This article is from the The Simpsons FAQ, by Ondre Lombard wakkojr@nospam.wcat.com and Andrew Gill superluser@mail.rit.edu with numerous contributions by others.
Production on a given season begins in December, when the writers go to one
of two "writers' retreats" to pitch and develop approximately 16 story
ideas, which end up developed into about 12 scripts. Episodes from season
one were often animated with about 12,000 drawings. The number gradually
increased to about 24,000 drawings, but not due to the change from Klasky-
Csupo to Film Roman.
 
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