Powered by The Cheat

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Revision as of 03:10, 3 June 2007

Powered by The Cheat, for The Cheat

"Powered by The Cheat" toons are Flash toons done by The Cheat and his trusty computer, Tangerine Dreams, and first appeared in 2002. Many of them are Flash toons within the Homestar Runner universe. The toons, which are a parody of the many poorly drawn Flash cartoons on the web, are usually packed with bad animation and character depictions, poor imitations of the characters' voices (provided by Mike Chapman), and senseless or nonexistent plots.

It is never explained how The Cheat manages to imitate the other characters speaking English; in all regular toons, The Cheat speaks in his own native "The Cheat" language. He often incorporates himself into his cartoons, sometimes in a Hitchcock-style cameo, but usually making himself appear awesome or receive some sort of prize. The Cheat has won three prizes for these cartoons in "real" life, including an iron cup full of Brunswick Stew, a pizza for his "Everybody to the Limit" music video, and the fabled "Pizza Trophy."

These animations show hints of The Cheat's fantasies and possibly insecure personality. The email mile, which The Cheat guest-authored, is an ideal example of what he most desires yet cannot possibly possess. The Cheat shamelessly elevates his status in the eyes of others through praise given by his boss, Strong Bad, while Marzipan finally gives him the attention and affection he has been craving. However the two rarely exchange words outside of a fabricated Flash universe.

The Cheat has provided animation for other Free Country, USA artists. He has also collaborated with the likes of The Skate Party, They Might Be Giants, and more.

Powered by The Cheat Toons

"The Cheat is a millionaire!"

• The Cheat Theme Song
• Everybody to the Limit
• Crazy Cartoon (part of the email crazy cartoon)
• Email mile
• These peoples try to fade me Video
• New Boots
• Seasonal Sweaters
• Grumblecakes (video)
• Main Page 15

Partially Powered by The Cheat Toons

The credits squeeze from theme song

• The Cheat made a short animation with the Grim Reaper crushing hearts in Strong Sad's Lament for his Valentine's Day entry.
• Email website — The Cheat makes the Flash intro for Strong Bad's website.
• Email marzipan — The Cheat makes a music video for Marzipan's "Oh yeah yeah".
• Experimental Film — The Cheat co-directs the music video for They Might Be Giants' "Experimental Film" with Strong Sad.
• Labor Dabor — The Cheat makes some bowling animations.
• Email virus — one of The Cheat's variations in the last moments of the virus that reaked havok on Free Country, USA was a PBTC version.
• Email animal — Strong Bad's descriptions of the Deep Sea Fangly Fish are rendered in PBTC style, and the style is seen again in two Easter eggs.
• Email rock opera — Many of the visuals during the opera are in PBTC style.
• Email bedtime story — The visuals in The Cheat's bedtime story with Moses Malone are completely PBTC style.
• Email narrator — An Easter egg with the Marzipan Alien and Nebulon is done in PBTC style.
• Summer Short Shorts — The second sequence is a PBTC cartoon set in the "Millionzoic Era".
• Email theme song — An announcer interrupts the closing credits to advertise an upcoming show called Powered By The Cheat, which that night would have featured Strong Mad getting his own talk show.
• Email strong badathlon — PBTC versions of Strong Bad, The Cheat playing a guitar, and a hot girl are shown during the "Probably Something With Guitars, Lasers, Robots, and Hot Girls" event.

Strong Bad's Responses

These are Strong Bad's responses after watching a toon with The Cheat. While most are discouraging, there is occasional praise.