Early Designs of Futurama’s Fry Mirrored a Simpsons Character

In the initial stages of character development for the popular animated series Futurama, the protagonist, Philip J. Fry, bore a striking resemblance to a character from another well-known animated series, The Simpsons.

Fry’s Initial Design

The early design of Fry was quite similar to that of Bart Simpson, one of the main characters in The Simpsons. Both characters were created by Matt Groening, which explains the similarities in their initial designs. However, the resemblance was deemed too close, leading to significant changes in Fry’s design before the final version was approved.

Changes Made to Fry’s Design

• The color of Fry’s hair was changed from spiky black to messy red.
• Fry’s clothing was altered from a blue shirt and shorts to a red jacket and jeans.
• The shape of Fry’s face was modified to be less round and more elongated.

Reasons for the Changes

The changes were made to ensure that Fry had a distinct identity separate from Bart Simpson. The creators wanted to avoid any confusion between the two characters, given that both shows were airing on the same network. The changes also helped to better reflect Fry’s character as a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who gets cryogenically frozen and wakes up 1,000 years in the future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the early designs of Futurama’s Fry were significantly altered to differentiate him from Bart Simpson. These changes were crucial in establishing Fry’s unique identity and ensuring the success of Futurama as a distinct and separate entity from The Simpsons.