Has HR Been Outsourced?

Stoptime · **Joined:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:20 am **Posts:** 3

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this, but...

Have you noticed that, since that long dry spell without a new cartoon in January, the Homestar Runner cartoons haven't been quite the same lately?

Some of you have, and thus polls asking if HR is getting too self-referential.

In general, nearly all the new cartoons this year haven't been nearly as funny and wonderfully, imaginatively random as the rest of the HR back catalog. I could list the reasons why this is, but perhaps that's for another post. In short, often, I'll watch them and they'll leave me cold; then I'll hit the "rando" button to compare them to the past shorts and sbemails, which remain great and still have that magic.

It feels like someone else is writing or animating HR, which may make sense since the Mike and Matt have worked on them for so long.

I feel like this happens with a lot of great cartoons and TV shows (like the Simpsons, for example). At some point, instead of holding up a funny mirror to the real world or to the imagination of their creator, they start to just hold up the mirror to themselves. And that's when they start losing their magic. This usually happens when the original creators step away, and new writers take over.

Of course, this is just conjecture, based on seeing a change in the tone and humor and inspiration in HR in the last few months. Anyone agree, have any thoughts, or know any inside information on this?

DorianGray · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:59 am

Seems rather unlikely.

Poki · **Joined:** Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:20 pm **Posts:** 40

The Donut cartoon and the Kickball cartoon were quite creative, in my opinion.

Homestar-winner · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:23 am

I fail to see a lack of hilarity.

Ugozima · **Joined:** Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:42 am **Posts:** 273

Nope.

Omnisweater · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:25 am

In my opinion, 2009 is looking a lot better than 2008 (which seemed to produce almost no quality content apart from SBCG4AP). But still not as good as 2003-2005.

Shwoo · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:05 pm

The characters are still talking like themselves, and that's not easy for a lot of people to do. Who would they have outsourced it to? Also, it's just as good as it always was, as far as I can tell. I highly doubt it's been outsourced.

Key-sword-tar · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:50 pm

Stoptime wrote:

In general, nearly all the new cartoons this year haven't been nearly as funny and wonderfully, imaginatively random as the rest of the HR back catalog. I could list the reasons why this is, but perhaps that's for another post. In short, often, I'll watch them and they'll leave me cold; then I'll hit the "rando" button to compare them to the past shorts and sbemails, which remain great and still have that magic.

I've been having the same sort of feeling, man. It just seems like, even if they're not losing their edge, they're definitely changing their direction a bit. The toons and shorts in the last couple of months just haven't had the "aura" that older ones from say 2006 and earlier had. I can't explain it. I very much doubt that TBC would outsource, though. That seems more the type of thing they'd make fun of than actually do. My guess is that they just got bored with the same old format of Sbemails being the main thing and started trying out other ideas, with a different style of humor than the sbemails. I'm not objecting to their new work, but it just isn't the same anymore.

Hyetal · **Joined:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:40 pm **Posts:** 5

Times change, as do people. If TBC's work in 2009 differs from their work in 2005, it's because it's 2009, not 2005. Their tastes, desires, knowledge, and ideas change. This is normal.

Myself, I find the break from sbemails to be refreshing, and I've found the new cartoons to be wonderful. I'm sure they're glad to get out of the mold and experiment with some new ideas as well.

flicky1991 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:14 pm

Hyetal wrote:

Times change, as do people. If TBC's work in 2009 differs from their work in 2005, it's because it's 2009, not 2005. Their tastes, desires, knowledge, and ideas change. This is normal.

Myself, I find the break from sbemails to be refreshing, and I've found the new cartoons to be wonderful. I'm sure they're glad to get out of the mold and experiment with some new ideas as well.

Seconded.

Dry Ragamuffin · **Joined:** Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:48 pm **Posts:** 39

Also, consider this.
Not only may the Bros Chaps have changed in their humor or whatnot, but perhaps YOU have.

Like how everyone used to like Power Rangers, and now nobody does. Really, the show is of the same quality as it was. But the viewers have simply grown up.

The old cartoons are better because they ARE old. They bring back old times, and help us remember what 2003 was like. At the same time, we may look back on the ones being made now with fondness, later on, for nostalgia's sake.

Also, I'm not gonna lie. If the Bros. outsourced, we would clearly know. I mean, have you SEEN some of the fanstuff? :rolleyes:

Bad Bad Guy · **Joined:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:31 am **Posts:** 836

I always thought that if Homestar Runner became outsourced we would start seeing some new names in the opening credits.

Stoptime · **Joined:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:20 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks for the great answers.

In reply to a couple, I definitely haven't changed, because I find the older HR toons just as enjoyable as I always did. My girlfriend and other friends have also noticed these same changes.

That said, of all the posts, Key-sword-tar's resonates most with my perception, so I'll go with the argument that they are trying new things and their humor is changing - more external, real world references as well as more internal, HR world references.

Thanks for the thoughts and answers!

badpirate · **Posted:** Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:47 am

The characters are all decidedly in character, they've retained the same speech patterns and no changes have been made to how everyone relates to one another.

The only change I can see is The Brother Chaps having more fun. The recent toons are very loose and experimental, which I love to see. I love Strong Bad e-mails (and I'm still quietly hoping TBC with unretire them), but I also like that the rest of the cast are playing major roles again. HREmails = <3

3panda94 · **Joined:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:46 pm **Posts:** 220

I just started liking Homestar Runner back around November 2008 and I say the toons and emails are still at the same level of funniness to me.

It's dot com · **Posted:** Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:09 pm

Dry Ragamuffin wrote:

Also, consider this.
Not only may the Bros Chaps have changed in their humor or whatnot, but perhaps YOU have.

I don't think that's the case. I often go back and watch older toons, and they're as funny to me now as they were when they were new.

McArbys · **Joined:** Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:12 am **Posts:** 142

As I like all types of humour pretty much, I see no change. If there is one I'll never notice.

taster's choice · **Posted:** Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:07 pm

Key-sword-tar wrote:

Stoptime wrote:

In general, nearly all the new cartoons this year haven't been nearly as funny and wonderfully, imaginatively random as the rest of the HR back catalog. I could list the reasons why this is, but perhaps that's for another post. In short, often, I'll watch them and they'll leave me cold; then I'll hit the "rando" button to compare them to the past shorts and sbemails, which remain great and still have that magic.

I've been having the same sort of feeling, man. It just seems like, even if they're not losing their edge, they're definitely changing their direction a bit. The toons and shorts in the last couple of months just haven't had the "aura" that older ones from say 2006 and earlier had. I can't explain it. I very much doubt that TBC would outsource, though. That seems more the type of thing they'd make fun of than actually do. My guess is that they just got bored with the same old format of Sbemails being the main thing and started trying out other ideas, with a different style of humor than the sbemails. I'm not objecting to their new work, but it just isn't the same anymore.

Yeah. Theyre not bad, per se, but diffrent. Especially the sbemails- they have a different quality to them, though i have no idea what it is.
As for outsourcing- NO

likalaruku · **Joined:** Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:05 am **Posts:** 474

I think you're thinking about it too hard & being a bit of a troll for even pointing it out. & who would outsorce flash animation that has a singe voice actor? That's almost half the work right there. & maybe you haven't heard, but they have a new screaming poopmaker to prevent them from sleeping & working properly for the next 3 years.

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