Futurama   Planet Express Employee Lounge
The Futurama Message Board

Design and Support by Can't get enough Futurama
Help Search Futurama chat Login Register

PEEL - The Futurama Message Board    General Futurama Forum Category    Human Resource Department    Hitchhiker's Guide and Futurama - Character similarities « previous next »
Author Topic: Hitchhiker's Guide and Futurama - Character similarities  (Read 9189 times)
Pages: [1] Print
Chump

Urban Legend
***
« on: 07-10-2002 18:00 »

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...
aslate

Space Pope
****
« Reply #1 on: 07-10-2002 18:45 »

Great books, but i only saw the TV conversion, not reading the books. I liked it where God proved he didn't exist!
slimmyCGEF

Administrator
Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #2 on: 07-10-2002 18:51 »

yeah, I came to the same conclusion.. the books rule and I have seen some references to futurama too
Chump

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #3 on: 07-10-2002 18:55 »

According to the author, the books, the radio broadcasts, and the tv shows are all radically different from one another.
David A

Space Pope
****
« Reply #4 on: 07-10-2002 23:01 »

I always thought that Bender was inspired, at least in part, by Marvin.  They are very different characters, but there are some similarities.
MuscaDomestica

Professor
*
« Reply #5 on: 07-10-2002 23:28 »

The 3 different versions are all slightly different, they all start almost the same but diverge as the story continues. I recomend seeing them all, The TV show is closer to the book then the origonal radio play. There was a new movie in the works by Disney, I am fearing for it now that Adams is not there to make sure they don't screw up.
Kryten

Space Pope
****
« Reply #6 on: 07-11-2002 00:21 »

Oh, god, DISNEY is doing the movie? That's it, it's doomed.
Speli

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #7 on: 07-11-2002 09:43 »
« Last Edit on: 07-20-2002 00:00 »

I'm reading the fifth right now, but I gotta get the new sixth...
 
Quote
Originally posted by aslate:
Great books, but i only saw the TV conversion, not reading the books. I liked it where God proved he didn't exist!

God: I refuse to prove that I exist, for proof denies faith and without faith I am nothing...
Man: But! The babel fish is a dead give away, isn't it? It proves you exist and therefore you don't, QED...
God: Oh, I havn't thought of that...
And with a puff of logic, God disappears...
and as an encor, man goes on to prove that black is white, and gets killed at the next zebra crossing...


Yeah, I love that, too!

   :laff:    :laff:    :laff:
Timo

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #8 on: 07-11-2002 10:14 »

The Hitchhiker's books are incredible, and should be read by everybody.  And I have always gotten the same vibe from Futurama.  I don't have the personal need to create a one-on-one correlation with the characters, but every once in a while, something really sticks out.  I can remember watching "Roswell That Ends Well" with my brother.  When the Bender storyline is resolved at the end, we both looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Hitchhiker's Guide."

One important note: DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, READ "Mostly Harmless," the final book in the series!!!  The life you save may be your own.  Even Douglas Adams himself agrees that it was crap, and not worthy of the rest of the series.

Excerpted from an interview at www.theonion.com:
 http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3303/avfeature3303.html

"And maybe one day I will write another Hitchhiker book, because there's an awful lot of material sitting 'round waiting to go in it. Another reason is that the last one, Mostly Harmless, is a very bleak book. People have tried to read all sorts of complicated reasons into it, and the reason was that I just had a lousy year. Just for all sorts of personal reasons, from a terrible death in the family to... Every kind of area, whether it was personal or professional, had just gone sour on me, against a background in which I had to write a funny book, which turned out not to be very funny. So I'd quite like to maybe do another Hitchhiker book that sort of perks up the tone again."
PCC Fred

Space Pope
****
« Reply #9 on: 07-11-2002 10:21 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Kryten:
Oh, god, DISNEY is doing the movie? That's it, it's doomed.

Thanks Kryt, I just had a vision of Marvin singing "If I only Had a Heart", backed up by cartoon mice.  :nono:

You can just see how the movie version ends:

Zaphod:  Look!  What's that blue-green planet?

Arthur:  It's Earth!  So it wasn't destroyed by the Vogons after all!

Cartoon Mice:  Hurray!

<<Everyone breaks into shitty musical finale>>

  :cry:
Speli

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #10 on: 07-11-2002 10:44 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by PCC Fred:
 Thanks Kryt, I just had a vision of Marvin singing "If I only Had a Heart", backed up by cartoon mice.   :nono:

You can just see how the movie version ends:

Zaphod:  Look!  What's that blue-green planet?

Arthur:  It's Earth!  So it wasn't destroyed by the Vogons after all!

Cartoon Mice:  Hurray!

<<Everyone breaks into shitty musical finale>>

   :cry:


 :eek: Oh god! Put it away...It's horrible!!!

 :nono:   :nono:   :nono: 

I can't imagine Marvin singing that...gross... BUT, I would like him to sing "Marvin the paranoid Android"...that's a cool song...

By the way, did you know Walt Disney was actually a Nazi?
Chump

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #11 on: 07-11-2002 12:08 »

Of course... remember the episode with Itchy and Scratchy Land? And R.M. Sr. was a parody of Walt?

Narrator: ...but came under critism for his controversial film: 'Nazi Supermen Are Our Superiors.'
Speli

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #12 on: 07-11-2002 13:19 »

 
Quote
One important note: DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, READ "Mostly Harmless," the final book in the series!!!  The life you save may be your own.  Even Douglas Adams himself agrees that it was crap, and not worthy of the rest of the series.


I don't know, I thought the 6th chapter was hilarious where Ford breaks into the HHGTG's head quarters and that happy robot kept rubbing against his knee...
  :laff:
haleys_comet

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #13 on: 07-19-2002 05:20 »

This isn't exactly on topic but a page about Futurma character similarities can be found here: http://www.pettifogger.com/futurama/whoswho.htm
Torquemada

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #14 on: 07-19-2002 09:23 »
« Last Edit on: 07-19-2002 09:23 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Chump:
According to the author, the books, the radio broadcasts, and the tv shows are all radically different from one another.

The books, the tapes, the records (very rare), the radio play, the official radio play scripts, the TV show. They were all different (and I think I missd one).
Douglas Adams was a true british eccentric and a genius.
Kryten

Space Pope
****
« Reply #15 on: 07-19-2002 14:56 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by haleys_comet:
This isn't exactly on topic but a page about Futurma character similarities can be found here: http://www.pettifogger.com/futurama/whoswho.htm

Some of it's pretty debatable. I mean... Monica Lewinski?
Teral

Helpy McHelphelp
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #16 on: 07-19-2002 15:25 »

 
Quote
From ^that page:
"alternate spelling `Leila' one letter off Star War's Princess Leia."

Isn't this straining it too? Alternative spelling? Leela have alwyas been spelled Leela. Then you could just as easy claim that Amy's alternative spelling is Ami, and that's an abriviated version of Amidala.

Kryten

Space Pope
****
« Reply #17 on: 07-19-2002 15:43 »

I'm surprised that he didn't mention that Dax's first host was named Leela.
haleys_comet

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #18 on: 07-19-2002 20:14 »

I don't think the list isn't entirely officail either. But it say's Matt Groening said Leels is based on Xena warrior princess.
boognish

Delivery Boy
**
« Reply #19 on: 09-19-2004 13:23 »

I think it's friggin' ridiculous that my thread about this topic was closed when this one hasn't been posted on in well over two years. So here, I'm reviving it.
fryfanSpyOrama

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #20 on: 09-19-2004 13:45 »
« Last Edit on: 09-19-2004 13:45 »

   
Quote
Originally posted by Chump:
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.

I've said that before, in fact I said it on this thread. 
 http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/1-003058-1/

Next time you should use the search engine.  I like your discussion, but you can discuss it on the thread I posted.


Prof. Wernstrum

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #21 on: 09-19-2004 14:32 »

Actually, Chump said that over 2 years before you did.
Nerd-o-rama

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #22 on: 09-19-2004 15:47 »

    Nice burn, Prof. Wernstrum, but not as good as David A's comment about my "Search-Fu" when I posted in Boognish's new (closed) thread.

    Anyhow, the reason the characters in the two series are similar are because Adams and Groening/Cohen both used classical archetypes in designing heir characters.  I don't know the exact names or descriptions, but I do know it goes something like this:

    • The Everyman (Fry, Arthur, Lister from RD): Someone thrust into an unfamiliar situation, usually idiotic or at least naive.  His learning to cope with his situation is allegorical for the "human condition" or something.  In medieval morality plays (MMPs,) this character was usually a nameless man.
    • The Guide (Leela, Ford, Slarti, somewhat Trillian): Shows The Everyman how things work and protects him.  Symbolic of divine influence.  MMPs cast this character as an angel, usually.
    • The Trickster (Bender, somewhat Ford, Zaphod): In medieval plays, this was usually a demon of some sort who tempted the Everyman in defiance of the Guide.  In modern stories, he's usually around for comic relief.
    That should cover it generally.  In a completely coincidental side note, anyone else notice that Arthur Dent's middle name is Phillip?  And also, for the longest time I thought Fry fell into cryotube 42, but I was apparently hallucinating.
M0le

Space Pope
****
« Reply #23 on: 09-20-2004 05:28 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
    I've said that before, in fact I said it on this thread. 
 http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/1-003058-1/

Next time you should use the search engine.  I like your discussion, but you can discuss it on the thread I posted.
Check the date he said it buddy.  :p
fryfanSpyOrama

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #24 on: 09-20-2004 23:23 »

mmm, someone bumped this old thread, now that's irony.
Pikka Bird

Space Pope
****
« Reply #25 on: 05-03-2005 05:51 »
« Last Edit on: 05-03-2005 05:51 »

No it isn't... Me bumping the thread now to correct you is, though.

There was something that stuck in my eye, though.
 
Quote
Originally posted by Timo:
One important note: DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, READ "Mostly Harmless," the final book in the series!!!  The life you save may be your own.  Even Douglas Adams himself agrees that it was crap, and not worthy of the rest of the series.

Excerpted from an interview at www.theonion.com:
 http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3303/avfeature3303.html

"And maybe one day I will write another Hitchhiker book, because there's an awful lot of material sitting 'round waiting to go in it. Another reason is that the last one, Mostly Harmless, is a very bleak book. People have tried to read all sorts of complicated reasons into it, and the reason was that I just had a lousy year. Just for all sorts of personal reasons, from a terrible death in the family to... Every kind of area, whether it was personal or professional, had just gone sour on me, against a background in which I had to write a funny book, which turned out not to be very funny. So I'd quite like to maybe do another Hitchhiker book that sort of perks up the tone again."

Dude, could you be any wronger? (yeah, I referenced Friends, so keelhaul me...)
'Bleak' is not the same as 'bad'. He was being pessimistic, yes, and yeah, the book doesn'h have the same dazzling feel and pace as the others, but that doesn't make it bad in any way. Just like '13' was Blur's best album in spite of songs that were soaking in drearyness.

...let it sink to the bottom again if you want, I just had to vent.
futurefreak

salutatory committee member
Moderator
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #26 on: 05-19-2005 23:32 »

ah, i just saw your post Chump. I posted about Zapp and ZSaphod similarities in this thread:
 http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/1-004139/#t18

If you don't wanna go there, here's what I wrote:

I don't know if anyone mentioned this already, but is it just me or does Zaphod Beeblebrox from HG2G the movie remind you a lot of Zapp Brannigan? They're both kinda dim and arrogant, womanizers, similar names/initials (but that would mean that Zapp would be based on Zaphod)...and that one scene where Zaphod wheres the short shorts, hahaha, I was thinking that is so Zapp and his short red outfit.

Heh, I was talking about that in the chatroom the first day the movie came out, after I saw it. I guess it stands out more when you see the movie, as opposed to reading it...well that and I hadn't read the books in years.

I also thought of Marvin as Kif. Well at least I'm not alone...even though thatfirst post is almost 3 years old hehe...
Pages: [1] Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

SMF 2.0.17 | SMF © 2019, Simple Machines | some icons from famfamfam
Legal Notice & Disclaimer: "Futurama" TM and copyright FOX, its related entities and the Curiosity Company. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of these materials in any form is expressly prohibited. As a fan site, this Futurama forum, its operators, and any content on the site relating to "Futurama" are not explicitely authorized by Fox or the Curiosity Company.
Page created in 0.076 seconds with 36 queries.