Why?
* To introduce a new animated comedy: The shorts were created by Matt Groening as a way to showcase his unique brand of humor and animation style.
* To gauge audience reaction: The shorts were a way to test the waters and see if the characters and humor resonated with audiences before committing to a full-fledged series.
* To build a fanbase: The shorts proved popular, leading to the creation of the long-running series that we know and love today.