Meaning of the short animations during the intro?

[on:]

In the preorder page of the s1 dvd you can get to from the FRONT page of fox.com
(wow!)...
it comes up with some interesting facts under behind the scenes -

"Futurama" takes its name from the General Motor's exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair. The exhibit depicted a futuristic landscape. The character Fry's unspoken first name is Philip, which is a tribute to the late Phil Hartman. The late actor was originally cast to do the voice of Zapp Brannigan. According to creator Matt Groening, the hieroglyphic-like letters appearing in various locations throughout the opening animation DO mean something - it is up to loyal viewers to figure it out! Some of the sound effects used in the show are taken from other sci-fi television series, such as "Star Trek" (1966) and "The Jetsons" (1962).

[Reply #1 on:]

 

Originally posted by mAtboisLim:
In the preorder page of the s1 dvd you can get to from the FRONT page of fox.com
(wow!)...
it comes up with some interesting facts under behind the scenes -

"Futurama" takes its name from the General Motor's exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair. The exhibit depicted a futuristic landscape. The character Fry's unspoken first name is Philip, which is a tribute to the late Phil Hartman. The late actor was originally cast to do the voice of Zapp Brannigan. According to creator Matt Groening, the hieroglyphic-like letters appearing in various locations throughout the opening animation DO mean something - it is up to loyal viewers to figure it out! Some of the sound effects used in the show are taken from other sci-fi television series, such as "Star Trek" (1966) and "The Jetsons" (1962).

They say theres a meaning to those opening animations.  Has anyone figured it out?

Well, that means that somebody at FOX can read... see for yourself

 http://us.imdb.com/Trivia?0149460

[Reply #2 on:]

Cool    I didn't know there was a meaning behind those opening animations, I always thought they were just there for the hell of it. But that's cool that there is, I wonder what it is...

edit - Gocad's post wasn't there when I wrote this

[Reply #3 on:]

"The producers of Futurama changed the show's opening in which a Planet Express rocket crashes into a giant TV screen. This scene was removed after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia. A few months later the scene was returned back into the show's opening."

What happened instead?

"All of the main characters can be seen in the transport tubes in the opening sequence.
"

Closer to: "Some of the minor characters", but what are you gonna' do?

[Reply #4 on:]

I guess they just cut the rocket ship scene out and ended it after the short animation on the big tv....  Funny I don't ever remember them skipping that... 

[Reply #5 on:]

I think the IMDb Staff doesn't check the Trivia Stuff they get, they just post it. Therefore it is no surprise if some things said about a Movie or Series is not really correct. However most of Trivia about Futurama had been posted months, if not years ago (after the Series was launched...)

[Reply #6 on:]

I still think that it's really stupid to even cut it in the first place.  It's been like that for years, it's not like they suddenly made it like that after Sept. 11th.  I also think it's stupid how they stopped showing any educational films @ school where it showed the World Trade Centers.

[Reply #7 on:]

Yeah, the over sensitivity for many months/years after s11 got ridiculous at times. Was the cut scene with the trade centers in Spiderman on the DVD?

[Reply #8 on:]

from what i saw on the preview before sept11 the scene looked pretty cool, i think its stupid they cut it

[Reply #9 on:]

yeah I saw that preview too.

I think it is evident that the cut of the PE ship crashing is absolute crap. they should check sources before putting that stuff on their site.

They played Ghostbuster here on TV a few months back and it still had the towers in it, also I heard that a lot of TV stations were choosing to never air Gremilins2 again because it was filmed in one of the twin towers, how over the top is that? People get too worried about being "PC"

[Reply #10 on:]

i think in the movie Ai they actually show the two towers in ruins when they show the future, along with other famous buildings. they didnt cut that but they cut spiderman swinging from it- its absolutely stupid.

[Reply #11 on:]

Er, didn't AI come out before that?

And who's offended by SEEING the trade center buildings in a movie/tv show anyway?

I'm waiting for someone to sue because 'LoTR: Two Towers' offended them.

[Reply #12 on:]

What, you didn't hear about the petition to change the name?

[Reply #13 on:]

 

Originally posted by winna:
I guess they just cut the rocket ship scene out and ended it after the short animation on the big tv....  Funny I don't ever remember them skipping that... 

I didn't even notice it either, but, then again, the new Futurama season didn't start until December ("Roswell That Ends Well," if you're interested). I'm sure people wouldn't be that sensitive over it by then.

[Reply #14 on:]

Yes, wiping something off the face of the media is a bad way to deal with a disaster. It's like telling a child that their dead mother is really just out shopping. Networks are only still making these kinds of cuts to look good in front of whatever they believe is the average viewer. On ABCfamily right now, they aren't allowing ANYTHING to depict any sort of building being destroyed in any way...not even by the forces of nature or construction! Apparently, an old abandoned building crumbling into dust because of neglect or a windstorm is highly offensive to the people who put 9/11 stickers on their cars to pretend they care. Somehow I doubt that the content of disney channel programming is the first thing on the minds of those who actually did lose loved ones or experienced the attacks firsthand. I hate to sound cold, but iff it affected them badly enough for the mere SIGHT of the towers to sicken and terrify them, they're probably not even going outside the house anymore, much less watching cartoons.

Anyway, what I had always gathered from the cartoon clips was that Futurama is a highly advanced animated series, both in subject matter (duh...the future) and in animation technique. Every clip they show is a classic cartoon from when animation was still in its infancy to pre-pre-teens. I don't know what the real meaning is, but I always gathered that it was an acknowledgement of the show's "ancestry", as if to say "this is what made futurama possible. This is how far we've come". After all, some of the most vital reccuring principles of Groening's works are drawn directly from the animation he grew up with.

Or maybe I read into things too much.

[Reply #15 on:]

 

Yeah, the over sensitivity for many months/years after s11 got ridiculous at times. Was the cut scene with the trade centers in Spiderman on the DVD?

Nope. No mention of the original preview, or the cut scene (the footage from the preview appeared in the montage of "Superhero Moments" during the movie, when Spider-Man stops muggers, and is commented on by the New Yorkers).

 

Anyway, what I had always gathered from the cartoon clips was that Futurama is a highly advanced animated series, both in subject matter (duh...the future) and in animation technique. Every clip they show is a classic cartoon from when animation was still in its infancy to pre-pre-teens. I don't know what the real meaning is, but I always gathered that it was an acknowledgement of the show's "ancestry", as if to say "this is what made futurama possible. This is how far we've come". After all, some of the most vital reccuring principles of Groening's works are drawn directly from the animation he grew up with.

Or maybe I read into things too much.

Don't worry... When asked by my sister why there were bells in the theme song, I theorized that it was because church bells always remind one of a new morning, and coming to the Future was Fry's "new dawn", or new begining.

[Reply #16 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nixorbo:
What, you didn't hear about the petition to change the name?

yeah that was rediculous, i would of protested heaps if they had. To change the Title of a great literary work because of what happened on sept 11 is pure stupidity

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by Oni Zyxer:
"The producers of Futurama changed the show's opening in which a Planet Express rocket crashes into a giant TV screen. This scene was removed after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia. A few months later the scene was returned back into the show's opening."

What happened instead?

Was it even being shown then? It was probably on pre-emption for months.

According to EpGuides.com, no new Futurama episodes were shown between May 14, 2001 and December 8, 2001. There's your "couple of months" gap.

[Reply #18 on:]

It's all been so sporadic ANYway,thanks to FOX and the Sporto's

[Reply #19 on:]

Now, that is exactly the kind of obscure minutiae I like!  I actually live a few blocks away from the 1964 World's Fair site (my mom worked there) and I'm pretty sure the organizers moved the Futurama exhibit to a building on the grounds.  When the weather gets a little warmer I'll take my digital camera over there and send you guys some pictures.  There is a website dedicated solely to exploring the old cartoon excerpts in the opening sequences.  Maybe someone has that URL handy?  I have a friend who worked in WTC-2 when it got hit.  I think he has Post-traumatic Stress Disorder ("Shell Shock" ) from that incident.  I noticed he always flinches when he sees Leela hit that billboard, so I start the show when he's out of the room whenever he's over the house and I play episodes for my friends.  Incidentally, in one epsiode Leela actually crashes into the billboard within the context of the show and Fry says, "that's the second time you did that this week!"  This suggests to me that maybe the opening sequences is supposed to actually happen each week.  In other words, she really does crash into it once a week when returning from delivery runs.  I wonder what Fry's first name was before we lost Phil Hartman?  Regarding the church bells in the theme, I always thought it was meant to show a passage of time and the changing attitudes that accompany it.  In other words, what once was deemed sacred is now (circa 3000 CE) an irreverent and fashionable part of popular culture. 

[Reply #20 on:]

 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
... Incidentally, in one epsiode Leela actually crashes into the billboard within the context of the show and Fry says, "that's the second time you did that this week!" 

IIRC, that ep was "The Problem with Popplers."
*sigh*
I need a bigger life...
 

[Reply #21 on:]

I found the address of that site about the opening cartoons.  It should answer most of your questions.  Here it is:
 http://www.palmy.net.nz/futurama/opening/index.html

[Reply #22 on:]

 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
I found the address of that site about the opening cartoons.  It should answer most of your questions.  Here it is:
 http://www.palmy.net.nz/futurama/opening/index.html

Thanks, CZ!
<walks away muttering that CZ needs a bigger life too...>
 

[Reply #23 on:]

They aren't really church bells, their chimes, tubular bells that are found in churches but also in orchestras and even some high school band rooms. 

[Reply #24 on:]

"Tubular Bells" was one of my favorite albums from the 70's/80's....

[Reply #25 on:]

 

Originally posted by Oni Zyxer:
Er, didn't AI come out before that?

And who's offended by SEEING the trade center buildings in a movie/tv show anyway?

I'm waiting for someone to sue because 'LoTR: Two Towers' offended them.

I think that you could see the Twin Towers in AoI 2, moments before they get to the Nobel Prize ceremony...

[Reply #26 on:]

They were also in Armegeddon.  All swiss cheesed by small metorites, along with the rest of NYC.

[Reply #27 on:]

 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
... I wonder what Fry's first name was before we lost Phil Hartman?

His name used to be Curtis Fry.

[Reply #28 on:]

Well then his name certainly changed for the better...Curtis?  yeech.

[Reply #29 on:]

 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
I found the address of that site about the opening cartoons.  It should answer most of your questions.  Here it is:
 http://www.palmy.net.nz/futurama/opening/index.html

The hilarious thing is that it says "Let's hope Futurama has a long and entertaining run." Too late...

[Reply #30 on:]

 

Originally posted by mAtboisLim:
 The character Fry's unspoken first name is Philip, which is a tribute to the late Phil Hartman. The late actor was originally cast to do the voice of Zapp Brannigan.

Just reading this thread... The other day I was trying to draw Zapp and he came out looking more like Troy McClure from The Simpsons... What a coincidence.

[Reply #31 on:]

 

Originally posted by McGrady:
 His name used to be Curtis Fry.

Curtis, huh?  Interesting.  How do we know this info?  I wonder what it was supposed to mean?  Maybe it was after Curtis Sliwa? 

[Reply #32 on:]

The name was in the script for space pilot 3000.  And I don't know who Curtis Sliwa is.

[Reply #33 on:]

Former head of a New York vigilante group called the Guardian Angels. Nowadays, he's a radio talk-show host.

[Reply #34 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kryten:
Former head of a New York vigilante group called the Guardian Angels. Nowadays, he's a radio talk-show host.

Right.  The only reason I can think of why the writers of Futurama might have admired the fellow enough to name a character after him is this:

The writers seem to love comic books and superheroes.  Curtis Sliwa, his ex-wife and their followers are probably the only real-life superheroes New York ever had.  In fact, I think Sliwa might have mentioned once or twice that he got the idea to fight crime from the comics he read as a child.  If you look at pictures of the Sliwas when they were younger, they will remind you of the "New Justice Team."  Incidentally, the Guardian Angels were eventually deputized by the Police Department so they are no longer considered vigilantes.  In fact, I will probably have to work with them in a few days' time. 

[Reply #35 on:]

Curtis Silwa even had a short lived Television show on MSNBC called "Curtis and Kubbie" but was cancled after the serial snippers were caught. It was one of the better shows on MSNBC. 

[Reply #36 on:]

I think that you could see the Twin Towers in AoI 2, moments before they get to the Nobel Prize ceremony...


Yes there are 2 towers there but i think theyr not THE 2 towers

[Reply #37 on:]

But they looked similar ... whatever.

Welcome anyway, dr_Dean_in _Oz.

[Reply #38 on:]

I dont think they cutted off the part of the crashing, i havent seen an episode without that crash.

[Reply #39 on:]

9/11.

Yeah i heard about that being cut from the opening.  And in 'Roswell that ends well' when they go back in time the 1st date skipped id September 11. 

Thou this is more a Simpson thing (at least for Australia anyway, probly same for U.S and U.K etc) but the Simpson Episode where they go to New York and Homer has to pick up his car between the 2 WTC towers.  They did not show that ep untill my recolection was 2003 sometime. 

Which i honeslty don't see the point.  It actauly funny cuz the wk of 9/11 (2001) other then News Reports 24/7 on every station the simpsons was the only show that wasn't news and the 1st to go back to normal programing, towards the end of the wk.  So Kudos ch 10.

As said by someone above, in armageddon, a comet crashes through one of the WTC, around where one of the planes hit, and there is left like a fireball.  It was on TV, a fair while after 9/11 but its a wonder they didn't cut it out.