Back in the 20th century, New York was one of the most populous cities in the United States. It has always been a center of activity and an inspiration to many artists in the field of culture and entertainment. Storytellers and filmmakers have always considered New York their favorite destination. It was the filming set for the most famous Broadway shows and Hollywood blockbusters. New York is a city that never sleeps. At the end of the 20th century, it inspired Matt Groening to create an animated series about New York in the 31st century. Learn more at newyorkski.info.
History of the animated sitcom Futurama
One of the most iconic and beloved images of New York came not from the present, nor even from the past, but from the distant future. Futurama is an animated sitcom that aired from 1999 to 2013. The animated series provided viewers with a fun, incredibly fascinating, and insightful vision of what life in New York in the 31st century might look like.
Futurama was created by Matt Groening, who derived inspiration from The Simpsons. The sitcom shows the adventures of a boy named Fry, a pizza delivery boy who was cryogenically frozen and awakened 1000 years later in New York. He soon starts working for a delivery company, Planet Express. It was run by a mixed team of aliens and humans, including the one-eyed Leela, the alcoholic robot Bender and the eccentric Professor Farnsworth.
A satirical view of New York
Set in a bustling metropolis, Futurama offers a satirical approach to the society, politics and culture of the future. It also raises the subject of a twisted perception of the miracles and absurdities of New York’s futuristic technologies. Futurama featured robot revolts, alien invasions, time travel and parallel universes. It was a very wild but unbelievably exciting adventure.
One of the highlights of the series was New York in the 31st century. Although many landmark sites and areas were still recognizable, they had undergone significant changes thanks to advanced technologies and the imagination of the show’s creators.
For example, Central Park was transformed into a giant amusement park with roller coasters, bumper cars, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty, which also served as an attraction. The Empire State Building became the headquarters of the Wongs, a wealthy family of Chinese immigrants. They turned it into a huge complex of luxury apartments. Times Square became a massive holographic billboard advertising all kinds of things, from soft drinks to alien invasions.
However, despite these fantastic elements, Futurama never forgot the main values and traditions of the city. The screenwriters and animators relied on their own experiences of living and working in NY to create a world that is both familiar and fantastical, full of deep love and gratitude for the city’s culture and history.
Years have passed since Futurama was first released. The series has become an all-liked cult classic, inspiring fans to create countless theories, memes and spin-offs. The 31st-century New York depicted in Futurama may never be like this. But the legacy of the sitcom will always be the indicator of the power of imagination, creativity and humor of its creators.
In the 2020s, Futurama fans learned that the sci-fi comedy animated series would be revived. The new episodes were scheduled to premiere in 2023 on the American streaming platform Hulu, which is owned by the Disney company. The main creators as well as almost the entire voice cast who worked on all previous seasons were involved in working on the new season of the legendary show about the New York of the future.
