‘Futurama’ DVDs
capture Groening’s
science fiction style
DVD review
The series’ first 13 episodes
are included in Volume One’
DVDs, with a Volume Two’
set to be released on Sept. 2
Aaron Shakra
Pulse Reporter
This is perhaps a controversial
stance for some, but “Futurama” —
the other show from Matt Groening,
creator of “The Simpsons” — was on
the whole, a far edgier series than
“The Simpsons” ever was or could
be. Groening described the series as
his take on science fiction, like “The
Simpsons” was his take on the
American family.
This is a lens that may take some
getting used to. After all, science fic
tion provides a much broader base of
material to draw from than other
themes. The result is a show that is
overtly, and at times, endearingly
whimsical. It can be anything and go
anywhere; this also makes it utterly
unpredictable. Anyone looking to
check out what they might have
missed can pick up “Futurama —
Volume One” DVDs, which contain
the series’ first 13 episodes.
The premise, from the pilot
episode “Space Pilot 3000,” goes like
this: Fry, a delivery pizza boy on
New Year’s Eve 1999, delivers a pizza
to a cryogenic freezing lab and is ac
cidentally frozen. He is awakened
1,000 years later, to a world utterly
strange to his 20th century sensibili
ties. He immediately encounters
Leela, a one-eyed alien (more of her
origin is revealed later in the series)
and Bender, a robot.
The video quality of these discs is
superb. The show premiered in
1999, and the technology allowed for
beautifully complex animation,
combining Groening’s distinctive
style with fully rendered 3-D scenes.
“Futurama” was never hindered by
budgetary concerns, as “The Simp
sons” was early on. Instead, “The
Simpsons” paved the way for “Futu
rama” success.
The audio tracks are only avail
able in 2.0 stereo. While this is no
major hindrance, given the preva
lence of Dolby 5.1 surround sound
systems, the lack of a 5.1 sound mix
is somewhat of an oddity.
The special features on the DVDs
include commentary for each
episode by the cast and crew, delet
ed scenes from selected episodes
and other small additions, such as
the original animatics from the pilot,
and a featurette.
The show has been canceled for
more than a year, with Fox parceling
out the remaining original episodes
at a snail’s pace. Reruns of the show
are now airing on the Cartoon Net
work. “Volume Two” (or the second
season) of these episodes is planned
for release on Sept. 2. For more de
tails on the series, visit www.gotfutu
rama.com.
Contact the Pulse reporter
at aaronshakra@dailyemerald.com.
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