Fourth Wall Breaks

From Homestar Runner Wiki

in a blue moon, the H*R characters "break the fourth wall" by recognizing their existence as cartoon characters on a computer screen rather than in a fictional world of their own.

First Time Here? sets the stage for fourth wall breakages, especially when Strong Bad shows up to let you know why you're here.

It has also occurred in the following Strong Bad Emails:

• huttah!: The Cheat actually watches the e-mail on his own computer.
• little animal: Strong Bad mentions "the viewers...at home..."
• the process: the entire email implies that Strong Bad is aware that he is a cartoon being watched by people at home.
• mile: Strong Bad tells us he won't be checking his e-mail this week.
• flashback: The size of the display area is purposefully extended and Homestar Runner is "behind the black."
• for kids: Strong Bad alludes to the idea of children watching his emails.
• other days: Strong Bad does his email earlier for "Eastern European viewers across the pond."
• extra plug: The scene at the end with the cast making a fake e-mail gives the impression that Strong Bad knows someone's watching, and that they want to see the e-mail finished.
• virus: Most of the characters recognize that they are in a cartoon.
• animal: Strong Bad says goodbye to everyone.
• Not the 100th Email!!!: References to the 404 page and the user poking around the site.
• part-time job: Strong Bad peeks around the edge of the black on his way to Bubs', with an aside to the audience about Bubs' sobriety.

In addition, the fourth wall has been breached in the following toons:

• The System is Down: References to both the 404 File Not Found page and homestarrunner.com being down.
• Homestar Presents: Presents: Strong Bad informs the viewers that Homestar runs around frantically from Decemberween to New Years, then, in the easter egg, there is a poster on the wall that reads, "Left Out Characters' Support Group & Buffet."
• Strong Sad's Character Page: In his character page, Strong Sad mentions that he doesn't want to "do a characters page."