"King of the Hill" (and maybe "The Simsons") in HD on Fox!

[ENDContra]

Why upgrade King of the Hill to HD now? Arent they cancelling it this year?

[srw1000]

Originally Posted by ENDContra

Why upgrade King of the Hill to HD now? Arent they cancelling it this year?

Yes, Fox is not renewing it.

It was rumored that ABC might pick it up to accompany their new Mike Judge animated series, The Good Family, but that turned out to be untrue.

It does seem odd to go HD now, with its final season almost over.

Scott

[Berk32]

Originally Posted by srw1000

Yes, Fox is not renewing it.

It was rumored that ABC might pick it up to accompany their new Mike Judge animated series, The Good Family, but that turned out to be untrue.

It does seem odd to go HD now, with its final season almost over.

Scott

This is the first episode of the latest production season.

It went into production almost a year ago.

[Tele-TV]

Thank you SOOOOOOO! much Marcus. Even though I stopped watching the show for some reason quite some time ago, I just took a peek of it on my OLED TV, it looks, words can't even describe it.

[srw1000]

Originally Posted by Berk32

This is the first episode of the latest production season.

It went into production almost a year ago.

Ahh, that explains it. Thanks.

[Tele-TV]

Originally Posted by URFloorMatt

The sequel to Blue Harvest should air this spring. It could kick off HD for Family Guy. It would be disappointing if it wasn't HD but they started HD with the new production season (since it's the two-part season finale for the existing production season).

Sorry for my density, are you saying Family Guy might be going HD soon? Thanks URFloorMatt.

Originally Posted by srw1000

I was kind of disappointed by the quality. For those of you that saw the first episode of King of the Hill that aired in HD last year, this looked like it was shot in 4x3 HD and then cropped to 16x9. The framing just looked off in a number of scenes.

Did it strike anyone else the same way? We might know for sure when these episodes show up in syndication.

Scott

I didn't know that King of the Hill had an HD episode last year. If my memory serves me correct, the very first HD King of The Hill was back in January 2004. Not that I don't believe you, Scott, I can't wait o go back and peruse this thread some more (I'm off to sleep now). Exciting HD Animation times (plus the Simpsons)!

[URFloorMatt]

Originally Posted by Tele-TV

Sorry for my density, are you saying Family Guy might be going HD soon? Thanks URFloorMatt.

Purely speculation. I have no insider knowledge. It's merely been pointed out elsewhere that starting next Sunday, Family Guy and American Dad will be the only 4:3 programming on Fox at any time.

But from a syndication/longevity perspective, having the Blue Harvest sequel in 4:3 (when it will inevitably also get a DVD release) seems like a poor choice. Disney and Warner have been doing animation in HD for a couple years now, and both are even releasing some animated productions on Blu Ray.

[vikmars]

it did look like it was cropped, the intro especially. as much as i love 16x9, it just looked awkward and out of place. I hope The Simpsons doesn't look like this.

[jpr281]

Couple of screens from last night. WNYW FOX5 via Cablevision.

[bull3964]

Originally Posted by vikmars

it did look like it was cropped, the intro especially. as much as i love 16x9, it just looked awkward and out of place. I hope The Simpsons doesn't look like this.

Well, the intro was almost certainly cropped as they didn't re-animate it (they are going to re-animate the Simpsons opening though.)

As to the rest, it's hard to say. As far as I can tell, no 4:3 version aired. If someone saw it in 4:3, it was a centercut from the HD feed. My FIOS SD fox channel was a centercut of the HD feed and there was clearly more picture in the widescreen version. Someone else I know watched it on Comcast and Comcast's SD channel showed it letterboxed rather than center cut.

Knowing the way fox distributes content, I have my doubts as to whether or not they would animate a 4:3 frame and then crop it for 16:9 displays because that would cause further cropping for a 4:3 presentation. Plus, you would be animating stuff that would never be seen which seems like a real waste.

Really, we are getting back to why these shows were resistant to HD in the first place. You animate things in for a 4:3 presentation for over a decade, and now you need to completely change your presentation for 16:9 displays. It will probably take awhile for the animators to re-find their legs stylistically with the aspect ratio change.

So, if it feels like it's been cropped, it may be just the way they tried to adapt their animation style to the 16:9 frame.

Really though, they are probably splitting the compromise down the middle because they need to make it 4:3 safe. A better comparison would probably be to watch a center cut SD version from the HD feed and see if that felt cramped, maybe compare similar shots to past seasons.

[HDgeneration]

The simpsons go HD this Sunday.

[carterman]

Originally Posted by bull3964

Well, the intro was almost certainly cropped as they didn't re-animate it (they are going to re-animate the Simpsons opening though.)

As to the rest, it's hard to say. As far as I can tell, no 4:3 version aired. If someone saw it in 4:3, it was a centercut from the HD feed. My FIOS SD fox channel was a centercut of the HD feed and there was clearly more picture in the widescreen version. Someone else I know watched it on Comcast and Comcast's SD channel showed it letterboxed rather than center cut.

Knowing the way fox distributes content, I have my doubts as to whether or not they would animate a 4:3 frame and then crop it for 16:9 displays because that would cause further cropping for a 4:3 presentation. Plus, you would be animating stuff that would never be seen which seems like a real waste.

Really, we are getting back to why these shows were resistant to HD in the first place. You animate things in for a 4:3 presentation for over a decade, and now you need to completely change your presentation for 16:9 displays. It will probably take awhile for the animators to re-find their legs stylistically with the aspect ratio change.

So, if it feels like it's been cropped, it may be just the way they tried to adapt their animation style to the 16:9 frame.

Really though, they are probably splitting the compromise down the middle because they need to make it 4:3 safe. A better comparison would probably be to watch a center cut SD version from the HD feed and see if that felt cramped, maybe compare similar shots to past seasons.

The Boondocks on [adult swim] are aired center-cut in SD. Don't have the HD channel so I'm not entirely sure, but the DVDs are 16:9.

And I was forced to watch the episode letterboxed due to the local Fox affiliate being too cheap to show weather alerts in HD, and it definitely seemed as if you could see a lot more than a regular episode. The brief glimpses of HD that I got to see when coming back from commercials looked great though. Seth MacFarlane, you're next!

[hdtvfan2005]

Originally Posted by carterman

The Boondocks on [adult swim] are aired center-cut in SD. Don't have the HD channel so I'm not entirely sure, but the DVDs are 16:9.

And I was forced to watch the episode letterboxed due to the local Fox affiliate being too cheap to show weather alerts in HD, and it definitely seemed as if you could see a lot more than a regular episode. The brief glimpses of HD that I got to see when coming back from commercials looked great though. Seth MacFarlane, you're next!

carterman,

The next gen Fox Splicer will be able to show weather alerts. The current one can but they have to purchase a special logo inserter which is very expensive. You'll just have to wait a while before it comes out. Your station will be required to convert over to the new splicer.

[gamera87]

Some, if not all, if the KOTH opening credits were re-drawn. The recycling container was obviously re-drawn, and the shadows at their feet are different, and also at the end of the credits when Hank walks to the right with the trashbag we see part of his jeans and belt for the first time.

New episode:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/56670/king...-see-monkey-do

Previous episode:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/46690/king...ht-as-an-arrow

[Marcus Carr]

Background is a lot different.

[dad1153]

From Fredfa's "Hot Off The Press" thread:

HDTV Notes
Sunday's 'Simpsons' Goes HD, Updates Title Sequence
By Josef Adalian, TV Week - February 12, 2009

"The Simpsons" is finally going HD—and, in what some fans might consider an even bigger development, getting a new opening title sequence as well.



Both events will take place Sunday, Fox said during a promo for "The Simpsons" that aired as part of Wednesday night's "American Idol." The network actually made a low-key announcement of the news late last month, casually mentioning the developments as part of its episodic listings of various shows.

According to Fox, Sunday's "Simpsons"—entitled "Take My Life, Please"—will include the first full, permanent revamp of the show's opening titles since its premiere in 1989. The last few seconds of the title sequence have long featured a different weekly "couch gag." Fox also airs both a full-length and an abbreviated version of the credits.

While "The Simpsons" has never aired in high-def, Sunday's episode won't be the first time fans of the show have been able to see Homer and Co. in their full digital splendor on television. HBO aired "The Simpsons Movie" in HD last year.

While most live-action scripted network shows now air in HD, animation hasn't been as quick to make the leap, although that's starting to change. The producers of "South Park" recently announced their Comedy Central series would go HD starting with its 13th season, which bows March 11.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/02/s...s_hd_updat.php

[coyoteaz]

I'm still not sure why they keep claiming this is the first new title sequence when the entire thing was redone after season 1.

[Berk32]

Originally Posted by coyoteaz

I'm still not sure why they keep claiming this is the first new title sequence when the entire thing was redone after season 1.

actually - not the entire thing...

Marge and Maggie scenes have been the originals since Some Enchanted Evening

Also Homer in his car is still the original. As is Homer running in the garage with Marge about to run him open (inside, not outside).

Same with Lisa playing the sax.

(some of these were cleaned up and recolored, but are still the same exact drawings)

Homer leaving the plant is partially original - they added Smithers and Burns over the random guy eating a sandwich, but Homer is 'original' with the background recolored.


Basically, the only parts that were completely redone were any Bart scenes (and the opening title)

[balazer]

Originally Posted by dad1153

TV Week According to Fox, Sunday's "Simpsons"—entitled "Take My Life, Please"—will include the first full, permanent revamp of the show's opening titles since its premiere in 1989. The last few seconds of the title sequence have long featured a different weekly "couch gag." Fox also airs both a full-length and an abbreviated version of the credits.

I don't remember seeing any credits during the opening sequence. Could I have possibly missed that even after watching The Simpsons thousands of times?

[Berk32]

Originally Posted by balazer

I don't remember seeing any credits during the opening sequence. Could I have possibly missed that even after watching The Simpsons thousands of times?

Um... they are there.... every single episode...

On the TV after the couch gag....

Created by
Matt Groening


Developed by
James. L Brooks
Matt Groening
Sam Simon

[scowl]

You may miss these at times because FOX likes to start the Simpsons a minute before the show is scheduled to start. My DVR almost always starts during the first commercial break.

[mp3trojan]

King up in HD in Dallas KDFW DT. Looks a bit more grainy than The Simpson's. That looked stunning. Moe's bar: "Now in HD"

[POWERFUL]

Moe was probably just advertising his new HDTV in the bar. LOL

[Jose Herrera]

Originally Posted by carterman

The Boondocks on [adult swim] are aired center-cut in SD. Don't have the HD channel so I'm not entirely sure, but the DVDs are 16:9.

Yes it is. Center cut and stretched.

[dadudster]

LOVING the Sunday lineup in HD (well 1/2 of it at least)....I am bummed, though, that King of the Hill is getting cancelled. :*(
I actually liked that show MORE than Simpsons (gasp...I KNOW!!!)

[ClarenceR]

KOTH hour-long series finale at 8:00 PM ET tomorrow.

[dcowboy7]

Who exactly are 'The Simsons' ?

[CRT Dude]

So Goode Family gets cancelled but we can another hour of KOTH.

[Tele-TV]

I stopped watching quite some time ago, but I have my DVR set tonight for the SERIES finale.

[nickdawg]

I'm so pissed. I found out the series finale was on tonight, 15 minutes before the episode ended. Shame on FOX for being so stupid and putting a finale on at such a stupid time.