The Brothers Chaps

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Matt and Mike Chapman
The Brothers Chaps 2008 (cropped).JPG
Matt (left) and Mike Chapman (right) at the 2008 Heroes Convention.
BornMatthew Alan Chapman
(1976-11-01) November 1, 1976 (age 47)
Michael Raymond Chapman
(1973-09-20) September 20, 1973 (age 50)
Indiana, U.S. (both)
Other namesThe Brothers Chaps
Occupations
  • Writers
  • voice actors
  • directors
  • animators
  • producers
  • composers
Years active1996–present
Spouse(s)Matt: Jackie Chapman
Mike:
Missy Palmer
(m. 2004)

ChildrenMatt: 2 [1] [2]
Mike: 1 [3]

Matthew "Matt" Alan Chapman [4] (born November 1, 1976) and Michael "Mike" Raymond Chapman [4] (born September 20, 1973), known collectively as The Brothers Chaps, are American writers, voice actors, directors, animators, producers and composers. They are best known as the creators of the animated series Homestar Runner .

Contents

Early life

While Matt and Mike Chapman were born in Indiana, they grew up in Decatur, Georgia and later resided in Atlanta. Growing up in the 1980s, the Brothers Chaps were creating comic books, filming Super 8 movies and eventually toying with a video camera. [5]

Mike attended the University of Georgia and studied photography while Matt went to film school. [6] [7]

Career

Mike Chapman created the character of Homestar Runner in 1996 with friend Craig Zobel. [7] The character debuted in the children's book The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest, which was subsequently posted online as a series of images. [8] In 2000, the Brothers Chaps began to create cartoons with the character using Adobe Flash. As the series progressed, more characters were added to the series and spin-off series were created, notably Strong Bad Emails in 2001. [9] During production of Homestar Runner, Matt has been the primary voice actor for the titular character as well as characters like Strong Bad. Mike has been responsible for much of the animation, as well as the technical aspects of the Homestar Runner site. Both brothers contributed to the writing and direction of the series. [10]

For a time, Matt Chapman worked as a writer and director for the children's television series Yo Gabba Gabba!. He also worked for the Disney Channel animated series Gravity Falls and The Hub live-action series The Aquabats! Super Show! , where he also contributed occasional voice work and supporting acting roles. Matt wrote the Wander Over Yonder episodes "The Bounty" and "The Timebomb" in collaboration with the show's writing staff. Matt also appeared in the second-season finale of Camp Camp , an animated series by Rooster Teeth, as the voice of Neil's father, Carl. [11]

Mike also provides intentionally poor imitations of his brother's voice work for the Powered by The Cheat cartoon series on the Homestar Runner website. In addition, he has served as a writer for Yo Gabba Gabba! , and — like his brother Matt — has collaborated with the Wander Over Yonder staff, credited for writing the episode "The Liar".

The brothers had a general development deal with Disney Television Animation, and developed a series of short animations for Disney XD titled Two More Eggs which ran from 2015 to 2017. [12] [13] They have directed several music videos, including "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse" by Of Montreal, "Experimental Film" (featuring the Homestar Runner characters, most notably Strong Sad) and "Figure Eight" by They Might Be Giants, "Brand of Skin" by Folk Implosion, and "LA Lindsay" by Y-O-U, the band who also collaborated with the brothers on Strong Bad Sings . In 2017, the duo along with Robert Schneider and James Husband formed the Air-sea Dolphin project, which had two split singles with Honey Radar and the fictional band Sloshy from the Homestar Runner universe. [14]

Television credits

Television

YearTitleRole asNotes
Matt ChapmanMike Chapman
2004 Sealab 2021 Larry PalaronciniSinging voice during the montage in the episode Sharko's Machine.
2007; 2011–15 Yo Gabba Gabba! writers, directors, and occasionally animators
2012–14 The Aquabats! Super Show!'Bob Higginsbottom / CarlShowrunner, writer, director, actor on the episodes "Haunted Battletram" and "Cobraman!"
2012–16 Gravity Falls Abuelita / Mermando / Paci-Fire / Marius / additional voicesWriter and actor
2014 Wander Over Yonder Matt: Writer; 2 episodes and actor
Mike: Writer; 1 episode
2014 Mickey Mouse Writer; 1 episode
2015–19 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Alfonzo Dolittle
2015–16 Pickle and Peanut Mr. Mjart / Mr. Jmart / additional voices
2015–17 Two More Eggs Dooble / CGI Palz / Hot Dip / Eggpos / Trauncles Narrator / Hector / Joshow / additional voicesboth: creators
Matt: Voice role
2017; 2018 Camp Camp Carl / GraggleMatt: Voice role, 2 episodes
2018 One Dollar Clark Shawepisode: Cooper Shaw
2019–2022 Amphibia Tritonio Espada, additional voices
2020–23 The Owl House Harvey Park, Steve (as of season 2), additional voices
2024 Teen Titans Go! PlatzMatt: Voice role, 5 episodes; Writer, 2 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRole asNotes
Matt ChapmanMike Chapman
2008 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Strong Bad / Homestar Runner / Strong Sad / Strong Mad / Bubs / additional voicesPom Pom / Craig
2010 Poker Night at the Inventory Strong Bad
2019Vacation Simulatoradditional voices
2022Homestar Runner: Halloween Hide n' SeekStrong Bad / Homestar Runner / Strong Sad / Strong Mad / Bubs / additional voicesOriginally released in 2021 without voice acting
2023Dangeresque: The Roomisode TriungulateDangeresque / Dangeresque Too / Renaldo / Perducci / additional voicesFirst episode originally released in 2008 without voice acting

Related Research Articles

<i>Homestar Runner</i> American comedy Flash-animated series

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strong Bad</span> Fictional character from Homestar Runner

Strong Bad is a fictional character from Homestar Runner, a series of animated Flash videos, who is inspired by "The Strong Bads" from the video game Tag Team Wrestling. He is voiced by Matt Chapman, the principal voice actor and co-creator of the series. Strong Bad enjoys pranking the other characters of the series, along with his ever-diligent lackey pet named "The Cheat" and his older brother Strong Mad. The main segment that Strong Bad is a part of is Strong Bad Email, in which he answers emails sent to him by fans. The Strong Bad Email series grew to be so popular that six DVDs featuring the emails have been released, as well as a podcast where emails could be downloaded to digital media players, since its first episode in 2001.

<i>Strong Bad Sings (and Other Type Hits)</i> 2003 studio album by homestarrunner.com and Y-O-U

Strong Bad Sings (and Other Type Hits) is a compilation album featuring songs by Strong Bad and other characters from the Homestar Runner web cartoon series. Strong Bad Sings is the sole audio CD spinoff from the online cartoon world of homestarrunner.com. The songs represent various pastiches of popular music, such as glam metal, folk, hip hop, techno and indie rock.

<i>The Spine</i> (album) 2004 studio album by They Might Be Giants

The Spine is the tenth full-length studio album by They Might Be Giants. The album was released on July 5, 2004 in the UK, and July 13 in the US. The album was released alongside a companion EP, The Spine Surfs Alone. It was preceded by the Indestructible Object EP, which featured two tracks that appear on The Spine.

"Experimental Film" is a song by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. It is the lead single from their 2004 album The Spine. The song has been seen by some critics as a return to the band's earlier sound. An animated music video was made for the song by internet animators The Brothers Chaps and featured characters from the animators' internet series Homestar Runner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig McCracken</span> American cartoonist and animator

Craig McCracken is an American cartoonist, animator, director, writer, and producer known for creating the Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Disney Channel and Disney XD's Wander Over Yonder, and Netflix's Kid Cosmic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kari Wahlgren</span> American voice actress (born 1977)

Kari Wahlgren is an American voice actress who has provided English-language roles for animated movies, TV series, and video games. She got her start in anime voice-overs as Haruko Haruhara in FLCL, and would later land major roles in a number of shows and films: Robin Sena in Witch Hunter Robin, Lavie Head in Last Exile, Fuu in Samurai Champloo, Scarlett in Steamboy, Pacifica Casull in the Scrapped Princess, Saya Otonashi in Blood+, Michiru Satomi and Luca in Immortal Grand Prix, Kagami Hiiragi in Lucky Star, Saber in Fate/zero, Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel, and Celty Sturluson in the Durarara!! series.

Y-O-U, also known as the Pleaserock collective, is a rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, probably most widely known for their collaborations with The Brothers Chaps on projects such as Strong Bad Sings and the karaoke music from strongbad email.exe, as well as for their spinoff group Yacht Rock Revue. In addition, the Chapmans animated a music video for Y-O-U's song "LA Lindsay."

Matthew Chapman or Matt Chapman may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Faust</span> American animator, writer, voice director, and storyboard artist

Lauren J. Faust is an American animator, writer, director, and producer, best known as the creator of the animated series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and DC Super Hero Girls. Faust has collaborated with her husband Craig McCracken on his four animated series The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Wander Over Yonder, and Kid Cosmic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack McBrayer</span> American actor and comedian

Jack McBrayer is an American actor and comedian. He gained national exposure for his portrayal of characters on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and as Kenneth Parcell in 30 Rock. For his role in 30 Rock he was nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. He has also had many voice acting roles. During his time at The Walt Disney Company, he voiced the character Fix-It Felix Jr. in the 2012 film Wreck-It Ralph and later its 2018 sequel, as well as the title character Wander in Wander Over Yonder. McBrayer has recurring roles in Phineas and Ferb, Puppy Dog Pals, Amphibia, The Middle and in the Netflix series Big Mouth. He appeared in The Big Bang Theory on the Season 10 premiere episode as Penny’s older brother, Randall. He also appeared on the Odd Squad Movie (2016) as Weird Tom.

<i>Strong Bads Cool Game for Attractive People</i> 2008 video game

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People is an episodic graphic adventure developed by Telltale Games and based on the Homestar Runner web cartoon, with Strong Bad as the lead character. A total of five episodes were released for Microsoft Windows and WiiWare between August 11, 2008, and December 15, 2008. It was released on the PlayStation 3 in North America on December 21, 2010, and in other regions at a later time. There is also an OS X version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Zobel</span> American filmmaker and actor

Roger Craig Zobel is an American filmmaker and actor whose work includes music videos, film, and television. He has directed the films Compliance (2012), Z for Zachariah (2015), and The Hunt (2020). On TV he has directed episodes of The Leftovers, American Gods, and Westworld. In 2021, he directed the miniseries Mare of Easttown on HBO. He also helped to co-create the online Flash animation series Homestar Runner with Mike and Matt Chapman, known collectively as The Brothers Chaps.

<i>Poker Night at the Inventory</i> Poker video game

Poker Night at the Inventory is a poker video game developed by Telltale Games. It features four characters from different franchises: Tycho Brahe from the Penny Arcade webcomic, Max from the Sam & Max franchise, the RED Heavy Weapons Guy from Team Fortress 2, and Strong Bad from the Homestar Runner web series. The game was released on November 22, 2010. A sequel, Poker Night 2, was released in 2013. The game was delisted from Steam in May 23rd, 2019.

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<i>Two More Eggs</i> American animated sketch comedy web series

Two More Eggs is an American animated sketch comedy web series produced by The Brothers Chaps for Disney XD's YouTube channel and Disney XD. The Brothers Chaps previously produced the web series Homestar Runner. Two More Eggs is Disney's first animated web series.

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Chibiverse is an American animated television series developed by Gino Guzzardo, produced by Disney Television Animation and premiered on Disney Channel on July 30, 2022. The series is based on the studio's Chibi Tiny Tales short series.

References

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  2. "FeedBurner Page - Homestar Runner Wiki".
  3. "Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006 - Homestar Runner Wiki".
  4. 1 2 "The Dutch and American Gase and related families". www.gase.nl.
  5. "Homestar's Show Runners". ColdHardFlash.com. Retrieved October 2, 2006.
  6. "Homestar Runner Interview". www.penguinbros.com. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  7. 1 2 The Screen Savers - Mike & Matt Chapman interview , retrieved August 16, 2022
  8. "The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest". old.homestarrunner.com. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  9. Dean, Kari Lynn. "HomestarRunner Hits a Homer". Wired. ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  10. Dean, Kari Lynn. "HomestarRunner Hits a Homer". Wired. ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  11. "Camp Camp: Episode 12 - Parents' Day". Rooster Teeth.
  12. Los Angeles Times
  13. "The Homestar Runner creators are making a new series of animated shorts for Disney". June 23, 2015.
  14. "Air-Sea Dolphin". Discogs. Retrieved March 9, 2022.