Matt Groening akatanga kufunga nezvaBart uye nevamwe vemhuri yaSimpson muna 1986, paakanga akamirira muhofisi yemugadziri James L. Brooks. Groening akanga adaidzwa kuti aite nhepfenyuro yemafirimu mafupi eThe Tracey Ullman Show, uye akanga achida kupa shanduro yeHupenyu hwake muHero comic. Paakaona kuti hupenyu hwehupenyu muHero hwaizoda kuti abvise kodzero dzekubudisa, Groening akasarudza kuenda mune imwe nzira. Akakurumidza kuburitsa shanduro yake yemhuri isingabatsiri, achidana mavara mushure memitezo yemhuri yake.
Matt Groening