Futurama season 5 explained

Season Number:5
Bgcolour:
  1. dedee2
Image Upright:1.15
Network:Comedy Central
Num Episodes:16
Prev Season:Season 4
Next Season:Season 6
Episode List:List of Futurama episodes

Futuramas fifth season is composed of the TV edits of the four direct-to-video films, split into four episodes each. While the films were originally released between November 27, 2007 and February 24, 2009, the TV edits began airing on March 23, 2008 and concluded after 16 episodes on August 30, 2009. These episodes were the first produced for Comedy Central, after their negotiations with Fox for syndication rights gave the opportunity to create new episodes.

Production

Futurama was initially canceled by Fox in 2003, due to low ratings.[1] [2] However, in late 2002, Cartoon Network acquired exclusive cable syndication rights to Futurama for a reported $10 million.[3] In January 2003, the network began airing Futurama episodes as the centerpiece to the expansion of their Adult Swim cartoon block.[4] In October 2005, Comedy Central picked up the cable syndication rights to air Futuramas 72-episode run at the start of 2008, following the expiration of Cartoon Network's contract. It was cited as the largest and most expensive acquisition in the network's history. In 2005, it began airing every night, followed by South Park.[5] A Comedy Central teaser trailer announced the return of Futurama on March 23, 2008,[6] which was Bender's Big Score divided into four episodes followed by the other three movies. The series also airs in syndication in many countries around the world.

When Comedy Central began negotiating for the rights to air Futurama reruns, Fox suggested that there was a possibility of also creating new episodes. Negotiations were already underway with the possibility of creating two or three straight-to-DVD films. When Comedy Central committed to sixteen new episodes, it was decided that four films would be produced.[7] On April 26, 2006, Groening noted in an interview that co-creator David X. Cohen and numerous writers from the original series would be returning to work on the movies.[8] All the original voice actors participated. In February 2007, Groening explained the format of the new stories: "[The crew is] writing them as movies and then we're going to chop them up, reconfigure them, write new material and try to make them work as separate episodes."[9]

The first movie, , was written by Ken Keeler and Cohen, and includes return appearances by the Nibblonians, Seymour, Barbados Slim, Robot Santa, the "God" space entity, Al Gore, and Zapp Brannigan.[10] It was animated in widescreen and was released on standard DVD on November 27, 2007, with a possible Blu-ray Disc release to follow.[11] A release on HD DVD was rumored but later officially denied. Futurama: Bender's Big Score was the first DVD release for which 20th Century Fox implemented measures intended to reduce the total carbon footprint of the production, manufacturing, and distribution processes. Where it was not possible to completely eliminate carbon output, carbon offsets were used. They refer to the changed processes as "carbon neutral".[12]

The second movie, The Beast with a Billion Backs, was released on June 24, 2008. The third movie, Bender's Game was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc[13] on November 3, 2008 in the UK, November 4, 2008 in the USA, and December 10, 2008 in Australia. The fourth movie, Into the Wild Green Yonder, was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on February 23, 2009.[14]

Since no new Futurama projects were originally in production at the time, the movie Into the Wild Green Yonder was designed to stand as the Futurama series finale. However, Groening had expressed a desire to continue the franchise in some form, including as a theatrical film.[15] In an interview with CNN, Groening said that "we have a great relationship with Comedy Central and we would love to do more episodes for them, but I don't know... We're having discussions and there is some enthusiasm but I can't tell if it's just me."[16]

On June 9, 2009, 20th Century Fox announced that Comedy Central had picked up the show for 26 new half-hour episodes that began airing in mid-2010.[17] [18] [19] A smaller writing crew returned.[20]

Episodes

See also: List of Futurama episodes.

Reception

IGN had mostly positive reviews on the four DVD movie releases of the season.[21] [22] [23] [24]

Home releases

Futurama: The Collected Epics
Release DatesSet Details
A boxset containing the four Futurama feature-length DVD releases in their entirety.
Region 1Region 2Region 4
October 19, 2009November 4, 2009[25]
Futurama: Bender's Big Score
Set detailsSpecial features
" - live comic book reading by the Futurama cast
  • "Everybody Loves Hypnotoad" - full-length episode featuring Hypnotoad
  • Deleted storyboard scenes
  • "A Terrifying Message From Al Gore" - animated promotion for An Inconvenient Truth, featuring Bender and Al Gore (optional commentary)
  • "Bite My Shiny Metal X" - Futurama-based math lecture
  • 3D models/3D turnarounds
  • "The Script: Original First Draft"
  • New character/design sketches
  • Original 5-minute Comic-Con promo
  • Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs preview
  • Ken Keeler sketch easter egg
DVD release dates
Region 1Region 2Region 4
November 27, 2007April 7, 2008March 5, 2008[26]
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs
Set detailsSpecial features
" featurette with David Cross
  • "Blooperama: The Futurama Cast At "Work""
  • 3D Models with animator discussion
  • "A Brief History Of Deathball" featurette
  • Bender's Game preview
  • "Old Farmer's Wikipedia" easter egg.
DVD release dates
Region 1Region 2Region 4
June 24, 2008June 30, 2008August 6, 2008[27]
Set detailsSpecial features
  • Optional commentary, by Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Billy West, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Michael Rowe, Claudia Katz and Dwayne Carey-Hill
  • Storyboard animatic - Bender's Game, Part 1
  • "Futurama Genetics Lab"
  • "D&D&F (Dungeons & Dragons & Futurama)" featurette
  • "How to Draw Futurama in 83 Easy Steps" featurette
  • 3D Models with animator discussion
  • Deleted scene
  • "Blooperama 2" cast outtakes from Bender's Game
  • "Bender's Anti-Piracy Warning" featurette
  • "Into The Wild Green Yonder" preview
  • Billy West line attempt easter egg
  • "David X. Cohen's Dodecahedron Collection" easter egg
DVD release dates
Region 1Region 2Region 4
November 4, 2008November 3, 2008December 10, 2008[28]
Blu-ray Disc release dates
Region ARegion B EuropeRegion B Australia
November 4, 2008November 3, 2008December 10, 2008[29]
Set detailsSpecial features
" featurette on the acting technique of Penn Jillette
  • "Golden Stinkers" - deleted scenes
  • "Matt Groening and David X. Cohen in Space!" featurette
  • "How to Draw Futurama in 10 very difficult steps" featurette
  • 3D Models, with animator discussion
  • "Bender's Movie Theatre Etiquette" featurette
  • "Zapp Brannigan's Guide To Making Love At A Woman" featurette
  • Toilet paper animation easter egg.
  • Zapp Brannigan speech easter egg
DVD release dates
Region 1Region 2Region 4
February 24, 2009February 23, 2009March 4, 2009[30]
Blu-ray Disc release dates
Region ARegion B EuropeRegion B Australia
February 24, 2009February 23, 2009March 4, 2009[31]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fox Says 'No' to 'Futurama' . http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090713033033/http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271 . dead . July 13, 2009 . Zap2it . February 12, 2002 . June 3, 2008.
  2. Web site: Remember Me after my Death! . Can't Get Enough Futurama . May 15, 2003 . June 3, 2008. October 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201027172534/http://www.gotfuturama.com/Futurama/News/1053009995,66450,/Remeber_Me_after_my_Death.html. live.
  3. Web site: Toon Net Gets 'Futurama' . . September 9, 2002 . May 28, 2008. December 16, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216135051/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26075307_ITM. live.
  4. Web site: Adult Swim . https://web.archive.org/web/20080102142245/http://www.turnerinfo.com/programinfoitem.aspx?P=CARTOON&CID01=f1f70fce-1735-493e-bdeb-7f2755eb5c8c&CID02=f1f70fce-1735-493e-bdeb-7f2755eb5c8c . January 2, 2008 . Cartoon Network Pressroom . June 3, 2008.
  5. Web site: Dempsey, John . "Futurama" in Comedy Central's future via big deal . Variety . October 27, 2005 . October 27, 2005. October 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071011195632/http://variety.com/article/VR1117931802.html?categoryid=14&cs=1. live.
  6. Web site: Silver screen Simpsons, Futurama facing finish? . https://web.archive.org/web/20030419181300/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/02021902.shtml . April 19, 2003 . . January 19, 2001 . June 3, 2008.
  7. Katz . Claudia. Claudia Katz . Evan Jacobs . Exclusive Interview: Claudia Katz on Futurama the Movie: Bender's Big Score . November 16, 2007 . June 3, 2008. December 16, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216140027/http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEyTuBCyy6XECD. live.
  8. Web site: Matt Groening . Rabin, Nathan . . April 26, 2006 . June 3, 2008. January 19, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090119014837/http://www.avclub.com/articles/matt-groening,13984/. live.
  9. Web site: February 26, 2007 . Rhymes with Raining . Crave Online . March 25, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090215100510/http://www.craveonline.com/articles/filmtv/04647510/rhymes_with_raining.html . February 15, 2009.
  10. Web site: Ain't It Cool News: "Ben Sinister Has Read The New FUTURAMA 'Movie'!!" . June 3, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060806011505/http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=24076 . August 6, 2006.
  11. (April 5, 2008). Tales of Interest: The Simpsons and Futurama in high-definition . HDTVTotal.com.
  12. Web site: "Futurama" Feature Length Movie DVD Specs . November 14, 2007 . June 3, 2008. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080406004938/http://www.2snaps.tv/9812689 . April 6, 2008.
  13. Web site: Andreas . Hornig . July 28, 2008 . August 10, 2008 . Futurama's third direct-to-disc movie "Bender's Game" on Blu-ray . HDTVTotal.com. June 13, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130613075844/http://www.hdtvtotal.com/module-pagesetter-viewpub-tid-1-pid-1210.html. live.
  14. Web site: Into the Wild Green Yonder at Blu-ray.com . Blu-ray.com . February 23, 2009. July 22, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722103911/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Futurama-Into-The-Wild-Green-Yonder-Blu-ray/1889/. live.
  15. Web site: Futurama Animators Roll 20-Sided Die With Bender's Game . Wortham . Jenna . November 4, 2008 . Wired.com . February 28, 2009 . October 12, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012045827/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/futuramas-anima/ . live.
  16. News: Matt Groening looks to the future . Leopold . Todd . February 26, 2009 . CNN.com . March 17, 2009. March 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090318030331/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/26/matt.groening.futurama/index.html. live.
  17. It's official: 'Futurama' is reborn! . https://web.archive.org/web/20090611192020/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/06/its-official-futurama-returns.html . dead . June 11, 2009 . . June 9, 2009 . June 9, 2009 . Ausiello, Michael.
  18. Web site: 'Futurama' Returns to Production with an initial order of 26 New Episodes to Premiere Mid 2010 . Press Central Comedy Central Press Release . June 10, 2009 . June 24, 2009. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605180836/http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2009/061009_futurama_returns.jhtml . June 5, 2011.
  19. Web site: Futurama Return Made Official . . Goldman, Eric . June 9, 2009 . June 10, 2009. July 16, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130716104443/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/09/futurama-return-made-official. live.
  20. Web site: 'Futurama' returns with new episodes . . June 9, 2009 . June 14, 2009 . Schneider, Michael . June 14, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090614060902/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004722.html?categoryid=14&cs=1. live.
  21. Web site: Futurama: Bender's Big Score . Iverson . Dan . November 19, 2007 . IGN . July 18, 2019 . May 13, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120513023846/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/836/836327p1.html . live.
  22. Web site: Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs DVD Review . Lowe . Scott . June 26, 2008 . IGN . July 18, 2019 . June 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120601140737/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/884/884698p1.html . live.
  23. Web site: Futurama: Bender's Game Blu-ray Review . Lowe . Scott . Christopher . Monfette . November 6, 2008 . IGN . July 18, 2019 . August 28, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090828180540/http://bluray.ign.com/articles/927/927779p1.html . live.
  24. Web site: Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder DVD Review . Shaffer . R.L. . February 24, 2009 . IGN . July 18, 2019 . June 24, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120624025217/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/956/956729p1.html . live.
  25. Web site: Futurama: The Collected Epics (4 Disc Box Set) . https://web.archive.org/web/20160208102004/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/futurama-the-collected-epics-4-disc-box-set/dp/808856 . dead . February 8, 2016 . . August 19, 2013.
  26. Web site: Futurama: Bender's Big Score . . August 19, 2013. October 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141011062314/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/futurama-benders-big-score/dp/796755. live.
  27. Web site: Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs . . August 19, 2013. April 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403212419/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/futurama-the-beast-with-a-billion-backs/dp/802174. live.
  28. Web site: Futurama: Bender's Game . . August 19, 2013. April 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403212543/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/futurama-benders-game/dp/801544. live.
  29. Web site: Futurama: Bender's Game (Blu-ray) . . August 19, 2013. April 25, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425191654/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/futurama-benders-game-blu-ray/dp/801545. live.
  30. Web site: Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder . . August 19, 2013. April 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403214854/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/futurama-into-the-wild-green-yonder/dp/803904. live.
  31. Web site: Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (Blu-ray) . . August 19, 2013. April 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403200340/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/futurama-into-the-wild-green-yonder-blu-ray/dp/803905. live.