New New York
A neon-soaked future where humanity rebuilds Earth with chaotic hope and bottomless corporate greed.
New New York is the sprawling, futuristic metropolis that sets the stage for Futurama. This vertical maze features gleaming skyscrapers, flying cars, and neon-soaked streets where high-tech gadgets mingle with weird social rules and ridiculous corporate schemes. As Planet Express's home base, New New York anchors most of the show's adventures. Here, everyday life gets twisted by future oddities, ranging from sentient toasters to robot rights protests. The city drives home the show's main point: no matter how much technology evolves or society shakes up, human nature stays stubbornly the same.
- Key Landmark
- Applied Cryogenics (57th Street and 2nd Avenue)
Lore & Background
New New York is the rebuilt version of the original city, constructed atop the ruins of Old New York after a series of apocalyptic events. The city is a vertical, neon-lit metropolis where humans, robots, and aliens coexist amid flying cars, skyscrapers, and bizarre social norms. Key landmarks include the Planet Express building, Mom's Friendly Robot Company, and the Head Museum, where preserved celebrity heads live on. The city's history is shaped by events like the Great New York City Flood and the rise of robot civil rights movements, all while maintaining the chaotic, consumer-driven spirit of its 20th-century predecessor.
In Their Own Story
The source does not describe any story set in New New York. It only recounts the 1939 Futurama ride: an 18-minute conveyor ride carrying 552 seated spectators at 1.36 mph along a 1/3-mile path through a model of America. The ride simulated a low-flying airplane journey, with spectators looking through a curved glass pane at a model built from 408 topographical sections based on aerial photographs from Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. The exhibit was the fair's "number-one hit show," with a neutral survey awarding General Motors 39.4 points to Ford's 8.5 as the most interesting exhibit.
Reader's Guide
The source does not provide a guide to New New York. It describes the 1939 Futurama exhibit's design principles: roads designed for greater capacity, isolated traffic directions, segregated traffic in towns, and speed controls. Geddes' book Magic Motorways states the model illustrated a motorway system across every type of American terrain, adhering to "safety, comfort, speed, and economy." The exhibit featured 14-lane multi-speed interstate highways and semi-automated vehicles with lane-centering and blind-spot assist systems. The 1964 World's Fair included a sequel ride, Futurama II, with a 110-foot tilted facade and a 15-minute multimedia ride.
Did You Know?
- New New York is built directly on top of the ruins of Old New York, which can be seen in the sewers and sub-basements of the city.
- The city's skyline includes the iconic 'Cryogenic Building,' where Fry was frozen in 1999 and thawed out in 2999.
- The Applied Cryogenics building is located at the corner of 57th Street and 2nd Avenue, a nod to the original New York City grid.
- New New York has its own version of the Statue of Liberty, but it has been replaced with a giant statue of Fry's head.
- The city is home to the 'New New York Mets,' a baseball team that plays in a stadium built over the original Shea Stadium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is New New York located in the timeline?
The city exists on Earth during the 31st century, specifically around the year 3000. It stands as a testament to humanity's recovery following the Great Freeze of the late 21st century.
What defines the architecture and atmosphere of the city?
New New York is characterized by a vertical labyrinth of gleaming skyscrapers and neon-lit streets. Advanced technology coexists with bizarre social norms throughout this chaotic metropolis.
Who are the main inhabitants living in this future society?
Humans, robots, and aliens form the diverse population that populates the city's districts. Corporate greed often dictates the lifestyle of residents within this sprawling urban environment.
How does Planet Express relate to New New York?
The interplanetary delivery service uses a specific building in the city as its central headquarters. This location acts as the primary hub for most of the crew's adventures and missions.
Why is New New York considered important to the series?
It serves as the main setting where the show explores themes of corporate absurdity and social recovery. The unique environment allows for endless comedic scenarios involving futuristic technology and culture.
More in World & Locations
Elsewhere in the Futurama universe
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