Homer reveals 'Simpsons' movie

Homer Simpson has hit the big screen in the US in a short teaser trailer announcing The Simpsons movie.

The teaser screens prior to the opening of 20th Century Fox's latest animated film, Ice Age: The Meltdown.

The clip announces a July 27, 2007, release date for The Simpsons movie.

The animated 25-second clip opens on a giant superhero S.

A narrator intones, "Leaping his way onto the silver screen - the greatest hero in American history".

The trailer then cuts to Homer Simpson sitting on his couch in his tighty whities.

"I forgot what I was supposed to say," he says.

The narrator continues, "The Simpsons movie, coming to the screen, July 27, 2007".

"Uh, oh," says Homer, "We better get started".

The long-running animated TV series, created by Matt Groening and developed by James L Brooks, has been on television since late 1989.

It started as a segment of Fox's The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987-88.

- Reuters