The cast of Family Guy will come face-to-face with animated rivals The Simpsons in a special crossover episode next year (14).

The highly-anticipated link will take place on Family Guy, with Seth MCFarlane's dysfunctional Griffin family heading to Springfield and becoming friendly with Matt Groening's cartoon clan.

A mock statement from Family Guy patriarch Peter Griffin reads, "Fox (network) hasn't spent this much money since they took Simon Cowell tight t-shirt shopping."

Both cartoons boast a huge fanbase, with Family Guy in its 11th season, while The Simpsons holds the record for longest-running scripted show after 25 series.

The collaborative episode will air on Fox in autumn 2014.