'It cannot happen': Why Quebec fans and actors fought to save their own version of The Simpsons
Quebec fans and actors successfully campaigned to save the local French-language dub of The Simpsons after broadcast rights were not renewed. The movement emphasized the cultural importance of regional adaptations and local dialects.
Why it matters
It underscores the role of localized media in preserving regional identity and the power of grassroots cultural advocacy.
He says he not only lived for the long-running American animated sitcom’s quirky characters, irreverent humour and satirical take on life, but he also "developed a big love for Quebec dubbing."
"I've done my research," said Biasotto. "I know which actor is doing the voice of which character."
But last August, after 35 years, Corus Entertainment’s Télétoon, which held the Canadian broadcast rights to the show and oversaw its dubbing, decided not to renew those rights for the 36th season.
Distraught, Biasotto sprang into action, creating an online petition on Change.org called Sauvons le doublage québécois des Simpsons — “Let's save the Quebec dub of The Simpsons .”
“I was like, it cannot happen,” said Biasotto. “It’s a part of our identity that we lose.”
The Quebec version, he says, was adapted to incorporate local expressions and cultural references that made it feel uniquely theirs.
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