The overarching narrative of is a complex tragedy involving familial loss, serial murder, and supernatural possession. While the series' lore is famously convoluted, it can be broken down into the following key narrative pillars: The Origins of the Tragedy
: Using a yellow "Spring Bonnie" suit, William lured five children (Gabriel, Jeremy, Susie, Fritz, and Cassidy) to a back room at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and murdered them. Five.Nights.at.Freddys (GamingBeasts.com)
: Guided by the Puppet, the souls of these children inhabited the main animatronics— Freddy , Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy—seeking revenge against their killer. The overarching narrative of is a complex tragedy
: In the late 1970s/early 1980s, William Afton and Henry Emily co-founded Fredbear's Family Diner , featuring "springlock" animatronics that could be worn as suits or operate as robots. : In the late 1970s/early 1980s, William Afton
: Henry Emily created a "trap" pizzeria to lure the remaining haunted animatronics and William together. He set the building ablaze to free the trapped souls, including Michael Afton (William's eldest son), who worked as the security guard.
: Thirty years after the pizzerias closed, William (as Springtrap) was discovered and moved to a horror attraction. The facility eventually burned down, though his spirit endured.