Which Sci-Fi References do you see more in Futurama?

[Reply #80 on:]

Star Trek and maybe Star Wars.

[Reply #81 on:]

 

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Originally posted by Cap'n Skusting:

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Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
Also, little known fact, in My Three Suns, where Fry is walking through the desert, I hear it is a reference to Popeye. Another vague reference.
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It's very similar to a scene in Popeye Meets Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
That's one of the Fliescher's three 2-reeler Popeye cartoons that they did in color.(The other two being Sinbad and Aladin's Lamp)


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Also, I think they did two verisons of that cartoon episode. One where is was real and another years later where Popeye was an actor and doing the adventure as part of a fil set. His nephews were in that episode.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure all three of the Popeye two-reelers had shortened versions.  I know the Sinbad one also had his nephews in the framing story.

[Reply #82 on:]

That's right. There were later Popeye cartoons made by Famous Artists Studios that used clips from the earlier fliescher ones.
If it ever comes up that you need answers to questions about Popeye, I'm your Cap'n.
Even adding  "Cap'n" as part of my screen name is due to interest in pirates   and Popeye, and even naming me own fictitional pyrate ship after The Sea Hag's own ship the Black Barnacle.
Your may have noticed the tiny pirate flag on the train in my sig....

[Reply #83 on:]

A friend of mine a while back let me read a magazine article discussing a comic book, called BONE, I think. It was about three ghost-like characters. One was greedy, (Bender), one was a little dumb, (Fry) and the other was the serious one (leela). From what I remember it said that Matt Groening read that comic book and it gave him the idea for creating the personalities for Fry, Leela and Bender. 

I personally think, that Matt could've gotten their personalities from any famous trio.

[Reply #84 on:]

Maybe, but that's an inspiration, not a reference.

And why did you post this in two seperate threads?

[Reply #85 on:]

After, I put it on the Leela Thread, I felt what I said should be put on this Thread also, since this thread talks more about things that made Futurama to what it is today.  You could say that Star Trek was an inspiration to Futurama, to make fun of Star Trek.  After all Matt was inspired by many science fiction classics to make Futurama and thus he makes references to most of those classics.

[Reply #86 on:]

Yes, Star Trek was an inspiration for Futurama, but Futurama also contained numerous references to Star Trek.  Bone may have been an inspiration for Futurama as well; but as far as I know, there aren't any references to Bone in Futurama.  It's not the same thing.

[Reply #87 on:]

Another Red Dwarf reference from episode Hell Is Other Robots.  The robots believe in robot hell, while in Red Dwarf the robots are programmed to believe in silicon heaven because if it didn't exist "where would all the little calculators go?"

Also, Bender likes "All My Circuits" much like how Kryten likes "Androids" which was also a soap opera for Robots.

Also, in episode A Big Piece Of Garbage, we hear the "Fun In The Sun" theme . Not to mention the way they get rid of the garbage ball is a play off of the Red Drawf episode "White Hole" where Lister plays billiards with the planets.

[Reply #88 on:]

 

Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
Also, in episode A Big Piece Of Garbage, we hear the "Fun In The Sun" theme .

I must have missed that, when was it?

 

Not to mention the way they get rid of the garbage ball is a play off of the Red Drawf episode "White Hole" where Lister plays billiards with the planets.

The original ending mentioned on the commentary would have been even more so. 

[Reply #89 on:]

There's also a mention of a planet being knocked into a black hole in a game of Intergalactic Bar Billiards in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[Reply #90 on:]

 

Originally posted by David A:
Yes, Star Trek was an inspiration for Futurama, but Futurama also contained numerous references to Star Trek.  Bone may have been an inspiration for Futurama as well; but as far as I know, there aren't any references to Bone in Futurama.  It's not the same thing.

I want to set the record straight.  I found the article and it was featured in Wizard Edge.  The article is called, "Firing Up the Last Bone", taking about the final issue of BONE, creator Jeff Smith. 

here are some quotes from the article:

 

The first storyarc, titled "Out from Boneville," introduced the Bone cousins, establishing Phoney Bone as the greedy shyster [Bender], Smiley as the lovable goofball [Fry] and Fone as the good-natured everyman [Leela]. 

and heres the mention of Futurama:

 

He'd [Jeff Smith] heard a rumor that "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening was a fan of the series, and used BONE as an example of what he'd wanted "Futurama to be like.

That rumor may be true and Futurama may owe a thanks to Jeff Smith.

[Reply #91 on:]

I'll say this again: Fry is far more like Fone Bone than Smiley Bone.  I mean, "good-natured everyman"?  If that doesn't describe Fry, I don't know what does.

Leela isn't really similar to any of the Bone cousins, but she does seem a lot like Thorn.  Fry's relationship with Leela also seems a lot like Fone's relationship with Thorn.

[Reply #92 on:]

star Trek

[Reply #93 on:]

   

Originally posted by David A:
I'll say this again: Fry is far more like Fone Bone than Smiley Bone.  I mean, "good-natured everyman"?  If that doesn't describe Fry, I don't know what does.

How about, "lovable goofball"? I think that pretty much describes Fry also.

   

Leela isn't really similar to any of the Bone cousins, but she does seem a lot like Thorn.  Fry's relationship with Leela also seems a lot like Fone's relationship with Thorn. 

Leela is a good-natured person, when it comes caring for Nibbler and other animals.  But you can say Fry is also good-natured and Leela may have the same personality as that Thorn character.  You can say Fry, Bender, Leela's personalities were based on different characters, from BONE.

[Reply #94 on:]

Thanks to Season 4 Audio Commentary, I've learn in Kif Gets Knocked Up A Notch, the scene where the PE ship docks with the Nimbus, was a reference to Bond, James Bond.  Moonraker to be exactly.

I've seen Moonraker and I every time I saw that Futurama scene I always felt I've seen that scene before, but I was never able to piece it together.

[Reply #95 on:]

I'm just bringing this thread back to establish that there is already a thread for discussing, sci-fi references on Futurama.

[Reply #96 on:]

i dont know where any hitchhikers guid to the galaxy parodies and ive seen every ep like three jillion times? am i missing something?

[Reply #97 on:]

You aren't. There are no HHGTTG parodies in Futurama.

[Reply #98 on:]

I think there are HHGTTG references only vaguely.

The space restuarant from AWITM, wasn't that a vague reference to HHGTTG.

[Reply #99 on:]

How is that a reference to HHGTTG? the restaurant was called "Le Palm D'Orbit". Im not a huge buff on HHGTTG but what was the restaurant called at the end of time? i dont think it was anything refering to this restaurant.

plus I KNOW it didnt have Morbo singing "FUNKYTOWN!"

however i do see the similar connections originally posted by Chump. good stuff.

[Reply #100 on:]

   

Originally posted by BarbadosSlim:
How is that a reference to HHGTTG? the restaurant was called "Le Palm D'Orbit". Im not a huge buff on HHGTTG but what was the restaurant called at the end of time? i dont think it was anything refering to this restaurant.

plus I KNOW it didnt have Morbo singing "FUNKYTOWN!"

however i do see the similar connections originally posted by Chump. good stuff.

Well one fan was able to find similarities, between the two.

       

Originally posted by Chump:
I finally broke down and bought The Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy (a big freaking book that has all the sequels too) and though I'm not even done the first book, I'm noticing some Character similarities:

Zaphod Beeblebrox: Strikingly similar to Zapp Brannigan. First, a high ranking officer who is utterly clueless. Secondly, the names are very similar. They both command a powerful vessel.

Marvin (the robot): Throughly depressed robot who is bossed around by superior (Zaphod) and his exasperated tone reflects highly of Kif.

Those 2 leaped out at me, but if you want more connections, Arthur is like Fry with his cluelessness of the world, and Ford is Leela, the close companion and teacher of the ways of the world.

Other stuff I have yet to learn of, but for those who have read the whole thing, feel free to add or tear apart my theories. This Trillian character seams promising too...

http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/11-000186/


And for fans who can't find any Red Dwarf similarities in Futurama, another fan did.

     

Originally posted by Simpls:

Hi...I've been lurking here for some time, but haven't contributed anything.  Although this is interesting...an episode-by-episode rundown of parallels between Futurama and the british sitcom, Red Dwarf.
 http://www.ganymede-titan.info/news/2004/august/24-2342.html

What do you all think?

http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/1-003642/


#100     

[Reply #101 on:]

 

Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
I think there are HHGTTG references only vaguely.

The space restuarant from AWITM, wasn't that a vague reference to HHGTTG.

Here's a fan who came up with more similarities.

     

Originally posted by Chump:
I finally broke down and bought The Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy (a big freaking book that has all the sequels too) and though I'm not even done the first book, I'm noticing some Character similarities:

Zaphod Beeblebrox: Strikingly similar to Zapp Brannigan. First, a high ranking officer who is utterly clueless. Secondly, the names are very similar. They both command a powerful vessel.

Marvin (the robot): Throughly depressed robot who is bossed around by superior (Zaphod) and his exasperated tone reflects highly of Kif.

Those 2 leaped out at me, but if you want more connections, Arthur is like Fry with his cluelessness of the world, and Ford is Leela, the close companion and teacher of the ways of the world.

Other stuff I have yet to learn of, but for those who have read the whole thing, feel free to add or tear apart my theories. This Trillian character seams promising too...

http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/11-000186/

Groening have told us (in so many words) Kif and Zapp are based on Kirk and Spock, so Marvin and Zaphod are similarities, not references.

The restaurant reference is flimsy at best.

[Reply #102 on:]

While, I'm aware that Zapp and Kif are referenced from Kirk and Spock, but the characters aren't just parodied from them.  Their personalities remind me of other people.

Kif's relationship with Amy reminds me of Woody Allen and Soon Yee.  Kif maybe a reference to Spock, but hardly has the personality of Spock.

Fry- Is like a across between, Lister, Arthur, Luke Skywalker, Marty McFly, a little Shaggy, George Jetson and others all rolled up into one.

So, it is safe to say that each of the characters have similarities with more than just one specific character.  Matt and David also said they turned to many Sci-fi magazines of the 1950's and got inspiration for the show.

[Reply #103 on:]

Sorry for the double post, but here's what a DVD critic from REEL.com had to say about Futurama Volume 1.  He mentions a bit of the references of Futurama.

   

Futurama: Vol. One (1999)(3 DVD Set)
 When it comes to programming, the Fox network is downright schizophrenic. Its development department has been responsible for incubating some of broadcast television's most groundbreaking series, such as X-Files and 24. However, its executives are among the least accommodating, either nixing innovative programs like Harsh Realm and Action after only a few airings or assigning promising shows like Andy Richter Controls the Universe and Greg the Bunny time slots that guaranteed fatal ratings.

Sadly, the latter scenario befell the recently cancelled Futurama. This animated sci-fi comedy follows Fry (Billy West), a 20th-Century Pizza delivery boy who, after a Sleeper-style cryogenics accident, wakes up in the year 3000. After the culture shock wears off, he lands a job at an interplanetary delivery service run by Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth (West again), a distant relative. Accompanied by an interspecies crew of miscreants—including man-size crustacean Dr. John Zoidberg (West again), monocular martial artist Leela (Married with Children's Katey Sagal), Jamaican limbo champion Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr), and kleptomaniac-alcoholic android Bender (John DiMaggio)—Fry flits around the very wacky fourth century encountering killer robots, giant soda-excreting slugs, and all manner of cosmic oddities.

Given Futurama's unabashedly geeky appeal, its only chance at landing a crossover audience was to be scheduled after co-creator Matt Groening's mega-hit, The Simpsons. Despite Groening's efforts to land the post-Simpsons slot (8:30pm Sundays), Fox execs plunked down Futurama at 7pm, where it was often bumped by football broadcasts. Given the choice between 60 Minutes and an obscure cartoon, all but hardcore fans ignored the show, leaving it to languish on prime time's periphery.

Considering the fact that it was doomed from the get-go, it's amazing that it took four years for Futurama to finally get the chop. Ironically, though, the axe fell only a few weeks before the show's first season was released on DVD. Containing 13 episodes on three discs, Futurama, Vo1. 1, has some beginner's jitters. While providing the necessary background information, "Space Pilot 3000" isn't especially funny. Things improve substantially in "Episode Two: The Series Has Landed," when the irascible Bender comes into his own; after he's kicked out of a Disneyland-like resort on the moon, the robot roue screams, "Fine! I'll start my own theme park—with hookers and blackjack!" From then on, the first season bounces between amusing ("I, Roommate," "My Three Suns" ) and gut-busting ("Love's Labors Lost in Space," "A Fishful of Dollars" ). A bevy of hilarious new characters are introduced, with robot bartender iZac and womanizing William Shatner parody captain Zapp Brannigan (more West) standing out. Groening, co-creator David X. Cohen, and the show's writing staff, deliver some inspired story lines that parody popular culture items like Titanic and The Love Boat ("A Flight to Remember" ) while borrowing from more obscure science-fiction sources like Star Trek, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the underground comic book Nexus, to name a few.

Futurama, Vo1. 1 should also sate the appetites of those who love to feast on bonus features. The discs offer a collection of so-so deleted scenes and a decent making-of featurette. More interesting, though, are the script and storyboards, and an animatic version for "Space Pilot 3000" that shows how bare words and crude hand-drawn sketches form the basis for the series' sleek final product.

Further information on Futurama's creative processes can be gleaned from the commentary tracks that accompany each episode. Groening, Cohen, directors Rich Moore and Gregg Vanzo, and John DiMaggio, who provides Bender's gravelly baritone, banter away about every aspect of the show, from the technical complexity of its computer-animated sequences (the credits sequence took weeks to complete) to the various in-jokes that dot each script (including the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory jokes that litter "Fry and the Slurm Factory" ). The massively talented West, who provided the voices of both Ren and Stimpy, also chimes in on a few episodes, as do other cast members. All in all, Futurama, Vol. 1 has the most, er, animated commentary track since the Mr. Show DVD.

In the audio-visual department, Futurama, Vol. 1, both delights and disappoints. With only three or four episodes per disc, there's plenty of room for visual data, which makes for dazzling images. The computer-enhanced, 3-D panning animation looks crisper and clearer that it did on television; the DVD technician who decided to make use of the extra space deserves a medal. Conversely, the audio track is only a bland Dolby 2.0 stereo track (available in English, Spanish, and German—apparently the show's a Teutonic hit). It's a bit of a puzzler why The Simpsons gets the full Dolby 5.1 treatment, while Futurama's effects-heavy soundscape is left with only two channels to work with. Is this another example of Fox executives' disdain for the show? Futurama, Vol. 1 offers no answers. Perhaps Vol. 2, due out this September, will.
— TOR THORSEN

As you can read, he mentions Star Trek and HHGTTG and as sources that Futurama borrowed.

[Reply #104 on:]

Would've been nice if he had named the HHGTTG reference.

Star Trek is an obscure sci-fi source?

 

Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
Fry- Is like a across between, Lister, Arthur, Luke Skywalker, Marty McFly, a little Shaggy, George Jetson and others all rolled up into one.

So, it is safe to say that each of the characters have similarities with more than just one specific character.  Matt and David also said they turned to many Sci-fi magazines of the 1950's and got inspiration for the show.

Which will make them exactly that; similarities, not specific references.

[Reply #105 on:]

@Teral- I wish I could rename this thread to "What similarities/references do you see and like?"  I meant to say similarites, just like how I said earlier in this thread when I compared Futurama with the Jetsons.  And the similarities are haunting.  What is your opinion on those similaries?

[Reply #106 on:]

Star Trek is I think is the Number Si-Fi ref that I see the most. I mean look at "Teenage Mutant Leela Hurdles" where they blow up Deep Space Nine and "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" that entire Episode is dedicated to Star Ttrek.

2nd would have to be Star Wars eg. "When Aliens Attack" when Fry is in the little gun turrent and he says "Wow I'm gonna be a hero, just like capt Janeway or Ohura" and he's even got the star wars helmut on and the Light Saber sceen in "War Is The H-Word.

There's Plenty more bit those are just some I like the most.


 

Originally posted by *Gloop*:
*I sat and enjoyed my new Original Trilogy Star Wars DVD's last night, and was delighted to see Futurama on the bonus disc. There's a small featurette about the Lightsabre, and at the end, whilst running the credits, they show clips from programs that have parodied the use of the Lightsabre and, as well as the Mark Hamill Simpsons appearance, nestled in the middle was Fry wielding his sabre in War is the H Word, slicing the sphere and spraying candy everywhere.

Let's face it - it's only a small clip but that's a hell of a lot of coverage considering the sales of the DVD. I just thought it was pretty cool.*

And thanks Gloop for that nice peice of info. 

[Reply #107 on:]

 

How is that a reference to HHGTTG? the restaurant was called "Le Palm D'Orbit". Im not a huge buff on HHGTTG but what was the restaurant called at the end of time?

It was called Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.  I don't think Le Palm D'Orbit was a reference to it.  On the other hand, Zapp's comment that the restaurant is "built like a steakhouse, but handles like a bistro" COULD be a reference to Slartibartfast's ship Bistromathic.  Probably not, but it's more likely than most of the other proposed references I've seen.

[Reply #108 on:]

2nd would have to be Star Wars eg. "When Aliens Attack" when Fry is in the little gun turrent and he says "Wow I'm gonna be a hero, just like capt Janeway or Ohura"

I hate to burst your bubble, but that's still star trek.

[Reply #109 on:]

 

Originally posted by hortRoundMcfly:
I hate to burst your bubble, but that's still star trek.

Wow, sorry I didn't even see that. But if you ignore the line of Janeway and Ohura, the sceane is based around Star Wars.