Mike Chapman
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[[Image:Chapman_Mike_personal_photo.png|thumb|Teeg Dougland in the flesh! (In the sock cap!)]] | [[Image:Chapman_Mike_personal_photo.png|thumb|Teeg Dougland in the flesh! (In the sock cap!)]] | ||
| - | '''Michael "Mike" Raymond Chapman''' (born September 20, 1973) is | + | '''Michael "Mike" Raymond Chapman''' (born September 20, 1973) is the co-creator of [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]]. One half of creative duo [[the Brothers Chaps]], alongside younger brother [[Matt Chapman]], he serves as one of the principal creators of [[homestarrunner.com]]. |
== Career == | == Career == | ||
===Education=== | ===Education=== | ||
| - | + | Born in [[Indiana]] and raised in the state of [[Georgia]],{{ref|9}} Mike attended Vanderlyn Elementary School and {{w|Dunwoody High School}} along with his brother.{{ref|16}}{{ref|19}} Mike studied Fine Art at the {{w|University of Georgia}}, earning a bachelor's degree in photography in 1997,{{ref|17}} after which he enrolled at a {{w|Postgraduate education|postgrad}} Master's photography program at {{w|Louisiana State University}}. After a year of classes, he realized his esoteric approach to photography meant he "didn't have the desire or the skills to be a commercial photographer", and he dropped out of the program by 1999.{{ref|2}}{{ref|15}} | |
| - | Mike's other artistic pursuits were largely unschooled | + | Mike's other artistic pursuits were largely unschooled; he only took one introductory computer class in school.{{ref|15}} A "self-taught graphic designer/animator/illustrator/writer/musician",{{ref|1}} Mike worked as a freelance designer after college.{{ref|3}} |
===Homestar Runner=== | ===Homestar Runner=== | ||
| - | [[File:TwitterPAXGameplay.jpg|thumb|"Scruffy old brother | + | [[File:TwitterPAXGameplay.jpg|thumb|"Scruffy old brother" Mike (right) alongside "flaming peasant" Matt, playing [[Trogdor!! The Board Game]] at [[PAX East - 8 Apr 2018|PAX East 2018]]]] |
| - | In June 1996, Mike and his friend [[Craig Zobel]] co-wrote ''[[Original Book|The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest]]''. | + | In June 1996, Mike and his friend [[Craig Zobel]] co-wrote ''[[Original Book|The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest]]'', originating the Homestar Runner world and characters. This was a short handmade picture book parodying children's stories. Mike, working with Zobel and/or his brother Matt, would occasionally revisit these characters: an unfinished sequel book ''[[Homestar Runner Goes For The Gold!]]'', an [[Super NES|animation in ''Mario Paint'']], or online short story ''[[Where My Hat Is At?]]''. |
| - | + | The idea to launch [[homestarrunner.com]] began in 1999. The Chapman brothers were living together in an apartment in Georgia and, when learning about the creative possibilities of [[Flash]], Mike and Matt chose Homestar Runner as the subject to use when teaching themselves the program. | |
{{sectionstub}} | {{sectionstub}} | ||
====Characters==== | ====Characters==== | ||
''From [[Sample of Style]]:'' | ''From [[Sample of Style]]:'' | ||
| - | <blockquote>I'm Mike Chapman from | + | <blockquote>I'm Mike Chapman from HomestarRunner.com. People are [[all the time]] asking me, "Mike, how do you do those stupid voices for your [[dumb animal characters]]?" and I say, "I'm Mike! Matt does the voices!"</blockquote> |
| - | Although Matt is the primary voice actor for the site's [[characters]], a few secondary figures are portrayed by Mike. [[Pom Pom]]'s "voice" is | + | Although Matt is the primary voice actor for the site's [[characters]], a few secondary figures are portrayed by Mike. [[Pom Pom]]'s "voice" is a sound clip of Mike blowing bubbles into milk.{{ref|8}} Mike voices the [[Powered by The Cheat]] iterations of characters, impersonating Matt's voice [[Poor Acting|intentionally poorly]]; he uses similar voices for characters like [[Shark-Tooth Bubs]] and [[Craig]]. Mike once substituted as Strong Sad's voice, in [[cheat talk]], when Matt was too hoarse to deliver the character's line.{{ref|4}} |
[[Image:teeg_dougland.png|thumb|[[Teeg Dougland]] resembles Mike, who provides his voice.]] | [[Image:teeg_dougland.png|thumb|[[Teeg Dougland]] resembles Mike, who provides his voice.]] | ||
Other characters voiced by Mike include: | Other characters voiced by Mike include: | ||
<!--We may have to cite these--> | <!--We may have to cite these--> | ||
| - | *The announcer in [[Where's | + | *The announcer in [[Where's The Cheat?]], and announcer #2 in [[Strong Bad Sings]]. |
*[[Blue Laser Babies]] | *[[Blue Laser Babies]] | ||
*[[The Knight]] | *[[The Knight]] | ||
*[[The Worm]] | *[[The Worm]] | ||
*[[Teeg Dougland]] | *[[Teeg Dougland]] | ||
| - | |||
*[[That Time of Year]] narrator | *[[That Time of Year]] narrator | ||
*[[The Exact Same]] | *[[The Exact Same]] | ||
| Line 39: | Line 38: | ||
== Music == | == Music == | ||
[[Image:Bearded mike.JPG|thumb|107px|Mike [[b/w]] beard]] | [[Image:Bearded mike.JPG|thumb|107px|Mike [[b/w]] beard]] | ||
| - | Mike is a songwriter and vocalist, and plays bass guitar, [[Casio|synthesizers]], and [[Paul Slocum|Synthcart]]. He has performed music as a member of [[sloshy]] both on the site and in live performances. | + | Mike is a songwriter and vocalist, and plays bass guitar, [[Casio Keyboards|synthesizers]], and [[Paul Slocum|Synthcart]]. He has performed music as a member of [[sloshy]] both on the site and in live performances. |
| - | Outside of Homestar Runner, Matt has released music as part of groups [[Poot-Slap|3-Dee]], Hi-Score, and {{w|Air-Sea Dolphin}}. | + | Outside of Homestar Runner, Matt has released music as part of groups [[Poot-Slap|3-Dee]], Hi-Score,{{ref|18}} and {{w|Air-Sea Dolphin}}. |
===Favorite Music=== | ===Favorite Music=== | ||
| - | In | + | In a 2003 interview,{{ref|5}} Mike provided his top 5 favorite albums (in no particular order): |
*{{w|Tom Waits}} — ''{{w|Rain Dogs}}'' | *{{w|Tom Waits}} — ''{{w|Rain Dogs}}'' | ||
*{{w|The Modern Lovers|Modern Lovers}} — ''{{w|The Modern Lovers (album)|The Modern Lovers}}'' | *{{w|The Modern Lovers|Modern Lovers}} — ''{{w|The Modern Lovers (album)|The Modern Lovers}}'' | ||
| Line 49: | Line 48: | ||
*{{w|Mudhoney}} — ''{{w|Superfuzz Bigmuff}}'' | *{{w|Mudhoney}} — ''{{w|Superfuzz Bigmuff}}'' | ||
*{{w|Built to Spill}} — ''{{w|Ultimate Alternative Wavers}}'' | *{{w|Built to Spill}} — ''{{w|Ultimate Alternative Wavers}}'' | ||
| - | Mike has also [[Run Devil Run Interview|expressed interest in]] {{w|The Glands}}, {{w|The Flaming Lips}}, {{w|Will Oldham}}, and [[Outkast]]. | + | Mike has also [[Run Devil Run Interview|expressed interest in]] {{w|The Glands}}, {{w|The Flaming Lips}}, {{w|Will Oldham}}, and [[Outkast]].{{ref|6}} He took the photographs for the cover of {{w|Thursday (band)|Thursday}} album ''{{w|Full Collapse}}''.{{ref|5}} |
== Personal Life == | == Personal Life == | ||
| - | [[File:MikeMattandDon.png|thumb|Brothers Mike, Matt, and Donnie (L | + | [[File:MikeMattandDon.png|thumb|Brothers Mike, Matt, and Donnie (L{{nbh}}R)]] |
Mike is the second-youngest of [[Don and Harriet Chapman]]'s five children. Eldest brother [[Donnie Chapman|Donnie]] is occasionally cited as a creative influence on The Brothers Chaps, particularly in sharing his interests about older video games or music. | Mike is the second-youngest of [[Don and Harriet Chapman]]'s five children. Eldest brother [[Donnie Chapman|Donnie]] is occasionally cited as a creative influence on The Brothers Chaps, particularly in sharing his interests about older video games or music. | ||
| - | Mike began dating [[Missy Palmer]], voice of [[Marzipan]] shortly before the site started in January of 2000. | + | Mike began dating [[Missy Palmer]], voice of [[Marzipan]], shortly before the site started in January of 2000.{{ref|7}} They were married February 28, 2004. Their daughter, referred to as the [[Very, Very Little Girl]], was born in 2006 and appeared in [[Summer Short Shorts#Easter Eggs|Homestar vs. Very, Very Little Girl]]. |
==Fun Facts== | ==Fun Facts== | ||
| - | + | *As of 2006, nearly ten years after graduating from UGA, Mike's Bachelor of Fine Arts degree was still kept rolled up in the cardboard tube it was mailed in.{{ref|1}} | |
| - | * | + | *Mike has listed several toons as his favorites: |
| - | *His favorite character is [[The Homestar Runner]]. | + | **[[Parsnips A-Plenty]]{{ref|8}} |
| - | *Mike was a panel member for the "Beyond Saturday Morning" discussion group at the 2004 Atlanta Film Festival. | + | **[[Cheat Commandos...O's]] and [[Shopping For Danger]]{{ref|9}} |
| + | **[[best thing]]{{ref|13}} | ||
| + | **[[kids' book]]{{ref|14}} | ||
| + | *His favorite character is [[The Homestar Runner]].{{ref|9}}{{ref|10}} | ||
| + | **Mike has also expressed fondness for the [[Fat Bluebird]].{{ref|11}} | ||
| + | *Mike was a panel member for the "Beyond Saturday Morning" discussion group at the 2004 {{w|Atlanta Film Festival}}.{{ref|12}} | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
| Line 68: | Line 72: | ||
*[[HRWiki:Mike's 2007 birthday card|Mike's 2007 birthday card]] | *[[HRWiki:Mike's 2007 birthday card|Mike's 2007 birthday card]] | ||
*[[:Category:Mike Chapman Filmography|Mike Chapman filmography]] | *[[:Category:Mike Chapman Filmography|Mike Chapman filmography]] | ||
| - | === | + | ===References=== |
| - | + | <table width="95%"> | |
| - | + | <autocolumn cols="2" width="40%"> | |
| - | + | # {{note|1}} [http://web.archive.org/web/20060209234853/http://www.flashforwardconference.com/speakers?name=mike_chapman Speaker biography] from [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006|Flashforward 2006]] (archive link) | |
| - | + | # {{note|2}} Chinsang, Wayne. [[Tastes Like Chicken Interview|"Homestar Runner's The Brothers Chaps", ''Tastes Like Chicken'']], June 2003 | |
| - | + | # {{note|3}} Carriveau, Derrick. [[Legion Studios Interviews|"Legion Interviews Mike Chapman of homestarrunner.com", ''Legion Studios'']], 2002 | |
| + | # {{note|4}} Carlson, Jay. [[Inkhole Interview|"The Inkhole Exclusive Interview with Homestar Runner Co-Creator Matt Chapman", ''The Inkhole'']], July 2004 | ||
| + | # {{note|5}} Luczejko, Justin. [[Wonkavision Magazine Interview|"Homestarrunner.com: Like the Nintendo Entertainment System Without the Thumb-Blisters", ''Wonkavision'' #21]], spring 2003 | ||
| + | # {{note|6}} Neutron, C. [[Run Devil Run Interview|"Interview with Mike and Matt Chapman, creators of Homestarrunner.com", ''Run Devil Run'']], 2003 | ||
| + | # {{note|7}} [[Penguin Brothers Interview - 26 May 2003|"Homestar Runner Interview", ''Penguin Brothers'']], May 2003 | ||
| + | #{{note|8}} Gumbrecht, Jamie. [[Atlanta Journal-Constitution Interview - 21 Jul 2003|"'Toon Bros.", ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'']], 21 July 2003 | ||
| + | # {{note|9}} Goldstein, Ben. [[Giant Magazine Interview|"Mike Chapman: Homestarrunner Co–creator", ''Giant'' magazine]], April/May 2005 | ||
| + | # {{note|10}} {{dvdcom|20X6 vs. 1936}}, ''[[Everything Else, Volume 1]]'' | ||
| + | # {{note|11}} {{dvdcom|Strong Bad Sings}}, ''Everything Else, Volume 1'' | ||
| + | # {{note|12}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20040615055221/http://www.imagefv.org:80/aff2004/panels.htm Atlanta Film Festival 2004 panels] (archive link) | ||
| + | # {{note|13}} {{dvdcom|best thing}}, [[strongbad_email.exe Disc Four|''strongbad_email.exe'' disc four]] | ||
| + | # {{note|14}} Chapman, Mike and Matt. [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006|"How and Why Homestar Runner Cartoons Get Made"]], Flashforward 2006 Seattle, February 2006 | ||
| + | # {{note|15}} Coyle, Michael. [[ResExcellence Interview - 30 Jan 2003|"The Creators of Homestar Runner, The Brothers Chapman", ''ResExcellence'']], January 2003 | ||
| + | # {{note|16}} {{dvdcom|stand-up}}, {{dvdcom|A Decemberween Pageant}} | ||
| + | # {{note|17}} Mosley, Les. [https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/gua1179162/1997-03-13/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Chapman+Mike "And now for something completely different"] & [https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/gua1179162/1997-03-13/ed-1/seq-10/#words=Chapman+Mike "Senior exit exhibit closes tonight"], ''The Red and Black,'' 13 March 1997 | ||
| + | # {{note|18}} Battagalia, Andy. [https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn94029049/1996-06-05/ed-1/seq-21/#words=Chapman+Mike "Hi-Score: Arcade Rock Pioneers?"], ''Flagpole'', 05 June 1996 | ||
| + | # {{note|19}} [[Sketchbook (video)]] | ||
| + | </autocolumn> | ||
| + | </table> | ||
| + | ''Additional videos and interviews are available at [[Interviews and Public Appearances]] and [[Links#Articles|Articles]].'' | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| - | * | + | *{{w|The Brothers Chaps}} Wikipedia article |
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1053635/ Mike Chapman] on IMDb | *[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1053635/ Mike Chapman] on IMDb | ||
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20090629081931/http://2005.sxsw.com/interactive/conference/panels/?action=bio&id=Z161906 Panelist biography] from [[SXSW Panel - 14 Mar 2005|SXSW 2005]] (archive link) | *[http://web.archive.org/web/20090629081931/http://2005.sxsw.com/interactive/conference/panels/?action=bio&id=Z161906 Panelist biography] from [[SXSW Panel - 14 Mar 2005|SXSW 2005]] (archive link) | ||
| - | |||
[[Category:Chapman family members|Chapman, Mike]] | [[Category:Chapman family members|Chapman, Mike]] | ||
Current revision as of 13:38, 23 February 2026
Michael "Mike" Raymond Chapman (born September 20, 1973) is the co-creator of Homestar Runner. One half of creative duo the Brothers Chaps, alongside younger brother Matt Chapman, he serves as one of the principal creators of homestarrunner.com.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Education
Born in Indiana and raised in the state of Georgia,[9] Mike attended Vanderlyn Elementary School and Dunwoody High School along with his brother.[16][19] Mike studied Fine Art at the University of Georgia, earning a bachelor's degree in photography in 1997,[17] after which he enrolled at a postgrad Master's photography program at Louisiana State University. After a year of classes, he realized his esoteric approach to photography meant he "didn't have the desire or the skills to be a commercial photographer", and he dropped out of the program by 1999.[2][15]
Mike's other artistic pursuits were largely unschooled; he only took one introductory computer class in school.[15] A "self-taught graphic designer/animator/illustrator/writer/musician",[1] Mike worked as a freelance designer after college.[3]
[edit] Homestar Runner
In June 1996, Mike and his friend Craig Zobel co-wrote The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest, originating the Homestar Runner world and characters. This was a short handmade picture book parodying children's stories. Mike, working with Zobel and/or his brother Matt, would occasionally revisit these characters: an unfinished sequel book Homestar Runner Goes For The Gold!, an animation in Mario Paint, or online short story Where My Hat Is At?.
The idea to launch homestarrunner.com began in 1999. The Chapman brothers were living together in an apartment in Georgia and, when learning about the creative possibilities of Flash, Mike and Matt chose Homestar Runner as the subject to use when teaching themselves the program.
This section of the page is incomplete. You can help the Homestar Runner Wiki by expanding it.
[edit] Characters
From Sample of Style:
I'm Mike Chapman from HomestarRunner.com. People are all the time asking me, "Mike, how do you do those stupid voices for your dumb animal characters?" and I say, "I'm Mike! Matt does the voices!"
Although Matt is the primary voice actor for the site's characters, a few secondary figures are portrayed by Mike. Pom Pom's "voice" is a sound clip of Mike blowing bubbles into milk.[8] Mike voices the Powered by The Cheat iterations of characters, impersonating Matt's voice intentionally poorly; he uses similar voices for characters like Shark-Tooth Bubs and Craig. Mike once substituted as Strong Sad's voice, in cheat talk, when Matt was too hoarse to deliver the character's line.[4]
Other characters voiced by Mike include:
- The announcer in Where's The Cheat?, and announcer #2 in Strong Bad Sings.
- Blue Laser Babies
- The Knight
- The Worm
- Teeg Dougland
- That Time of Year narrator
- The Exact Same
Mike portrays the following characters via photo or video appearances:
- Videlectrix Programmer Number Two
- Dolph Hauldhagen
- Dave Olafstenston of Taranchula
- Thy Dungeonman
[edit] Music
Mike is a songwriter and vocalist, and plays bass guitar, synthesizers, and Synthcart. He has performed music as a member of sloshy both on the site and in live performances.
Outside of Homestar Runner, Matt has released music as part of groups 3-Dee, Hi-Score,[18] and Air-Sea Dolphin.
[edit] Favorite Music
In a 2003 interview,[5] Mike provided his top 5 favorite albums (in no particular order):
- Tom Waits — Rain Dogs
- Modern Lovers — The Modern Lovers
- Beastie Boys — Paul's Boutique
- Mudhoney — Superfuzz Bigmuff
- Built to Spill — Ultimate Alternative Wavers
Mike has also expressed interest in The Glands, The Flaming Lips, Will Oldham, and Outkast.[6] He took the photographs for the cover of Thursday album Full Collapse.[5]
[edit] Personal Life
Mike is the second-youngest of Don and Harriet Chapman's five children. Eldest brother Donnie is occasionally cited as a creative influence on The Brothers Chaps, particularly in sharing his interests about older video games or music.
Mike began dating Missy Palmer, voice of Marzipan, shortly before the site started in January of 2000.[7] They were married February 28, 2004. Their daughter, referred to as the Very, Very Little Girl, was born in 2006 and appeared in Homestar vs. Very, Very Little Girl.
[edit] Fun Facts
- As of 2006, nearly ten years after graduating from UGA, Mike's Bachelor of Fine Arts degree was still kept rolled up in the cardboard tube it was mailed in.[1]
- Mike has listed several toons as his favorites:
- His favorite character is The Homestar Runner.[9][10]
- Mike has also expressed fondness for the Fat Bluebird.[11]
- Mike was a panel member for the "Beyond Saturday Morning" discussion group at the 2004 Atlanta Film Festival.[12]
[edit] See Also
- Matt Chapman
- The Brothers Chaps' Fansite Acknowledgments
- Mike's 2007 birthday card
- Mike Chapman filmography
[edit] References
Additional videos and interviews are available at Interviews and Public Appearances and Articles.
[edit] External Links
- The Brothers Chaps Wikipedia article
- Mike Chapman on IMDb
- Panelist biography from SXSW 2005 (archive link)
