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Author Topic: Character ages  (Read 19414 times)
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Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #200 on: 09-19-2007 15:11 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by km73:
[...] and on Bender's comment that they would need to hit a time warp if she didn't want to die at 25. Of course there are alternative explanations for those remarks.

I have thought of that comment more. When I watched the episode again after a while, I have thought of several possible meanings to it.

1. Leela is over 25 and Bender's just pointing out the fact that she's lying and it's obvious to the point where she shouldn't have said anything. This one seems to be the most popular.
2. Leela could be younger than 25 and the time warp that she would enter would make her older. This is probably the least likeliest chance of being correct. Hey, who ever said that a time warp has to go back in time?
3. Leela could have been precisely 25  at that time and Bender was trying to assure her that they really weren't going to die after all. I actually felt that Bender had confidence in himself besides in gambling or picking up street prostitutes. Even though it doesn't really seem to make much sense (I had something going, but then I lost it), I prefer this one the most out of the four.
4. Bender's comment is a witty lie to taunt us fans and get us arguing over nothing.
km73

Space Pope
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« Reply #201 on: 09-19-2007 16:22 »
« Last Edit on: 09-19-2007 16:22 »

Yeah, number 4 seems pretty close!
I actually see what you mean w/ number 3. This could be used to argue for her being 25, the same age as Fry. I just personally always preferred to think of her as older, it just fits better for me.
Going back to #4, there was probably a reason why the writers gave us Fry's exact age but chose not to give Leela's (or almost anyone else's for that matter). Not sure what that reason IS, just that there probably is one.
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #202 on: 09-19-2007 19:15 »

Wikipedia sez:

According to the Volume 1 Futurama DVD, Fry was born on August 9, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, being 25 at the time of the first episode.

And also -

Turanga Leela (often referred to simply as Leela) (born A.D. 2975)

So, if you believe that they were both 25 (only biologically in Fry's case) at the time of the first episode, but Futurama sticks closer to realtime than the Simpsons, so the characters do actually age.
Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #203 on: 09-19-2007 19:44 »

That means by the first episode, Leela would have been 24 going on 25 (I've heard that her birthday was on the same day as Katey Sagal's).

Leela may have been referring to Fry as a "kid" in the pilot episode probably because at that point, the crew wasn't sure if they were going to keep her at her original age, which was going to be 30, or if she was going to be lowered to the age that she is now.
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #204 on: 09-19-2007 19:55 »

She could have been using 'kid' as a simple pejorative, in reference to Fry's obvious stupidity and his status as a 'fish-out-of-water' extratemporal anachronism with no idea how the new world works.
Xanfor

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #205 on: 09-19-2007 21:40 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by coldangel_1:

Wikipedia sez:

Funny you should say that...
Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #206 on: 09-19-2007 22:09 »

They actually do have people who check new things on Wikipedia now so it shouldn't be wrong. Wiki aside I have heard this before many different places so I think its right.
Antonator

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #207 on: 09-20-2007 11:51 »

TV's actor on All My Circuits show Calculon in the episode "The Honking" he is 27...
Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #208 on: 09-20-2007 22:14 »

Actually he is over 1,000 years old, he just updates his name and appearence every few decades.

Calculon: "I was all of history's great acting robots. Acting Unit 0.8, Thespomat, David Duchovny."
Antonator

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #209 on: 09-22-2007 02:44 »

Yeah i knew that.(couldn't be bothered to work out real answer)
ZoidFryLeelaAmy
Bending Unit
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« Reply #210 on: 10-14-2007 06:54 »

I like to think of it this way:
As of 1 Jan 3000:
Fry = 25
Bender = 4
Leela = 25
Amy = 20
Farnsworth = 160
Zoidberg = about 40
Hermes = 45

 
Quote
Originally posted by 1 of the gang:
Okay I have a theory...In A Taste of Freedom Fry had never heard of Freedom Day and if this show is supposed to have them age and stuff then why hadn't Fry heard of it 'cause this episode took place supposedly 5 yrs after he was first unfrozen.Riddle me this!

Good theory. Remember, Fry doesn't really notice much. He didn't notice a massive mountain in front of him nor did he notice the fact that he was in the eye of a storm. He probably forgot about freedom day.
Yes, I know that this was a question posted over 4 years ago, I felt like responding. 
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #211 on: 10-14-2007 07:00 »

Also, Freedom Day may not be annual. As Freedom itself is noticably lacking in the Futurama universe, they may only hold a celebration honouring such an absent commodity once every, say... five yeas?
ZoidFryLeelaAmy
Bending Unit
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« Reply #212 on: 10-14-2007 07:08 »

That's true, although someone mentioned Nixon's head saying something about "Last years freedom day". I can't find the page the quote was on now.  :cry:
ivan_fry

Bending Unit
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« Reply #213 on: 10-14-2007 07:36 »

According to Futurama Comics #29, both Fry and Leela are 30. However, I do not consider the comics to be canon with the rest of the series.
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #214 on: 10-14-2007 07:37 »
« Last Edit on: 10-14-2007 07:37 by coldangel_1 »

Ah well... my spirit of cynicism remains.
The Planet Express crew might have missed a few Freedom Days while being held prisoner on alien planets or fighting invasion fleets or some such in the course of their duty as a delivery service.


 
Quote
Originally posted by ivan_fry:
 However, I do not consider the comics to be canon with the rest of the series.

The fans don't decide what is canon. The writers/producers do. Though as it happens, the comics aren't canon, no.
benderlover821

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #215 on: 10-14-2007 15:31 »

I want them to introduce a new main character in the show just to spice it up a little
SonicPanther

Professor
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« Reply #216 on: 10-14-2007 18:56 »

I've always thought Leela was at least one year older than Fry. He seems just a bit younger than her.
Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #217 on: 02-16-2008 23:15 »
« Last Edit on: 02-16-2008 23:15 »

I want to add in some more information about character ages before this thread gets eaten up by forces unknown.

Here's an update on characters ages for Bender's Big Score. Take in account that these are the ages for 3008.
Fry- 33/2040
Leela- 32 or 33 (probably 33 by end of January)
Lars- 50/2040

Those are the exact ages I was willing to get at the moment.

Related to character ages, I've noticed something about aging from "Bender's Big Score". It's never been exactly pointed out when a character physcially changes from aging until we saw Fry age within twelve years when he was back in the 21st century. He was seen like his young, regular self in 2003, but then he appeared to be older with some wrinkles by 2006. By 2003, Fry has to be either 36 or 37, so by 2006, he's going to have to be either 39 or 40. I'm assuming he's 40 in order to make this theory (kind of) work out better. I believe that a character shows physical aging every twenty years with the exception of the mixed first twenty years because of their childhood. From flashbacks, its apparent that Fry has looked like himself since 1997, when he was either 22 or 23. We know that when he was 18, he still looked like an adolesolence from the flashback in "Mars University". So, if my belief is correct, by 3014 for Fry and 3015 for Leela, they will look noticably older with wrinkles and whatnot, that's because they'll be forty. I'm sure by the time that they're 60, they'll go under another physical changes with their aging bodies.

I hope I'm not the only one, but Fry at age 44 looked odd in his regular clothes. If Fry (and Leela) ever reach beyond 40 again, I hope they have another wardrobe change to fit their appearance...
Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #218 on: 02-17-2008 18:49 »

I don't think you'll ever see it in the show unless it's an important part of the plot. (aka: Lars) Either Futurama follows the same aging system as the Simpsons or the "Fountain of Aging" incident is responsible for them looking exactly the same.
NastyInThePasty

Professor
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« Reply #219 on: 02-17-2008 23:57 »

If Fry truly aged from 25 (3000) to 32 (3007), it would have shown on his face the way it did for Alternate Fry/Lars between 2000 and 2012 (lines under the eyes, receeding hairline, ect,). I'm of the thought that the characters on Futurama never "truly" age.
i_need_help

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #220 on: 02-18-2008 01:50 »

I always thought that Leela was a few years older than Fry. She could be a mature 28 and Fry is obviously an immature 25. Maybe that's why I see her as older. At the beginning of the series I had her at 30.
km73

Space Pope
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« Reply #221 on: 02-18-2008 09:04 »

Indeed, as I said somewhere earlier in this thread, that's what I tend to think too. If Fry was 25 then I saw her as 27 or 28.
SonicPanther

Professor
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« Reply #222 on: 02-18-2008 12:56 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by NastyInThePasty:
If Fry truly aged from 25 (3000) to 32 (3007), it would have shown on his face the way it did for Alternate Fry/Lars between 2000 and 2012 (lines under the eyes, receeding hairline, ect,). I'm of the thought that the characters on Futurama never "truly" age.

Maybe he just ages well?

I'm going to say that the Fountain of Aging actually did make everyone (except for the Professor) slightly younger biologically, basically reseting their ages to what they were when the show started. It makes sense - otherwise they'd have to show them noticably aging. Do you think they'd do that?  :p And I'm sure the writers wouldn't make Fry and Leela middle-aged, Fry especially is supposed to be that lazy 20-something guy.
Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #223 on: 02-21-2008 18:23 »
« Last Edit on: 02-21-2008 18:23 »

... I never actually mentioned that Fry and Leela would show physical aging in the series. It's just something to notice incase if we get any flash-forwards.

However, the ages of the characters now worry me. Fry and Leela are now 33 years old. They're starting to close in on Homer Simpson, who's 38. They are showing that they are aging mentally and emotionally. In "Bender's Big Score" alone, Fry showed that he was maturing from experience and Leela was seriously looking forward to marriage.

On "Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles", I don't think the characters became older or younger canonically. Because the episode ended the way it began, there probably wasn't any influence on the series itself.

I'll be back to this... soon.
SonicPanther

Professor
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« Reply #224 on: 02-21-2008 22:08 »

I don't see how Leela wanting to marry makes her act older than she was at the start of the series...
NastyInThePasty

Professor
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« Reply #225 on: 02-21-2008 22:45 »

Yeah. Remember, she was all ready to marry Alkazar (albiet mainly to help "save" his fictiious Cyclops race).
Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #226 on: 02-22-2008 17:37 »

I was still fixing up that paragraph up to my own standards! I was on the trail of something but I was too sick to get my thoughts straight long enough to write it out!!!

In the original run of the series, Leela didn't show any concern about the future (save for any time that their lives were being threatened). Actually, that applied for everybody. This point was unintentionally brought up in "Insane in the Mainframe" when they were reminded about plans after retirement. In "Bender's Big Score", they've began to think about their futures more. Leela's line "I can't help it. I was going to be married. I was so happy," sold me. That line alone showed me that Leela wants to be married sometime in the future. When the Earthican population was lined up to receive the battle plan, Zapp Brannigan brought up the point that they were fighting for their children and their children's children (obviously made for comedic purposes). And, if you haven't noticed, there was an entire sub-plot about Fry aging.

Err... I lost my track of thought. What was I arguing about again?
Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #227 on: 03-22-2008 13:55 »
« Last Edit on: 03-22-2008 13:55 »

As much as I hate to double post, but considering a month (exactly a month) has passed since I anyone has posted and new revelations I've found recently on character ages, I'm double posting.

Has anybody watched the math lecture on "Bender's Big Score"? During the alien languages segment, Matt Groening shows off his artistic talent. He's originally introduced when Sarah catches him in the audience cartooning Fry. If you notice when they zoom in on him holding up his sketch, Fry actually looks different than his usual self. Though you can't tell that much on screen because it is too small to pick up the details, I came upon the exact same drawing when googling "Philip Fry" on Google's image search.



Though the sketch was done relatively quickly by Matt, some of the details included were shocking. Most notably was the wrinkle under his eyes. We know that Fry probably can't be the Fry we see now, because his wrinkle only appears occasionally in certain expressions. It probably isn't his time paradox duplicate either, even if it was on the same DVD when he originally appeared, mainly for the fact if he has the wrinkles under his eyes, he should also have the wrinkles to the side of his eyes and the forehead wrinkle. Also different is his clothes. It looks like he's wearing a polo in the picture, but we can't tell because so little is shown. Then again, he could be wearing his jacket zippered up. These two details lead me to believe that this is an older version of Fry we might actually see on a regular basis if the show continues for more seasons. It's not like Matt Groening to draw a character out-of-context like that.

I'm beginning to ponder at whether or not the characters would age in the series. This concept may have been planned all along, but it was never deeply explored because of its premature cancellation. I remember back in the "Roswell that Ends Well" commentary, David X. Cohen stated that they wanted to hold off on a time travel plot for a while, but the writing staff ran out of ideas and decided to do a time travel plot earlier than planned. I assume that they were way short of their original goal of episodes they wanted to have in the series by the time was canceled knowing that. It's possible an aging plot was created back before the show premiered or even when its renewal came around. Face it- this drawing is as official canon as you can get as fan art goes considering it came from the creator himself.

I'll go into more detail about my thoughts on what they had planned with character aging on the offspring thread sometime soon. Before I reach that point, I need to reboot conversation.
Archonix

Space Pope
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« Reply #228 on: 03-22-2008 14:25 »
« Last Edit on: 03-22-2008 14:25 »

Nah, the answer is much simpler: Matt can't draw that well. He's said as much many times.

ETA: Plus he wouldn't have had the character model sheet with him.  ;)
Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #229 on: 03-22-2008 14:33 »

But Matt can draw well enough to stick to the original character design!
Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #230 on: 03-22-2008 18:45 »

The "original" is kinda old actually.

Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #231 on: 03-22-2008 23:15 »

Oh yeah Frisco... real original...

I meant the original Fry we see in the series, not the original original Fry that the original Fry is based off of.
futz
Liquid Emperor
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« Reply #232 on: 03-23-2008 08:03 »

The under eye lines are often used as an indication of stress or pehaps even a bit of malnutrition. They aren't necessarily an indication of age.



Sooo Blondie, how long you in for?
km73

Space Pope
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« Reply #233 on: 03-23-2008 09:23 »

Ha, I love how frazzled Fry looks in that shot. I think the only other time he looks that strung-out is in 300 Big Boys.
I for one wouldn't want to see the characters age too much. It's one thing to not have them stay perennially in their 20s, but it would be another to make them middle-aged.
Frida Waterfall

Professor
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« Reply #234 on: 03-23-2008 09:31 »
« Last Edit on: 03-23-2008 09:31 »

Y'know, you don't have to challenge every detail of mine. If it gives you fulfillment, then you have an odd sense of pride. And you can't exactly eliminate my conclusion with other possible conclusions.

To the futz above: If Matt Groening was making a simple sketch of a character, he's probably going to sketch the character in a common form. I'd doubt that he'd make the character look tired or unhealthy.

By the way, it might seem I'm contradicting myself, but not much. I stated in my original post that he'd have to be regular if Matt Groening drew him that way.

There's two specific details in the drawing that lead me to believe that its not an unhealthy Fry. I don't know how much this counts for, but in the drawing, his eyes were puffy, like in "Bender's Big Score". When we usually see a tired Fry, his eyes just show the wrinkle. Second, when we usually see a tired or unhealthy Fry, it's not just the eyes that show his health- it's his hair too. In the drawing, Fry's hair seems to be in fair shape. Of course, I'm not eliminating that Matt drew a Fry with a lack of sleep in that picture, but I still doubt he did.

 
Quote
Originally posted by km73:
I for one wouldn't want to see the characters age too much. It's one thing to not have them stay perennially in their 20s, but it would be another to make them middle-aged.

Before "Bender's Big Score", I didn't either. But now since they've swept the Fry and Leela relationship into a corner, they might need it. I don't love the concept thinking about it, but I think I might be comtempt with it.

I wonder if they'll push aside character aging. Before they got canceled, character aging was fine, but now I don't think they could go on with it anymore without doing something about it.
futz
Liquid Emperor
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« Reply #235 on: 03-23-2008 10:16 »

I won't claim psychic insight into Mr. G.'s mind. I can't see it as more than a joke doodle in the context of the scene. Anything beyond that is a lot of "How Many Fairies can Dance on the Head of a Pin" conjecture.
Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #236 on: 03-24-2008 20:46 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Frida Waterfall:
Oh yeah Frisco... real original...

I meant the original Fry we see in the series, not the original original Fry that the original Fry is based off of.

I know, I was just messing with ya.
Xanfor

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #237 on: 03-24-2008 21:37 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Xanfor:

Leela: Don't stop playing, Fry. I wanna hear how it ends.
(Fry picks up holophoner and starts playing)
(Camera backs out from the screen of the 'What-If' Machine)
Bender: There, we watched it.
Farnsworth: Oh my yes... Good grief!
Fry: What is it, professor?
Farnsworth: We've spent four years in front of this thing!
Leela: What!? You mean we just wasted four years of our lives?
Farnsworth: No, luckily, we were so bored while watching, our metabolic processes slowed down to practically nothing! We've hardly aged at all!
Amy: Oh, goodie!
Cubert: That's impossible!
Hermes: Well, let's get busy on these packages, mon!

I still think this is how they should've started BBS.
FordMustang

Bending Unit
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« Reply #238 on: 03-25-2008 17:09 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Frida Waterfall:

Related to character ages, I've noticed something about aging from "Bender's Big Score". It's never been exactly pointed out when a character physcially changes from aging until we saw Fry age within twelve years when he was back in the 21st century. He was seen like his young, regular self in 2003, but then he appeared to be older with some wrinkles by 2006. By 2003, Fry has to be either 36 or 37, so by 2006, he's going to have to be either 39 or 40. I'm assuming he's 40 in order to make this theory (kind of) work out better.

I noticed the difference in aging between the  two versions of Fry as well.  I guessed maybe it was due to better quality of life in the future so people age slower than they do in the 20th century.  They live longer and age slower.  I often can see that in photos from the 19th century, too, that people often look much older than people the same age in our time. 

Also, the Fry who became Lars wound up spending most of his time outdoors with his aquarium job.  He would be exposed to a lot of direct sun, wind, rain, snow, etc.  The polar ocean journey probably also aged him as well since he seemed more gaunt and haggard after that. This would all have an effect on him showing more signs of aging than his alternative self who spends comparatively more time indoors.   

Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #239 on: 03-25-2008 21:24 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Xanfor:
 I still think this is how they should've started BBS.

Brilliant!  Will you ever cease to amaze me Xanfor?
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