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Source: ONE News -
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They're two of the world's favourite vandals, so it was perhaps only a matter of time before British graffiti artist Banksy met Bart Simpson.
Banksy may be known for his subversive artworks that spring up overnight - but his latest efforts must have taken months of planning and permission.
Those efforts were unveiled on US television last night - as the standard opening sequence was handed over to Banksy, who storyboarded and directed this new beginning. See it here
It depicts Asian sweatshop workers churning out animated stills of The Simpsons, straining under the dim light of a grotty factory. A factory, where a starved unicorn is used to punch holes in Simpsons' DVDs, and kittens are mulched to make Bart Simpson dolls.
This is apparently a commentary on "reports" that The Simpsons uses Korean animators to churn out the bulk of its programme.
Media are jumping on the sequence, claiming it exposes the "dark side of pop culture" and a "grim sweatshop underworld".
Really? Because were that true, I'm pretty sure 20th Century Fox wouldn't be quite so keen to expose it in such a flippant way.
Sure, The Simpsons has long pushed buttons and courted controversy. But only on accepted subjects - issues that already have a groundswell of support.
Some people were outraged in 2005, when Springfield allowed gay marriage and Homer became wedding a celebrant. Those people were bigots, and it's okay to laugh at bigots.
There's nothing funny about pointing out millions of people around the world are unwitting supporters of a sweatshop industry.
Unless it's not true. Unless it's based on a misguided and mistaken belief - an urban legend.
South Korea has had a burgeoning animation industry since the late 80s - helping to animate the very first season of The Simpsons.
They've contributed to some of the biggest and most successful animated films of all time.
Yes, it's because they're cheaper than American animators. But that doesn't mean they are sweat shops.
Rather, this has the whiff of yet another poxy publicity stunt.
See for yourself below.
