Simpsons ride features 29 characters, original voices

The $40-million Simpson ride opening May 17 at Universal Studios Hollywood includes 29 characters from the long-running television show — all voiced by the original actors.

The six-minute motion simulator ride follows the Simpsons clan as they are plucked from the crowd at the Krustiest Place on Earth to be the first family to tackle the “upsy-downsy, spins-aroundsy, teen-operated ride thrilltacular.”

Quite naturally, things go awry and the ride careens out of control around the low-budget theme park created by the cartoon show’s cantankerous clown.

(See my earlier hard-hat tour post with Simpsons ride creative director Christian Lauren plus details on the Krustymobile ride vehicle and a list of Krustyland attractions.)

The characters seen on the Simpsons ride (with voice actors in parenthesis) include:

* Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta)
* Marge Simpson (Julie Kavner)
* Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright)
* Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith)
* Maggie Simpson
* Krusty the Clown (Castellaneta)
* Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer)
* Grampa Abraham Simpson (Castellaneta)
* Selma Bouvier (Kavner)
* Patty Bouvier (Kavner)
* Milhouse Van Houten (Pamela Hayden)
* Martin Prince (Russi Taylor)
* Ralph Wiggum (Cartwright)
* Police Chief Wiggum (Hank Azaria)
* Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (Azaria)
* Moe Szyslak (Azaria)
* Groundskeeper Willie (Castellaneta)
* Professor Frink (Azaria)
* Cletus Spuckler (Azaria)
* Snake Jailbird (Azaria)
* Squeaky Voice Teen (Castellaneta)
* Hans Moleman (Castellaneta)
* Barney Gumble (Castellaneta)
* Louie the Hitman (Castellaneta)
* Itchy (Castellaneta)
* Scratchy (Harry Shearer)
* Kang (Shearer)
* Kodos (Castellaneta)
* Happy Little Elves

Thanks to IOACentral, a Universal Studios Florida fan website, for use of the photo.

Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the
Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[Image: Courtesy of IOACentral]

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 10:25 am by Brady MacDonald and is filed under Family & Kids, Islands & Beaches, Los Angeles, Summer, Theme Parks, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.