Creature in I Second That Emotion

From: I Second That Emotion

When Leela takes Nibbler to the veterinarian to fix his chipped fang, there is a squat creature standing with its owner between the seated owners and the reception desk. It has a round body, large feet, antennae and something like an airplane propeller on its long tail. It looks exactly like a small plastic toy that I used to have that came in packs with other plastic creatures, including dinosaurs and mammal-like reptiles.

I always assumed it was a sort of chimera (not the word I would have used at the time) since I had never seen anything like it in my books on prehistorical animals. Since I doubt there ever was such a creature, does its appearance on Futurama refer to these plastic toys or to something that inspired the toys? Anyone know?

--Punkass Crab

If I am thinking of the same animal:

According to the Season 2 DVD commentary for that episode, the creature is a futurama version of a D&D monster. The name escapes me, however.

"Punkass Crab" wrote in message news:[email]...

"Kazzahdrane" wrote in message news:b7s6h8$53q$[email]...

a

Thanks for the information. I keep forgetting that the Season 2 DVDs have been available outside the US for some time.

--P.C.

It is a rust monster. When it hits metal with its antennae, the metal corrodes and is then eaten by the creature. It is insane that you mentioned getting that toy in a bag of plastic dinosaurs. I had one of those, too. It was not until I started playing D&D that I figured what it represented.

Punkass Crab wrote in message news:[email]...

"John" wrote in message news:b7sgkp$et0$[email]...

mentioned

Hey, that hits the spot. I dropped 'rust monster' into a search engine and found a drawing as well as some more info. Someone on a paleontology list claimed that creatures resembling the D&D rust monster and bulette (another plastic monster that I remember) were floating around in packs of plastic animals before Gygax et al. came up with the D&D monsters. Whichever way the arrow of inspiration points, the plastic rust monster seems to have longer toes than the D&D version. Does the Futurama version have long or short toes? I assumed they were long but now I'm not sure.

Oh, and I found part of a trivia challenge that everyone who has read this thread should now be able to answer.

1. What is the name of the "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons" (First Edition) monster who has two antennae and a propeller at the tip of its tail?

A. Mind Flayer B. Lurker Above C. Rust Monster

The flower would also have been acceptable.

Thanks. ^_^

--P.C.

Wow. You did not just mention the little plastic bulette. I forgot about him, too. I remember that he was alot smaller than the rust monster toy. The rest of the figures in that bag were just standard dinosaurs and stuff, from what I remember. The rust monster left quite an impression on my childhood mind.

I just assumed that those toys were inspired by D&D, not the other way around. That is some interesting information you uncovered. I wonder how Gygax found out about those creatures?

It has been a long time since I saw that episode, so I don't remember the length of the rust monster's toes.

Another D&D monster that has appeared in Futurama is the beholder. It is a big scaly orb with a single large eye.

When Gygax made a guest appearance, he had a copy of the original *Monster Manual*.

Another interesting creature that appeared was a member of the Great Race of Yith (from H.P. Lovecraft's story "The Shadow out of Time"). It was an episode in which Leela was getting married.

Punkass Crab wrote in message news:[email]...

too.

represented.

"John" wrote in message news:b810hr$glu$[email]...

Hearing the Vice President of the Free World agreeing to play Dungeons and Dragons was awe-inspiring.

"John" wrote in message news:b810hr$glu$[email]...

of

Was that the same vaguely jellyfish-headed crittur with the veils that performed a "traditional gangta rap" at Miss Universe Pageant?

"a-wak-a-waaaa *ptth ptth ptth pt-thh-pt-thh* hhweeeeEEE *pth ptha pth p-pthh* hwheeeEEEEE".

Ah, the strains of classical music hath charms to sooth the savage breast...

"U. M. Zaporets" wrote in message news:3ea50206$0$52997$[email]...

Doh! Please season with additional consonants as you see appropriate. Homes.