Animals have been part of The Simpsons landscape since Snowball I was introduced in the shorts. In its 37 years on air, we watched plenty of animal episodes advocating for their rights and well-being. The show jumpstarted adoption in media with the first full-length episode, "The Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire," gifted Santa's Little Helper a new home and life.
While the Christmas adventure will remain one of my top The Simpsons episodes, I always appreciated it when other creatures had their stories shared. They give Homer a more sympathetic side and educate the audience on animal rights. While in true Simpsons fashion, each animal storyline has hilarious scenarios; it doesn't make the episodes any less essential or lack value. In fact, animals only strengthen the sitcom as we witness them in a more meaningful light.
We're taking a look at five episodes that validated the animals, serving Bart and Lisa a far greater purpose outside their personal aspects. These experiences gave them selflessness in their character arcs, making them even more likable.
5 The Simpsons episodes that advocated for animals
"Whacking Day"
Season 4
Bart gets expelled from school for his prank-pulling at school, and when all other enrollment options fail, Marge decides to homeschool her son. Bart invests in Colonial-Era Springfield in their learning curriculum, fascinated by its scandalous history.
One of the supposed origins is Whacking Day, a holiday where residents brutally kill snakes with batons. Springfield's jaded founder, Jebidiah Springfield (real name Häns Sprungfeld), created the day just for fun, but after doing some in-depth research, Bart discovered that Whacking Day was launched in 1924 as an excuse to "beat up the Irish." An elderly Irishman in the crowd backs up the claim.
Working with the R&B legend, Barry White, Bart and Lisa rescue the snakes from a horrifying and cruel death.
"Bart Gets An Elephant"
Season 5
Bart would much rather have an elephant than the $10,000 radio prize, and it worked out to his benefit. The 10-year-old adopts Stampy and forms a close bond with the pachyderm. However, caring for an elephant, especially a male African Bush Elephant, is astronomically expensive. Homer tries to make profits with amusement park flare, such as elephant back riding and getting a photo taken with Stampy.
The pay isn't meritable enough to keep Stampy, and Homer makes plans to sell Bart's beloved friend to an ivory dealer. Agreeably, the decision doesn't sit well with his son (and daughter), so Bart leaves with Stampy in the middle of the night. After the family track down Bart and his elephant, Homer has a change of heart and donates Stampy to the Elephant Refuge, who dominates over the other animals.
"Lisa the Vegetarian"
Season 7
After an endearing encounter with a lamb at the Mother Goose Petting Zoo, Lisa's conscience gets the better of her and declares she's now a vegetarian. The new lifestyle change causes a rift between her and Homer, who we all know, loves meat, especially pork.
Lisa ruins her dad's barbecue by wheeling off the smoked pig, which "flies" in front of Burns' office window. He vowed to donate a million to the orphanage "when pigs fly." He doesn't live up to his promise, however.
Realizing that her dad won't change his dietary habits, Lisa learns to accept them after discussing her issue with Paul and Linda McCartney. She and Homer rekindled their relationship, and things are back to normal, with the added fact of Lisa going vegetarian.
"Jazzy and the Pussycats"
Season 18
Feeling "unspecial" that Bart has gained a new interest in jazz through drumming, she finds another one by adopting and rescuing animals from shelters, traps, and even the circus. Soon enough, one of the animals bites Bart, putting an end to his drumming days. This event leads to the possibility of animal control taking over and putting them to sleep.
A Benefit Concert takes place to raise contributions for Bart's surgery, but instead, he decides to use the money to open a nonprofit animal refuge so the animals' lives can be enhanced.
"Apocalypse Cow"
Season 19
Bart discovers the dark side of being a 4-H member after Lou (his bull) takes first place at the fair. He raised and connected with Lou from a young calf to adulthood, unbeknownst to him that Lou was being raised for food. Naturally, Bart is heartbroken, so he and his family crack a plan to rescue Lou. It requires Homer to costume as a steer to foil the slaughterhouse, except he nearly becomes a beef cut.
Lou was safely transported to India, thanks to Apu's help, where he consoles Bart that his bull will be treated like a god.