Olan Rogers

Last updated

Olan Rogers
Born
Thomas Olan Rogers

(1987-06-11) June 11, 1987 (age 37)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma mater University of Memphis
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, comedian, actor, YouTuber
Years active2005–present

Thomas Olan Rogers (born June 11, 1987) is an American filmmaker, [1] comedian, actor, and YouTuber. [2] He is the creator, executive producer, and star of the TBS and Adult Swim animated television series Final Space .

Contents

Career

Rogers started his career on Myspace and YouTube alongside two Collierville High School and University of Memphis friends (Thomas Gore & Joshua Pursley) in the comedy trio BalloonShop, [3] known for their comedic sketches and shorts. [4] After transitioning to his solo channel, Rogers uploaded videos of his own sketches as well as humorous stories of his life, short films, and even several animated shorts. [5]

In 2015, after lamenting his inability to meet with fans as often as he liked, [6] Rogers opened a lounge called "The Soda Parlor" in Nashville, which offered arcade games and various desserts. [7] [8] The Parlor was later hit by a tornado in March 2020, and then looted in the aftermath. [9]

His channel reached 1,000,000 subscribers on March 26, 2019, but entered long periods of inactivity, which Olan later explained was a result of coming to terms with numerous personal troubles, including the destruction of the Parlor, and the death of his cat, Starscream. [10]

Final Space

In 2016, he created a pilot that became the animated television show, Final Space . The series followed a rogue astronaut named Gary, and his sidekick, a planet-destroying alien named Mooncake, both of whom Rogers voiced. 10 episodes were released between February and April 2018 on TBS. The series was later added to Netflix overseas. [11] A second season was released in 2019 on Adult Swim. [12] Season 3 premiered on March 20, 2021. [13] Rogers ran the social media accounts for the show, including the official Twitter account, calling it a "good opportunity" to connect with fans. [14]

However, in September of 2022, Rogers revealed that Final Space would be leaving Netflix internationally in 2023, as part of a group of properties being written off by Warner Bros. Discovery for tax purposes. [15] Due to this, Season 3 would not be receiving physical copies, and all mention of the show would be erased from the platform. Nevertheless, Olan promised that he would continue fighting for the show to get a proper ending, under the hashtag "#renewfinalspace". [16] [17] This eventually led to WB offering Olan a one-time license to publish a physical graphic novel for Final Space's ending. [18]

Godspeed and future plans

In June 2022, Rogers uploaded a trailer for his next project, an animation titled Godspeed, turning to Kickstarter to help fund it. The campaign was funded in just two hours, hitting 580% of its original goal. [19] [20] [21] The official Godspeed website later clarified that after various fees and cuts, the KS money could not fund a full length film, so it would be a single episode instead. [22] Production on Godspeed began on January 9, 2023. [23]

The final product featured voice actors such as Troy Baker, Claudia Black, Coty Galloway, and Rogers himself, described positively as having "some potential" and showing "another example of the appetite for independent adult animation." [24] [25] It premiered on YouTube on December 15. [26] Additionally, the Final Space graphic novel, which concludes his previous series, was also confirmed to release in 2024. [27] [28]

Following a rising trend of YouTube's older content creators stepping back from the platform in 2024, Rogers himself announced in February [29] that he would be moving on to other passions outside his usual content range. Rogers' new ventures include a stand-up special in collaboration with Patreon, and a ghost-hunting series called Haunt Hounds with his longtime friend and BalloonShop co-creator Thomas Gore, as well as Brett Driver and Seth Jackson.

As of November 2024, Rogers is working as a writer for Glitch Productions, which he did an interview with the company earlier that month for their GlitchX annual event. [30]

Filmography

Feature films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011New PrimeValavingee / Ferris / Daniels / Zak McSleuthburger / BobAlso director, writer, producer, executive producer
2016 The Matchbreaker Mitchell

Other media

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005–2010Hazard/BalloonShopHimselfAlso director
2008"In a Cave" (Tokyo Police Club)HimselfMusic video; also director
2011 Annoying Orange Meteortron1 episode only
2014As Dreamers DoWalt Disney
2015Oscar's Hotel for Fantastical CreaturesBox Death
2016–2017Mr. Student Body PresidentMr. Bayblock
2017Ear BiscuitsHimself1 episode only
2018 Conan Himself1 episode only
2018–2021 Final Space Gary Goodspeed / Mooncake / Tribore Menendez / Biskit / Additional VoicesAlso creator, director, executive producer
2023GodspeedBowieAlso creator, writer
2024Haunt HoundsHimselfAlso creator, director, executive producer
TBAUntitled project with Disney+
TBAUntitled project with Amazon Prime Video

Video games

YearTitleRole
2022Final Space: The RescueGary Goodspeed / Mooncake / Tribore Menendez

References list

  1. ↑ Olan Rogers
  2. ↑ Boothe, Kelley (June 21, 2015). "Above all, stay true". Nashville Post. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ↑ "BalloonShop - YouTube". YouTube .
  4. ↑ Morrison, Jesse (January 29, 2008). "Students find success on YouTube". The Daily Helmsman. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ↑ "OlanRogers - YouTube". YouTube .
  6. ↑ The Soda Parlor / LIFE. OlanRogers. January 3, 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2021– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Williams, William (August 30, 2016). "Soda Parlor set for October opening on east side". Nashville Post. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  8. ↑ "The Soda Parlor - Nashville, TN".
  9. ↑ Sutton, Caroline (March 3, 2020). "Soda Parlor Owner Says Restaurant Was Looted After Tornado Hit". NewsChannel5. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  10. ↑ Keep Moving. OlanRogers. September 14, 2020. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021– via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Final Space on Netflix streaming: How to watch Final Space online". July 18, 2018.
  12. ↑ Peters, Megan (December 2, 2016). "TBS Orders Animated Series From Youtube Star Olan Rogers, Conan O'Brien". ComicBook.com . Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ Greene, Steve (March 19, 2021). "'Final Space' Review: It's Time to Catch Up on One of TV's Animated Sci-Fi Treasures". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  14. ↑ Miller, Liz Shannon (March 19, 2021). "'Final Space' Creator on the Epic Sci-Fi Comedy's HBO Max Premiere, and the "Really Thrilling" Season 3". Collider. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Warner Bros. Discovery Takes Major Tax Write-Down Amid Recent Content Cancellations". ComicBook.com .
  16. ↑ https://twitter.com/OlanRogers/status/1573686640094191617 [ bare URL ]
  17. ↑ "Final Space Creator Throws Shade at Warner Brothers for Using Canceled Series as Tax Write-off".
  18. ↑ "I CAN FINISH FINAL SPACE!!!!". YouTube .
  19. ↑ Barnhardt, Adam (June 15, 2022). "Final Space Creator Launches Kickstarter Campaign for New Show Inspired by Cancelled Adult Swim Hit". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ Valentine, Evan (January 10, 2023). "Final Space Creator to Launch New Show Following Record Kickstarter". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  21. ↑ Wallace, Lorna (February 10, 2023). "Final Space: The Space Opera Series That Deserves Better". Tor.com . Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Godspeed Series Official Site".
  23. ↑ Alexa, Laurén (January 16, 2023). "'Final Space' Creator Starts Production on 'Godspeed'". AWN . Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  24. ↑ Hartley, Edward (December 14, 2023). "Olan Rogers on chasing the storm behind Godspeed". Toon Boom . Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  25. ↑ Billington, Alex (December 11, 2023). "Official Trailer for Animated Sci-Fi Short 'Godspeed' from Olan Rogers". FirstShowing. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  26. ↑ Sarto, Debbie Diamond (December 12, 2023). "Lightfold Shares Olan Rogers' 'Godspeed' Trailer". AWN . Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  27. ↑ Salmon, Will (April 24, 2023). "Cult Adult Swim animation Final Space returns as a graphic novel". Gamesradar. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  28. ↑ Bonomolo, Cameron (April 24, 2023). "Final Space Creator Olan Rogers Releasing The Final Chapter Graphic Novel". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  29. ↑ "This isn't Goodbye". YouTube .
  30. ↑ Schwarz, John (January 7, 2025). "Final Space's Olan Rogers Joins Glitch Productions". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved January 12, 2025.

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