Futurama, an animated science fiction sitcom
Introduction
Futurama, an animated science fiction sitcom, was created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company and later revived by Comedy Central and Hulu. The storyline revolves around Philip J. Fry, a slacker cryogenically preserved for 1,000 years and awakened on December 31, 2999. Employed at the interplanetary delivery company Planet Express, Fry works alongside the one-eyed mutant Leela and the robot Bender. Groening conceived the series in the mid-1990s while working on The Simpsons, collaborating with David X. Cohen to pitch the show to Fox.
Initially cancelled by Fox, Futurama found new life through reruns on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim from 2003 to 2007. It was later revived in 2007 through four direct-to-video films, with Comedy Central syndicating existing episodes and presenting the films as a fifth season. Comedy Central picked up the show for 26 additional half-hour episodes in June 2009, airing from 2010 to 2013. The series was further revived by Hulu in 2022, premiering a 20-episode order on July 24, 2023.
Futurama garnered critical acclaim, earning numerous award nominations and wins, including Annie Awards and Emmy Awards. It received accolades such as the Writers Guild of America Award and Nebula Award, along with Environmental Media Awards for specific episodes. The show's popularity extended to merchandise, including comic books, video games, calendars, clothing, and action figures. In 2013, TV Guide recognized Futurama as one of the top 60 Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time.
Characters
Futurama serves as a workplace sitcom, focusing on the Planet Express interplanetary delivery company and its unconventional employees. The central plot revolves around a small group that doesn't quite conform to future society. While the primary trio comprises Fry, Leela, and Bender, occasional storylines delve into the lives of other main characters.
Philip J. Fry (voiced by Billy West) – Fry, an immature yet good-hearted pizza delivery boy, inadvertently activates a cryogenic pod, freezing himself just after midnight on January 1, 2000. He awakens on New Year's Eve of 2999, securing a job as a cargo delivery boy at Planet Express, owned by his only living relative, Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth. Fry's enduring affection for Leela is a recurring theme.
Turanga Leela (voiced by Katey Sagal) – Leela, the capable one-eyed captain of the Planet Express Ship, grows up in the Cookieville Minimum Security Orphanarium, initially believing herself to be an alien. She later discovers her mutant origins from the sewers. Before becoming the ship's captain, Leela works as a career assignment officer, meeting Fry. She serves as Fry's primary love interest and eventually becomes his wife.
Bender Bending Rodriguez (voiced by John DiMaggio) – Bender, a foul-mouthed, heavy-drinking, misanthropic robot manufactured by Mom's Friendly Robot Company, starts as a girder bender and later becomes an assistant sales manager and cook. Despite lacking taste, he is Fry's best friend and roommate, requiring alcohol to power his fuel cells.
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth (voiced by Billy West) – Known as "the Professor," Farnsworth, Fry's distant nephew, establishes Planet Express Inc. to fund his mad scientist endeavors. Despite his brilliance, he struggles with age-related forgetfulness. In one episode, he clones himself to create Cubert Farnsworth (voiced by Kath Soucie), whom he treats like a son.
Hermes Conrad (voiced by Phil LaMarr) – Hermes, the Jamaican accountant of Planet Express, revels in bureaucracy and adheres to regulations. Formerly an Olympic Limbo champion, he abandoned the sport after a tragic incident. Hermes is a family man with a wife, LaBarbara, and a 12-year-old son, Dwight.
Dr. John A. Zoidberg (voiced by Billy West) – Zoidberg, a Decapodian physician, claims expertise in humans despite having inaccurate knowledge of human anatomy. Homeless and friendless, he lives behind Planet Express and is generally scorned by the crew.
Amy Wong (voiced by Lauren Tom) – Amy, a wealthy, ditzy intern at Planet Express, is an astrophysics student and heiress to a portion of Mars. Ethnically Chinese, she's known for her accidental clumsiness and occasional use of Cantonese and 31st-century slang. Initially promiscuous, she later enters a monogamous relationship with Kif Kroker, eventually becoming a parent in the eighth season after earning her doctorate in the sixth season.
