Introduction
The world of Five Nights at Freddy’s is a labyrinth of animatronic horrors, lingering spirits, and a convoluted timeline that has captivated fans for nearly a decade. At the heart of this chilling universe lies a single, horrifying event: the Missing Children Incident, where innocent lives were tragically cut short. Determining the precise moment in the timeline when these heinous acts occurred has become an obsession for many within the FNaF community. What year did the kid murder happen in fanf? It’s a question that’s fueled countless debates, sparked intricate theories, and driven players to scour every pixel of the games for clues. While there’s no definitive answer etched in stone by Scott Cawthon, the evidence scattered throughout the games, books, and community interpretations paints a compelling, if somewhat ambiguous, picture. This article delves deep into the Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza timeline to examine the evidence and unpack the different theories surrounding this pivotal event.
Five Nights at Freddy’s, for the uninitiated, plunges players into the terrifying role of a security guard tasked with surviving the night shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The pizzeria, a seemingly innocuous family entertainment center, is haunted by possessed animatronics – robotic mascots that come to life after dark with deadly intentions. These animatronics are, as players soon learn, possessed by the vengeful spirits of children who were murdered years prior. The story unfolds through cryptic minigames, subtle clues hidden in the environment, and piecemeal revelations, gradually revealing the dark history that haunts Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Understanding when the Missing Children Incident transpired is crucial to grasping the entirety of the FNaF narrative and the motives behind the animatronics’ terrifying actions.
Establishing the Timeline: Key Events and Clues
The journey to pinpointing the year of the Missing Children Incident begins with understanding the chronological order of events within the FNaF universe. The earliest established point on the timeline is the existence of Fredbear’s Family Diner, the precursor to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Fredbear’s Family Diner was a smaller establishment, featuring only two animatronics: Fredbear and Springbonnie. It’s here that we first encounter William Afton, the man who would later become the infamous Purple Guy and mastermind behind the children’s murders.
Fredbear’s Family Diner Era
The Bite of ’83 is a tragic incident that occurs at Fredbear’s Family Diner. A young boy, implied to be William Afton’s son, is brutally injured when Fredbear’s animatronic malfunctions and bites down on his head during a performance. This event holds significance in various ways, contributing to the timeline and the lore. It also gives context to one of the souls and how they may have been tied to the animatronics, eventually turning into Golden Freddy. It offers important contextual clues that will help us solve the puzzle of “what year did kid murder happen in fanf?”
The Missing Children Incident
The Missing Children Incident itself is shrouded in mystery. What we know is this: William Afton, using his deceptive charm and perhaps a Springbonnie suit to lure the children, lured a group of children into a back room of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and murdered them. Their bodies were never found, and the pizzeria was subsequently shut down due to health code violations and complaints about a foul odor emanating from the animatronics. The most tragic outcome of the heinous crime was the possession of the animatronics by the souls of the children. Driven by a desire for revenge, these spirits are trapped within the mechanical bodies, forever seeking their killer and any adult who crosses their path.
FNaF 2: The Reopening and Withered Animatronics
The second game, Five Nights at Freddy’s two, plays an interesting role in the timeline. This game supposedly takes place before the first installment, which is interesting, because it may offer hints to what year did kid murder happen in fanf. In this game, we are introduced to a new set of animatronics, and some previous ones that have been withered. While it doesn’t explicitly confirm a specific date for the Missing Children Incident, it does hint at it with newspaper clippings that talk about the disappearance of children.
Sister Location
Sister Location is another game that plays an interesting role in the lore. This game is where we find out that Afton has a daughter, Elizabeth, who ends up getting killed and possessing the animatronic Baby. While Sister Location isn’t directly tied to the incident, it does provide another piece of the puzzle as to what year did kid murder happen in fanf.
Later Games
The lore gets complicated as we move onto later games. FNAF 3, FNAF 6, and others all offer more clues and context to understanding the timeline and what year did kid murder happen in fanf. But despite all of this, it is still hard to decipher.
Analysis of Evidence Pointing to Nineteen Eighty-Five
Considering all of the events described, and the clues presented in the games, a strong argument can be made that the Missing Children Incident occurred in the year nineteen eighty-five. This claim is primarily based on a synthesis of information derived from multiple games.
FNaF 4 and the Recreated Animatronics
Looking into the design of the animatronics, they appear to be from the 1980’s, giving us some idea as to what year did kid murder happen in fanf. Analyzing the design and technology of the original animatronics reveals a style and aesthetic reminiscent of the mid-1980s, suggesting that this is the era when they were manufactured and put into service. In combination with other clues, this narrows the possible year of the murders.
Newspaper Clippings and In-Game Dialogue
Newspaper clippings and in-game dialogue are the most important clues. Scattered throughout the first two Five Nights at Freddy’s games are subtle references to events that point towards a timeline rooted in the mid-1980s. Newspaper clippings found in the first game mention the closure of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza due to health code violations and reports of a foul odor emanating from the animatronics, hinting at the Missing Children Incident, and point to the year nineteen eighty-five as when this incident took place.
“Save Them” Minigame
The “Save Them” minigame provides additional clues in FNAF 2. This mini game has the player play as Freddy as they traverse a dark restaurant. There is a purple version of Freddy trying to kill the player, and it can be assumed that it’s William Afton. The game also has different characters throughout the world trying to get the player. This hints at an even earlier incident in 1985, one that led to the possession of the animatronics.
Counterarguments and Alternative Theories
Of course, the FNaF timeline is anything but straightforward. There are valid arguments to support other potential years for the Missing Children Incident. For example, some fans argue that it could have occurred in nineteen eighty-three, citing the prominence of the “Bite of ’83” and the overall emphasis on that year within the games, perhaps to throw the theorists off the trail. Others suggest nineteen eighty-seven as a possibility, linking it to other incidents, that could have been interpreted as another attempt. These alternative theories are not without their own evidence and rationales, highlighting the inherent ambiguity and conflicting information that plagues the FNaF lore.
Arguments for Other Years
One of the biggest hurdles in deciphering the FNaF timeline is the presence of retcons. The series has evolved significantly since its inception, and Scott Cawthon has occasionally revised or altered elements of the story to fit new developments or address fan theories. These retcons can create inconsistencies and make it difficult to establish a definitive timeline.
The Ongoing Mystery and Community Involvement
The question of what year did the kid murder happen in fanf is such a big question because of the amount of mysteries associated with it. The unanswered questions, cryptic hints, and convoluted plotlines have spawned countless theories and fan creations.
The Beauty of Unsolved Lore
The discussions surrounding the timeline and the different possible years for the incident are a testament to the game’s gripping nature and has allowed fans to create their own story within the FNaF world.
Community Theories and Debates
There is always the possibility that Scott Cawthon will reveal the year of the murders in a future installment. But it is more likely that the story will be left a mystery for fans to continue to theorize about.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the exact year of the Missing Children Incident remains officially unconfirmed, the prevailing evidence from the Five Nights at Freddy’s games, books, and community analysis leans towards nineteen eighty-five. Newspaper clippings, the design of the animatronics, and minigame clues all contribute to the notion that this was the fateful year when William Afton committed his heinous crimes. However, the FNaF timeline is a complex and ever-evolving entity, and alternative theories exist, supported by their own set of arguments. Ultimately, the enduring mystery surrounding the Missing Children Incident is a key element that makes Five Nights at Freddy’s so compelling. It’s a tragic event that shapes the entire narrative, fueling the animatronics’ vengeful spirits and driving the plot forward. The mystery of what year did the kid murder happen in fanf may never be fully solved, but the search for answers will continue to engage fans for years to come.
