Rejected Characters

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[[File:dancinbubs.PNG|thumb|Who are those two over by [[The Cheat]]?]]
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As with all famous cartoon character ensembles, [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] went through its fair share of line-up changes early on, before the final group of twelve main [[characters]] was chosen. The '''rejected characters''' are those who seem to have been abandoned, with very few sightings to date. Some appeared in an early toon or game, while others are only seen in the [[Sketchbook (museum)|Museum Sketchbook]] or the [[Character Cards]]. All that is known about them for sure is that they won't be around much anymore. However, most of them can be seen, [[silhouette]]d, in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]].
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This is a list of '''rejected characters''' {{--}} incomplete or largely unused character designs by [[the Brothers Chaps]] that were not developed into [[characters]] with a full, prominent appearance in a toon and do not appear outside of brief, rare cameos. These characters may have been designed for various purposes, often relating to one of the final [[Characters#Main characters|main characters]] or as an attempt to fill [[The Only Girl|a niche in character design]].
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Most rejected character designs were explored in the earliest years of [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]]. By [[2002]], when [[homestarrunner.com|the site]] had established a weekly schedule, the [[main characters|core cast]] had been solidified and few attempts were made to introduce new characters; instead, new and different characters generally appeared in [[Homestar Runner universe#Sub-universes|alternate, variant, or fictional "universes"]].
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{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="border-collapse:collapse"
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Glimpses at rejected characters appeared in [[Dancin' Bubs|early pages]], often [[Secret Pages|unlisted]] and/or [[Character Cards|unfinished]] ones. Later references to rejected character designs are typically limited to out-of-universe content like the [[Sketchbook|weekly]] or [[Sketchbook (museum)|Museum sketchbook]]s or [[DVD]] [[Why Come Only One Girl?|special features]]. In later years, some character designs have seen minor inclusions in the body of work proper {{--}} albeit typically deployed as [[inside jokes]], where the humor is meant to appeal to fans who could recognize such an obscure reference. For example, a scene in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]] features a [[silhouette]]d line of figures consisting mainly of rejected characters that go unremarked on in the toon's narrative. More recently, several previously-rejected characters have been brought back for a full proper introduction to the body of work.
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! Image !! Description
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|[[Image:HomeschoolWinner.png|120px|That weaselly know-it-all]] ||
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===== Homeschool Winner =====
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== List of Characters ==
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The mysterious character of Homeschool Winner came about when a friend of [[the Brothers Chaps]] was unable to recall [[Homestar Runner]]'s name. In the [[Club Aquatica Interview - 29 Oct 2003|Club Aquatica interview]], [[Matt Chapman]] recalls that his friend said: "What's your website, HomeschoolWinner.com?" Homeschool is described as "a big nerd, with maybe a creepy edge to him." He more or less resembles [[Homestar Runner]], but with no hat, an overbite instead of an underbite, a blue shirt with an empty white speech bubble (or possibly a [[comma]]) on it, and red soles on his feet. As revealed in [[Why Come Only One Girl?]] on the [[Everything Else, Volume 2]] DVD, he is very smart, winning a "Quiz Bowl" and earning a giant #1 trophy while provoking the ire of the narrator, who calls him a "weaselly know-it-all" and mutters "Boy, I'd like to clean his clock..." He also appeared in the [[Sketchbook 2008#SK-2008-02-28|February 28, 2008 sketchbook]], holding a calculator. In that picture he, along with a differently drawn Strong Bad and a crudely drawn {{wp|Dora The Explorer}}, were labeled as "[[Papa Cardgage's Puddin' Patch|puddin patch]] friends". His colors are the same as [[Homsar]]'s. In [[Quickstart Overview]], it is implied that he may be Homestar's stepbrother.
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The character seems to have been aborted, with few sightings to date. He first appeared and was named on the [[Character Cards]], which are now on a [[secret page]]. He then made a cameo in one of the backgrounds of [[Dancin' Bubs]]. Humorously mentioned in the [[Sample of Style]] video on the [[strongbad_email.exe|DVD]], [[Mike Chapman]] breaks the tube Matt uses to "make" [[Bubs]]'s voice, and Matt says: "Great. Now we have to kill off Bubs. Just like Homeschool Winner." A skull resembling his head was seen in an illustration of the layers of earth underneath [[Strong Badia]], shown at the end of [[buried]], suggesting that Homeschool Winner actually was [[Death|killed]]. However, he appears again in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]]. In 2019, he appeared in [[Powered by The Cheat]] form in [[Quickstart Overview (video)|Quickstart Overview]]. Four days later, the [[@StrongBadActual]] Twitter account Tweeted {{prs|1123309514881732609|30|Apr|2019|alt=an animated GIF from the video}}, animated in the usual style, marking the first time that Homeschool Winner has gotten an official design in the modern animation style.
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{| class="wikitable"
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! Image !! width="10%"|Name !! Description
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|[[Image:Unguraits.png|150px]]<br>
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|align="center"|[[Image:HomeschoolWinner.png|100px|That weaselly know-it-all]]
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[[Image:20050602 weekly sketchbook blue laser ungurait.PNG|150px]]
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|id="Homeschool_Winner"|'''Homeschool Winner'''
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|{{seemain|Homeschool Winner}}
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Homeschool Winner is a spoof of [[Homestar Runner]] {{--}} a similar design with shifted details, and a tendency to be perceived as a creepy nerd rather than a [[terrific athlete|well-loved athlete]].
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=====The Unguraits=====
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The Unguraits are small, possibly insectoid, bandit-like characters. They appeared in the [[Character Cards]], along with Homeschool Winner (seen above).  They are a group of at least four diminuitive characters wearing green robes, white scarves resembling bandages covering their faces, and brown shoes. The only visible part of their body are their glowing red eyes. The Brothers Chaps had apparently considered using them as the forces of [[Blue Laser]] in [[Cheat Commandos]] toons, but this idea has been dumped. They were also mentioned in the DVD commentary for [[Date Nite]], when Mike and Matt suggest other situations where Homestar and Strong Bad would work together. One suggestion was if all the other characters were frozen by the Unguraits. Three Unguraits finally appeared, standing on top of each other, in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]].
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|[[Image:Unnamed Girl.PNG|150px]] ||
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|[[Image:Unguraits.png|150px]]
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|id="The_Unguraits"|'''The Unguraits'''
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|The Unguraits are small bandit-like characters, first depicted in a group of four on one of the unfinished [[Character Cards]]. They appear diminutive, posed in hunched stances; their appearances are obscured by long green robes and white wrappings covering their heads, the only visible part of their body are a pair of glowing red eyes.
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=====Champeen=====
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A [[Sketchbook 2005#SK-2005-06-02|Sketchbook drawing]] suggests Unguraits were originally considered to portray the forces of [[Blue Laser]] in [[Cheat Commandos]]. They were briefly mentioned in the DVD commentary for [[Date Nite]]: Mike and Matt ad-lib a scenario where the Unguraits' villainy would compel Homestar and Strong Bad to work together.
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Champeen appears in the background of the [[Dancin' Bubs]] game. In the [[Club Aquatica Interview - 29 Oct 2003|Club Aquatica Interview]], the interviewer refers to her as Strong Glad, but Matt Chapman never agreed that this would be the character's name. [[Other Character Variations#Strong Glad|Strong Glad]] is really just [[Strong Sad]] with long, feminine legs, seen in the [[Sketchbook (museum)|Museum sketchbook]] and [[Homestar Runner Goes For the Gold]]. After going unidentified for years, the girl was identified as Champeen in [[Why Come Only One Girl?]], and was intended to be the female equivalent of Homestar Runner. She is an armless humanoid with off-white, slightly yellow skin and orange hair pulled into pigtails. She wears a frilly light blue dress and some sort of [[gold]] medal, hinting at her athletic successes (although [[Strong Bad]] suspects it's [[chocolate]] gelt). Her feet are similar to Homestar's, but with red "soles" instead of blue ones. Her silhouette appears in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]]. She later appears in [[Mario Paint]]-form in the third edition of "Mario Paint Thursdays", posted to [[@StrongBadActual]]. In the video, she beats Preshy and Rafferty for the gold, coming in 1st place on the podium.
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Three Unguraits appeared, standing on top of each other, in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]].
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|[[Image:Sketchbook Nine.PNG|150px]] ||
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|[[Image:Unnamed Girl.PNG|150px|In the champeenship? I'd like to see you try!]]
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|id="Champeen"|'''Champeen'''
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|Champeen first appeared, unnamed, in the background of the [[Dancin' Bubs]] game. Her name was revealed years later in [[Why Come Only One Girl?]], which explained she was intended to be the female equivalent of Homestar Runner. Similar to Homestar, she [[Lack of Visible Arms|lacks arms]] and has a cylindrical body with long, thin legs and red soles at the bottom of her feet. Her skin is a light manila, and she has orange hair worn in pigtails. She wears a frilly light blue dress and a [[gold]] medal, hinting at her athletic successes (although [[Strong Bad]] suspects it's [[chocolate]] {{w|Hanukkah gelt#Chocolate coins|gelt}}).
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===== Dijjery Doo =====
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Her silhouette appears in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]]. She later appears in [[Mario Paint]]-form in [[Mario Paint Thursdays Compilation#Rejected Characters Winner's Circle|the third edition of Mario Paint Thursdays]], shown coming in first place in a competition. [[Fan Costumes]] of Champeen were featured in [[Fan 'Stumes 2020|2020]] and [[Fan 'Stumes 2022|2022]].
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{{seemain|Dijjery Doo}}
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|[[Image:Sketchbook Four.PNG|150px]]  
|[[Image:Sketchbook Four.PNG|150px]]  
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|id="Trivia_Time"|'''Trivia Time'''
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|{{seemain|Trivia Time}}
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=====Trivia Time=====
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Trivia Time was designed to be [[Pom Pom]]'s dog. Though the pet never appeared in a toon, a dog-shaped cookie jar bearing the name "Trivia Time" has been seen.
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{{seemain|Trivia Time}}
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|[[Image:Preshyandrafferdy.PNG|150px]]
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|align="center"|[[Image:Thehurricane.PNG|110px]]
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|id="The_Hurricane"|'''The Hurricane'''
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|The Hurricane was designed to introduce another female character, as shown in [[Why Come Only One Girl?]]. After many scrapped ideas, the "[[corn]]-[[Hot Dogs|dog]]-cotton-candy-looking lady" character was chosen; her feet slightly resemble [[Strong Sad]]'s [[soolnds]], but are yellow and have only one toe. The design was built in [[Flash]] and prepped for animation, but [[The Brothers Chaps]] recall that the release of ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]: {{w|The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker}}'' distracted them from finalizing her animation.
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=====Preshy and Rafferty=====
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Much like other rejected characters, she eventually appeared on the website via a cameo in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]].  
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Preshy (right) and Rafferty (left) were [[Homestar Runner]]'s cousins, as shown in [[Why Come Only One Girl?]]. They had been set to appear in the [[unfinished cartoon]] "Those Darn Cousins", which was evidently being made around the year 2000. They appear to enjoy torturing "Uncle Homestar", as they call him. According to the [[Why Come Only One Girl?#Easter Eggs|DVD commentary]], the cartoon would involve Homestar trying to convince everyone else that his cousins were trying to kill him, as they were nice to Homestar when others were around. Preshy and Rafferty were voiced by [[The Brothers Chaps]]' niece and nephew. Unlike Homestar, Rafferty seems to have arms and hands. Preshy has a similar head to Strong Sad, but with the soft serve flip on the back. They both appear in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]]. They later appear in [[Mario Paint]]-form in the third edition of "Mario Paint Thursdays", posted to [[@StrongBadActual]]. In the video, they are beaten by Champeen for the [[gold]], with Preshy coming in 3rd place, and Rafferty 2nd.
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===Former Rejected Characters===
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|align="center"|[[Image:Thehurricane.PNG|120px]]
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=====The Hurricane=====
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The following once-rejected characters have since had substantial, speaking roles in fully-released toons.
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The Hurricane was an early attempt to introduce a new female character, as shown in [[Why Come Only One Girl?]]. She was chosen as the design of a new female after many scrapped ideas, being described as a "[[corn]]-[[Hot Dogs|dog]]-cotton-candy-looking lady". She actually made it into [[Flash]] and was prepped for animation, but according to [[The Brothers Chaps]], the game ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]: [[Wikipedia:The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker]]'' came out, and they opted to play ''The Wind Waker'' instead of working on animating The Hurricane. However, she did eventually make it onto the website in [[A Decemberween Mackerel]]. Her feet slightly resemble [[Strong Sad]]'s [[soolnds]], but are yellow and have only one toe.
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<gallery>
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File:ModernDijjeryDoo.png|[[Dijjery Doo]]
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Image:folly.png|[[Folly]]
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Image:ThoseModernCousins.png|[[Preshy and Rafferty]]
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</gallery>
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== Gallery ==
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|align="center"|[[Image:folly.png|150px]]  
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<gallery widths="200px" perrow="3">
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File:20050602 weekly sketchbook blue laser ungurait.PNG|"blue laser was gonna be an ungurait?!"
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File:Sketchbook-10-15-2009.png|"champeen comin' atcha!"
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=====Folly=====
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File:SK-07-30-2009.png|"unguraits are go!"
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{{seemain|Folly}}
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File:MackeralRejectedCharacters.png|Three Unguraits, The Hurricane, Champeen, Preshy, Rafferty, and Homeschool Winner in line at [[Bubs' Concession Stand|Bubs']].
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File:TwitterYouOrdered4.GIF|Homeschool Winner, drawn in the [[Character Evolution|modern art style]]
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File:TwitterMarioPaintThursday3.png|Champeen beats Preshy and Rafferty for the [[gold]]
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</gallery>
==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Unfinished Toons]]
*[[Unfinished Toons]]
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*[[Rejected Costumes]]
*[[Rejected Cheat Commandos]]
*[[Rejected Cheat Commandos]]
[[Category:Inside Jokes]]  
[[Category:Inside Jokes]]  
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]

Current revision as of 18:26, 10 June 2025

Who are those two over by The Cheat?

This is a list of rejected characters — incomplete or largely unused character designs by the Brothers Chaps that were not developed into characters with a full, prominent appearance in a toon and do not appear outside of brief, rare cameos. These characters may have been designed for various purposes, often relating to one of the final main characters or as an attempt to fill a niche in character design.

Most rejected character designs were explored in the earliest years of Homestar Runner. By 2002, when the site had established a weekly schedule, the core cast had been solidified and few attempts were made to introduce new characters; instead, new and different characters generally appeared in alternate, variant, or fictional "universes".

Glimpses at rejected characters appeared in early pages, often unlisted and/or unfinished ones. Later references to rejected character designs are typically limited to out-of-universe content like the weekly or Museum sketchbooks or DVD special features. In later years, some character designs have seen minor inclusions in the body of work proper — albeit typically deployed as inside jokes, where the humor is meant to appeal to fans who could recognize such an obscure reference. For example, a scene in A Decemberween Mackerel features a silhouetted line of figures consisting mainly of rejected characters that go unremarked on in the toon's narrative. More recently, several previously-rejected characters have been brought back for a full proper introduction to the body of work.

Contents

[edit] List of Characters

Image Name Description
That weaselly know-it-all Homeschool Winner
See main article: Homeschool Winner

Homeschool Winner is a spoof of Homestar Runner — a similar design with shifted details, and a tendency to be perceived as a creepy nerd rather than a well-loved athlete.

The Unguraits The Unguraits are small bandit-like characters, first depicted in a group of four on one of the unfinished Character Cards. They appear diminutive, posed in hunched stances; their appearances are obscured by long green robes and white wrappings covering their heads, the only visible part of their body are a pair of glowing red eyes.

A Sketchbook drawing suggests Unguraits were originally considered to portray the forces of Blue Laser in Cheat Commandos. They were briefly mentioned in the DVD commentary for Date Nite: Mike and Matt ad-lib a scenario where the Unguraits' villainy would compel Homestar and Strong Bad to work together.

Three Unguraits appeared, standing on top of each other, in A Decemberween Mackerel.

In the champeenship? I'd like to see you try! Champeen Champeen first appeared, unnamed, in the background of the Dancin' Bubs game. Her name was revealed years later in Why Come Only One Girl?, which explained she was intended to be the female equivalent of Homestar Runner. Similar to Homestar, she lacks arms and has a cylindrical body with long, thin legs and red soles at the bottom of her feet. Her skin is a light manila, and she has orange hair worn in pigtails. She wears a frilly light blue dress and a gold medal, hinting at her athletic successes (although Strong Bad suspects it's chocolate gelt).

Her silhouette appears in A Decemberween Mackerel. She later appears in Mario Paint-form in the third edition of Mario Paint Thursdays, shown coming in first place in a competition. Fan Costumes of Champeen were featured in 2020 and 2022.

Trivia Time
See main article: Trivia Time

Trivia Time was designed to be Pom Pom's dog. Though the pet never appeared in a toon, a dog-shaped cookie jar bearing the name "Trivia Time" has been seen.

The Hurricane The Hurricane was designed to introduce another female character, as shown in Why Come Only One Girl?. After many scrapped ideas, the "corn-dog-cotton-candy-looking lady" character was chosen; her feet slightly resemble Strong Sad's soolnds, but are yellow and have only one toe. The design was built in Flash and prepped for animation, but The Brothers Chaps recall that the release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker distracted them from finalizing her animation.

Much like other rejected characters, she eventually appeared on the website via a cameo in A Decemberween Mackerel.

[edit] Former Rejected Characters

The following once-rejected characters have since had substantial, speaking roles in fully-released toons.

Dijjery Doo

Folly

Preshy and Rafferty

[edit] Gallery

"blue laser was gonna be an ungurait?!"

"champeen comin' atcha!"

"unguraits are go!"

Three Unguraits, The Hurricane, Champeen, Preshy, Rafferty, and Homeschool Winner in line at Bubs'.

Homeschool Winner, drawn in the modern art style

Champeen beats Preshy and Rafferty for the gold

[edit] See Also

Retrieved from "http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Rejected_Characters"
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