Top 10 Times Cartoons Predicted the Future

“Futurama” (1999-2003; 2008-13)
“Futurama” showed us creator Matt Groening’s vision of the future, and we have reason to believe that he already knows what our world will look like years from now. Just look at this episode from the series, which first aired in 1999. While visiting the moon, Amy plays a game of “virtual virtual skeeball'' by wearing a headset over her eyes. Granted, virtual reality technology already existed and was continuously being improved upon at this point. But this foreshadows just how popular, commercialized, and easily accessible it would become. Amy is sitting there without moving her body, though, so maybe we can look forward to VR technology that we can control using only our minds?

“The Simpsons” (1989-)
Remember how we mentioned Matt Groening? While he did create “Futurama,” he’s perhaps better known as the man behind “The Simpsons.” We think he and his staff have been using the latter show to prove that they’re time travelers. Okay, we’re kidding, but still. This particular episode ends with Ron Howard trying to sell Homer’s screenplay idea at 20th Century Fox. In a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, we see a sign that says the film production company is “a division of Walt Disney.” As of 2019, that statement is largely factual, which is wild when you consider that the episode aired all the way back in 1998.

“The Jetsons” (1962-63; 1985-87)
This groundbreaking cartoon left its mark thanks to its amusing predictions about what 21st century life might look like. While it’s thought to be set in the year 2062, a few (though definitely not all) of its futuristic elements are already a part of our daily lives. For instance, the characters often communicate through a video chat system much like Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Furthermore, one of the most prominent characters on the show is the Jetsons’ robot maid named Rosie. Okay, so she may not be a mainstream reality yet, but we do have the option of getting robotic vacuums for our homes now! Who would’ve thought?

“Futurama” (1999-2003; 2008-13)
There have been a few hiccups when it comes to announcing award winners in recent years. Before there was Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway naming the wrong winner at the Oscars, there was Steve Harvey announcing the wrong Miss Universe. Strangely enough, we saw a version of the latter scenario play out in the year 2000 on “Futurama”. When the gang finds themselves at the Miss Universe pageant – which is finally inclusive enough to not only include earthly contestants – Leela is accidentally named the winner. The miscommunication is out of this world, but not in a good way! Indeed, when we saw the same situation occur in 2015, we could hardly believe our eyes.

“The Simpsons” (1989-)
Season 4 of “The Simpsons” may have first aired back in the early ‘90s, but it features an episode that brings to mind pretty much everyone’s least favorite year in recent memory - 2020. The city of Springfield gets overrun by an illness called the Osaka Flu. While it isn’t COVID-19, it still seems like a crazy coincidence. If that wasn’t strange enough, there’s also an influx of killer bees in the very same episode, which is a little too close to the whole murder hornets thing for comfort. Maybe we should have all been better prepared for these unprecedented times considering “The Simpsons” gave us advance warning!

“Hey Arnold!” (1996-2004)
When the film adaptation of “Cats” was first announced, seemingly no one could have predicted what a failure it would end up being. But it seems like this 1997 episode of “Hey, Arnold!” had a hunch that the film could become the travesty we know today. When Helga and her dad try to bond, they attend a play together – and struggle to hold it together throughout. The musical is aptly titled “Rats,” and is poking fun at the long-running stage production, which was at its peak on Broadway at the time. This goes to show just how wrong an interpretation of “Cats” can go.

“American Dad!” (2005-)
When Paul Walker passed away suddenly in November of 2013, the world was shocked, and the “Fast & Furious” franchise had to seriously pivot. Almost one year before the tragedy, “American Dad!” came out with an episode that featured the script for the franchise’s then-upcoming installment. Freakily enough, Steve and his friends find the screenplay for the seventh film – which would end up being Walker’s last – in the hands of a corpse. “American Dad!” may not be famous for predicting the future on a regular basis like some other cartoons, but we can’t help but be stunned by this somber coincidence.

“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
In yet another Seth MacFarlane show, we see Stewie Griffin predict Caitlyn Jenner’s transition years before it had been on anyone’s radar. In 2009, a “Family Guy” episode showed Brian and Stewie spotting Brody Jenner, Caitlyn’s son. Stewie tells Brian that despite what the world thinks, Caitlyn is in fact a woman – an elegant, beautiful, Dutch one at that. This all turns out to be true – yes, even the part about her ancestry is at least partly accurate. The athlete and reality TV star came out as trans to the world in 2015, years after this episode aired.

“South Park” (1997-)
Elon Musk has had his hands full in the last few years, with Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX, just to name a few of his ventures. So it should come as no surprise that “South Park” took their turn poking fun at him. In season 20, Cartman, Butters, and Heidi try to escape earth by attempting to take a SpaceX shuttle to Mars to no avail. While a human expedition to the planet hasn’t actually happened yet, the program has made huge strides since this episode premiered in 2016. There has been talk from Musk about seriously outlining a trip to Mars, so maybe these characters will have better luck in the near future!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Dragon Burned Down a Town on “The Simpsons” Before It Ever Happened on “GoT”

We Spot an Outline Resembling the London Building Long Before It Was Built

Cartman Starts Selling KFC Illegally, Paralleling What Happened in the UK After Numerous Branches Closed

Stewie Runs Away Yelling for Help After Pretending to Escape From the Actor’s Basement

“The Simpsons” (1989-)
In 2000, “The Simpsons” gave us a glimpse into its characters’ futures, with Lisa becoming the leader of the free world. During a meeting in the Oval Office, she says that President Trump left her with a budget crunch, predicting his presidential reign way before he became the Republican nominee. “South Park” also predicted that Trump would win in 2015, though that wasn’t quite as crazy considering he was in the race at the time. “The Simpsons” may have been randomly name-dropping Trump, but the mention of him as President 16 years before he was elected to office is eerily mind-blowing. Matt Groening and co, we see you.