The masses who occupy the strange humanity of Matt Groening’sFuturamaseem like something that could only be created by a twisted merge between the populace of “ Metropolis , ” “ Eraserhead ” and the upper west side of Manhattan . And despite their two - dimensional world , they really have very deep personality , histories and root that can rival other situation comedy characters who are in reality full flesh and blood . Just imagine being able to peel them away and uncover their deepest and most awe - inspiring closed book — especially Leela . beloved , sweet , beautiful , shapely , solitary Leela .
Phillip J. Fry
The pitch boy serves as the show ’s 20th - century submarine sandwich to the thirtieth - century ’s ethnic complications and technical imperfection . He also attend to a personal protection to some of the actors and God Almighty involved with the show .
For instance , Matt Groening bestowed his main grapheme with the name Phillip in accolade of the late Phil Hartman , who had a long history withThe Simpsonsas Troy McClure and other characters . He was going to join up with Groening again forFuturama , but Hartman was killed by his married woman before the show take up .
The center initial “ J ” stands as Groening ’s personal tribute to animator andRocky and Bullwinklecreator Jay Ward and Bullwinkle , who also partake in the same middle initial . Fry is n’t the first of Groening ’s characters whose center name get an injectant of vitamin “ J. ” Other character include Abraham J. Simpson , Hubert J. Farnsworth , Bartholomew J. Simpson and ( of trend ) Homer J. Simpson .
Turanga Leela
Her name really comes from the most renowned symphony by Gallic composer Olivier Messiaen shout “ Turangalila , ” fit in to anLA Weeklyprofileon Groening from 1999 . The title of respect is derive from two Sanskrit news : “ turanga , ” meaning “ prison term , ” and “ lila , ” meaning “ sport . ” The creative person described his patch as an expression of joyousness that is “ superhuman , overflowing , dazzling and give up . ” Throw in “ busty ” and “ one - eyed ” and you ’ve got my favored violet haired water flea .
Bender Bending Rodriguez
John DiMaggio , the tenacious - time voice of the iconic robot graphic symbol , key out the character ’s vocalization as an audible mesh between Slim Pickens , “ every intoxicated at the end of the barroom in the Northeast ” and a voice that a college buddy would do called “ Charlie the sausage lover . ” DiMaggio originally try out for the role of Professor Farnsworth using what we now know as Bender ’s voice . Someone on the show propose he try out for Bender in his professor voice and he scored the theatrical role , according to a videodisk commentary from the first season . And speaking of the good doctor …
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth
The use go bad to famed representative actor Billy West , who also voices Fry , Dr. Zoidberg and Earth President Richard M. Nixon . West and DiMaggio would often kill time between transcription take by playing a round of “ Dueling Farnsworths , ” according to the show ’s videodisc comment .
Dr. John A. Zoidberg
Zoidberg ’s voice , allow for by West , is in reality a compounding of two impression from West ’s impressive voice arsenal : the reticent tone of character actor Lou Jacobi and the “ marble mouth ” of actor , vocaliser and “ Toastmaster General ” George Jessel .
Zapp Brannigan
West based the sound on the prospering sounds of quondam - time tuner disc jockey from his day in the AM and FM recording John Wilkes Booth , a subject that West say he and Hartman often discussed before his prematurely passing . The show ’s creators and author smartly describe Brannigan ’s personality as “ if William Shatner start the Enterprise , not James T. Kirk . ”
