For Simpsons fans, David Silverman is great fun to follow on Twitter. The animator and director has been with the series since the first Tracey Ullman Show shorts—and even directed The Simpsons Movie, in addition to dozens of classic episodes—so needless to say he has access to a treasure trove of Simpsons artifacts. (He was also immortalized on the show as the animator who draws Poochie.) And every so often he will provide behind-the-scenes looks at the show.



But over the weekend he went on an unprecedented spree of posting sketches for early episodes.

He posted some of the earliest sketches for Milhouse, from before he’d even appeared on the show:

Found Milhouse ruffs from 1988 Butterfinger ad. His 1st appearance. "It's neat-o!"™ was Bart's line -- hooboy - pic.twitter.com/vsKKD60cnJ — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

This “turnaround” (a turnaround is a series of drawings used in animation to demonstrate what a character looks like from all angles) was drawn up for the show’s second episode:

Okay, and here's Milhouse model sheet done for Bart the Genius -- pic.twitter.com/yWUU5LuLFr — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

Here is the original Mrs. Krabappel (not for sale, by the way):

Interesting drawing, original Mrs Krabappel model for Bart the Genius. The great Dan Haskett designed her! pic.twitter.com/ats9PzG02r — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

An early “Why you little…”, from the Tracey Ullman shorts:

Ruff of Homer from TU Short "The Bart Simpson Show" w frame grab of final. Not many ruffs saved from back then - pic.twitter.com/4BzFCXiLZ3 — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

And another, from the second episode of the series:

Was looking for artifacts from Bart the Genius (1/14/90) - found roughs of Homer from final scene. pic.twitter.com/usAZ54Vnrg — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

Silverman shared his sketches for the classic “Land of Chocolate” sequence (which he storyboarded, to ensure that the skipping was perfect):

Also found, from Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk (12/5/91) - my storyboard sketch for Land of Chocolate. pic.twitter.com/r7l4Z1aNzS — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

Well, now HERE'S the 1st part of that Land of Chocolate sequence, I knew it was around somewhere - pic.twitter.com/JFQDEX1N7T — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

And this early “turnaround” for Marge, from Season 1:

Wes Archer's clean up of his Marge turnaround, first season -- pic.twitter.com/vBWd4vAllH — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 19, 2014

Since Sunday was Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday, he posted sketches for the show’s spoof of “The Raven” (which he directed), from the first “Treehouse of Horror”:

AS it is Edgar Allen Poe's 205th bday (1/19/1809) here come a few THoH Raven roughs found lyin' around -- pic.twitter.com/drNrE06vjW — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 20, 2014

Found this little worksheet, trying to figure out Bart as The Raven (two days after Poe's bday, yeah I'm late). pic.twitter.com/BkOIv1lM0k — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 21, 2014

Various doodles for storyboard & layout for THoH Raven - pic.twitter.com/l5AoXdBZRv — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 20, 2014

Homer pondering weak and weary, over many quaint & curious volume of forgotten lore - pic.twitter.com/0xhBqPrCrI — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 20, 2014

And here's another THoH Raven ruff - Homer looks to Lenore - ohhh Lenore -- pic.twitter.com/MlJ3aFAwt0 — David Silverman (@tubatron) January 20, 2014

Going back a bit further in his feed, here’s another first, from Season 2:

Homer animation poses "Living in a world of make believe!" 1st Homer insane ramble. Blood Feud 7F22. http://t.co/6hkVgKIs — David Silverman (@tubatron) March 22, 2012

Maggie, when she had nine points:

Early Maggie rough model we devised. Crude & rude, eh? We were figuring it out! Now she has 8 pointies. pic.twitter.com/CfloJ9rpmT — David Silverman (@tubatron) March 23, 2013

And because some things never age, here’s an early Grampa, from the first season of the Tracey Ullman Show:

Grampa is remarkably the same since his 1st appearance, late in the 1st season (c. August 1987). pic.twitter.com/TOQJFl7PKS — David Silverman (@tubatron) March 23, 2013

If you’d like to see more, follow David Silverman on Twitter.

Previously

The Simpsons’ Tribute to Hayao Miyazaki, Annotated

“The Simpsons Are Going to…”: Every Simpsons Destination, Mapped