Summary
Since 1999,Futuramahas been packed with sci-fi action and memorable side characters.The show follows Fry, a pizza delivery man who is cryogenically frozen for 1000 years, and his adventures in the 31st century with his new friends and spaceship crew. His two closest friends are Leela, a Cyclops, and Bender, a robot. There are other humans like Fry in the show, but with its futuristic setting,Futuramais filled with non-human charactersthat make it unique.
The show’s production history is choppy, with several hiatuses and cancellations during production. In 2023, a new season was released after almost ten years off. With the reboot, some of the fan-favoriteoriginalFuturamacharacters are missingfrom the newer seasons. However, throughout the series,Futuramaside characters returnin various episodes, with many of them having a significant presence in the show. The characters are some of the best aspects ofFuturama, with some of them standing out above the rest.
Why Futurama Was Cancelled (Every Time)
The frequent interruptions to Futurama’s production have become almost as well-known as the show’s witty brand of science fiction.
10Scruffy Scruffington
The Planet Express Janitor
Scruffy is the janitor of the Planet Express ship, who doesn’t get a lot of screen time. Scruffy appeared in many of the earlierFuturamaepisodes without saying any words. Scruffy is part of a recurring joke where the other characters don’t remember his name despite seeing him on the ship often.His pensive and subdued personality matches his introspective ideas, frequently bringing a peaceful and calm vibe to the chaotic ship.
Scruffy’s first speaking role wasn’t until season 2, episode 16.
Scruffy later develops a little more and is revealed to be an introvert who prefers quiet.Despite being a janitor, Scruffy owns most of Planet Express’s shares. His motives for maintaining a low profile remain unclear. His fan base grew with his further development, and many were curious to learn more about his backstory.
9Matcluck
The Hyper Chicken Lawyer
Matcluck, better known as Hyper Chicken, is a lawyer for the Democratic Order of Planets. He acts as both a public defender and prosecutor. He’s not the best at his job, but his enthusiasm has gotten him cases as high as the Supreme Court.He recurs whenever the Planet Express crew finds themselves in legal trouble, which is more often than they would like.
Matcluck has a humble background, coming from a backwoods asteroid.He is part loud Southern gentleman, part smooth-talking television lawyer, and part Colonel Sanders. Most notably, one of his famous quirks is loving fried chicken. His semi-professional demeanor but ineptitude leads to plenty of comic relief moments, making Matcluck a fun addition to theFuturamacast.
8Calculon
The Acting Robot
Calculon is an acting robot best known for his role in All My Circuits, an in-universe soap opera.A television and film star, he has an extensive acting career inFuturama,leading to an Oscar nomination. He is regarded as an acting great, even though his performances are objectively not the best. He hams up the camera and is comically bad at acting, even though no one inFuturamaseems to notice.
Calculon’s exaggerated self-importance from his career makes him a fun watch for audiences,both in-universe and out. With his fame comes some danger, with Bender acting as Calculon’s official stalker and also his hot water heater. Calculon has also gone by other names, including Acting Unit 0.8, Thespo-mat, and David Duchovny.
Calculon: Maurice LaMarche’s Hilarious Inspiration For The Futurama Character’s Voice
The pompous and egotistical Calculon is one of the funniest non-human Futurama characters, and here’s who influenced the character’s eccentric voice.
7Malfunctioning Eddie
The Rocket-Car Salesman
Malfunctioning Eddie is the proprietor of a rocket-car emporium. As his name warns,Eddie has some systemic issues, with his head exploding when he’s surprised. Because of this, he was even sent to the Hal Institute for Criminally Insane Robots, where he met Fry. Their relationship further contributed to Fry’s madness.
6Morbo
Morbo The Annihilator
Morbo is an obnoxious and loud news anchor on the show “Entertainment and Earth Invasion Tonite.” He’s green and reptilian with a comically large head and brain, but little is known about his species. He works alongside human co-anchor Linda van Schoonhoven, who is often dwarfed by his loud personality. He is clearly biding his time until his race can enslave Earth and humans. He isn’t shy about this desire.
Morbo’s appearance is based on the aliens from the 1957 filmInvasion of the Saucer Men.
Part of Morbo’s humor comes from the juxtaposition of him and the humans he reports to.His sexism and point of view satirize the familiar nightly news anchor format.With many subversive moments and iconic moments,Morbo’s exclamations inFuturamaare highly quotable. Morbo has funny moments that make him fun to watch, appearing in over 35 episodes.
5Slurms MacKenzie
Slurm’s Mascot
Slurms is the constantly partying slug-type mascot for the highly addictive energy drink Slurm. Referred to as “The Original Party Worm,” Slurm is a prime example of how much Slurm can benefit a consumer’s life. However,Slurms reveals his lifestyle is exhausting, as he must always party or else he’ll be fired. He says this career takes a toll, but it is crucial for the team’s survival that he continues to party.
Slurms MacKenzie is a spoof on Bud Light’s English Bull Terrier mascot, Spuds MacKenzie.
4Nibbler
Leela’s Pet And Lord Of Eternium
Nibbler is a small and lovable alien who acts as Leela’s pet. This is just a ploy, as he leads a double life.He is also the Nibblonian Ambassador to Earth.Leela doesn’t know this and continues to treat him as a baby based on his harmless looks and lack of communication. However, his rare moments of speech show he is smarter and wiser than he appears or anyone expects him to be.
Nibbler has existed since the beginning of time and was part of the plan responsible for cryogenically freezing Fry.He is found on the planet Vergon 6, where he spent the past 1000 years working as the Supreme Fuzzler. Later in the series, he becomes the lord of Eternium and becomes Lord Nibbler. Not only is Nibbler adorable, but he is much more complex than he seems, making him a fun addition to theFuturamacast.
Nibbler’s Mission Is The Best Secret Subplot In Futurama
Futurama season 11 has brought back Nibbler’s mission subplot, reminding everyone why the overarching story is the show’s best narrative.
3Richard Nixon’s Head
Richard Nixon is based on the actual 37th President of the United States.Thanks to Jar technology, his head was preserved after he died in 1994, and he serves as the 30th President of Earth in the show.He was formerly on display at New New York City’s Head Museum. Nixon is one ofFuturama’s most prevalent side characters, appearing in over 20 episodes.Billy West voices much of theFuturamacast, including Nixon.
Nixon is full of references to the real-life President and his policies, including the Watergate Scandal and the moon landing. Since the character is directly based on a real person, West leans into Nixon’s eccentricities, cadences, and mannerisms for the voice.Nixon is a fun addition to the show, bringing more familiar 21st-century knowledge to the futuristic setting.
2Kif Kroker
Zapp Brannigan’s Lieutenant
Kif is an Amphibiosan from the planet Amphibios 9.He is also a member of the Democratic Order of Planets, working as General Zapp Brannigan’s lieutenant and personal assistant.While Kif and Zapp have a complicated relationship, he also has a romantic relationship with Amy Wong, one of the main characters. Kif long nursed a crush on Amy and was shocked to find out she reciprocated the feelings. Their relationship in the show is heartwarming and enjoyable to watch.
Kif is a sympathetic underdog for which viewers can’t help but root.
Zapp does not treat Kif kindly, often blaming him when things go wrong, even when Kif is not involved. Zapp doesn’t seem to realize how much his actions affect and weigh on Kif.Though Kif disapproves of Zapp, his quiet and shy nature makes him hesitant to stand up to his boss, leaving him as a punching bag. Kif is a sympathetic underdog for which viewers can’t help but root. He is an essential addition to the cast, especially when complicating the audience’s view of Zapp.
1Zapp Brannigan
General In The Democratic Order Of Planets
Zapp Brannigan is one of the most iconic characters in the series and one of the most despicable.He’s the bold and overly confident military officer for the Democratic Order of Planets and Earth’s Government. He’s also captain of the ship Nimbus. He had a brief love affair with Leelah, but it was short-lived when she learned how inept and annoying he really was. His perspective on the world and stupidity is so ridiculous that it becomes humorous, as Zapp often behaves and speaks in ways that aren’t usually heard.
Although many consider him a hero, those who interact with him get a sense of his true personality. He’s egotistical and cocky, often making others uncomfortable and endangering their lives. Throughout the series,Zapp has done many unforgivable things. However,because of his obliviousness and attitude towards the world, he often gets away with his misdeeds with little consequences.Yet, in a season 11 episode titled"Zapp Gets Cancelled," Zapp is finally held accountable for his actions. Characters like Zapp, with his subversive humor and idiotic personality, are what makeFuturamaa fun watch.
Futurama
Cast
Futurama is an animated science fiction series that follows Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from late-20th-century New York City. He is accidentally cryogenically frozen for a thousand years and becomes an employee at Planet Express, a delivery service in the retro-futuristic 31st century.
