Pom Pom

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(Add lede and expand on some out-of-universe character creation information.)
(rm/nottrueities (and some other touching up; his carrying a gun is sufficiently noted further down the page))
 
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{{Infobox Main Character|img=pompom.PNG|imgalt=The big cheese.|voice=[[Mike Chapman]] <span style="font-size: smaller;">(blowing&nbsp;bubbles)</span>|debut=Original Book{{!}}''The Homestar Runner Enters The Strongest Man in the World Contest''|3Dimg=3D_pompom.PNG|3Dalt=3D Pom Pom!}}
{{Infobox Main Character|img=pompom.PNG|imgalt=The big cheese.|voice=[[Mike Chapman]] <span style="font-size: smaller;">(blowing&nbsp;bubbles)</span>|debut=Original Book{{!}}''The Homestar Runner Enters The Strongest Man in the World Contest''|3Dimg=3D_pompom.PNG|3Dalt=3D Pom Pom!}}
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'''Pom Pom''' (occasionally written as '''Pom-Pom''') is a large, yellow, balloon-like fellow who is best friends with [[Homestar Runner]]. His soft, bubble-like appearance conceals a complex and often dark personality: Pom Pom is a [[gun]]-toting {{w|martial arts}} expert, wealthy gadabout businessman, and flirtatious [[Pom Pom's girls|ladies]]' man.
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'''Pom Pom''' (occasionally written as '''Pom-Pom''') is a large, yellow, balloon-like fellow who is best friends with [[Homestar Runner]]. His soft, bubble-like appearance conceals a complex personality: Pom Pom is a {{w|martial arts}} expert, wealthy gadabout businessman, and flirtatious [[Pom Pom's girls|ladies]]' man.
== Characterization ==
== Characterization ==
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[[Image:pompom.png|thumb|left|Pom Pom is confused...]]
[[Image:pompom.png|thumb|left|Pom Pom is confused...]]
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Over the years, Pom Pom seems to have become a bit more pompous, from his irritation at Homestar at being [[Pom Pom's Character Video|interrupted during a cell phone call]], to his ditching the rest of the crew on prom night to [[senior prom|attend a much cooler private school prom]], his working against Homestar in [[Strong Badia the Free]] (on the side of [[the Municipality]]), his brushing off of Strong Bad to attend the [[technology|Sundance screening of his self-written, self-directed, self-produced and self-distributed movie]], and his [[from work|lording over Homestar with his status as "the big cheese" at]] [[The Office]].
+
Over the years, Pom Pom seems to have become a bit more pompous, from his irritation at Homestar at being [[Pom Pom's Character Video|interrupted during a cell phone call]], to his ditching the rest of the crew on prom night to [[senior prom|attend a much cooler private school prom]], his working against Homestar in [[Strong Badia the Free]] (on the side of [[the Municipality]]), his brushing off of Strong Bad to attend the [[technology|Sundance screening of his self-written, self-directed, self-produced and self-distributed movie]], and his [[from work|lording over Homestar with his status as "the big cheese"]] at [[The Office]].
Pom Pom seems to enjoy making movies and working with cameras in general. He has directed at least two movies, including one made completely on his cell phone. His other movie, ''[[city (comma) state]]'', performed quite well in theatres, being shown on 10,000 screens. However, he still has time for the little people; he has helped Homestar broadcast his news of [[No Hands on Deck|building a deck]] and has created a [[pom pom|documentary]] on [[Bubs]].
Pom Pom seems to enjoy making movies and working with cameras in general. He has directed at least two movies, including one made completely on his cell phone. His other movie, ''[[city (comma) state]]'', performed quite well in theatres, being shown on 10,000 screens. However, he still has time for the little people; he has helped Homestar broadcast his news of [[No Hands on Deck|building a deck]] and has created a [[pom pom|documentary]] on [[Bubs]].
Pom Pom appeared to have been killed by Homestar at the end of the 2014 Halloween toon [[I Killed Pom Pom]], although he is seen returning from the dead, apparently having been sewn back together, as a final gag. In the next Halloween toon, [[The House That Gave Sucky Tricks]], Pom Pom returns without explanation, which Homestar notices and thinks is "pretty great".
Pom Pom appeared to have been killed by Homestar at the end of the 2014 Halloween toon [[I Killed Pom Pom]], although he is seen returning from the dead, apparently having been sewn back together, as a final gag. In the next Halloween toon, [[The House That Gave Sucky Tricks]], Pom Pom returns without explanation, which Homestar notices and thinks is "pretty great".
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{{clear|left}}
=== Fighting Skills ===
=== Fighting Skills ===
[[Image:MartialArtsPom-Pom.PNG|thumb|160px|Kung-Fu skills.]]
[[Image:MartialArtsPom-Pom.PNG|thumb|160px|Kung-Fu skills.]]
Pom Pom is skilled in the martial arts and appears to enjoy fighting.
Pom Pom is skilled in the martial arts and appears to enjoy fighting.
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The first instance of Pom Pom fighting is inside a dojo from the [[Theme Song Video]] where he shows off his moves; this is broadened on later in the email [[pom pom]] where he gets a [[Nintendo|1-Up]] by severely pummeling Strong Bad. In the [[pom pom#Commentary Transcript|commentary]] for the same email, [[The Brothers Chaps]] discussed wanting to make a side scrolling Pom Pom fighting game. His skills are seen again in [[personal favorites]] where he got into a "knife fight" with [[Coach Z]]. In [[Summer Short Shorts]], Pom Pom shows off his skills with a {{w|bō}} and disappears with a smoke bomb. In [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]], he is seen as a take-out technician who kicks an old take-out box of Chinese food to unstick it from Dangeresque's safe.
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The first instance of Pom Pom fighting is inside a dojo from the [[Theme Song Video]] where he shows off his moves; this is broadened on later in the email [[pom pom]] where he gets a [[Nintendo|1-Up]] by severely pummeling Strong Bad. In the [[pom pom#Commentary Transcript|commentary]] for the same email, [[The Brothers Chaps]] discussed wanting to make a side scrolling Pom Pom fighting game. His skills are seen again in [[personal favorites]] where he got into a "knife fight" with [[Coach Z]]. In [[Summer Short Shorts]], Pom Pom shows off his skills with a {{w|bō}} and disappears with a smoke bomb. In [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]], he is seen as a take-out technician who kicks an old take-out box of Chinese food to unstick it from Dangeresque's safe.
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In [[Strong Badia the Free]], Pom Pom is described as "the shogun" and has samurai decorations in [[Club Technochocolate]], including an authentic katana that Strong Bad can steal. In [[Baddest of the Bands]], the katana is back in place, and looking at it causes Strong Bad to [[Blatant Lies|claim he donated it, and that Pom Pom definitely didn't take it back by force and wedgies]].
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In [[Strong Badia the Free]], Pom Pom founds the country of [[Pompomerania]], of which he is the shogun. He sets up samurai decorations in [[Club Technochocolate]], including an authentic katana that Strong Bad can steal. In [[Baddest of the Bands]], the katana is back in place, and looking at it causes Strong Bad to [[Blatant Lies|claim he donated it, and that Pom Pom definitely didn't take it back by force and wedgies]].
{{clear}}
{{clear}}
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Pom Pom's "voice" is a recording of [[Mike Chapman]] blowing bubbles into a glass of milk.{{ref|2}} This single sound effect has been reused since his first appearance, without variation or re-recording.
Pom Pom's "voice" is a recording of [[Mike Chapman]] blowing bubbles into a glass of milk.{{ref|2}} This single sound effect has been reused since his first appearance, without variation or re-recording.
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Early sketches indicated Pom Pom was planned to have a dog named [[Trivia Time]], though a satisfactory design for the dog was never found and the concept was abandoned. A cookie jar resembling the dog has made occasional appearances.
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Early sketches indicated Pom Pom was planned to have a dog named [[Trivia Time]], though a satisfactory design for the dog was never found, and the concept was abandoned. A cookie jar resembling the dog has made occasional appearances.
Pom Pom appears to be inflated, like a balloon or ball, and similarly moves with a near-weightless bouncing motion. His body consists of a yellow sphere with an orange stripe.  His oval head and somewhat-triangular arms and feet are the same color orange. Pom Pom's eyes are black ovals and he has [[Lack of Visible Body Parts|no visible mouth]]. He talks by making [[Lack of Intelligible Speech|bubbly noises]] and can absorb objects into his body for storage, suggesting that he is made of some sort of gelatinous substance.
Pom Pom appears to be inflated, like a balloon or ball, and similarly moves with a near-weightless bouncing motion. His body consists of a yellow sphere with an orange stripe.  His oval head and somewhat-triangular arms and feet are the same color orange. Pom Pom's eyes are black ovals and he has [[Lack of Visible Body Parts|no visible mouth]]. He talks by making [[Lack of Intelligible Speech|bubbly noises]] and can absorb objects into his body for storage, suggesting that he is made of some sort of gelatinous substance.
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His driver's license, seen in [[Pom Pom's Character Video|his character video]], lists his height at 6'2" with a weight of a mere four pounds; his sex is listed simply as "Pom". Despite a balloon-like physiology, he has signed up to be an {{w|organ donor}}.
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His driver's license, seen in [[Pom Pom's Character Video|his character video]], lists his height at 6'2" with a weight of four pounds; his sex is listed simply as "Pom". Despite a balloon-like physiology, he has signed up to be an {{w|organ donor}}.
===Other Poms===
===Other Poms===
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**The area code for Pom Pom's pager number, 718, is the area code for the boroughs of New York City other than Manhattan.  
**The area code for Pom Pom's pager number, 718, is the area code for the boroughs of New York City other than Manhattan.  
**{{w|555 (telephone number)|555}} is commonly used for {{w|fictitious telephone number}}s.
**{{w|555 (telephone number)|555}} is commonly used for {{w|fictitious telephone number}}s.
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* Although [[The Poopsmith]] and [[The Cheat]] also do not regularly speak intelligibly, Pom Pom is the only main character to have ''never'' said anything understandable as an English word.
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*Although [[The Poopsmith]] and [[The Cheat]] also do not regularly speak intelligibly, Pom Pom is the only main character to have ''never'' said anything understandable as an English word.
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* Pom Pom is the only main character voiced by [[Mike Chapman]]; nearly all others are voiced by brother [[Matt Chapman]].
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*Pom Pom is the only main character voiced by [[Mike Chapman]]; nearly all others are voiced by brother [[Matt Chapman]].
*Pom Pom's ringtone is a clip of DJ Teh Cheat's remix of [[The Geddup Noise]], as heard in [[technology]].
*Pom Pom's ringtone is a clip of DJ Teh Cheat's remix of [[The Geddup Noise]], as heard in [[technology]].
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*Pom Pom owns a [[Guns|firearm]]. He has been shown with a gun in [[In Search of the Yello Dello]], [[Most in the Graveyard]] and [[Halloween Potion-ma-jig]].
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*Pom Pom owns a [[Guns|firearm]]. He has been shown with a gun in [[In Search of the Yello Dello]], [[Most in the Graveyard]], and [[Halloween Potion-ma-jig]].
*A [[Pom Pictures]] production seen in the email [[independent]] shows Pom Pom going by the name "J. William Pom Thomas C. Pom" as director.
*A [[Pom Pictures]] production seen in the email [[independent]] shows Pom Pom going by the name "J. William Pom Thomas C. Pom" as director.
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*{{w|Kool-Aid Man}} in [[Pumpkin Carve-nival]]
*{{w|Kool-Aid Man}} in [[Pumpkin Carve-nival]]
*{{w|Kamala (wrestler)|Kamala the Ugandan Giant}} in [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]]
*{{w|Kamala (wrestler)|Kamala the Ugandan Giant}} in [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]]
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*The Big Boy (from {{wp|Bob's Big Boy}}) in [[Halloween Fairstival]]
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*The Big Boy (from {{w|Bob's Big Boy}}) in [[Halloween Fairstival]]
*Walter Sobchak from ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' in [[Halloween Potion-ma-jig]]
*Walter Sobchak from ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' in [[Halloween Potion-ma-jig]]
*{{w|Mario Batali}} in [[Happy Hallow-day]]
*{{w|Mario Batali}} in [[Happy Hallow-day]]
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*Wilson (from ''{{w|Cast Away}}'') in [[The House That Gave Sucky Tricks]]
*Wilson (from ''{{w|Cast Away}}'') in [[The House That Gave Sucky Tricks]]
*[http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Orange_Bird The Orange Bird] (incorrectly referred to as Sunshine Bird) in [[Later That Night...]]
*[http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Orange_Bird The Orange Bird] (incorrectly referred to as Sunshine Bird) in [[Later That Night...]]
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*[[Wikipedia:Violet Beauregarde|Violet Beauregarde]] (from ''{{w|Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory}}'') in [[Haunted Photo Booth]]
+
*{{w|Violet Beauregarde}} (from ''{{w|Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory}}'') in [[Haunted Photo Booth]]
*{{w|Missy Elliott}} (just as her inflatable suit, with Coach Z as the head) in [[Mr. Poofers Must Die]]
*{{w|Missy Elliott}} (just as her inflatable suit, with Coach Z as the head) in [[Mr. Poofers Must Die]]
*[https://www.mariowiki.com/Burt_the_Bashful Burt the Bashful] (from ''{{w|Yoshi's Island}}'') in [[The Homestar Runner Enters The Spooky Woods]]
*[https://www.mariowiki.com/Burt_the_Bashful Burt the Bashful] (from ''{{w|Yoshi's Island}}'') in [[The Homestar Runner Enters The Spooky Woods]]

Current revision as of 01:57, 29 March 2024

Character: Pom Pom
watch Pom Pom's character video ← Strong Sad Marzipan →
This article is about the character. For the Strong Bad Email, see pom pom.
Pom Pom
The big cheese.
Voiced by Mike Chapman (blowing bubbles)
Debut The Homestar Runner Enters The Strongest Man in the World Contest
Complete Filmography
Related Articles
Character Video
Character Relationships
Character Evolution
Other Costumes
Nicknames
3D Variation
3D Pom Pom!

Pom Pom (occasionally written as Pom-Pom) is a large, yellow, balloon-like fellow who is best friends with Homestar Runner. His soft, bubble-like appearance conceals a complex personality: Pom Pom is a martial arts expert, wealthy gadabout businessman, and flirtatious ladies' man.

Contents

[edit] Characterization

Pom Pom is Homestar Runner's best friend, but he sometimes hangs out with Strong Bad as well. He has such an open mind that he sometimes spends time with unpopular characters such as The King of Town and The Poopsmith. Pom Pom is often seen talking on his cell phone to his many girlfriends, and he keeps track of their contact information in his Pom Pilot. Pom Pom is also "the big cheese" at The Office as shown in from work.

Pom Pom is confused...

Over the years, Pom Pom seems to have become a bit more pompous, from his irritation at Homestar at being interrupted during a cell phone call, to his ditching the rest of the crew on prom night to attend a much cooler private school prom, his working against Homestar in Strong Badia the Free (on the side of the Municipality), his brushing off of Strong Bad to attend the Sundance screening of his self-written, self-directed, self-produced and self-distributed movie, and his lording over Homestar with his status as "the big cheese" at The Office.

Pom Pom seems to enjoy making movies and working with cameras in general. He has directed at least two movies, including one made completely on his cell phone. His other movie, city (comma) state, performed quite well in theatres, being shown on 10,000 screens. However, he still has time for the little people; he has helped Homestar broadcast his news of building a deck and has created a documentary on Bubs.

Pom Pom appeared to have been killed by Homestar at the end of the 2014 Halloween toon I Killed Pom Pom, although he is seen returning from the dead, apparently having been sewn back together, as a final gag. In the next Halloween toon, The House That Gave Sucky Tricks, Pom Pom returns without explanation, which Homestar notices and thinks is "pretty great".

[edit] Fighting Skills

Kung-Fu skills.

Pom Pom is skilled in the martial arts and appears to enjoy fighting.

The first instance of Pom Pom fighting is inside a dojo from the Theme Song Video where he shows off his moves; this is broadened on later in the email pom pom where he gets a 1-Up by severely pummeling Strong Bad. In the commentary for the same email, The Brothers Chaps discussed wanting to make a side scrolling Pom Pom fighting game. His skills are seen again in personal favorites where he got into a "knife fight" with Coach Z. In Summer Short Shorts, Pom Pom shows off his skills with a bō and disappears with a smoke bomb. In Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque, he is seen as a take-out technician who kicks an old take-out box of Chinese food to unstick it from Dangeresque's safe.

In Strong Badia the Free, Pom Pom founds the country of Pompomerania, of which he is the shogun. He sets up samurai decorations in Club Technochocolate, including an authentic katana that Strong Bad can steal. In Baddest of the Bands, the katana is back in place, and looking at it causes Strong Bad to claim he donated it, and that Pom Pom definitely didn't take it back by force and wedgies.

[edit] Character Video Transcript

See main article: Pom Pom's Character Video

{Pom Pom is talking on his phone.}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Here go Pom Pom! {to Pom Pom} What's up, Pom Pom? {Pom Pom gestures to his phone} Oh, sorry. {to camera} Pom Pom is definitely the mack around here. And he's my best friend. He's gotten me out of some pretty tight jams. And some pretty tight pants! But that only happened once. {to Pom Pom} Hey, Pom Pom! Yo—

{Pom Pom looks at him angrily and points to his phone.}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Oh, right. I forgot already. He's probably talking to some fine honey on his celly.

{Pom Pom gets out his wallet and shows the camera some pictures of his girlfriends, then tries to put it back in later but a part of it is sticking out, which he shoves it in with more force.}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: About to get her phone number. Or maybe he already has it. He gets digits like every single day. {to Pom Pom} Isn't that right, Pom Pom?

{Irritated, Pom Pom snaps his phone shut and bubbles angrily at Homestar.}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Oh, sorry again, man. My bad. I wasn't trying to step to you or anything. We're still cool.

{Pom Pom sighs, puts his phone away, shakes his head and bounces away.}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Pom Pom and I are still cool.

[edit] Character Design and Conception

See also Pom Pom Evolution
Pom Pom holds the distinction of starring in "the first bit of homestar related flash stuff" ever made by The Brothers Chaps.

Pom Pom first appeared in The Homestar Runner Enters The Strongest Man in the World Contest, the first entry in the Homestar Runner body of work. Referred to as "Pom-Pom", he wins the titular contest when Homestar drops out to expose Strong Bad's cheating. Craig Zobel, co-writer of the book, created Pom Pom.[1]

Another first was marked by Pom Pom a few years later: the first Flash animation featuring a Homestar character. This animation, simply featuring Pom Pom bouncing across a blank white screen, means that he appeared in Flash before Homestar Runner himself.

Pom Pom's "voice" is a recording of Mike Chapman blowing bubbles into a glass of milk.[2] This single sound effect has been reused since his first appearance, without variation or re-recording.

Early sketches indicated Pom Pom was planned to have a dog named Trivia Time, though a satisfactory design for the dog was never found, and the concept was abandoned. A cookie jar resembling the dog has made occasional appearances.

Pom Pom appears to be inflated, like a balloon or ball, and similarly moves with a near-weightless bouncing motion. His body consists of a yellow sphere with an orange stripe. His oval head and somewhat-triangular arms and feet are the same color orange. Pom Pom's eyes are black ovals and he has no visible mouth. He talks by making bubbly noises and can absorb objects into his body for storage, suggesting that he is made of some sort of gelatinous substance.

His driver's license, seen in his character video, lists his height at 6'2" with a weight of four pounds; his sex is listed simply as "Pom". Despite a balloon-like physiology, he has signed up to be an organ donor.

[edit] Other Poms

Another Pom Pom-centric element from the very early history of the site is the short Pom Pom, Too. This simplistic toon makes mention of other Poms, all resembling Pom Pom with different colors or patterns, including his parents. The toon is set on the "Isle of Pom", home of all Poms; this was mentioned as Pom Pom's homeland at several later points,[3] though the isle itself and any other Poms have only been briefly glimpsed once since this toon.[4]

His parents, seen in Pom Pom, Too, are the only parents of a main character to be shown on the site. His father is referred to as a General in both the Yearbook Character Page and in the Strong Bad Email pom pom. Strong Bad later hypothetically envisions them as a file cabinet in Family Resemblence.

[edit] Fun Facts

Producers of city (comma) state.

[edit] Relationships

See main article: Character Relationships

[edit] Variations

"He's a good bear!"

[edit] Halloween Costumes

[edit] See Also

[edit] Sources

  1. ^  "Craig Zobel, Film Production", Gothamist, 2004
  2. ^  "Matt Chapman: Homestarrunner Co–creator", Giant magazine, 2005
  3. ^  Old Characters Page; Yearbook Character Page; "Homestar Runner Character Comprehensive", Wonkavision issue #21; Pom Pom's Character Video (Easter egg)
  4. ^  Tim Tom is seen on an island (unnamed, implicitly Isle of Pom) in Kick-a-Ball.

[edit] External Links

Main Characters

Homestar Runner | Strong Bad | The Cheat | Strong Mad | Strong Sad | Pom Pom | Marzipan | Coach Z | Bubs | The King of Town | The Poopsmith | Homsar

Retrieved from "http://hrwiki.org/wiki/Pom_Pom"