Recently Billy West sat down with Onion Online and chatted about the current state of animation and voice overs, the new Futurama movie(s), and a few other things too :

Onion: You've said that Fry on Futurama and Stimpy on Ren & Stimpy were your favorite roles. They were the most high-profile, but what else about Futurama makes it special?

Billy West: It had more layers than an onion. These writers meant business. There was a level for everybody. Your major could be celestial mechanics, and there'd be celestial-mechanics jokes.

Thanks to all the fans that emailed us here about the article.

If you're a die-hard fan, you know that John DiMaggio does the voice of Dr. Drakken on the Disney show Kim Possible. But to be fair, I didn't know this until just now. Why? Because Mr DiMaggio recently did a commentary track on one of Kim Possibles DVDs. What's interesting and Futurama-related is that in one of the commentary tracks, someone from the show asks John what's up with Futurama. Here's the transcript of the commentary :

Someone else: This one's just for John. I think Cinescape reported that FOX is thinking about bringing Futurama back straight to DVD. Have you heard that?
John: Actually, I was at the 350th episode of The Simpsons party over at FOX and ran into David X. Cohen and Matt. And David said "Yeah, we're gonna do some straight to DVD movies." I said "all right, well, when I hear Matt say it I'll know." Then I said "Matt, what's up? Give me the straight stuff." And he said "Yeah". So basically, I think what they're gonna do is they're gonna ... do straight to DVD movies that'll be on the air quality. And if FOX wants to put them on, Matt will be like "Guys, put'em on." Looks like we're gonna do it. I haven't heard anything contract-wise or anything like that. So ... anything can happen. But once I sign my name on the dotted line, I'll be singing in the streets.

This is a month or two old, so it's not really confirming anything. It's merely some exciting news to add onto the idea of new Futurama material for the near future. Thanks to FryFan and his friend from the Kim Possible community for showing us this tidbit of information.

Futurama Comics #20 out now
Last Wednesday #20 of Futurama comics became available. The issue has a few pages of fanart and emails, fun stuff. Go buy the comic at your local book store, or buy it online at milehighcomics.com, then go review it.

Never before in the history of comics has there been an issue quite like this one! Bender, feeling under-appreciated, goes off on a mind-bending, time-twisting, space continuum-shattering odyssey that will take him across the galaxy and through the offices of Bongo Comics in a mad, mad, mad, mad chase. Only you, dear reader, will be able to bring him back when "Bender Breaks Out!"

In early April, David X. Cohen invited Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald of Appalachian State University to give a talk at a math club he attends. Sarah integrates math topics from both The Simpsons and Futurama in some of her courses and published an article on the latter in 2004.

Of course, she agreed to give the talk and was delighted to see that the other attendees included many Simpsons/Futurama writers including Matt Groening.

Since the event happened in the past, you can't really go there anymore. However, you could read through her summary or the long transcription of her conversation with David X.

While the US likely has to wait for two and a half more months, I just got my copy of the region 2 Futurama Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection DVD from amazon.co.uk.
The US version will likely turn out similar, though I suspect that they might add a Spanish language track. So check out our review and get your copy if you are English-savvy and in Europe.

Available
for pre-ordering right now at amazon.com is the 2006 Futurama Calendar. I for
one figured they wouldn't make an '06 calendar, but I'm quite happy I was wrong.
It will be released August 1st 2005 through Harper Collins, and costs 10.39 at
amazon.com.



Also I'd like to mention I recently relaunched my other website called Futurama
Collectorama: The Merchandise Guide. It had been idle for over a year, and
I feel bad for neglecting it the way I did. So go check it out, and if you can
spread the word that it's now up to date and will be for future news items.