Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening that aired on Fox from March 28, 1999, to August 10, 2003, and on Comedy Central from March 23, 2008, to September 4, 2013. The series follows the adventures of slacker Philip J. Fry, who is cryogenically preserved for 1000 years and is revived in the 31st century. Fry finds work at an interplanetary delivery company, working alongside the one-eyed Leela and robot Bender. The series was envisioned by Groening in the mid-1990s while working on The Simpsons; he brought David X. Cohen aboard to develop storylines and characters to pitch the show to Fox.
Following its initial cancellation by Fox, Futurama began airing reruns on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block, which lasted from 2003 to 2007. It was revived that year as four direct-to-video films, the last of which was released in early 2009. Comedy Central entered into an agreement with 20th Century Fox Television to syndicate the existing episodes and air the films as 16 new, half-hour episodes, constituting a fifth season.
In June 2009, Comedy Central picked up the show for 26 new half-hour episodes, which began airing in 2010 and 2011. The show was renewed for a seventh season, with the first half airing in 2012 and the second in 2013. An audio-only episode featuring the original cast members was released in 2017 as an episode of The Nerdist Podcast. On February 9, 2022, Hulu revived the series with a 20-episode order, which premiered on July 24, 2023.
Futurama received critical acclaim throughout its run and was nominated for 17 Annie Awards, winning seven, and 12 Emmy Awards, winning six. It was nominated four times for a Writers Guild of America Award, winning for the episodes "Godfellas" and "The Prisoner of Benda". It was nominated for a Nebula Award and received Environmental Media Awards for the episodes "The Problem with Popplers" and "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular". Merchandise includes a tie-in comic book series, video games, calendars, clothes and figurines. In 2013, TV Guide ranked Futurama one of the top 60 Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time.
Cast and characters[]
- Billy West - Philip Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Doctor Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, Richard Nixon's Head, Smitty, Leo Wong
- Katey Sagal - Leela
- John DiMaggio - Bender, Elzar, URL, Joey Mousepad, Igner, Barbados Slim
- Tress MacNeille - Mom, Hattie McDoogal, Tinny Tim, Ndnd, Turanga Munda, Linda
- Maurice LaMarche - Kif Kroker, Hedonismbot, Dr. Perceptron, Walt, Morbo, Lrrr
- Lauren Tom - Amy Wong, Inez Wong, Jrrr
- Phil LaMarr - Hermes Conrad, Robot 1-X, iZac
- David Herman - Scruffy, Roberto, Mayor Poopenmeyer, Dr. Ogden Wernstrom, Turanga Morris, Larry
- Frank Welker - Nibbler, Seymour, Blorgulax
International broadcast[]
| Country | Network(s) | Local title |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Fox (season 1-4), Comedy Central (season 5-7), Adult Swim, WGN America, Syfy, FXX, Freeform, TBS, Hulu (season 8-present), Disnar XD (season 6) | Futurama |
| International | BFBS 2, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ | |
| Arab World | Space Power TV, MBC Action, MBC 4 | |
| Latin America | Star Channel, Star+ | |
| Argentina | Telefe | |
| Australia | Seven Network, Network Ten, Eleven, 7mate, 7flix, Fox8 | |
| Belgium | La Deux, Club RTL | |
| Brazil | Star Channel, Star+, RecordTV, Multishow, Rede Bandeirantes | |
| Canada | YTV, Global, Teletoon at Night, Télétoon, V, Adult Swim | |
| Chile | Canal 13 | |
| Colombia | Caracol Televisión | |
| Croatia | Nova TV | |
| Czech Republic | Prima Cool | |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas | |
| Estonia | Kanal 2, MTV, TV6 | |
| Finland | MTV3, Sub, Fox | |
| France | Canal+, TPS Cinéfamily, NRJ 12, MCM | |
| Germany | ProSieben, WarnerTV Comedy | |
| Greece | Makedonia TV | |
| Hungary | Viasat 3, Viasat 6, TV2 Comedy | |
| India | Disney+ Hotstar | |
| Indonesia | Disney+ Hotstar | |
| Ireland | 3e | |
| Italy | Italia 1, Fox, Fox Animation | |
| Lithuania | TV6 | |
| Malaysia | TV3, Disney+ Hotstar | |
| New Zealand | TV2, C4, Four | |
| Philippines | Jack TV | |
| Portugal | RTP2, Fox, FX | |
| Spain | Fox, laSexta, Neox, Comedy Central, Antena 3 | |
| Sweden | TV4, TV400 | |
| Thailand | Disney+ Hotstar | |
| Turkey | Business Channel | |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai One | |
| United Kingdom | Channel 4, Sky One, Sky Two, Pick TV, Sky Comedy, Sky Sci-Fi, Sky Showcase, Sky Max | |
| Venezuela | RCTV, Televen | |
| Poland | VIVA, Comedy Central, MTV, Fox Comedy, Canal+ | |
| Sci-Fi Channel, TV4 | Przygody Frya w kosmosie | |
| Bulgaria | Fox | Футурама |
| Hong Kong | i-Cable Family Entertainment Channel | 乃出個未來 |
| Israel | Star World, Bip, yes Comedy | פיוצ'רמה |
| Japan | WOWOW | フューチュラマ |
| Latvia | MTV, TV6 | Futurāma |
| Russia | REN-TV, 2x2 | Футурама |
| South Korea | Tooniverse | 퓨처라마 |
| Ukraine | M1, QTV, NLO TV | Футурама |