Ape

Ape appears as one of Futurama's throwaway background jokes, part of the show's habit of populating New New York with mutated, evolved, or simply absurd creatures going about ordinary business. Little is established about motive or personality beyond the sight gag itself — the humor is in the character existing at all.

Futurama built half its charm on background weirdness like this, and Maurice LaMarche's flexible voice work gives even a glancing bit part enough texture to land a laugh. It's a small piece of the show's larger joke that the future is stranger, funnier, and more crowded than anyone expected.