Growing up in Quebec, Joshua Biasotto developed a deep affection for watching The Simpsons in Québécois French. He cherished the show’s eccentric characters, witty humor, and satirical view on life, along with his special admiration for Quebec dubbing. Biasotto took action when Corus Entertainment’s Télétoon decided not to renew the rights for the 36th season, endangering Les Simpson. He initiated an online petition on Change.org titled Sauvons le doublage québécois des Simpsons to preserve the Quebec dub of the show.
The Quebec version of The Simpsons featured local expressions and cultural references, creating a unique and personalized viewing experience. Characters spoke with regional Quebec accents, incorporating the colloquial dialect of joual associated with working-class Montreal. The adaptation replaced U.S. references with local Quebecois elements, such as the Lac-Saint-Jean region and towns like Jonquière and Alma.
Quebec’s dubbing tradition reflects the province’s culture, humor, and language. Dubbing allows audiences to enjoy international entertainment in their language, ensuring familiar voices and references. Daniel Béland from McGill University highlights that translating humor is challenging, as it often requires adapting jokes to resonate with local viewers.
Maintaining the dubbing industry is crucial for preserving Quebec’s language and identity, given that the province’s vast majority speaks French. The return of Les Simpson following a successful petition underscores the significance of fan loyalty. The revival not only celebrates the show’s popularity but also demonstrates the influence of devoted fans in bringing back beloved content.
The Quebec dubbing industry is thriving, with difuze at the forefront of dubbing popular titles like Stranger Things and Toy Story 5. Despite the industry’s growth, challenges like tighter production schedules persist, leading to increased workload and overtime for dubbing teams. While concerns about AI-generated dubbing affecting human voice actors arise, the commitment to dub Les Simpson in Quebec by local talent remains firm, ensuring the continuation of the beloved Quebecois version.