View source for Nibbler's shadow

[[File:Nibbler's shadow in 1ACV01.png|thumb|right|The shadow of Nibbler in "[[Space Pilot 3000]]".]]
The '''shadow of [[Nibbler]]''' is a recurring [[theme]] on ''[[Futurama]]'' as well as an important [[story arc]].  Originally it appeared in "[[Space Pilot 3000]]", but it was not fully explained until "[[The Why of Fry]]".

== Development ==
[[File:No shadow in 2ACV16.png|thumb|left|Notice the lack of a shadow in the [[What-If Machine|what-if scenario]] in "[[Anthology of Interest I]]".]]

For the [[Space Pilot 3000#Production|production]] of "Space Pilot 3000", the writers made a point of adding secrets they would discuss later on, the most important - if not the only one - was the shadow of Nibbler.  Nibbler was not introduced until "[[Love's Labours Lost in Space]]", and the shadow did not make a "reappearance" until "[[Anthology of Interest I]]", though technically, in the [[What-If Machine|what-if scenario]], it wasn't actually there, explaining why [[Philip J. Fry]] didn't fall into the tube.

[[File:Nibbler's and Fry's shadow in 4ACV07.png|thumb|right|Both Fry and Nibbler's shadows appear in the flashback in "[[Jurassic Bark]]".]]
Nibbler's truth was first revealed in "[[The Day the Earth Stood Stupid]]", but Fry first finds out the truth in "The Why of Fry".  By utilizing the [[Infosphere]], Fry sees that Nibbler was present in the cryogenics lab on 31 December, 1999 and was directly responsible for Fry falling into the cryogenic chamber.  Fry travels back in time to intercept Nibbler, but ultimately chooses not to alter time.  Fry's presence results in an additional shadow, which first appeared in a flashback in "[[Jurassic Bark]]".  Because this episode aired prior to "The Why of Fry", viewers may have been originally confused about the new shadow.

[[File:Fry pushing himself in 4ACV10.png|thumb|left|Fry being pushed by himself instead of Nibbler in "[[The Why of Fry]]".]]

=== New speculation ===
[[File:Nibbler's shadow in ItWGY.png|thumb|right|What would appear to be a silhouette of Nibbler can be seen on the far left at the very end of ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]''.]]
[[File:Nibbler's shadow in Fry's dream 7ACV23.png|thumb|left|Nibbler's shadow in "[[Game of Tones]]".]]

After the end of the [[original run]], not much speculation on the shadow was left.  When the show came back as [[season 5|films]], the shadow made a return by the very end of ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]'' on {{the ship}}, before the [[characters]] fly into [[Panama Wormhole|the wormhole]].  It appeared again in "[[Game of Tones]]".

== Additional info ==

=== Appearances ===
*{{e|Space Pilot 3000}}
*{{e|Anthology of Interest I}}
*{{e|Jurassic Bark}}
*{{e|The Why of Fry}}
*{{f|Into the Wild Green Yonder}}
**{{e|Into the Wild Green Yonder Part 4}} {{small|(possibly)}}
*{{e|Game of Tones}}

[[Category:Story arcs]]
[[Category:Themes]]