A Look into the Future: A Reaction Paper to Futurama (Pilot Episode)

                Futurama is an American animation series that started on 1999 and lasted until 2003. It is about a pizza delivery boy, Philip J. Fry, who was accidentally frozen in a tube for a thousand years and found himself in the future.

                In the pilot episode of Futurama, there were numerous technological advancements shown. There were already flying cars instead of normal vehicles. There was also a Fate Assignment Center that tells what your future should be. Philip was assigned to be a delivery boy. He did not want to be a delivery boy again so he tried to escape the girl in the Center. As he was trying to escape, there were several innovations in Science presented. They even had a museum that preserved the heads of former presidents and some convicts. There was also a Suicide Booth that can be used. He then went to his ancestor and asked for help. They went to space to escape. Each of them had tasks and assignments. Philip’s assignment was to be a delivery boy. And he loved it.

                This series shows just one of many possible things that could happen in Science in the future. It may be in a comedic way, but it is still likely to happen. It also demonstrated time travelling. But it looks like how many years you time travel, you will still be what you are meant to be.

De Jesus, Carmela Gabrielle D.

2013 - 55245

To the Future (Futurama Reaction Paper)

Simply, the pilot episode depicts a future of many technological advances. In the future, Science becomes the center and most important part of living. Whatever you see, wherever you go, science dominates. All are works of Science. These include the buildings, the vehicles, the gadgets and the tools. Even some of the habitants are products of science. Everything is exaggerated tracing from the architectures, transportations and even those living during that time. It is a time filled with technological wonders and products. The Earth becomes multicultural. Robots, humans and outer space beings interact with each other. It could be implied that the future has developed socially.  The transportation was also developed. Those large transportation tubes would drive anyone living in the present century crazy. This depicts how great Science products would be in the future. Other inventions were also unbelievable. This includes those preserve heads of some famous people. I think it’s not that magnificent product of Science, imagining it could still talk to you in still form just preserved in jars. Another thing is that Suicidal booth. I think it is insane having that one on Earth. Though having a great advanced in science and technology, there is one thing is observed, the 21^st century and the 31^st century still deals with the same types of problems, issues and mistakes.

The episode tackled time travelling in a fast and easy way. The main character, Philip Fry, because of being careless was held cryogenically frozen inside a tube and the time was set for a thousand year. As 31^st century was reached, he was then freed from the time travel tube. Then, there he found himself in the building and in the middle of the countdown for the New Year. This episode discussed time travelling as a very easy process. It shows that time travel is also one of the great works of science and travelling to the future would be that easy.

It is sure a nice and funny episode of the Futurama. I found it awesome but I think some parts are really exaggerated just like the multicultural setting, robots, human and space beings in one planet. I think it would be really impossible having them even in the 31^st century. 

Kimberly Pacle

2013-02319

"Forward/Backward" - Futurama Reaction Paper

           The pilot episode of Futurama entitled “Space Pilot 3000,” aired in March 1999. Despite being over 15 years old, the episode still presents several relevant issues related to the sudden spike in the technological growth of this age.  Through 20 minutes of cleverly plotted slapstick humor, subtly mixed with the insights of the writers, this episode of Futurama is enjoyable as much as it is thought-provoking.

There are several advanced technologies that are featured in the episode. Some are wild, funny and amusing to look at on the surface. Yet, these features are not far from invention. Plastic tubes that serve as transport systems, integrated alien life forms, flying cars, robots, even suicide booths are all possibilities based on the development of modern science.

In my point of view, the show tackles time travel in a way that makes us reflect whether or not a future leading to technological singularity, or mastery of all technologies, is really desirable. Time travel, in this case, is the means by which we get a glimpse of a future which some might consider utopic, and others dystopic.

Philipp Fry wakes up after being cryogenically frozen for over a thousand years. At first, he is awestruck by what he sees, in that future society functions so much differently compared to current society. He finally thinks he’s found a place where he’s happy; the problems of his past life are nowhere to be found. The turning point in the story would have to be when the one-eyed alien officer tries to implant a “career chip” into Philipp. People in that society would have to either accept their permanent work, or avail of the suicide booths. This was the first downside of advanced technology that had presented itself to me. With artificial intelligence and better machinery doing our work for us, how much value will be left in human work? Consequently, this might lead to a common struggle for humans in future societies to attain individuality, as society will often dictate who we are for us.

            As he goes through the ruins of his old village, Philipp lets out a sigh of grief as he finally realizes that although the future may have given him a clean slate, he has never felt more alone in his life. Perhaps this is the biggest hazard with the development of technology, particularly, with social media: the loss of actual connection with others. These networking sites, devices, and machines may be giving us more convenient ways to communicate, but in using them in lieu of actual physical contact and conversation, we find that our relationships grow in quantity, but degrade in quality. Despite how “connected” society is getting, we might actually be growing much lonelier.

            This episode of Futurama was a treat, as it gave me a good laugh, and provided much food for thought. Personally, however, I don’t think I would like to travel to such a future.
           
                                                                                          Redentor E. Claudio
                                                                                                2013-59776

Futurama (Pilot Episode)

Futurama is an American science-fiction animation series created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series was aired on 1999 up to 2003 in the USA. It tells us the adventures of Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy who, after accidentally freezing himself in a cryogenic for a thousand years, found himself in the future.

What the pilot episode showed us isn't really that different from our expectations about the future. From flying cars and spaceships to aliens, we could gather that the creators based some of the technological advancements on their own expectations of the future. On the other hand, we could also say that the creators had creative imaginations because the episode also showcased things that are virtually unheard of, like the suicide booth and preserved (but alive and talking) heads in the museum. I think it only goes to show that our expectations about what the future will bring may not be what would really happen then.

Also, I think it is more of going to the future than time-travelling because Philip didn't really time-traveled; he just went to the future. By the way they showed it, one would think that going to the future through cryonics was done everyday and was very cheap at the time, which isn't really true.

All in all, I could say that Futurama is very entertaining. It can also be a representation of our future a thousand years from now. It can show us how different the science, technology and the society will be in the future.

Chips and Booths: A Reaction Paper to "Futurama (Pilot Episode)"

Futurama is an American animated comedy series predicting the future, specifically the year 3000. Set in a futuristic New York City, more accurately New New York City, it focuses on the life of Philip J. Fry – a delivery boy accidentally frozen by a cryogenic tube for a millennium, his life, and his adventures in the future.

The pilot episode of the series, Space Pilot 3000, uncovered a bunch of technologies and gadgets we do not know of today; among the many are career chips and suicide booths. These two alone related to us the difference of today and the predicted future. It showed a more controlling yet also a more free world, oddly at the same time. Career chips dictated the future of each citizen alive, human or not, controlling their paths and successes. Suicide booths, on the other hand, showed the other side of the coin, the toleration of people dying when they wish to without judgment; bizarrely this particular freedom is bought. The pilot episode also presented how the present-day world evolved, through years of wars and rebuilding, to a scientifically powered and technology driven world, a society of controlled lifestyles but liberal people.

Solely based on the pilot episode, I wouldn't directly call being frozen in time time-traveling as the characters don't actually move around time. Although, it was shown in the episode how the main character’s being fast-forwarded through time became beneficial to him. It depicted opposites again as his 'time-traveling' gave him a clean slate, removing him from a life he wasn't motivated and proud to live anymore, while it also obviously took away his loved ones or at least the family that he knew.

Futurama provides us a comedic view and understanding of what could happen in the future, how advanced science and technology could be, and what society and civilization could be like. It gives us an idea of the evolution of man, the changes of the world and the events we would miss. All in all, it makes us ponder on the question: if we could fast forward time, would we?

Audrey Anne A. Arocha

2012-51626

Futurama Reaction Paper

Futurama is a science-fiction animated series that is situated in the future. The pilot episode, entitled Space Pilot 3000, revolves mainly around the theme of time travel. The episode starts with Philip Fry accidentally being cryogenically frozen. He is then "fast-forwarded" to the future.

From the 21st century, after a a blink of an eye (in Fry's perspective), he is now in the 31st century. We see a drastic change from the past society and the future society. Before, cars traveled by land, now we see cars hovering in tubes. There are also alien life forms and even suicide booths for those who were fed up with what life has to offer. Everything was so amusing for Fry at first...until he was being chased by a police officer.

This police officer was trying to implant what you call a career chip. This determines what life path you will take. It's a take it or leave it situation. You either accept the fate given to you or you can head on over to the suicide booth to take your life. This was a disadvantage among all the wonderful things that happened to the future.

The episode is a reflection of our expectations of the future. And we all know how the saying goes "Expect the unexpected". We all hope ambitiously for the future. We hope to have teleportation devices, flying cars, a solution to global warming, etc. Like us, the creators of this show also had expectations for the future, which was exemplified through the new inventions. But we cannot avoid the fact that not all changes are for the better. Right now, we are free to choose what path to take in life, but in the show, it is seen that your future is imposed on you. Something we didn't expect to happen, but did.

Futurama as a whole is a real eye-opener to be really cautious of what we wish for. And be aware that all things have consequences to them. On the lighter note, the show is very humorous and it is very enjoyable to watch. At first glance, it may only bring a light message, but when analyzed thoroughly you will be able to see how deep it can get. 

Mayumi Katrina B. Rix

2013-14322

Behind the Drama of Futurama

Futurama is an animated, comedy, sci-fi TV series created by Matt Groening. The said show features voice actors like Billy West, John DiMaggio and Katy Sagal. The show has been running for 14 years now having 7 seasons in it. Futurama’s story plot revolves around Fry, a pizza delivery guy who was accidentally cryogenically frozen in the year 1999 and thawed out New Year’s Eve 2999.

I have to admit that I am no fan of the TV series but after watching its pilot episode, entitled Space Pilot 3000, I did get some interesting ideas about it. The creators of Futurama had a very wide imagination about how the future would look like if we were to see it in 3000. They visualize the Earth to be populated with mutants, aliens, robots and other bizarre looking creatures. Cars were mostly replaced by spaceships and hovercrafts. Science and Technology were also shown to have a great advancement and it’s almost as if nothing was impossible in the future. Time travel was also common in the Futurama universe. Based from the http://theinfosphere.org Futurama had shown 11 types of time travel as of the moment ranging from Chronological, Linear Time vs. Cyclical Time, Time Skip, Forward Travelling, Time Tunnels and Wormholes, Nexus Point, Time Sphere, Time Rifle, Time Vortex, Time Warp and Farnsworth Effect.

There’s really nothing wrong on how they designed everything on the show. What they predicted to be the appearance of future is not off the track. Though there are some ideas which are somehow typical nevertheless it’s still fine. After all according to some commentaries in the internet, Futurama does get Science right. In an article posted on http://news.discovery.com the TV series managed to have shown some future related stuff that was really happening in the present. One of them is the diamond comet which really existed based from some scientists who have spotted a dead star encased in diamond. Another is the Grey Goo scenario which is about how automated nanotechnology created self-replicating machines that would eventually use up all of Earth's resources. This prediction was seen in an episode where Bender the robot creates a copy of himself and ordered every copy to make their own copies in an infinite series that also threaten all of Earth's resources. Other instances of Futurama getting Science right includes ideas on space travel, robotics, alien diversity, reviving the dead, space travel and a parallel universe. 

Futurama is just one of the few things that could be considered as our “window” to the future. However, the future is one thing that we would never see because tomorrow would always be our present. We can’t change the past but we can be ready for the future. What we should do is enjoy what we have now and strive hard in life so that our future may look bright.

Dela Cruz, Jeff Denver F.
2013-21915