Kang and Kodos: the Simpsons' aliens
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CharacterHalloweenKang and Kodos
Two green one-eyed octopuses, drooling and shaken by endless laughter: the invaders from Rigel VII are the standing appointment of every Treehouse of Horror. Their names come from Star Trek, their fits of laughter were dreamed up by producer Sam Simon to pad out episodes that ran short, and their first appearance dates back to 1990, in "Hungry Are the Damned". The high point: "Citizen Kang" (1996), where the pair replace Clinton and Dole and give rise to the cult "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!". Their non-canon status is cleared up too.
Two green, drooling octopuses caught in a fit of laughter: Kang and Kodos are the aliens who never miss Springfield's Halloween appointment.
Recurring but forever absurd invaders, this duo from space is inseparable from the show's Halloween specials. Here is their profile — non-canon, needless to say.
Contents
Who are Kang and Kodos?
Kang and Kodos are two green, tentacled aliens who drool constantly — a sort of one-eyed octopus — from the planet Rigel VII. Their names are borrowed from the Star Trek universe. Kodos has been presented as Kang's sister, even if their characterization has varied over the years. Their trademark? An endless hysterical laugh, originally dreamed up by producer Sam Simon to pad out episodes that ran short.
💧 The two octopuses from Rigel VII drool non-stop; you only drip when you come out of the water, and on the sand, our Simpsons towels dry you off far better than a tentacle ever could.
The regulars of Treehouse of Horror
Kang and Kodos appear almost exclusively in the Halloween specials, the Treehouse of Horror — to the point that an unofficial writers' rule holds that they must feature in every edition, if only as a nod. Take care, though: since those segments are non-canon, the duo does not belong to the show's normal continuity. Their very first appearance goes back to the first Treehouse of Horror (1990), in the segment "Hungry Are the Damned", a parody of The Twilight Zone.
🎃 Ever since “Hungry Are the Damned” in 1990, Kang and Kodos have never missed a Treehouse of Horror; to keep your own October 31 date just as faithfully, pick your outfit from our Simpsons costumes.
"Citizen Kang": the day they aimed for the White House
Their most famous feat comes in the segment "Citizen Kang" (Treehouse of Horror VII, 1996). Kang and Kodos abduct the two candidates in the American presidential election, Bill Clinton and Bob Dole, take on their appearance… and one of them ends up elected President of the United States. The episode closes on a line that became cult, delivered by Homer: "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!"
🗳️ Kang and Kodos took on the appearance of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole to hijack the American presidential election; to show which side you're on without abducting anyone, our Simpsons pins sit on your lapel just like a campaign button.
Kang and Kodos's voice actors
In the original version, Kang is voiced by Harry Shearer (his is the deeper voice) and Kodos by Dan Castellaneta. In the French version, you find the show's usual lineages: Kang by Michel Modo, then Gérard Rinaldi, then Xavier Fagnon; Kodos by Patrick Guillemin, then Pierre Laurent.
Summary table
| Profile | Details |
|---|---|
| Identity | Kang and Kodos, aliens from Rigel VII |
| Status | Non-canon (Halloween segments) |
| Appearances | In every Treehouse of Horror |
| Cult line | "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!" |
| Original voices | Harry Shearer (Kang), Dan Castellaneta (Kodos) |
FAQ
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Who are Kang and Kodos?Two green, drooling aliens from the planet Rigel VII, recurring in The Simpsons' Halloween episodes.
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Are Kang and Kodos part of the story?No: they appear in Treehouse of Horror segments, which are non-canon and unconnected to the show's continuity.
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What is "Citizen Kang"?A 1996 segment in which the duo abduct the American presidential candidates; it ends on the cult line "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!".
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Who voices Kang and Kodos in the original version?Harry Shearer for Kang and Dan Castellaneta for Kodos.
Conclusion
Recurring, absurd and irresistibly unsettling, Kang and Kodos are the signature of Treehouse of Horror. Proof that in Springfield, even invaders from space end up becoming a tradition awaited every fall.
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