Summary
- Futurama has had a bumpy history with cancelations and renewals across different networks, but the non-human characters have remained a special part of the show.
- Characters like Slurms MacKenzie, Lord Nibbler, Kif Kroker, Hedonismbot, Turanga Leela, Matcluck, Lrrr, Calculon, Bender, and Professor John A. Zoidberg have all contributed to the uniqueness of the show.
- Despite their flaws and quirks, these non-human characters have had memorable moments and have added depth and humor to the overall storyline of Futurama.
There's an impressive number of characters in cast of Futurama has become a big part of what makes the show so special.
The animated sci-fi sitcom is home to a wide variety of alien and artificial lifeforms, and while some may only be known for the occasional appearance or famous catchphrase, most of them are impressively fleshed out. Every Futurama character has at least one memorable moment, but the non-human roles have had some of the greatest throughout the show's eight seasons over its three runs. Certain non-humans even have entire episodes dedicated to them.
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10 Slurms MacKenzie
The Original Party Worm
Slurms left his mark on Futurama right away, appearing in season 1, episode 13, "Fry & the Slurm Factory." Although episodes featuring Slurms have been few and far between, his reputation as a party animal makes him stand out from other non-human characters. He becomes more memorable when it's considered that the thing he's known for is something he's being forced into doing.
He was the life of the party at some point, but those days are over, and he tries to retire from the lifestyle nobly, by partying hard one last time as a distraction so Fry and his friends can escape the Slurm factory. Despite being a fun character, Slurms doesn't appear in Futurama often enough to rank any higher, but he is still one of the best non-human figures on the show.
Slurms survived his act of self-sacrifice, going on to appear in a few more Futurama episodes.
9 Lord Nibbler
Leela's "Pet" Took Advantage Of Her
One of the most hilarious characters on Futurama, Nibbler has a voracious and indiscriminate diet, and his bodily waste takes the form of dark matter. As a Nibblonian, he may appear to be an adorable alien creature, but he's actually an ancient and highly intelligent being. During his storied existence, he at one point chose the path of least resistance and started playing to his cute exterior.
Despite being perfectly capable of looking after himself, Nibbler allows Leela to wait on him hand and foot. He achieves this in part by wiping her memory every time she and her friends discover his true nature. Nibbler's desire to be coddled, despite his level of capability, makes him a character so unforgivable that it circles back around to being funny again. If he were to have entered the show acting as himself rather than a foundling to be cared for, his character wouldn't be as interesting.
8 Kif Kroker
The Level Of Patience The Amphibosan Possesses Is Impressive
Some personality traits can work to a character's advantage, and tolerance is one of them. Kif's ranking comes from the level of ineptitude he puts up with from Captain Zapp Brannigan. In addition to muddling through the fallout of Zapp's mistakes, Kif also manages to be a loving husband to Amy and a caring father to their offspring. Although clearly a valuable member of DOOP, Kif 's reluctance to leave his commanding officer is a detriment to his character, and he has to leave Zapp behind by either requesting a transfer or leaving DOOP altogether.
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7 Hedonismbot
Nothing Stops Him From Speaking His Mind
Rarely, a character so selfish and self-involved can also be described as one of the show's best characters. Hedonismbot is always honest, and his truth is often rather one-dimensional. His desires are often lustful, and he's not bashful when it comes to describing in detail what it is he desires or has recently engaged in. The robot is open to talking to anyone, and even taking things further if their interests align. There are few other characters in Futurama where it's always clear where they stand, and where they want to be at any given moment.
6 Turanga Leela
The Planet Express Captain Is A Brave Leader
Although technically human on some level, Leela's mutations take her out of that category. The one-eyed ship captain is one of the most prominent characters on Futurama, and she's one of the first people Fry meets when he arrives in the future. Leela doesn't accept anything less than the best — of herself or from anyone else. However, her on-and-off relationship with Fry is poorly written and lacks defined edges, leading to both characters floating between ancillary romantic entanglements. Of all the staff at Planet Express, Leela is by far the most level-headed, and can also be counted on in times of crisis.
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5 Matcluck
His Name Is A Brilliantly Lazy Play On "Matlock"
One-dimensional characters like Matcluck can get old quite quickly, but his use in Futurama is well-balanced. The Hyper-Chicken defense lawyer, while quite poor at his job, still manages to get cases. In addition, his scenes only get more amusing when his spirited attempts at litigation get worse and worse. From random squawks during tense moments to baseless and rash assumptions, every sound from Matcluck is comic relief of the highest quality. In a show that's already wall-to-wall jokes, it's a testament to the avian's character that his gags stick in the mind so vividly.
4 Lrrr
Ruler Of The Planet Omicron Persei 8
With a penchant for displays of power and a severe lack of subtlety, Lrrr is one of the best aliens in Futurama. Whether he is talking to his sworn enemy or his beloved wife, the Omicronian's cadence is identical. With a culture so far removed from that of Earth, his confusion regarding simple concepts and human relationships is always entertaining. Although he tends to turn violent when things slightly inconvenience him, it's either a bluff or an issue so minor that it's easily rectified without the need for bloodshed. His knee-jerk reaction of jumping straight to the most extreme option leads to some of the biggest laugh-out-loud moments in Futurama.
3 Calculon
Star of All My Circuits
In the world of Futurama, Calculon is hailed as one of the acting greats, and his hammy theatrics create a comical dissonance between how the characters view Calculon and how viewers of the show see him. However, it's the very fact that he's such an objectively poor actor that makes him such an engaging character, and why he's used so often in the show.
His character in All My Circuits is essentially just a further fictionalized version of himself, so the over-dramatic reactions he displays in his soap opera are replicated whenever he encounters the other Futurama characters outside the production. Before his resurrection, Calculation perished in the "World Acting Championships," a contest that is perfectly in line with his attributes and personality.
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2 Bender Bending Rodríguez
Bite His Shiny Metal A**
On paper, Bender should be a fairly unlikable character. Not only does he steal, lie, and insult, but he does it all seemingly with no remorse. However, there are certain candid moments in Futurama where Bender shows he actually has a conscience, and while he may not completely abstain from a life of crime, he at least breaks the law and social conventions less significantly for short spells.
Bender and Fry were both loners when Futurama started, and watching Bender develop from a bitter outlier into a good friend to certain characters is a rewarding character arc to witness. However, at no point does he leave his true self behind. He remains as headstrong and abrasive throughout Futurama as he always has been, meaning he's nothing if not consistent.
1 Professor John A. Zoidberg
He Tolerates A Lot Of Negativity From His Colleagues
It takes a lot to remain positive when you're constantly under fire, but that's just what Zoidberg manages to do. Even though the Decapodian often gets involved with the adventures in the show, he's swiftly cast out again once proceedings have drawn to a close. Although some of his comedy comes from being treated so poorly, he also comes out with some brilliant one-liners and quips.
Zoidberg also has some of the more wholesome moments in the show and has in-depth knowledge of everyone's personal lives. Although he may not be well-versed in human anatomy, the alien doctor is surprisingly skilled in other areas of medicine. In short, there are many reasons why Dr. Zoidberg is the best non-human character in Futurama, but one of them is his refusal to lose his optimism, despite having every reason to do so.
Futurama is available to stream on Hulu.
