Matt's next choice was a famous MGM cartoon by Tex Avery, King Size Canary. 'I don't think there's anyone like Tex Avery - except for John Kricfalusi.' In this classic cartoon from the 40s, a bottle of jumbo-gro turns a cat and mouse chase in to an escalating war of size.

Groening loves the fact that Tex Avery's cartoons appeal to all ages. 'It's the secret of the Simpsons - that there are some jokes for grown ups, and some for kids. It's a great way of getting things past the censor - claim it's not for kids.'

'The music in King Size Canary is by Scott Bradley - he was one of the great orchestrators of music for cartoons. I have a CD of his stuff that I play in the car when I'm driving in LA. It makes it hard not to run in to other cars!'

It turns out that Matt's hometown of Portland, Oregon, has other famous cartoon alumni.

'The most illustrious graduate of my high school was Mel Blanc [the voice of Bugs Bunny, among others]. He came back to talk to us, and we actually stopped beating each other up for the length of the assembly.'

Find out more about Tex Avery at the Tex Avery tribute website.

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