Philip J. Fry is the main character of Futurama, the animated science-fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening that first aired in 1999. His expressive, often bewildered reactions became a familiar part of the show, and short clips of his shocked gasp began circulating on soundboards and in meme edits as a quick way to signal disbelief. Because the sound is only about two seconds long, it is easy to drop into videos, streams and group chats without breaking the pace. It remains popular because Fry's panic is instantly recognisable, even to people who have only seen the show in clips.