Segmented episodes
A three-parter is a Futurama episode that includes three different stories, often framed in and often non-canon.
The first three-parter was "Anthology of Interest I" in the first season, though they already added the I to mark an interest in making more. The Anthology of Interest episodes feature an invention of the Professor, the What-if machine. When asked a what-if scenario (for example what if Bender was human), the What-if machine simulates the scenario on screen, and the scenarios are shown to the viewers of the episode. These episodes thus feature a canon frame, surrounding three what-if scenario stories.
The first three-parter episode not being a part of the Anthology of Interest series was season 6's "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular", which featured three different non-canon holiday stories. The upcoming "Reincarnation" will also be a three-parter and presumably non-canon, featuring the Futurama series in three different animation styles.
Production
Three-parter episodes
- "Anthology of Interest I" (2ACV16)
- "Anthology of Interest II" (3ACV18)
- "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular" (6ACV13)
- "Reincarnation" (6ACV26)