Created by cartoonist Matt Groening, The Simpsons began in 1987 as a cartoon short on the Tracey Ullman Show, a variety program on the Fox Broadcasting Company. Two years later in 1989 the first episode of The Simpsons was aired.

The popular American animated series directed by Matt Groening is set in the fictional town of Springfield and it follows the life of the Simpson family.
In 2003, about 500 companies around the world were licensed to use The Simpsons characters in their advertising.
In 2008, $750 million worth of The Simpsons merchandise was purchased worldwide.