Growing up in Quebec, Joshua Biasotto developed a fondness for watching The Simpsons in Québécois French. He cherished the show’s distinctive characters, witty humor, and satirical view on life, along with his admiration for Quebec dubbing. Biasotto, knowledgeable about the voice actors behind each character, was dismayed when Corus Entertainment’s Télétoon did not renew the Canadian broadcast rights for the 36th season, putting Les Simpson in jeopardy.
Reacting promptly, Biasotto initiated an online petition on Change.org titled Sauvons le doublage québécois des Simpsons (“Let’s save the Quebec dub of The Simpsons”) to preserve the unique Quebec version. The Quebec adaptation incorporated local expressions and cultural references, such as regional accents and swapped-out U.S. references for Quebecois settings.
The public outcry to preserve Les Simpson resonated deeply beyond mere nostalgia, reflecting Quebec’s tradition of adapting global entertainment to align with the province’s language, humor, and culture. Daniel Béland from McGill University highlighted the significance of dubbing in Quebec, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the province’s distinct identity and language through dubbed content.
For voice actors like Thiéry Dubé, the potential loss of Les Simpson was akin to a cultural loss, deeply ingrained in Quebec’s identity. The fans’ unwavering support propelled a successful campaign to revive Les Simpson, with Bell Media securing the broadcast rights for the new season premiering on Noovo.
The return of Les Simpson marked a significant moment for Quebec’s bustling dubbing industry, with difuze at the forefront of this resurgence. Elizabeth Pélissier, vice-president of dubbing at difuze, expressed pride in contributing to bringing back the beloved show in the language cherished by Quebec audiences. As the dubbing landscape evolves with increased demand from streaming platforms, challenges arise, including tighter production schedules and concerns about the impact of AI-generated dubbing on human voice actors.
The revival of Les Simpson not only celebrates the show’s enduring popularity but also underscores the influence of dedicated fans in shaping the entertainment industry’s landscape.