lucas. Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palpatine</span> Fictional character in Star Wars franchise

Sheev Palpatine is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He first appeared in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back as The Emperor. He is also known by his Sith name, Darth Sidious, which was first used in the novelization of the 1999 film The Phantom Menace.

<i>The Longest Daycare</i> 2012 animated Simpsons short film directed by David Silverman

Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" or simply The Longest Daycare, is a 2012 American animated 3D comedy short film based on the animated television series The Simpsons. In the film, Maggie Simpson is enrolled at a new daycare facility where she squares off with the foul-tempered Baby Gerald when she befriends a caterpillar. The short originated with Simpsons producer James L. Brooks, who enlisted long-time veteran of the series David Silverman to direct the film. The picture was written by producers Brooks, Al Jean, David Mirkin, writers Michael Price and Joel H. Cohen, as well as the show's creator Matt Groening, who also produced the short.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylo Ren</span> Star Wars character

Kylo Ren is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He was introduced in The Force Awakens (2015), the first film of the sequel trilogy. He subsequently appeared in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). He also appears in the animated series Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020), and the television specials The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (2020) and Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales (2021). Ren is portrayed by Adam Driver in all three sequel trilogy films.

Rey (<i>Star Wars</i>) Fictional character from Star Wars

Rey is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. She was created by Lawrence Kasdan, J. J. Abrams, and Michael Arndt for The Force Awakens (2015), the first installment of the sequel film trilogy, and is primarily portrayed by Daisy Ridley. Rey also appears in the film's sequels, The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and related Star Wars media.

"Journey to Star Wars" is a Disney/Lucasfilm publishing initiative that connects the Star Wars sequel films with previous film installments in the franchise. It currently includes the initiatives "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens", and "Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi", and "Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker". All titles under the program are canonical to the Star Wars universe.

<i>Playdate with Destiny</i> 2020 animated Simpsons short film

Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny" is a 2020 American animated short film based on the animated television series The Simpsons. The film features Maggie Simpson. It is the first Simpsons short film released after the Disney acquisition of 20th Century Studios.

The Simpsons Disney+ shorts are a series of short promotional films based on the television series The Simpsons produced for Disney+. As of 2024, nine short films have been produced, beginning with The Force Awakens from Its Nap (2021), with its latest short being The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2024).

<i>Rogue Not Quite One</i> 2023 American animated short film

Maggie Simpson in "Rogue Not Quite One", also known as Rogue Not Quite One, is an animated short film based on the television series The Simpsons. The short was released on May 4, 2023, on Disney+ in celebration of Star Wars Day and Disney's 100th anniversary. On May 2, this short was announced alongside the promotional poster. The film's title references the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

<i>May the 12th Be with You</i> 2024 American animated short film

May the 12th Be with You is an animated short film based on the television series The Simpsons. The short was released on May 10, 2024, on Disney+ in celebration of both Star Wars Day and Mother's Day.

References

  1. ↑ Earl, William (May 3, 2021). "'The Simpsons' Meets 'Star Wars' in First Look at Disney Plus Short 'The Force Awakens From Its Nap'". Variety . Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Evans, Greg (May 3, 2021). "Maggie Simpson Joins Galaxy Far, Far Away In New Disney+ 'Star Wars' Short". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Tingley, Anna (May 4, 2023). "'The Simpsons' and 'Star Wars' Unite in New Short Film for May the 4th". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ ""The Force Awakens From Its Nap": Behind-the-Scenes of the Surprise Star Wars Day Simpsons Short". StarWars.com. May 4, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  5. ↑ Schneider, Michael (May 4, 2021). "'The Simpsons' Producer Al Jean on How the Show's New 'Star Wars' Short Came to Be — And If Marvel Is Next". Variety. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  6. ↑ Rich Knight (April 30, 2022). "Every The Simpsons Short On Disney+, Ranked By How Funny They Are". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  7. ↑ Arnold, Eden (May 4, 2021). "The Force Awakens Review: Simpsons Short Adorable Corporate Synergy". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  8. ↑ Velasquez, Raul (May 4, 2021). "The Simpsons Meets Star Wars In May The Fourth Disney Plus Short". TheGamer. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  9. ↑ National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (July 13, 2021). "2021 Emmy® Awards: 73rd Emmy Awards Complete Nominations List" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ "25th Annual TV Awards (2020-21) - Online Film & Television Association" . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.