When a mysterious roadside accident sets off an apocalyptic chain of events that puts the fate of humanity itself in the hands of Milhouse, you know you've made a detour off the pop culture circuit and into the world of [_Bartkira_](http://www.bartkira.com/). Back in 2013, [_VICE_ interviewed James Harvey](http://www.vice.com/read/bartkira-is-the-parodic-bastard-child-of-the-simpsons-and-akira), one of the two artists (with Ryan Humphries) responsible for bringing the grand achievement that is Katsuhiro Otomo's _Akira_ off its gilded pages and silver screen and into the broadcast safe-yellow world of _The Simpsons_. Now, the "animated parody mash-up," _Bartkira_, has appeared as a trailer, and we're sure as Tetsuo that it's exactly what we never knew we needed.

"In the days of old, deep in the dredges of the 'Do the Bartman' VHS, there was a trailer," begins the YouTube description for _Bartkira_. "In partnership with Chicken Tonight, Butterfinger, and CC Lemon, the early 90s execs of Fox and Toho made an animated short. An attempt to appeal to American consumers without having to spend a lot of money. Until a changing of the guard decided the kids needed more Poochie and it was lost...until today."

Of course, none of this is true&#x2014;the piece, originated by Humphries and expanded into the crowdsourced _Bartkira_ project, thanks to the curation of Harvey, came about after [Moon Animate, Make-Up!](http://moonanimate.tumblr.com/) producer Kaitlin Sullivan "pitched the idea of an animated trailer," and, over 50 _Bartkira_ artists later, ended up with the film you can watch below. While the creators note that "It is in no way officially associated with Fox Animation, Toho, or any other legal properties that own the rights to _The Simpsons_ and _Akira_," and that, "We are a bunch of fans who did this for free and are profiting in no way off of this other than having a larf," in the wake of [new news about Leonardo DiCaprio](http://www.inquisitr.com/2226804/sons-of-anarchy-writer-teams-up-with-leonardo-dicaprio-for-new-akira-film/)'s ever-incoming live action _Akira_, we can't help but hope for a full _Bartkira_ film someday soon.

Check out the trailer for _Bartkira_, and then watch [Real Good Liars](http://rgl.tv/)' breakdown of how the piece came to be:

In the days of old, deep in the dredges of the "Do the Bartman" VHS, there was a trailer.

In partnership with Chicken Tonight, Butterfinger, and CC Lemon, the early 90s execs of Fox and Toho made an animated short. An attempt to appeal to American consumers without having to spend a lot of money. Until a changing of the guard decided the kids needed more Poochie and it was lost...until today.

--

Bartkira is an animated parody mash-up of The Simpsons and Akira. Based on an idea by Ryan Humphrey articulated through comics, the concept was expanded with the Bartkira project, a comic collaboration of Simpsons fans, curated by James Harvey. In association with the comic, Moon Animate Make-Up producer Kaitlin Sullivan pitched the idea of an animated trailer to match and with the work of over fifty artists, produced the Bartkira animated trailer.

It is in no way officially associated with Fox Animation, Toho, or any other legal properties that own the rights to The Simpsons and Akira. We are a bunch of fans who did this for free and are profiting in no way off of this other than having a larf.

For more information on Bartkira, you can visit these sites:
bartkira.com/
bartkira.tumblr.com/
bartkiraroadshow.tumblr.com/

Bartkira the Animated Trailer

We had some fun helping out our talented friends on the awesome BARTKIRA project. It’s an ongoing group effort by literally hundreds of animators and illustrators around the world, and we can’t wait to see the finished result. We did all the graphic design, typography and grading, plus the opening shot, for the animated trailer – finally answering the question on everyone’s lips:

How would the seminal 1984 ‘Akira’ cinematic trailer have looked if it had been an early ‘90s Simpsons VHS?

Note: please don’t sue us.

Bartkira Breakdown

[Bartkira Breakdown](https://vimeo.com/131226517) from [RGL](https://vimeo.com/studiorgl) on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com).

Check out [Bartkira's website](http://bartkira.com/), [Tumblr](http://bartkira.tumblr.com/), and [Bartkira Roadshow Tumblr](http://bartkiraroadshow.tumblr.com/) for more.

Via [Cartoon Brew](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/fan-art-2/bartkira-the-animated-trailer-has-arrived-115469.html)

_['Halo' Meets 'Akira' in an Incredible CGI Short Film](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/halo-meets-akira-in-an-incredible-cgi-short-film)_

_[Hundreds Of 'Akira' Fans Just Created The Best Live-Action Trailer For The Anime Classic](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/internet-creates-live-action-trailer-for-akira)_

_['Bartkira' Is the Parodic Bastard Child of the 'Simpsons' and 'Akira'](http://www.vice.com/read/bartkira-is-the-parodic-bastard-child-of-the-simpsons-and-akira)_

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This story is over 5 years old.

The 'Akira' / 'Simpsons' Mashup We Never Knew We Needed

FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

The 'Akira' / 'Simpsons' Mashup We Never Knew We Needed

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