Homestar Runner universe
From Homestar Runner Wiki
It's dot com (Talk | contribs) (link TBC in the first sentence) |
Bleu Ninja (Talk | contribs) (Rework Sub-universes section, cutting examples with only one or two instances. Tried to lose the "pondering how to explain all this logically" tone in favor of out-of-universe wording.) |
||
(includes 39 intermediate revisions) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
- | [[ | + | [[File:Bug in mouth.PNG|thumb|[[The Field]] is perhaps the most commonly seen setting in the Homestar Runner universe.]] |
- | The '''Homestar Runner universe''' is the | + | The '''Homestar Runner universe''' is the {{w|fictional universe}} in which the characters of the [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] body of work live and breathe, as created chiefly by [[The Brothers Chaps]]. Within the main universe are [[Homestar Runner]], [[Strong Bad]], and the other main characters living in [[Free Country, USA]]. |
+ | |||
+ | == Portrayal == | ||
+ | Their universe is much like our own; for example, they live in houses, eat food, go to work, watch TV, use the Internet, play sports, celebrate [[holidays]], and do other normal things. At the same time, there are certain elements of the universe that show that they are in a cartoon; for example, through {{wp|cartoon physics}}, [[Homsar]] can survive being crushed by a [[Heavy Lourde|giant weight]], objects can appear from [[Hammerspace]], characters can [[Fourth Wall Breaks|break the fourth wall]], and sometimes [[Duplicate Characters|more than one of the same character]] are on the screen at the same time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In a body of work as large as The Brothers Chaps have created, complete continuity throughout every cartoon is almost impossible to maintain (or intentionally ignored), leading to various [[Inconsistencies within the Homestar Runner universe|inconsistencies]]. | ||
==Sub-universes== | ==Sub-universes== | ||
- | + | ===Variations=== | |
- | + | [[File:Doppelgangers.png|thumb|The [[Strong Bad Email]] [[alternate universe]] features Strong Bad using a portal to encounter numerous versions of himself.]] | |
- | + | ||
- | + | A recurring element of Homestar Runner is reimagining the entire cartoon {{--}} characters, locations, and even specific stories {{--}} in a different animation or storytelling style. These character variations may have different names, behave differently or have different relationships, or otherwise vary greatly from their mainline depiction. Many such variations [[:Category:Strong Bad Email Spin-offs|spun off from]] [[Strong Bad Email]]s, though others are wholly original. | |
- | *[[ | + | |
- | *[[ | + | It is rare for these variations to cross over with the main universe. It is occasionally implied that the [[Old-Timey]] and [[20X6]] variations exist as the past and future, respectively, of the main universe. The [[Strong Bad Email]] [[alternate universe]] shows [[Strong Bad]] employing an "[[Blender#Game Boy in a Blender|alternate universe portal]]" to encounter several of his variations. |
- | *[[ | + | |
- | *[[ | + | Frequently reoccurring variations include: |
- | *[[ | + | |
- | + | *[[Storybook World]] {{--}} Intentionally simplistic parodies of children's stories, designed to evoke the [[Original Book]] that started Homestar Runner. | |
+ | *[[Old-Timey]] {{--}} Evocative of {{w|Golden age of American animation|1930s animation}}, these black-and-white cartoons are set in 1936. | ||
+ | *[[20X6]] {{--}} A stereotypical sci-fi [[anime]] world, featuring technology and the pursuit of [[challenge]]s. | ||
+ | *[[Puppet Stuff]] {{--}} [[Puppet Character Variations|Puppet versions]] of the characters, often filmed in real-world settings or interacting with live-action people. | ||
+ | *[[Powered by The Cheat]] {{--}} [[Flash]] animations created and voiced by [[The Cheat]], featuring strange and off-model illustrations and poorly-imitated voices. These toons are often music videos, or stories portraying The Cheat in an overly-positive light. | ||
+ | *[[The Homestar Runner Mysfit-steries]] {{--}} A spoof of 1970s ''[[Hanna-Barbera]]'' cartoons (most prominently ''{{w|Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!}}'') starring [[Mysfit-steries Character Variations|a teenaged Homestar Runner and friends]] solving mysteries and playing in a band. | ||
+ | *[[Yonder Website]] {{--}} Far-out, "unbelievably soothing" children's programming, featuring [[Yonder Website Character Variations|simplistic character designs]] and narration from Strong Bad. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Several other [[minor character variations]] have also been created over time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===In-universe fiction=== | ||
+ | [[File:sbemail72.png|thumb|Though initially [[crazy cartoon|invented as a hypothetical by Strong Bad]], ''Sweet Cuppin' Cakes'' is later portrayed as [[Made-Up Real Things|a show that airs on TV without any involvement from him]].]] | ||
+ | :''See Also: [[:Category:Virtual and Fictitious Places|Virtual and Fictitious Places]], [[TV Shows]]'' | ||
+ | Several fictional worlds have been presented as media that is read, watched, or played by the characters in the primary universe. Unlike [[#Variations|variations]], these works of fiction may not include analogues for the main characters; they are typically shown to be produced by characters within the context of the main universe. Many of these also originated as one-off gags in Strong Bad Emails. | ||
- | + | Some of the most prominent of these secondary worlds include: | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | *''[[Teen Girl Squad]]'' {{--}} A comic drawn and voiced by Strong Bad. Nominally focusing on a friend group of four high school girls trying to meet boys and look fashionable, issues often swerve into surreal, nonsensical scenes and [[Teen Girl Squad Deaths|over-the-top cartoon violence]]. | |
- | + | *[[Peasantry]] {{--}} A medieval setting inhabited by the dragon [[Trogdor|Trogdor the Burninator]] and the [[peasants]] he wreaks havoc upon. Originally [[dragon|drawn by Strong Bad]] and later featuring in several [[Videlectrix]] games. | |
- | + | *[[Dangeresque (film series)|''Dangeresque'']] {{--}} A homemade low-budget film series produced by Strong Bad. He stars as [[Dangeresque (character)|Dangeresque]], a wisecracking crooked-cop action hero, fighting both "the law and also the crime." | |
+ | *[[Cheat Commandos|''Cheat Commandos Adventures'']] {{--}} A spoof of ''{{w|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero|G.I. Joe}}'', the cartoon (and accompanying heavily-advertised toy line) features the titular Commandos fighting off the evil forces of megalomanical [[Blue Laser]]. Characters resemble [[The Cheat]], who also provides the voice of [[Firebert]] on the show. | ||
+ | *''[[Sweet Cuppin' Cakes]]'' {{--}} A surreal, [[crazy cartoon]] featuring a bevy of characters in largely nonsensical or non-sequitur-filled scenarios. | ||
+ | *[[Strong Badman|''The Total Adventures of Strong Badman'']] {{--}} Supervillain [[Strong Badman]], aided by his sidekick [[Stiny]], dramatically confronts other superhuman characters. | ||
==As a term== | ==As a term== | ||
- | The phrase "Homestar Runner universe" has been used | + | [[Image:Sketchbook 3-8-07.PNG|thumb|128px|[[Blatant Lies|For reals.]]]] |
+ | The phrase "Homestar Runner universe" has been used several times within the body of work itself. | ||
+ | *[[Marzipan]] is known as the only girl in the main universe, which is explored in depth on the DVD feature [[Why Come Only One Girl?]]. | ||
+ | *A summary for the [[Podstar Runner 2006#haircut|Podstar Runner release]] of [[haircut]] notes that there is "Very little hair on the scalps of the Homestar Runner universe." | ||
+ | *The phrase was featured in the [[Sketchbook 2007#SK-2007-03-08|Sketchbook]] on March 8, 2007 (see image above). | ||
+ | *In the DVD commentary for [[retirement]], while talking about the auto hole formatting, Strong Bad remarks that "there's a lot of autoformatting that goes on in my universe." | ||
- | + | ==See Also== | |
+ | *[[Homestar Runner (body of work)]] | ||
+ | *[[Free Country, USA]] | ||
+ | *[[Inconsistencies within the Homestar Runner universe]] | ||
[[Category:Places]] | [[Category:Places]] | ||
[[Category:Research]] | [[Category:Research]] |
Current revision as of 00:24, 24 May 2024
The Homestar Runner universe is the fictional universe in which the characters of the Homestar Runner body of work live and breathe, as created chiefly by The Brothers Chaps. Within the main universe are Homestar Runner, Strong Bad, and the other main characters living in Free Country, USA.
Contents |
[edit] Portrayal
Their universe is much like our own; for example, they live in houses, eat food, go to work, watch TV, use the Internet, play sports, celebrate holidays, and do other normal things. At the same time, there are certain elements of the universe that show that they are in a cartoon; for example, through cartoon physics, Homsar can survive being crushed by a giant weight, objects can appear from Hammerspace, characters can break the fourth wall, and sometimes more than one of the same character are on the screen at the same time.
In a body of work as large as The Brothers Chaps have created, complete continuity throughout every cartoon is almost impossible to maintain (or intentionally ignored), leading to various inconsistencies.
[edit] Sub-universes
[edit] Variations
A recurring element of Homestar Runner is reimagining the entire cartoon — characters, locations, and even specific stories — in a different animation or storytelling style. These character variations may have different names, behave differently or have different relationships, or otherwise vary greatly from their mainline depiction. Many such variations spun off from Strong Bad Emails, though others are wholly original.
It is rare for these variations to cross over with the main universe. It is occasionally implied that the Old-Timey and 20X6 variations exist as the past and future, respectively, of the main universe. The Strong Bad Email alternate universe shows Strong Bad employing an "alternate universe portal" to encounter several of his variations.
Frequently reoccurring variations include:
- Storybook World — Intentionally simplistic parodies of children's stories, designed to evoke the Original Book that started Homestar Runner.
- Old-Timey — Evocative of 1930s animation, these black-and-white cartoons are set in 1936.
- 20X6 — A stereotypical sci-fi anime world, featuring technology and the pursuit of challenges.
- Puppet Stuff — Puppet versions of the characters, often filmed in real-world settings or interacting with live-action people.
- Powered by The Cheat — Flash animations created and voiced by The Cheat, featuring strange and off-model illustrations and poorly-imitated voices. These toons are often music videos, or stories portraying The Cheat in an overly-positive light.
- The Homestar Runner Mysfit-steries — A spoof of 1970s Hanna-Barbera cartoons (most prominently Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!) starring a teenaged Homestar Runner and friends solving mysteries and playing in a band.
- Yonder Website — Far-out, "unbelievably soothing" children's programming, featuring simplistic character designs and narration from Strong Bad.
Several other minor character variations have also been created over time.
[edit] In-universe fiction
- See Also: Virtual and Fictitious Places, TV Shows
Several fictional worlds have been presented as media that is read, watched, or played by the characters in the primary universe. Unlike variations, these works of fiction may not include analogues for the main characters; they are typically shown to be produced by characters within the context of the main universe. Many of these also originated as one-off gags in Strong Bad Emails.
Some of the most prominent of these secondary worlds include:
- Teen Girl Squad — A comic drawn and voiced by Strong Bad. Nominally focusing on a friend group of four high school girls trying to meet boys and look fashionable, issues often swerve into surreal, nonsensical scenes and over-the-top cartoon violence.
- Peasantry — A medieval setting inhabited by the dragon Trogdor the Burninator and the peasants he wreaks havoc upon. Originally drawn by Strong Bad and later featuring in several Videlectrix games.
- Dangeresque — A homemade low-budget film series produced by Strong Bad. He stars as Dangeresque, a wisecracking crooked-cop action hero, fighting both "the law and also the crime."
- Cheat Commandos Adventures — A spoof of G.I. Joe, the cartoon (and accompanying heavily-advertised toy line) features the titular Commandos fighting off the evil forces of megalomanical Blue Laser. Characters resemble The Cheat, who also provides the voice of Firebert on the show.
- Sweet Cuppin' Cakes — A surreal, crazy cartoon featuring a bevy of characters in largely nonsensical or non-sequitur-filled scenarios.
- The Total Adventures of Strong Badman — Supervillain Strong Badman, aided by his sidekick Stiny, dramatically confronts other superhuman characters.
[edit] As a term
The phrase "Homestar Runner universe" has been used several times within the body of work itself.
- Marzipan is known as the only girl in the main universe, which is explored in depth on the DVD feature Why Come Only One Girl?.
- A summary for the Podstar Runner release of haircut notes that there is "Very little hair on the scalps of the Homestar Runner universe."
- The phrase was featured in the Sketchbook on March 8, 2007 (see image above).
- In the DVD commentary for retirement, while talking about the auto hole formatting, Strong Bad remarks that "there's a lot of autoformatting that goes on in my universe."