Homer Simpson is the central father character in The Simpsons, the animated sitcom created by Matt Groening that began as a full series in 1989 and is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. Homer's exaggerated screams became a recurring gag across episodes, used whenever he is injured, frightened or caught out. Short clips of the yell later spread online as isolated reaction sounds on soundboards and in meme edits. Its lasting appeal is recognition: even a fraction of a second is enough for most viewers to identify Homer and the joke instantly.