What is the bite of 87?

"The Bite of '87" is a pivotal, yet intentionally vague, incident in the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise lore. It refers to a bite that occurred at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza in 1987, resulting in severe head trauma to a child. The exact details are deliberately obscured, leaving much to interpretation and fan theories. Here's what we generally know:

  • Severity: The bite was extremely serious, resulting in the loss of the frontal lobe of the victim's brain. This suggests a significant and potentially fatal injury.

  • Perpetrator: While never explicitly stated, the primary suspect is one of the animatronics, most likely Freddy Fazbear himself, or possibly one of the other animatronics. The ambiguity is key to the mystery.

  • Victim: The identity of the victim is unknown, adding to the horror and mystery. This also fuels numerous fan theories.

  • Consequences: The Bite of '87 led to significant changes in the restaurant's safety procedures (or at least purportedly did), and potentially contributed to the closure of the location. It heavily impacts the overall narrative and the characters' backstories. The incident also serves as a major plot point, creating suspense and fear around the animatronics.

  • Ambiguity as a Storytelling Device: The lack of concrete details is a deliberate choice by the game creator, Scott Cawthon. The ambiguity allows for continued speculation and fan theories, adding to the game's overall mystique and longevity. The mystery surrounding the incident fuels the horror and is a key element of the franchise's enduring popularity.

In short, the Bite of '87 is less about the specific details and more about the lingering horror, mystery, and the lingering questions it raises about the animatronics, the restaurant, and the nature of the events leading up to and following the incident.