History WebAnimation / MetaRunner

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** [[spoiler: in the third episode of the final season, the Lucks AI takes a moment to give Masa and Belle a sympathetic look. Ultimatley, he reveals in the final episode that he's more than just an ExtremeDoormat by giving Tari advice on how to save herself and Theo.]]

** [[spoiler: In Episode 6 of the Final Season, Sheridan briefly displays several achievements that has ominous call-backs, disturbing implications, and a fourth-wall break.]]

** [[In Episode 6 of the Final Season, Sheridan briefly displays several achievements that has ominous call-backs, disturbing implications, and a fourth-wall break.]]

* {{Cliffhanger}}: Nearly every episode ends with one, including both season finales.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: The members of MD-5; when asked by Tari: "What did TAS Corp do to you?", [[MoodWhiplash the mood in the room drops like a brick]]:

** Nothing's really been the same for Belle ever since [[spoiler:her best friend mysteriously disappeared]].

** In Epidode 12, Masa’s annoying neighbour barges in for the second time when Masa mentions [[spoiler: Dr. Sheridan]] by name. [[spoiler: The season 2 finale reveals that Dr. Sheridan was Masa’s neighbour, effectively spying on him throughout the events of the season, before it culminates to him using Masa’s meta runner arm to frame Masa for Lucks’ murder.]]

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020. Shortly after the finale's premiere, a comic book {{Prequel}} series titled ''Meta Runner: Source'' was announced, with its first issue--covering Tari’s origins--set to ship in November 2022.

* AmnesiacHero: The very first episode begins with Tari leaving some lab with no recollection to where she is, or why. [[spoiler:Subverted when it's revealed that she is really an A.I. and doesn't have actual memories prior to being given human form]].

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020. Shortly after the finale's premiere, a graphic novel {{Prequel}} series titled ''Meta Runner: Source'' was announced, with its first volume--covering Tari’s origins--set to ship in November 2022.

--->'''Marco:''' Well technically ''I’m'' going to destroy your work. '''''You are'''''.

** [[Just before Masa’s mind control chip explodes, knocking both him and Sheridan out, Masa drops one.]]

* HilariousInHindsight: [[NeverTrustATrailer The trailers for Season 2]] implied that there would be a fight scene in Pocket Gakusei, which merely turned out to be a BaitAndSwitch. [[spoiler:In the series finale, Tari and Satsuki-chan team up to beat a brainwashed Lucinia in a legitimate fight scene]].

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020. While it didn’t get picked up for a full series, Glitch has still heavily hinted at more material set in the show’s universe after the conclusion of Tari’s story with Season 3. Shortly after the finale’s premiere, the first of such material was confirmed in the form of ''Meta Runner: Source'', a graphic novel prequel series, with its first volume, covering Tari’s origins, set to ship in November 2022.

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020. While it didn’t get picked up for a full series, Glitch has still heavily hinted at more material set in the show’s universe after the conclusion of Tari’s story with Season 3. Shortly after the finale’s premiere, the first of such material was confirmed in the form of ''Meta Runner: Source'', a graphic novel prequel depicting Tari’s origins, with its first volume set to ship in November 2022.

First teased at the end of ''[[Recap/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64BloopersWarOfTheFatItalians2018 War of the Fat Italians 2018]]'' and officially unveiled on December 5, 2018, the ten-episode first season premiered on the [=SMG4=] channel on July 25, 2019, and concluded on October 10. A CompilationMovie of Season 1, subtitled ''New Game+'', released on the standalone Glitch Productions channel on August 28, 2020 as part of the run-up to the second season. Season 2 premiered on the Glitch channel on October 16, 2020 and concluded on December 18. A third and final season, consisting of eight episodes, premiered on July 22, 2022, with the series set to conclude on September 9.

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020. While it didn’t get picked up for a full series, Glitch has still heavily hinted at more material set in the show’s universe after the conclusion of Tari’s story with Season 3.

Tari is notable for making an EarlyBirdCameo in the creators' iconic ''[[WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers [=SMG4=]]]'' series to drum up interest in ''Meta Runner'', albeit as a more cartoonish version of herself who is [[CharacterExaggeration bad at everything except video games]]. Belle was similarly ported over to the series in 2020.

[[caption-width-right:350:''♫ I'm always running... ♫''[[note]]Counterclockwise from center, the main cast of Season 2: [[AmnesiacHero Tari]], [[HateSink Evelyn]], [[BadBoss Lucks]], [[RefugeeFromTVLand Theo]], [[TheDragon Belle]], [[RebelLeader Masa]], [[GadgeteerGenius Sofia]], and [[{{Otaku}} Lamar]]. At the top, [[spoiler:[[PlotTriggeringDeath Lucinia]]'s conciousness can be seen]]. Not pictured: [[MadScientist Dr. Sheridan]].[[/note]]]]

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020, but it has yet to be continued. Still, Glitch has heavily hinted at more material set in the show’s universe after the conclusion of Tari’s story with Season 3.

However, Derek Lucks, the head of local megacorporation TAS Corp, has his own plans for Tari and her abilities, especially after he sees her pull a game character named Theo into the real world. On the run from Lucks and his top Meta Runner, Belle Fontiere, Tari and Theo soon find themselves tangled up in the affairs of [=MD-5=], a trio out to expose TAS Corp's corrupt practices. With nowhere else to go, Tari joins [=MD-5=] in their mission to take down Lucks--and possibly discover who, or what, she really is...

The series takes place in Silica City, a society centered around video games where Meta Runners--individuals who've replaced their arms with machines to boost their gaming performance--dominate the competitive scene. At the center of the story is Tari, an amnesiac Meta Runner who discovers she has the odd ability to enter the games she plays, allowing her to master them in ways unparalleled by other gamers.

Tari is notable for making an EarlyBirdCameo in the creators' ''WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'' series to drum up interest in ''Meta Runner'', albeit as a more cartoonish version of herself who is [[CharacterExaggeration bad at everything except video games]]. Belle was similarly ported over to the series in 2020.

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020, but it has yet to be continued. Still, Glitch has heavily hinted at more material set in the universe after the conclusion of Tari’s story with Season 3.

A pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020, but it has yet to be continued.

Tari is notable for making an EarlyBirdCameo in the creators' ''Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'' series to drum up interest in ''Meta Runner'', albeit as a more cartoonish version of herself who is [[CharacterExaggeration bad at everything except video games]]. Belle was similarly ported over to the series in 2020.

-->-- '''Dr. Sheridan''', "Wrong Warp"

The series takes place in Silica City, a society centered around video games where Meta Runners--individuals who've replaced their arms with machines to boost their gaming performance--dominate the competitive scene. At the center of the story is Tari, an amnesiac girl who wakes up in an abandoned lab with her own Meta Runner arm, who soon discovers she has the odd ability to enter the games she plays, allowing her to master them in ways unparalleled by other gamers.

However, Derek Lucks, the head of local megacorporation TAS Corp, has his own plans for Tari and her abilities, especially after he sees her pull a game character--Theo, the hero of the platformer ''Ultra Jump Mania''--into the real world. On the run from Lucks and his top Meta Runner, Belle Fontiere, Tari and Theo soon find themselves tangled up in the affairs of [=MD-5=], a trio out to expose TAS Corp's corrupt practices. With nowhere else to go, Tari ends up joining [=MD-5=] in their mission to take down Lucks--and possibly discover who, or what, she really is...

Tari is notable for making an EarlyBirdCameo in the main ''[[Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'' series to drum up interest in the series and later becoming a member of the main cast, albeit a more cartoonish version of herself who is [[CharacterExaggeration bad at everything except video games]]. Belle was similarly ported over to the series in 2020.

First teased at the end of ''[[Recap/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64BloopersWarOfTheFatItalians2018 War of the Fat Italians 2018]]'' and officially unveiled on December 5, 2018, the ten-episode first season premiered on the [=SMG4=] channel on July 25, 2019, and concluded on October 10. A CompilationMovie of Season 1, subtitled ''New Game+'', released on the standalone Glitch Productions channel on August 28, 2020 as part of the run-up to the second season. Season 2, also ten episodes, was announced to be in development upon the Season 1 finale's release, premiering on the Glitch channel on October 16, 2020 and concluding on December 18. A third and final season, consisting of eight episodes, was announced to be in development midway through Season 2, and premiered on July 22, 2022, with the series set to conclude on September 9.

While Season 3 will bring a definitive end to Tari’s story, during a Reddit AMA a week before the premiere, Glitch heavily hinted at the possibility of more material set in the show’s universe, having fully fleshed out the lore of the setting and the backstories of several characters, and even having already written up three treatments for a new series. Still, this won’t be the first time Glitch has attempted to spin-off the series; a pilot for a proposed spin-off centered around Theo, titled ''WebAnimation/UltraJumpMania'', premiered on September 4, 2020, but it has yet to be continued.