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'''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 [[Original Book|children's book]], the site is perhaps most popular with (and has been gravitating toward) teens and young adults.


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== Characters ==
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''The Homestar Runner cast, as shown on the Everybody Everybody Poster .''


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The [[Toons|cartoons]] nominally center on the [[Characters|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|main pages]], [[Characters|characters]], etc. — are based on concepts from the Strong Bad Emails.
The &quot;Homestar Runner&quot; logo
 
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'''''Homestar Runner''''' (abbreviated as '''H*R''', occasionally as '''HR''' or '''HSR''') is an animated comedy series produced by [[The Brothers Chaps|the Brothers Chaps]] ([[Mike Chapman|Mike]] and [[Matt Chapman]]), primarily taking the form of short [[Flash]] cartoons presented on [[homestarrunner.com]]. The series centers on the adventures of a large and diverse cast of [[Characters|characters]], headed by the titular [[Homestar Runner]]. It uses a blend of surreal and absurdist humor, incorporating [[Inside Jokes|inside jokes]], satire, and [[Category:Entertainment running gags|references to popular culture]] — in particular [[Category:Video game references|video games]], classic television, and [[Popular Music References|popular music]].
 
''Homestar Runner'' originated in 1996 as [[Original Book|a short book parodying children's literature]] written by Mike Chapman and [[Craig Zobel]]. Whilst learning Macromedia Flash, Mike and his brother Matt expanded the concept into a website, which was launched on New Year's Day 2000. While the site originally centered on the title character, the [[Strong Bad Email]] series quickly became the site's most popular and prominent feature, with [[Strong Bad]], initially the series' main antagonist, becoming a breakout character. Over the decades, the site has grown to encompass a variety of cartoons and games featuring Homestar, [[Strong Bad]], and numerous other characters. At the peak of its popularity, the site was one of the most-visited sites with collections of Flash cartoons on the web, spreading via word of mouth. The site sustains itself through [[Store|merchandise sales]] and has never featured advertisements.
 
The site is updated irregularly, without a set schedule and often with months passing between updates. From [[2002]] through [[2009]], the site featured weekly updates of new toons, as well as interactive [[Games|games]] and other site features. After [[Hiatuses|a four-year hiatus]] beginning in [[2010]], Homestar Runner returned with [[April Fool 2014|a new Holiday Toon]] on April Fools' Day 2014; afterwards the site has been &quot;updated every someday&quot; on an occasional basis, usually to celebrate holidays. Though global support for Flash ended on December 31, 2020, homestarrunner.com has [[Post-Flash Site Update|maintained a fully functional website]] through the Flash emulator [[Ruffle]].
 
{| id="toc" class="wikitable toc" summary="Contents"
|-
| <div id="toctitle">
 
<span id="contents"></span>
== Contents ==
 
</div>
* [#Site_Content 1 Site Content]
** [#Characters 1.1 Characters]
** [#Toons 1.2 Toons]
* [#History 2 History]
** [#Development_.281990s.29 2.1 Development (1990s)]
** [#Launch_.282000.29 2.2 Launch (2000)]
** [#Creative_expansion_.282001.29 2.3 Creative expansion (2001)]
** [#Weekly_schedule_and_popularity_.282002.E2.80.932009.29 2.4 Weekly schedule and popularity (2002–2009)]
** [#Hiatus_.282010.E2.80.932013.29 2.5 Hiatus (2010–2013)]
*** [#Comeback_.282014.29 2.5.1 Comeback (2014)]
** [#Modern_era_.282015.E2.80.93present.29 2.6 Modern era (2015–present)]
*** [#Post-Flash_Era_.282021.E2.80.93present.29 2.6.1 Post-Flash Era (2021–present)]
* [#Licensing 3 Licensing]
* [#References 4 References]
* [#See_Also 5 See Also]
* [#External_Links 6 External Links]
 
|}
 
<span id="site-content"></span>
== <span class="mw-headline"> Site Content </span> ==
 
<span id="characters"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Characters</span> ===
 
''See main article: [[Characters]]''
 
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The Homestar Runner cast, as shown on the [[Everybody Everybody Poster]].
 
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The [[Toons|cartoons]] nominally center on [[Homestar Runner]], a somewhat dim but good-hearted athlete. The character [[Strong Bad]], however, is often more popular among fans, mostly through his [[Strong Bad Email]] cartoons (released near-weekly for several years) 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|main pages]], [[Characters|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 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|alternate versions]].
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|alternate versions]].


<span id="toons"></span>
== Toons ==
=== <span class="mw-headline">Toons</span> ===
 
''See main article: [[Toons]]''


From January 2002 to November 2009, new content was added to the website nearly every week, usually on Monday, such as a [[Shorts|short]], a [[Big Toons|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|deaths]] in every issue.
From January 2002 to November 2009, new content was added to the website nearly every week, usually on Monday, such as a [[Shorts|short]], a [[Big Toons|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|deaths]] in every issue.
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Some cartoons feature spin-offs like [[Old-Timey]], black-and-white cartoons parodying the style of the 1930s; [[20X6]], a parody [[Anime|anime]] cartoon featuring the main character [[Stinkoman]]; and [[Dangeresque (film series)|Dangeresque]], a film series created by Strong Bad.
Some cartoons feature spin-offs like [[Old-Timey]], black-and-white cartoons parodying the style of the 1930s; [[20X6]], a parody [[Anime|anime]] cartoon featuring the main character [[Stinkoman]]; and [[Dangeresque (film series)|Dangeresque]], a film series created by Strong Bad.


<span id="history"></span>
== Real World ==
== <span class="mw-headline">History</span> ==
 
''See also [[Timeline of Homestar Runner]]''
 
The term &quot;Homestar Runner&quot; originated years before the character was ever conceived: from an ad-libbed joke by [[James Huggins]], friend of [[The Brothers Chaps|the Brothers Chaps]]. A local [[Winn-Dixie]] commercial in the early '90s featured [[Atlanta Braves]] second baseman [[Mark Lemke]]; Huggins would impersonate the commercial's announcer but, being unfamiliar with baseball positions, riffed that Lemke was the &quot;Home Star Runner for the Braves&quot;.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_5 [5]]</sup></span> This humorous, idiosyncratic term was &quot;filed away&quot; by the brothers as a gag to return to.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_6 [6]]</sup></span>
 
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=== <span class="mw-headline">Development (1990s)</span> ===
 
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The Homestar Runner was created in 1996.
 
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''Homestar Runner'' was created in July of 1996. [[Mike Chapman]] and friend [[Craig Zobel]] were working for the [[1996 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]];<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span> Mike worked the night shift as a lighting technician for an Australian sports channel.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_2 [2]]</sup></span> On a day off, the duo visited a local bookstore and found themselves looking through the children's section. Joking that many of the books there were &quot;total crap&quot;, the duo decided to make a book of their own that spoofed the genre.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span> That same afternoon, Chapman and Zobel wrote and illustrated the [[zine|small handmade book]] ''[[Original Book|The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest]]'', creating the characters [[Homestar Runner]] (deriving his name from Huggins's misnomer), [[Pom Pom]], [[Strong Bad]] and [[The Cheat]]. At less than twenty pages, the book was finished in a few hours.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span> About a dozen copies of the booklet were made at [[Kinko's]] and given to friends and family; the book was created as a lark without any serious plans to publish it.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span> A few months later, early plans were made for a sequel titled ''[[Homestar Runner Goes For The Gold!]]'' — this book, which would've introduced [[The Brothers Strong|Strong Bad's siblings]] [[Strong Mad]] and [[Strong Sad]], was scripted but never completed.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_4 [4]]</sup></span>
 
For Christmas 1996, brother [[Matt Chapman]] joined Mike and Craig in creating [[Super NES|a Mario Paint animation]] featuring the ''Homestar Runner'' characters as a Christmas gift for eldest Chapman brother [[Donnie Chapman|Donnie]]. Mike Chapman made another parody children's book starring Homestar, ''[[Where My Hat Is At?]]'', in 1999.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_7 [7]]</sup></span> Unlike the paper books ''Strongest Man in the World'' and ''Goes for the Gold'', this was published digitally to Mike's website.
 
The earliest ''Homestar Runner'' works were created to have an intentionally bizarre tone, as if the reader was encountering something from another country that had been [[Deliberately Poor English|poorly translated]] or that they lacked the cultural context to fully understand.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_8 [8]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_9 [9]]</sup></span> Japanese children's music and British shows like ''[[Bod (TV series)|Bod]]'' served as early influences for this &quot;foreign&quot; feeling.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_10 [10]]</sup></span>
 
<span id="launch-2000"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Launch (2000)</span> ===
 
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The earliest stories centered around [[Homestar Runner]] entering [[Contests|contests]], often opposed by the villainous [[Strong Bad]].
 
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By late 1999, Mike and Matt had both finished college (having studied photography and film production, respectively) and had moved back to Atlanta, sharing an apartment together.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_11 [11]]</sup></span> Fascinated by the creative potential of [[Flash]] animation and Internet self-publishing, and desiring to work on a project together as they had in their childhood, the brothers returned to the ''Homestar Runner'' characters as they taught themselves Flash and other creative programs.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_12 [12]]</sup></span> After completing several [[Old Flash Stuff|simple Flash animations]], they decided to host their work online: the website [[homestarrunner.com]] was launched in January of 2000, consisting of a few simple short cartoons and games. New cartoons and games were created in the brothers' spare time, as both had full-time jobs elsewhere.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_12 [12]]</sup></span> The site serves as the platform for cartoons and games featuring the characters.
 
The Brothers Chaps took a split approach to production, with Matt providing characters' voices. They were also joined by other creative [[Contributors|contributors]]. Mike's girlfriend (and later wife) [[Missy Palmer]] was brought on to voice [[The Only Girl|lone female main character]] [[Marzipan]], also writing for a few toons. ''Homestar'' co-creator Craig Zobel occasionally returned to contribute art and writing. [[Chad Eikhoff]] contributed to a pair of early toons. By 2003, writing and art duties were nearly always handled solely by the Brothers Chaps.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_13 [13]]</sup></span>
 
<span id="creative-expansion-2001"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Creative expansion (2001)</span> ===
 
The site grew slowly at first; its spread was through word-of-mouth, as the Brothers Chaps did not advertise, and the site launched as a side project with no set schedule. Early attention was gained from fellow Flash enthusiasts, graphic artists, and web designers.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_15 [15]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_16 [16]]</sup></span> In the early 2000s, the Internet had yet to become as ubiquitous as it is in the modern day: many homes did not have high-speed Internet access, or indeed any home Internet at all. Early fans were typically office workers or college students who had easy access to high-speed connections for browsing, with collegiate fans particularly driving the site's early success;<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_14 [14]]</sup></span> ''Homestar Runner'' quickly gained fans from across a wide variety of demographics.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_16 [16]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_17 [17]]</sup></span>
 
The site initially focused on short cartoons centering around competitions between Homestar Runner as a heroic character and the villainous Strong Bad, such as [[Marshmallow's Last Stand|tag team wrestling]] or [[A Jumping Jack Contest|a jumping jack contest]]. Focus soon shifted to telling stories about events ''between'' competitions, allowing for more variety.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_12 [12]]</sup></span> Recognizing Strong Bad's growing popularity, the brothers decided to give him his own series in 2001: [[Strong Bad Email]], where he would respond to fan mail.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_16 [16]]</sup></span>
 
<span id="weekly-schedule-and-popularity-20022009"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Weekly schedule and popularity (2002–2009)</span> ===
 
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The Brothers Chaps making the [[flashback|100th Strong Bad Email]], as seen in the [[strongbad email.exe|DVD]] feature &quot;[[Making of Email 100]]&quot;.
 
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<blockquote>'''MATT CHAPMAN:''' 2002 to 2005 was definitely when we got to go the most nuts creatively. We expanded into weird live action and puppet stuff, CDs, DVDs, video games, toys, all kinds of crazy dream-come-true stuff we never thought we'd get to do.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span></blockquote>
In 2002, the Brothers Chaps (who were now sharing an apartment) decided to dedicate more time to the website and established Strong Bad Email as a weekly feature; over 200 sbemail toons would be released at this near-weekly pace. A regular schedule helped the site build momentum, with its popularity dramatically growing throughout the year.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_14 [14]]</sup></span> By 2003, nearly 300,000 visitors were coming to the site every Monday to see the newest Strong Bad Email.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_2 [2]]</sup></span> The site became a juggernaut of [[History of the World Wide Web|late Web 1.0]], gaining more web traffic than larger, more mainstream competitors like ''South Park'' or ''The Simpsons''.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_18 [18]]</sup></span> The site's popularity also led to it being referenced in television shows like [[Television Sightings|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]] and [[Television Sightings|Angel]].<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span>
 
Rising merchandise sales not only covered the costs of running the website but also allowed both brothers to leave their other work to focus on ''Homestar Runner'' full-time by late 2002.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_11 [11]]</sup></span> Said merchandise grew from simple apparel to include [[Homestar Runner Figurines|figurines]], [[Kick The Cheat|plush dolls]], [[DVD|DVD compilations]], and [[Strong Bad Sings and Other Type Hits|a CD of exclusive music]].
 
Toons also explored a variety of different formats, including [[Puppet Stuff|live-action puppet footage]], often in [[Homestar Runner universe|distinct formats]] that varied greatly from standard toons; annual toons were also produced for several [[Holidays|holidays]].
 
The brothers began working with programmer [[Jonathan Howe]], creating sophisticated [[Games|games]] such as the [[Sierra]] [[adventure game]] pastiche ''[[Peasant's Quest]]'' or ''[[Mega Man]]'' homage ''[[Stinkoman 20X6]]''.
 
Retrospectively, the brothers consider the period between 2002–2005 to be their most creative and successful (with the site's popularity similarly peaking around 2005)<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_20 [20]]</sup></span> as they explored various different formats for the shorts and produced a large quantity and variety of merchandise. Matt recalled a day in February 2004 where he received both a demo tape from [[They Might Be Giants]] for use in [[different town|a toon]] and a life-sized replica of Tom Servo from ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' producer Jim Mallon as marking a high point of his work on ''Homestar Runner''.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span>
 
<span id="hiatus-20102013"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Hiatus (2010–2013)</span> ===
 
''See also [[Hiatuses]]''
 
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The 2010 toon [[Which Ween Costumes?]] preceded a [[Hiatuses|hiatus]] of over three years without a new ''Homestar Runner'' toon.
 
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Updates to [[homestarrunner.com|HomestarRunner.com]] began to slow [[H*R.com updates 2009|in late 2009]], quickly and dramatically dropping to where [[H*R.com updates 2010|only three toons were produced in 2010]]. The site entered an extended hiatus in 2011, with no new toons for over three years.
 
Through 2010, ''Homestar Runner'' had remained financially viable for the brothers.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_20 [20]]</sup></span> However, the ten-year mark provided an opportunity for reflection and to take a break — a combination of [[FeedBurner Page|family obligations]] (both brothers were married with children by this time), creative burnout, and considerations about the longevity of ''Homestar Runner'' impacted the decision to put the website on hold.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_14 [14]]</sup></span> During this time, [[The Brothers Chaps' Other Projects|the Brothers Chaps worked on other projects]], with Matt moving to Los Angeles to take advantage of creative opportunities.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_14 [14]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_19 [19]]</sup></span>
 
<span id="comeback-2014"></span>
==== <span class="mw-headline">Comeback (2014)</span> ====
 
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&quot;You got this, Homestar. This is nothin'.&quot;
 
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<blockquote>'''MIKE CHAPMAN:''' We really just didn’t know how long it’d be before we could get back to Homestar. Maybe one month, two months, six months. After a certain point it almost became weird to say something about the break. In retrospect, we probably could’ve handled it a little better.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span></blockquote>
The site's silence was broken on April Fool's Day 2014 with the release of [[April Fool 2014|a new toon]] — the first in over three years; the toon acknowledged the length between updates by making the site's [[Index Page|index page]] look dilapidated, and ended with a [[Fourth Wall Breaks|tongue-in-cheek]] implication that it might continue to be a long wait for more updates.
 
In several later interviews, the Brothers Chaps credit the large positive response to this toon as a major encouragement to continue site updates.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_19 [19]]</sup></span>
 
Matt appeared on [[The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show Interview - 7 July 2014|The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show on July 7]], in the first [[Interviews and Public Appearances|interview]] with either of the Brothers Chaps in several years.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_14 [14]]</sup></span> Matt shared that the Brothers were interested in &quot;making more stuff, hopefully on a more frequent basis&quot; — as promised, that October saw the release of [[H*R.com updates 2014|multiple toons]] and [[Weeklies|other site updates]] — as well as plans for [[sbemail206|a new Strong Bad Email]], a [[Post-Flash Site Update|more accessible website redesign]], and a Homestar Runner-themed [[Social Media|social media]] account, all of which came to pass in the following months and years.
 
<span id="modern-era-2015present"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Modern era (2015–present)</span> ===
 
<blockquote>'''MIKE CHAPMAN:''' We've been tiptoeing back into making cartoons... My brother and I were on opposite sides of the country for a while, but now we're in the same room again and it's just in our nature to start making Homestar stuff when we're around each other. We have a full-time gig with Disney, but in our spare time we're sneaking in these Homestar cartoons wherever we can because we just we love doing them and don't ever want to stop doing them.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_21 [21]]</sup></span></blockquote>
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Strong Bad on Twitter
 
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The [[@StrongBadActual]] Twitter account began posting regularly on September 26, 2014; it has since become the most active facet of the Homestar Runner body of work. In a [[Rolling Stone Interview - 3 Oct 2014|Rolling Stone interview on October 3]], the Brothers Chaps specified that they were not planning to return to full-time work on the site due to the stress and deadlines of the former schedule. Rather, they now simply create any new toons at their own pace;<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_19 [19]]</sup></span> as of [[H*R.com updates 2015|2015]], the site has been updated occasionally and irregularly, with new content every 1–4 months.
 
<span id="post-flash-era-2021present"></span>
==== <span class="mw-headline">Post-Flash Era (2021–present)</span> ====
 
''See [[Post-Flash Site Update]]''
 
<div class="boilerplate plainlinks stub">
 
''This article is in the process of being created, but it is incomplete. You can help the Homestar Runner Wiki by [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|expanding it]].''
 
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== <span class="mw-headline"> Licensing </span> ==
 
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''The Brothers Chaps making the 100th Strong Bad Email , as seen in the DVD feature " Making of Email 100 ".''
''[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]]'', produced in 2008, was the [[Firsts|first]] time the Brothers Chaps licensed ''Homestar Runner'' to a third party.


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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.


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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.


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== References ==
Though the Brothers Chaps had pitched ''Homestar Runner'' to [[Cartoon Network]] in 2000, where they were turned down,<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_10 [10]]</sup></span> they quickly developed a preference for the freedom of self-publishing. In interviews across later years, they would indicate little to no interest in adapting ''Homestar Runner'' for television or film.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_11 [11]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_14 [14]]</sup></span>


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]]. Business aspects of ''Homestar Runner'' are handled through [[Harmless Junk, Inc.]] (often branded as fictional company [[Cheap as Free|Cheap As Free]]).
* "Homestar Runner." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2004, 03:57 UTC. 16 Dec 2004, 13:00 <[[Homestar Runner|http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Homestar_Runner&oldid=8505608]]>.


The Brothers Chaps have frequently worked with other [[Contributors|contributors]] to create additional media such as music CDs (including live performances as fictional bands) and live-action video.
''Content for the above was taken chiefly from the [[Main Page|Wikipedia]] article for [[Homestar Runner]] found at [[Homestar Runner|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestar_Runner]]. As such, this article is licensed under the [http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html GNU Free Documentation License].''


2008 video game ''[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]]'', produced in partnership with [[Telltale Games]], was the first time that ''Homestar Runner'' had been licensed out to a third-party company. [[Ron & Fez Show Interview - 19 Dec 2008|In an interview]], Matt reflected that the partnership was &quot;the biggest thing that we'd probably [ever] do.&quot; Strong Bad also appeared in Telltale's crossover game ''[[Poker Night at the Inventory]]''.
== See Also ==


[[Trogdor!! The Board Game]] was funded by [[Kickstarter]] in 2018, co-produced with game designer [[James Ernest]].
Beginning in 2020, new ''Homestar Runner'' merchandise has been created and sold in partnership with [[Fangamer]]. ''Homestar Runner'' is the first webtoon series that Fangamer has worked with; the collaboration largely features merchandise designed by Fangamer's artists rather than the Brothers Chaps.
<span id="references"></span>
== <span class="mw-headline">References</span> ==
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
| width="40%" valign="top"| # [#ref_1 ^] ''Gothamist'' staff. [http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/06/04/craig_zobel_film_production.php "Craig Zobel, Film Production"], ''[[Gothamist]]'', 4 Jun 2004
# [#ref_2 ^] Aucoin, Don. [[The Boston Globe Interview - 9 Aug 2003|"Looking at a Thing in a Bag", The Boston Globe]], 9 Aug 2003
# [#ref_3 ^] Winkie, Luke. [https://gizmodo.com/an-oral-history-of-homestar-runner-the-internets-favor-1791519879 "An Oral History of Homestar Runner, the Internet’s Favorite Cartoon"], [[Gizmodo Interview - 24 Jan 2017|Gizmodo. 24 January 2017]].
# [#ref_4 ^] See [[Sketchbook (museum)]], [[Homestar Runner Goes for the Gold]]
# [#ref_5 ^] Mentioned in several places: [[UMFM Interview - 20 May 2003|UMFM]], [[Club Aquatica Interview - 29 Oct 2003|Club Aquatica]], [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006|Flashforward]], [[Homestar Runner 20th Anniversary Show|20th Anniversary Show]]. Note that Huggins' phrase &quot;Home Star Runner&quot; is described as three words at the 20th anniversary show.
# [#ref_6 ^] Chapman, Mike and Matt Chapman. [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006|"How and Why Homestar Runner Cartoons Get Made". Flashforward 2006 Seattle conference, 28 Feb 2006, Seattle. Lecture.]]
# [#ref_7 ^] &quot;The Evolution of Homestar&quot; [[Wallpaper|wallpaper]] indicates June 1999. Mike reiterates that ''Where My Hat Is At?'' preceded the website in [[Where My Hat Is At?|its DVD commentary]].
# [#ref_8 ^] Hirsch, Deborah. [https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2003/07/22/tooned-in-2/ "Tooned In"]. ''The Orlando Sentinel''. 22 July 2003.
# [#ref_9 ^] Allin, Jack. [https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18236 "Strong Bad's the Brothers Chaps"]. [[Adventure Gamers Interview - 12 Dec 2008|Adventure Gamers. 12 Dec 2008]].
# [#ref_10 ^] Berry, Robert. [http://retrocrush.com/archive2/homestar/ "An Interview With Homestar Runner Creators, The Chapman Brothers"]. [[retroCRUSH Interview|retro CRUSH. Early 2001]].
# [#ref_11 ^] Chinsang, Wayne. [http://www.tlchicken.com/article.php?ARTid=1374 "Homestar Runner's The Brothers Chaps"]. [[Tastes Like Chicken Interview|Tastes Like Chicken. June 2003]].
| width="40%" valign="top"| <ol start="12">
<li>[#ref_12 ^] Carriveau, Derrek. [http://www.legionstudios.com/interviews/views/homestar/homestar.html "Legion Interviews Mike Chapman of Homestarrunner.com"]. [[Legion Studios Interviews|Legion Studios. 2002]].</li>
<li>[#ref_13 ^]  See the credits on [[DVD]] releases as well as the [[Opening Credits|opening credits]] on various toons.</li>
<li>[#ref_14 ^]  Rubin, Jeff. [https://headgum.com/the-jeff-rubin-jeff-rubin-show/123-homestar-runners-matt-chapman "Homestar Runner's Matt Chapman"]. [[The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show Interview - 7 July 2014|The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show, episode 123. 7 July 2014]].</li>
<li>[#ref_15 ^]  Coyle, Michael. [http://www.resexcellence.com:80/hack_html_03/01-30-03.shtml "The Creators of Homestar Runner, The Brothers Chapman"]. [[ResExcellence Interview - 30 Jan 2003|ResExcellence. 2003]].</li>
<li>[#ref_16 ^]  Ydstie, John. [https://www.npr.org/2005/05/08/4634837/strong-bad-walks-in-footsteps-of-darth-lex-j-r "Strong Bad Walks in Footsteps of Darth, Lex, J.R."]. [[All Things Considered Interview - 8 May 2005|All Things Considered, NPR. 2005]].</li>
<li>[#ref_17 ^]  Goldstein, Ben. [http://www.giantmag.com/issue_05/movies_homestarMike.aspx "Mike Chapman"] &amp; [http://www.giantmag.com/issue_05/movies_homestarMatt.aspx "Matt Chapman"], &quot;Homestar Runner Co-Creator[s]&quot;. [[Giant Magazine Interview|Giant magazine. 2005]].</li>
<li>[#ref_18 ^]  Simpson, Aaron. [http://www.coldhardflash.com/2006/10/homestars-show-runners-part-1.html "Homestar's Show Runners"]. [[Cold Hard Flash Interview - 1 Dec 2005|Cold Hard Flash. 1 Dec 2005]].</li>
<li>[#ref_19 ^]  Montgomery, James. [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/homestar-runner-returns-inside-a-cult-classics-comeback-195674/ "Homestar Runner Returns! Inside a Cult Classic’s Comeback"]. [[Rolling Stone Interview - 3 Oct 2014|Rolling Stone. 3 Oct 2014]].</li>
<li>[#ref_20 ^]  Brown, Scott. [https://www.wired.com/2009/12/pl-scott-brown/ "Why Some Memes Never Die"]. ''Wired''. 21 Dec 2009.</li>
<li>[#ref_21 ^]  Baryla, Jessica. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttZwgaq4Cqc "HeroesCon 2015: Matt Chapman / Homestar Runner / Two More Eggs"]. ''WCCB, Charlotte CW''. 25 Jun 2015.</li></ol>
|}
Select content adapted from: &quot;[[Homestar Runner]].&quot; ''Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia''. <span class="plainlinks">[[Homestar Runner|9 Dec 2004, 03:57 UTC]]</span> and <span class="plainlinks">[[Homestar Runner|10:21, 8 July 2023]]</span>
<span id="see-also"></span>
== <span class="mw-headline">See Also</span> ==
* [[The Brothers Chaps]]
* [[Timeline of Homestar Runner]]
* [[Timeline of Homestar Runner]]
* [[homestarrunner.com]]
* [[Homestar Runner universe]]
* [[Homestar Runner universe]]
* [[Inconsistencies within the Homestar Runner universe]]


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== External links ==
== <span class="mw-headline">External Links</span> ==
 
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This audio file was created from an [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|article revision]] dated August 17, 2006, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article.
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help
* [https://homestarrunner.com/ Homestar Runner] official website
** [https://homestarrunner.com/firsttime.html Introduction for first-time visitors]
* ''[[Homestar Runner]]'' article on Wikipedia
* [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebAnimation/HomestarRunner "Homestar Runner"] entry on TVTropes


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[/wiki/Special:Categories Categories]: <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Incomplete articles|Incomplete articles]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Spoken Articles|Spoken Articles]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Real World|Real World]]</span>
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* [https://homestarrunner.com/index.html Homestar Runner Official Website]
* [https://homestarrunner.com/firsttime.html Introduction for first-time visitors]
* [[Homestar Runner|Wikipedia entry for "Homestar Runner"]]
* [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebAnimation/HomestarRunner TVTropes entry for "Homestar Runner"]
[[Category:Spoken Articles]]
[[Category:Real World]]


Latest revision as of 14:24, 14 July 2026

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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) teens and young adults.

Characters

180px-everybody-poster.PNG

The Homestar Runner cast, as shown on the Everybody Everybody Poster .

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 issue.

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

180px-Making_of_100_email.jpg

The Brothers Chaps making the 100th Strong Bad Email , as seen in the DVD feature " Making of Email 100 ".

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

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

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