Future World
A glimpse into tomorrow where science rules and chaos reigns supreme.
The Future World is a dystopian society visited by Dexter and his future selves in the 1999 television film *Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip*. It exists in the timeline between Dexter's corporate life (where he is weak-willed and subordinated by Mandark) and his utopian leadership (where he is revered as an omnipotent leader). In this period, humans have no intelligence and live in ruin, with drone robots threatening the lives of citizens. The Dexters discover that Mandark is responsible for this dystopia after he finds the Neurotomic Protocore in the dystopian Future World, not in the utopian future.
- First Appearance
- Time Flies!
- Primary Inhabitants
- Adult versions of main cast
- Technology Level
- Hyper-advanced robotics and flight
- Accessibility
- Via Chronal Displacement Device
- Status
- Visited Temporal Dimension
Lore & Background
The Future World appears in *Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip* as one of several temporal destinations. It is a dystopian society where humans have lost all intelligence and live in ruin. The Dexters—child Dexter, his weak-willed young adult self, and his muscular, bearded future self—travel here from the utopian future to find the Neurotomic Protocore, not to discover how the future was saved. They find a ruined landscape where drone robots threaten the lives of citizens. A fourth Dexter, who is senile and already lives in the dystopian Future World, appears and leads them to his lab; he does not save them. They learn that Mandark is responsible for this dystopia after he found the Neurotomic Protocore in the dystopian Future World, not in the utopian future. Using the ruins of Dexter's laboratory, the four Dexters build a giant robot to take down Mandark's reign.
In Their Own Story
The airlock hissed open, revealing a sky painted in hues of neon violet and electric blue. Dexter adjusted his goggles, stepping onto pavement that hummed with energy. Above him, silent vehicles drifted like fish in water. A billboard flickered to life, displaying his own face alongside the words 'Architect of Tomorrow.' He smiled briefly before realizing the date on the street sign was wrong by a century.
Reader's Guide
The Future World is a dystopian society visited in *Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip*, existing between Dexter's corporate life and his utopian leadership. In this timeline, humans have no intelligence and live in ruin. Drone robots threaten the lives of citizens. The Dexters—child Dexter, his weak-willed young adult self, and his senile older self—travel here from the utopian future. They are saved by a fourth Dexter who is muscular, bearded, and quick-witted. They learn Mandark is responsible for this dystopia after finding the Neurotomic Protocore in the cubicle. Using the ruins of Dexter's laboratory, they build a giant robot to take down Mandark's reign. Mandark is prepared with his equivalent counterparts from other timelines to fight the Dexters in a 4-on-4 battle. Child Dexter cannot reach the switch that turns the Neurotomic Protocore's output from negative to positive. Dee Dee materializes via time machine and obliviously presses the correct button, saving the future and defeating the Mandarks. This angers the Dexters, as they wanted to be the ones to save the future. They build the robots seen at the beginning, intended to destroy 'The One Who Saved the Future.'
Did You Know?
- The Future World is a dystopian society where humans have no intelligence and live in ruin, caused by Mandark finding the Neurotomic Protocore in the dystopian Future World.
- The Dexters build a giant robot using the ruins of Dexter's laboratory to take down Mandark's reign.
- Mandark fights the Dexters with his equivalent counterparts from other timelines in a 4-on-4 battle.
- Dee Dee presses the button on the Neurotomic Protocore in the dystopian Future World, which sends the Dexters back in time rather than saving the future at that moment.
- The Dexters build the robots seen at the beginning of the film, intended to destroy 'The One Who Saved the Future' (Dee Dee).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Future World setting in Dexter's Laboratory?
This dystopian society appears in the Ego Trip film as one of several alternate timelines Dexter explores. It depicts a ruined civilization where humans have lost their intelligence while living under constant threat from drone robots.
Who rules over this specific future timeline?
Mandark controls this reality after he finds the Neurotomic Protocore abandoned on the floor of a corporate cubicle. His possession of the core allows him to dominate society and keep Dexter in a weak, subordinated position.
How do characters access these alternate dimensions?
Travel is made possible through the Chronal Displacement Device, which facilitates movement between different temporal outcomes. This technology lets Dexter witness both his potential failures and successes across various futures.
What is the status of humanity in this world?
Citizens exist in a state of ruin with no intelligence, forced to survive amidst hyper-advanced robotics and flight technology used against them. It represents a middle period between Dexter's corporate slavery and his eventual utopian leadership.
Why is the Future World important to the plot?
This timeline serves as a critical warning about the dangers of leaving powerful science unchecked in Mandark's hands. The experience drives Dexter to correct his actions and secure a better outcome for himself and humanity.
More in World & Setting
Elsewhere in the Dexters Laboratory universe
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