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Western Animation / Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny"
aka: Playdate With Destiny

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Maggie Simpson in "Playdate with Destiny" is a 2020 animated short based on The Simpsons, released theatrically during the show's 31st season. Directed by David Silverman, it is the second Simpsons cartoon short to be created for a theatrical release and the third Simpsons film overall, following The Longest Daycare and The Simpsons Movie. It is also the first Simpsons theatrical release produced by Disney following the buyout of the former 20th Century Fox, the franchise's original producer in 2019.

Maggie is taken to a playground by Marge. When another baby goes down the slide and almost crashes into her, she is saved by a boy named Hudson. Maggie becomes smitten with Hudson, and the two play games together, which Maggie fantasizes as a whirlwind romance. At the end of the day, Maggie gives Hudson her blue bow to remember her by, and that night she dreams about Hudson in her sleep. The next day, Homer looks after Maggie instead of Marge, and he takes her to a different park with food trucks. Maggie sees Hudson waiting for her in the adjacent park and desperately tries to get his attention, but Homer pulls her away before she can. That night, Maggie becomes despondent over not being able to see Hudson.

The short was shown theatrically, preceding Disney/Pixar's Onward, marking this as the second non-Pixar short for a Pixar film (after Olaf's Frozen Adventure). And as with Olaf's Frozen Adventure, Onward home video releases do not include this short. The short was released on Disney+ on April 10, 2020.


Tropes appearing in this short:

  • Bait-and-Switch Silhouette: The short begins with what appears to be the silhouette of Mickey Mouse, then the lights come up to reveal it's actually Homer with a couple donuts over his head.
  • Big "WHY?!": Parodied when Maggie repeatedly pushes 'Y' on the phonic frog.
  • Bumbling Dad: Homer is the Unwitting Instigator of Doom in the Serious Business romance between Maggie and another baby; when it's his turn to watch Maggie, he takes her to the "wrong" park (one that has easily-accessible food trucks) and is unaware of her attempts to get back together with her playmate.
  • The Cameo: The chubby baby from The Longest Daycare makes an appearance.
    • Nelson appears when Maggie takes his skateboard.
  • A Day in the Limelight: Similar to "The Longest Daycare," this is centered on Maggie with the only other named character being a few glimpses of Homer and Marge as they take her to and from the park.
  • Drowning My Sorrows: Maggie drinks a lot of baby formula while depressed over not seeing Hudson.
  • Falling-in-Love Montage: One occurs between Maggie and Hudson.
  • Freeze-Frame Bonus: The book titles that Marge and the other mothers are reading include "You're Doing Everything Wrong", "How Dare You Not Breastfeed", "Help! My Baby's Ugly", and "3rd Child's the Charm!"
  • Heroic BSoD: Maggie falls into one when she misses her chance to see Hudson.
  • Indirect Kiss: At the end, Maggie and Hudson lean forward as if to kiss, but then they stick each other's pacifiers in their mouth.
  • Mime and Music-Only Cartoon: Just like the last short starring Maggie.
  • Missed Him by That Much: Maggie launches herself in the air to get Hudson's attention, but Homer pulls her away just before he notices her.
  • No-Dialogue Episode: The only bit of dialogue we get comes from the Phonic Frog (voiced by Chris Edgerly) Maggie uses that just repeatedly says "Y" (why).
  • Puppy Love: The love story between Maggie and another baby plays out with all the classic conventions of romantic cinema shrunk down to infant size.
  • Rescue Romance: Maggie falls in love with Hudson after he saves her from a larger baby sliding onto her.
  • Train-Station Goodbye: Maggie runs after the train that's taking Hudson away, only to lose him. Subverted in that the park train is a short loop and comes right back.
  • Vanity Plate: The Gracie Films logo appears at the end, and features Mickey Mouse in the audience.

Alternative Title(s): Playdate With Destiny

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