A Look At The Characters Of Futurama

The animated sitcom Futurama is set at the Planet Express, revolving around the company's employees that deliver various packages to a number of surrounding planets. The series revolves around Bender, Leela and Fry the majority of the time with storylines around other main characters being common as well.

Philip J. Fry fell into a cryogenic pod when he was a pizza delivery man during the year 2000. New Year's Eve of 2999 he woke up to get a job with his only living surviving relative at the Planet Express. Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, though much older than Fry because he spent so many years in a suspended state of animation, is actually his nephew.

Turanga Leela is the mutant captain of the delivery ship and Fry's love interest though the series. Leela had been raised believing that she was an alien species after being abandoned and raised in an orphanage. Olivier Messiaen's Turangalila Symphonie was the inspiration for the character's name.

Bender Bending Rodrigues is a specialized bending robot produced by Mom's Friendly Robot Company. The unusual robot is known for his heavy drinking and smoking of cigars while being a kleptomaniac. The original intention of this foul mouth robot was to bend girders to use in suicide booths but he reprogrammed to be an assistant sales manager. Bender serves not only as Fry's roommate and best friend but he has a desire to be a chef and folk singer, even though he does not have a sense of taste.

Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth is a distant nephew to Fry and founder of the Planet Express. The company was a way for him to fund his scientific endeavors. The over 160 year old professor is prone to fits of temper and forgetfulness associated with his age although he is brilliant as both an inventor and a scientist. Cubert Farnsworth was a clone that he created of himself and treated as a son.

Dr. John A. Zoidberg is from Decapod 10 and resembles a lobster. He also serves as the company physician. The broke, homeless doctor knows nothing about human physiology or anatomy although claiming to be an expert. In contrast Amy Wong is rich and spoiled. The Mars University engineering student is also an heiress to Mars' western hemisphere. Amy began the series being promiscuous but was later toned down to enter into a relationship with Kif Kroker that was monogamous.

Kif Kroker is the assistant and 4th Lieutenant to Zapp Brannigan. Amphibios 9 is his home planet and it takes him a while to work up the courage to date Amy. He is usually disgusted at his commanding officers ranting.

Planet Express's Jamaican accountant is Hermes Conrad is fond of bureaucracy, paperwork and regulations. He was once an Olympic Limbo champion. A fan that was imitating Hermes died after breaking his back following the 2980 Olympics; and he gave up the sport. LaBarbara is Hermes' wife together they have a son named Dwight.

Zapp Brannigan is the DOOP s starship Nimbus. He is supposed to be Futurama's version of William Shatner's Captain Kirk and his delusions of being a lady's man lead him to pursue Leela even though she detests him thoroughly.

Mom owns MomCorp which is the largest manufacturing and shipping company monopolizing the robot industry. The public image she maintains is of a kind, sweet little old lady while behind closed doors she is a cruel, narcissistic woman prone to attempting not only corporate takeovers but world domination as well. The romantic past she shared with the Professor turned her into a resentful and bitter person. Walt, Igner, and Larry are her three sons that carry out her bidding even though she is constantly abusive toward them as a result of being infuriated with the incompetence they show. Professor Farnsworth fathered Igner.

Nibbler is the pet Nibblonian that Leela rescued off an imploding planet. His superior intelligence is hidden by his adorable appearance. Fry's experience in the cryogenic chamber was his doing. The house cat size Nibbler can eat animals much larger than he is, is race excretes dark matter which was once used as space cruiser fuel.