Homestar Runner Wiki Forum

Perhaps I'm mentally omitting some glaring examples, but the thing I miss most about TBC's old toons (circa 2000-2001) is that sometimes they would focus on a supporting character instead of Homestar or Strong Bad.

It would be cool if TBC made new toons like "The King of Town" or "A Jorb Well Done" once and a while, ones that prominently featured a specific supporting character rather than just making them one of the characters a main protagonist happens upon while on their journey.

What if Strong Sad took his camera from "Experimental Film" and decided to make a documentary about The Poopsmith? Or maybe Strong Mad finally does get to face off against The Tire to win back the title after losing it (seeing as its almost been "Two Years").

I really like how lately TBC have been giving Homestar more starring vehicles lately (it is his site) but I guess it makes me wonder about the other characters we hardly see, like Pom Pom and the King of Town.

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I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! - Blackadder

Yeah, that would be cool. TBC's main focus right now I think are the e-mails and rarely some toons like TGS or most recently, Cool Things, which indeed, focuses on Homestar. Why not do something on Coach Z or Strong Mad? They are seen in e-mails briefly, and have hardly mentionable roles when they are shown.

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I agree. I'd like to see a toon centering around Homsar. Other than the emails "homsar", "interview", and "for kids" we haven't gotten any toons that really focus on him. It'd be interesting to see what kinds of wacky antics he gets himself into. Pom Pom and The Poopsmith deserve a bit more focus too, as does Homestar, seeing as this is his website. We got Marzipan in a starring role last week, which was pretty cool. One thing's for certain: we need to move away from Strong Bad a little. He's a great character with a lot of potential, but that potential has been all but maxed out. There are other characters with just as much potential that could use a little more focus.

Whatever TBC gives us, I'm going to enjoy it, but like with everything else that I'm a fan of, I gotta criticize every now and then.

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Homsar rocks my face off. But I dunno if he could hold a whole cartoon on his own. It'd be interesting to see, though.

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DISCLAIMER: The preceding post was the opinions of Nate, and should be taken as his two cents. Actual exchange rate may vary by location, see stores for details, void where prohibited under penalty of torture.

It's not like I can easily give up...the feelings...of needing her. - Sohma Hatsuharu

They do this a lot in other webtoons, and indeed I do this in my own (not yet released on the net) a lot, but homestar is a special kinda toon, and if they did that, it'd be like they were copying everyone else, which they've never done. Doing the norm doesn't fit with the homestar style. Homestar's never been "the norm" in terms of webtoons.

however, if they found their own way to do this and make it unique, I would certainly welcome a toon centering around the KOT and The Poopsmith, or perhaps Homsar.

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Well, maybe not a whole toon focusing entirely on him, but it'd be cool to have a toon with him in a starring role, or just one where he gets a lot of screentime. TBC should only do such a thing if they have a good idea for it and not just for the heck of it.

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I'd like to see Homsar's Butt's Twelve By Pies. That would be....interesting. I'd like to see something with Pom Pom or Coach Z in it. Or the Poopsmith. He's cool.

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I don't think there's anything bland or cliche, about expanding on supporting characters and exploring them to their full potential. In fact, I would say that "the norm" in online webtoons is 2-dimensional characters functioning as walking one-liners and sight gags. Even Strong Bad started out as a pretty limited character. He was the dastardly bully and villian. Then they gave him his e-mails and he developed more attitude, sarcasm, and even vulnerability (like in "lures & jigs" when he accidentally admits he knows nothing about "the ladies" and runs away).

These sort of developments don't happen on purpose, and you can't force them, but the more time you spend with a character, the more necessary it becomes to flesh them out. I know that TBC like to keep the roles of certain supporting characters limited so they don't get old, but if they devoted a short toon to one supporting character or another once in a while, maybe they could develop more personality or new inside jokes (like The Cheat's tendency to explode). Maybe The King of Town could be more than a walking fat joke. Maybe the Poopsmith could be more than a walking bathroom joke. Maybe Pom Pom could be more than a walking beach ball with arms and legs that gurgles.

I'm not saying these characters should have complex psyches or motivations, but the more you play with characters the more you "discover" about them. Inside Jokes. Recurring phrases. Expanded Relationships (like the one between The Cheat and Marzipan). That kind of stuff.

It's not my intention to belittle TBC or Homestar Runner. I love HomeStar Runner. O love the characters. I love yhem so much that I want to see more of them!

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I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! - Blackadder

Having been a writer myself at one time (on hiatus right now), I can say that the above post is true. Character development (or the expansion of a character's personality) happens naturally as you work with them more. It's like they're their own person and the author is only now discovering new things about them. However, one should be careful not to overdevelop a character because then they become stale and boring and go back to being two dimensional. Strong Bad hasn't gotten there, but if you look at Homer Simpson in some of the new Simpsons episodes, you'll see that he's become nothing but a fat moron who says "D'oh!" all the time.

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Well, this thread seems to be very well-timed. Just as we are discussing a desire for a toon focusing on supporting characters, Saddy Dumpington arrives with nary a Homestar or Strong Bad in sight. I loved this toon, but that's a topic for another thread.

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I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! - Blackadder

Regarding your comment on wanting to see more of the other characters, part of the reason those characters are so awesome is that you don't see them often enough. They are a novelty that might wear off a bit if they were shown too frequently. Especially pom pom cuz he can't talk. He'd get annoying (don't get me wrong though, I recogize his mad playa skills.)

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I wouldn't want a whole lot of toons focusing on these minor characters, maybe just one or two a year. We got a Strong Sad and Coach Z toon today though, so our wish has been fulfilled. This further pushes speculation that TBC might view the Wiki and its forum, though it could just be a coincidence.

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That is precisely what I am suggesting. I am glad that I am not alone in this desire.

Even if TBS did one or two toons a year that focused on a peripheral character, I think we would still be clamoring for more. In fact, I think it might make some of us want to see them even more. Can you imagine if TBC made a toon about Homsar? Many of his fans would cheer for a sequel (assuming it would be hilarious).

I'm not suggesting TBC create a regular staple of the site for a character. I'm not suggesting TBC start making "Homsar E-Mails" or anything like that. Personally, I would like to see Pom Pom star in a toon. He's so much more technologically savvy than the rest of the characters, and he seems to have this whole life outside town (what with all his ladyfriends, like in "boring (really)").

I know part of the fun with Pom Pom is that they only hint at his outside life, put they could expose and expand a few more small details for the fans to drool over. A "Where's Pom Pom" type toon would be great. It would be really clever and the characters could investigate why Pom Pom has been so hard to find lately.

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I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! - Blackadder

3 of the past 4 toons have had little to do with SB. A Folky Tale is all Strong Sad and old-school Coach Z, Cool Things was about Homestar and Marzipan, and Senorial Day was Bubs and Senor Cardgage battling it out commercial-style.

IMO,the Poopsmith and Pom Pom would be hard to base a solid toon around because they don't talk. It could be done with Homsar (they've managed with Cardgage, who's equally incomprehensible), but he is best suited to the cameo appearances he already makes.

Actually, I'd consider SM to be the most underused character since he hardly ever has more than a line or two in anything and has become secondary to the Cheat in SB's capers, plus he has an obvious feature idea that I'd sell my pancreas to Bubs to see a second helping of (the claymation thing).

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The Cheat is so a cow!!! A Scandinavian miner cow!!!

That's very true, but it would be a much more valid point if toons and shorts were the most abundant bushel of grain in the cornucopia that is http://www.HomestarRunner.com. Of course, they are not. Strong Bad e-mails are. In fact, there have been nearly twice as many e-mails this year as there have been toons, shorts, and holiday toons combined. I'm not pointing this out just to spite you, because the past two weeks have featured full-length toons, which is as unprecedented as it is awesome.



I'm totally with you there, my friend. Strong Mad could use a little more exposure. That's why I suggested that the match between he and The Tire alluded to in "Two Years" come to fruition in the form of a short or a toon. I like your idea even more though.

I also would love if TBC made toons that made supporting characters more important to the central plot. What if for some reason The Poopsmith took ill and the King of Town held job interviews for his temporary replacement? Coach Z would definitely apply. During "Homestar Presents: Presents" he was living in the locker room without electricity.

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I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! - Blackadder

I was just going to mention that. It seems like we're getting more and more Striong Sad lately, which is good, he's starting to evolve. I still think we need a "Day at bub's Concession STand" short, and a toon with Strong Mad as a main character (but not the star, he doesn't make enough sense to be the star of a cartoon)

The problem is that a lot of the supporting characters are either one-trick ponies or need other characters to interact with.

It would be impossible to do a cartoon about Coach Z without it being centered about his funny accent (since that's the only real personality aspect he has) or one about the KoT that isn't centered on him eating stuff. They work well as satellite characters, but when you make something that's built off of a side joke you end up with crap.

Likewise, Pom Pom and Strong Mad can be funny, but haven't enough to them to do anything by themselves. Pom2 needs Homestar to react to, Da Big Guy needs his brothers and The Cheese.

I think a Marzipan centered toon would work well, though.

I agree with you, a Marzipan-centered toon would be funny. I mean, she's the one sane individual surrounded by maniacs. Then again, she does talk to sandwiches.

As for the "one-trick ponies" comment, I agree, but I don't think that means the characters can't be expanded on. Many characters started as one-trick ponies and slowly evolved.

Take The Cheat for example. At first he was just Strong Bad's screeching, grunting sidekick. In fact, he was pretty much the Pom Pom to Strong Bad's Homestar Runner. Then we discovered that he does flash animations, that his head explodes under certain circumstances, and that he likes going on secret dates with Marzipan. There's a lot more TBC can do with The Cheat now than when they started.

TBC are creative geniuses, and they take their characters in directions none of us ever expect. Who saw Saddy Dumpington coming? I'm sure a toon centered around Coach Z, Strong Mad, The King of Town, or any other supporting character would be no problem for them if they really wanted to.

The last two toons indicate that TBC are testing the waters and expanding on supporting characters as we speak.

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I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! - Blackadder

I think the 1 character that needs to be seen more is Strong Mad . I mean, he shouts all the time. So make him lose his voices. Could be very funny if TBC do it well.

Also, pom pom isn't that crash hot. But Sweet Cuppin Cakes. That needs a comeback

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At CGNU the future is you....probably

I actually emailed Strong Bad once, asking "has Homsar ever answered one of your emails?", hoping for an "anything"/"mile" type situation. Didn't happen obviously. I think if there was to be a Homsar toon, it would have to be very short. Part of the brilliance of Homsar is that we only see him in brief doses, and mostly only interacting with the others. What he gets up to away from the camera is anybody's guess. Actually showing him at home for example, or even suggesting he has a home to go to, would take away some of the Homsar magic, like seeing a famous film star washing the dishes after lunch

TBC pointed just that out in an interview (at the very bottom). If Homsar had his own cartoon, he wouldn't be special anymore. Frankly, I think it'd be pretty funny if there were a supposed Homsar cartoon with Homsar nowhere in sight throughout. Instead, he only appears in an easter egg, saying something akin to, "I'm the star!" But in the typical Homsar vernacular, of course.

"AAAaahm the king of the molehill!"

So that's my two cents about Homsar. To paint some toast, I would like more cartoons starring other characters. I loved A Folky Tale (starring my two favourite characters), and would certainly love to see more like it. I think once or twice a year is a bit too scarce, though; just a bit more, like four a year, would be good.

And a Coach Z-centred toon wouldn't have to be about his accent. It could focus on his apparent lack of sports skills and knowledge, his backstory (far-off lands?), his hip-hop pursuits, etc. Another KOT toon could explain to us some of his duties as King or his attempts to become "cool." The characters aren't as flat as they seem, and even if they were, they would need to be used before they could be made more "three-dimensional." If not, they'd just remain the same.

But yes, I agree that a Marzipan toon would be interesting. She and I are very similar, so I'd love to see more of her.

In my opinion, this is why TBC need to use them more. They need to develop their characters into more than just the one-dimensional support characters you just described. As they mentioned in the commentary for "crying", Strong Sad used to be one-dimensional as well, saying things such as "Each day, we die a little more..." Now we rarely see him actually sad; his character has more depth. A character like Coach Z could easily go for some more development. It'd also be interesting to find out more about the Poopsmith. I don't think they should go into too much detail, about why he took a vow of silence or why he decided to shovel poop for a living, but we could find out something about him. (Though it might be difficult to do a toon focused on a non-talking character without wearing out the sign gag seen in The House That Gave Sucky Treats.) Their best bet might be to develop Coach Z, Bubs, or maybe even the King of Town a bit more. I feel Homestar, Marzipan, Strong Sad, and especially Strong Bad are pretty well-developed at this point, so it'd be nice to see some focus on a lesser used character.

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Wait, I forgot about part of Coach Z! Jeez, how stupid am I?

Hip hop dance! There's a whole plethora (I just like that word) of things to do with that aspect of Da Coach.

Just like his prablems, Coach Z has more than two character traits. He likes rap, he's a coach, and he has a funny accent. They could do things with all three of these things. They've already covered the funny accent and can't do much more with that, so if they do another toon on him, it should probably be about his love of rap.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and there's his overall weirdness. That's a trait, right?

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I agree. Don't you think I agree? I agree!

But really, I'd like to see Bubs or Coach Z. be developed more as a character. Like maybe the documentary they were filming on Bubs in 'Pom Pom' or something like that. Would be interesting to learn more about them. Man, I really stink at adding anything of importance to stuff.

And Butter-Da, your sig is awesome. Blackadder rules! Specially the last season.

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We already had one, saddy dumpington! We dont need another!

Actually, we do...... foo'.

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So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain. Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil? Do you think you can tell?

I was watching "Pom Pom" just the other day and noticed the documentary Pom Pom and The Poopsmith were making. I'm sure it was meant to be a non-sequiteur, but it would be awesome if they expanded on it. A toon starring Bubs, Pom Pom, and The Poopsmith? It would be a supporting character extravaganza!

Thank you for the compliment, SwissCakeRolls. I haven't seen the final season of Blackadder, but until I do I remain partial to the third.

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I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! - Blackadder

That would be cool, but I don't know how "That's how I almost died the fifteenth time!" would fit in.

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Maybe not that specific documentary, but something else filmed by Pom Pom, like how Experimental Film was done by Strong Sad and The Cheat?

Ah, that'd be funny--the long-awaited return of Pom Pom, but he's hidden behind the camera the entire toon.