Homestar Runner (body of work)
From Homestar Runner Wiki
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==Characters== | ==Characters== | ||
| - | [[Image:everybody-poster.PNG|thumb|The Homestar Runner cast, as shown on the [[ | + | [[Image:everybody-poster.PNG|thumb|The Homestar Runner cast, as shown on the [[Everybody Everybody Poster]].]] |
| - | The [[Toons|cartoons]] nominally center on the [[character]] [[Homestar Runner]], a somewhat dim but good-hearted athlete. The character [[Strong Bad]], however, is often more popular among fans, mostly through his near-weekly updates of [[Strong Bad Email]] before the [[HRWiki:Hiatuses|hiatus]], short cartoons in which he answers actual emails from viewers. Strong Bad works closely with his sidekick [[The Cheat]] and uses his brother [[Strong Mad]] as the muscle in his operations. Together, the three prey on Strong Bad's depressed brother [[Strong Sad]]. Many of the site's features — [[Songs|music]], [[Games|games]], [[main pages]], [[characters]], etc. — are based on | + | The [[Toons|cartoons]] nominally center on the [[character]] [[Homestar Runner]], a somewhat dim but good-hearted athlete. The character [[Strong Bad]], however, is often more popular among fans, mostly through his near-weekly updates of [[Strong Bad Email]] (before the [[HRWiki:Hiatuses|hiatus]]), short cartoons in which he answers actual emails from viewers. Strong Bad works closely with his sidekick [[The Cheat]] and uses his brother [[Strong Mad]] as the muscle in his operations. Together, the three prey on Strong Bad's depressed brother [[Strong Sad]]. Many of the site's features — [[Songs|music]], [[Games|games]], [[main pages]], [[characters]], etc. — are based on concepts from the Strong Bad Emails. |
| - | Several other characters fill out the world of [[Free Country, USA]], where most of the characters live: Homestar's hippie girlfriend [[Marzipan]], whose [[Marzipan's Answering Machine|answering machine]] is a frequent target for [[Aliases Used in Prank Calls|prank callers]], his best friend [[Pom Pom]], the verbally | + | Several other characters fill out the world of [[Free Country, USA]], where most of the characters live: Homestar's hippie girlfriend [[Marzipan]], whose [[Marzipan's Answering Machine|answering machine]] is a frequent target for [[Aliases Used in Prank Calls|prank callers]], his best friend [[Pom Pom]], the verbally challenged [[Coach Z]], local [[Bubs' Concession Stand|concession stand]] owner [[Bubs]], and [[The King of Town]] and his [[The Poopsmith|Poopsmith]]. Rounding out the cast is [[Homsar]], an odd-speaking character created on account of (and in mockery of) a [[homsar|poorly written email to Strong Bad]]. Many of these characters have [[Characters#Variations|alternate versions]]. |
==Toons== | ==Toons== | ||
| - | From January 2002 to | + | From January 2002 to November 2009, new content was added to the website nearly every week, usually on Monday, such as a [[short]], a [[Big Toon|longer cartoon]], a [[Strong Bad Email]], an [[Games|online Flash game]], or [[Store|real-life merchandise]] like [[Store CD/DVDs|DVDs]] and [[Store Toys|action figures]]. Strong Bad Email is the most expansive and popular series on the website, and has produced several [[Strong Bad Email Spin-offs|spin-offs]], such as [[Strong Bad]]'s crudely drawn comic series ''[[Teen Girl Squad]]''. The comic parodies four archetypal high-school girls and their equally archetypal quest for attractiveness, popularity, and love, which is continually frustrated by their violent [[Teen Girl Squad Deaths|death]]s in every episode. |
| - | Some other types of cartoons include ''[[Marzipan's Answering Machine]]'', | + | Some other types of cartoons include ''[[Marzipan's Answering Machine]]'', toons with little animation in which characters call Marzipan on her answering machine; ''[[Puppet Stuff]]'', which uses [[live action]] [[Puppet Character Variations|puppets]] instead of animation; and ''[[Powered by The Cheat]]'', poorly animated and voice-acted cartoons created by [[The Cheat]]. Some [[Toons#Holiday|toons]] feature the characters celebrating [[holidays]], like [[Decemberween]], a holiday similar to Christmas, and [[Halloween]]. |
| - | The website, built mostly out of Flash animations, is filled with hidden [[Easter egg]]s: if a certain area on the page is mouse-clicked at the right time, an additional cartoon or screen will appear. For example, in the Strong Bad Email [[studying]], viewers can view a hidden [[Bookazon.com|Web page]] about a book that Strong Bad mentions. Also, at the end of the email [[vacation]], | + | The website, built mostly out of Flash animations, is filled with hidden [[Easter egg]]s: if a certain area on the page is mouse-clicked at the right time, an additional cartoon or screen will appear. For example, in the Strong Bad Email [[studying]], viewers can view a hidden [[Bookazon.com|Web page]] about a book that Strong Bad mentions. Also, at the end of the email [[vacation]], viewers can click on one of five postcards to hear what Strong Bad thinks of the particular [[Strong Bad's Vacation Spots|place he has visited]]. |
| - | Some cartoons feature spin-offs like [[Old-Timey]], black-and-white cartoons parodying the style of the 1930s | + | Some cartoons feature spin-offs like [[Old-Timey]], black-and-white cartoons parodying the style of the 1930s; [[20X6]], a parody [[anime]] cartoon featuring the main character [[Stinkoman]]; and [[Dangeresque (film series)|Dangeresque]], a film series created by Strong Bad. |
==Real World== | ==Real World== | ||
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The website is the product of [[Mike Chapman|Mike]] and [[Matt Chapman]], who typically call themselves "[[The Brothers Chaps]]". Matt Chapman provides the voices of the male characters, while [[Missy Palmer]], Mike's wife, does that of Marzipan. Mike Chapman provides the stilted voices for [[Powered by The Cheat|The Cheat's amateurish Flash cartoons]]. Both brothers do the [[Flash]] animating for the cartoons. Many other [[contributors|people]] also help with the series. | The website is the product of [[Mike Chapman|Mike]] and [[Matt Chapman]], who typically call themselves "[[The Brothers Chaps]]". Matt Chapman provides the voices of the male characters, while [[Missy Palmer]], Mike's wife, does that of Marzipan. Mike Chapman provides the stilted voices for [[Powered by The Cheat|The Cheat's amateurish Flash cartoons]]. Both brothers do the [[Flash]] animating for the cartoons. Many other [[contributors|people]] also help with the series. | ||
| - | Because the Brothers Chaps run their own website, they have a creative freedom that they would not have doing a regular TV show. Though the site sells Homestar merchandise, it has no advertisements, and a few of the cartoons parody advertising, with made-up products like [[Fluffy Puff Marshmallows]]. The Internet has allowed them to reach a large audience that they wouldn't have access to otherwise. Originally, they developed Homestar Runner as a labor of love, and for their own amusement. It has grown large enough that merchandise sales pay for all of the costs of running the website. | + | Because the Brothers Chaps run their own website, they have a creative freedom that they would not have doing a regular TV show. Though the site sells Homestar merchandise, it has no advertisements, and a few of the cartoons parody advertising, with made-up products like [[Fluffy Puff Marshmallows]]. The Internet has allowed them to reach a large audience that they wouldn't have access to otherwise. Originally, they developed Homestar Runner as a labor of love, and for their own amusement. It has grown large enough that merchandise sales pay for all of the costs of running the website. An article in the ''Chicago Tribune'' on July 24, 2003, reported the retired [[Don and Harriet Chapman|parents of the Brothers Chaps]] were spending a lot of time dealing with the business aspects of the website. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
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*[[HR:firsttime.html|Introduction for first-time visitors]] | *[[HR:firsttime.html|Introduction for first-time visitors]] | ||
*[[Wikipedia:Homestar Runner|Wikipedia entry for "Homestar Runner"]] | *[[Wikipedia:Homestar Runner|Wikipedia entry for "Homestar Runner"]] | ||
| - | *[[ | + | *[[TVTropes:WebAnimation/HomestarRunner|TVTropes entry for "Homestar Runner"]] |
[[Category:Real World]] | [[Category:Real World]] | ||
Revision as of 22:44, 3 January 2020
Homestar Runner (often abbreviated as HR, HSR or H*R) is primarily a Flash cartoon available through homestarrunner.com. Although originally conceived as a mock children's book, the site is perhaps most popular with (and has been gravitating toward) young adults.
Contents |
Characters
The cartoons nominally center on the character Homestar Runner, a somewhat dim but good-hearted athlete. The character Strong Bad, however, is often more popular among fans, mostly through his near-weekly updates of Strong Bad Email (before the hiatus), short cartoons in which he answers actual emails from viewers. Strong Bad works closely with his sidekick The Cheat and uses his brother Strong Mad as the muscle in his operations. Together, the three prey on Strong Bad's depressed brother Strong Sad. Many of the site's features — music, games, main pages, characters, etc. — are based on concepts from the Strong Bad Emails.
Several other characters fill out the world of Free Country, USA, where most of the characters live: Homestar's hippie girlfriend Marzipan, whose answering machine is a frequent target for prank callers, his best friend Pom Pom, the verbally challenged Coach Z, local concession stand owner Bubs, and The King of Town and his Poopsmith. Rounding out the cast is Homsar, an odd-speaking character created on account of (and in mockery of) a poorly written email to Strong Bad. Many of these characters have alternate versions.
Toons
From January 2002 to November 2009, new content was added to the website nearly every week, usually on Monday, such as a short, a longer cartoon, a Strong Bad Email, an online Flash game, or real-life merchandise like DVDs and action figures. Strong Bad Email is the most expansive and popular series on the website, and has produced several spin-offs, such as Strong Bad's crudely drawn comic series Teen Girl Squad. The comic parodies four archetypal high-school girls and their equally archetypal quest for attractiveness, popularity, and love, which is continually frustrated by their violent deaths in every episode.
Some other types of cartoons include Marzipan's Answering Machine, toons with little animation in which characters call Marzipan on her answering machine; Puppet Stuff, which uses live action puppets instead of animation; and Powered by The Cheat, poorly animated and voice-acted cartoons created by The Cheat. Some toons feature the characters celebrating holidays, like Decemberween, a holiday similar to Christmas, and Halloween.
The website, built mostly out of Flash animations, is filled with hidden Easter eggs: if a certain area on the page is mouse-clicked at the right time, an additional cartoon or screen will appear. For example, in the Strong Bad Email studying, viewers can view a hidden Web page about a book that Strong Bad mentions. Also, at the end of the email vacation, viewers can click on one of five postcards to hear what Strong Bad thinks of the particular place he has visited.
Some cartoons feature spin-offs like Old-Timey, black-and-white cartoons parodying the style of the 1930s; 20X6, a parody anime cartoon featuring the main character Stinkoman; and Dangeresque, a film series created by Strong Bad.
Real World
The website is the product of Mike and Matt Chapman, who typically call themselves "The Brothers Chaps". Matt Chapman provides the voices of the male characters, while Missy Palmer, Mike's wife, does that of Marzipan. Mike Chapman provides the stilted voices for The Cheat's amateurish Flash cartoons. Both brothers do the Flash animating for the cartoons. Many other people also help with the series.
Because the Brothers Chaps run their own website, they have a creative freedom that they would not have doing a regular TV show. Though the site sells Homestar merchandise, it has no advertisements, and a few of the cartoons parody advertising, with made-up products like Fluffy Puff Marshmallows. The Internet has allowed them to reach a large audience that they wouldn't have access to otherwise. Originally, they developed Homestar Runner as a labor of love, and for their own amusement. It has grown large enough that merchandise sales pay for all of the costs of running the website. An article in the Chicago Tribune on July 24, 2003, reported the retired parents of the Brothers Chaps were spending a lot of time dealing with the business aspects of the website.
References
- "Homestar Runner." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2004, 03:57 UTC. 16 Dec 2004, 13:00 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Homestar_Runner&oldid=8505608>.
- Content for the above was taken chiefly from the Wikipedia article for Homestar Runner found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestar_Runner. As such, this article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
See Also
- Timeline of Homestar Runner
- Homestar Runner universe
- Inconsistencies within the Homestar Runner universe
External links
