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| Homestar Runner | |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
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| Release | 2000 – present |
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Homestar Runner is an American comedy animated web series and website created by Mike and Matt Chapman, known collectively as The Brothers Chaps. The series centers on the adventures of a large and diverse cast of characters, headed by the titular character, Homestar Runner. It uses a blend of surreal humor, self-parody, satire, and references to popular culture, in particular video games, classic television, and popular music.
Homestar Runner originated in 1996 as a book written by Mike Chapman and Craig Zobel, intended as a parody of children's literature. While learning Macromedia Flash, Mike and his brother Matt expanded the concept into a website, which was launched on New Year's Day 2000. While the site originally centered on the title character, the Strong Bad Email cartoon skits quickly became the site's most popular and prominent feature, with Strong Bad, initially the series' main antagonist, becoming a breakout character. Since 2000, the site has grown to encompass a variety of cartoons and web games featuring Homestar, Strong Bad, and numerous other characters.
At the peak of its popularity, the site was one of the most-visited sites with collections of Flash cartoons on the web, spreading via word of mouth.[1] The site sustains itself through merchandise sales and has never featured advertisements.[2] The Brothers Chaps have turned down offers to make a television series.[3]
After a four-year hiatus beginning in 2010, Homestar Runner returned with a new Holiday Toon on April 1, 2014, for April Fools' Day. Afterwards, co-creator Matt Chapman announced plans to give the site semi-regular updates. Since global support for Flash ended on December 31, 2020, homestarrunner.com has maintained a fully functional website through the Flash emulator Ruffle.[4] More cartoons have since been released on the website and its YouTube channel on an occasional basis, usually to celebrate holidays.
- ^ Dean, Kari Lynn (June 2003). "HomestarRunner Hits a Homer". Wired News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2006.
- ^ Chapman, Matt; Chapman, Mike (2005). "FAQ". homestarrunner.com. Archived from the original (SWF) on December 17, 2006. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
- ^ John Scott Lewinsk (June 18, 2007). "Homestar Runner Rejects TV to Stay True to Web". wired.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2008. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
- ^ Bonifacic, Igor (November 19, 2020). "Flash content like Homestar Runner lives on in the Internet Archive". Engadget. Retrieved September 5, 2023.