We asked Brooklyn-based illustrator and artist Jimmy Simpson to dissect some of the eccentric 20th-century pop culture touchstones that have inspired his recent commissions—beginning with his latest animation for our #ConnectedByLemonade project.
I’ve always loved following the narratives that are created when fine artists pull from art history—whether that’s recycling similar subject matter or repurposing antiquated symbolism. I think that’s why nostalgia plays such a big part in the project concepts I pitch. I like the idea of expanding on something that’s already familiar, even if it’s some kind of silly pop culture reference. When more open briefs come in, I tend to push projects in that direction…
Don’t trust that sneaky cat!
When this opportunity with Lemonade came up I was exploring the background art Maurice Noble created for Looney Tunes. I particularly like the impossible perspectives and dynamic compositions in his cityscapes. His scenes most often featured some kind of cartoon animal, so I thought it was only appropriate that mine did too. The stray cats on my own Brooklyn street—and dynamic duos like Tweety and Sylvester—were the inspirations for my little narrative loop.
A rollercoaster of millennial nostalgia
The ident I created for Giphy took inspiration from the Regal Cinema Roller Coaster that played before most movies I saw in the late ‘90s—essentially a theater policy PSA complete with giant, floating popcorn kernels and a reminder to silence your cell phone.
I set out to update this classic coaster for the internet age. As the project got more and more out of hand I began integrating some other influences like Mario Kart, Space Jam, and the skyline from Blade Runner. The result is an unrelenting ride filled with a ton of easter eggs.
The King is dead…Long live the King!
I was recently approached by Sony to create a music video for Elvis Presley’s classic track “Devil In Disguise”. While listening to it I immediately pictured the strangely spooky animations Fleischer Studios and Disney created in the 1930s…
These shorts featured the Grim Reaper, dancing skeletons, and demons that would most likely not make their way into cartoons today. With these characters in mind, I created a playful music video centered around a halloween party taking place in a nightclub that looks a lot like Hell.
The history of MTV, in 15 seconds
For another open brief from MTV, I pulled from the brand’s rich history in animation. In the 1980s and ’90s, the network commissioned a ton of artists to reimagine their iconic logo. I always come back to compilations of these idents for inspiration when I hit some kind of creative roadblock.
I wanted to make a kind of homage to the work MTV commissioned in their early years. The concept I pitched takes you on a journey through each era the network has been a part of. The landscapes feature relics and references of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early 2000s that MTV has outlived. The final scene reveals the old logo and updates it with a lightning strike.
Want to see more of Simpson’s nostalgia-fueled work? Check out his portfolio and his Instagram. And if you want to read more fun stuff while you pretend to be ‘working,’ check out the other amazing artist interviews and essays on #FF0083…
