Main Characters | Alternate Universes (Teen Girl Squad, 20X6) | Other Characters
Twenty-Exty-Six!note
Characters from the far-off Animesque future of 20X6.
In General
- Affectionate Parody: Of anime and video games.
- Dead Unicorn Trope: 20X6's "anime" spoofs are more reminiscent of '80s/early '90s video games than anything. Justified since it was created by Strong Bad, whose knowledge of anime is limited to having seen one anime once, but he is quite knowledgeable on the subject of similarly themed 80's/early 90's video games.
- Cast of Expies: Every 20X6 character after Stinkoman, 1-Up and Pan Pan is a reference to a specific anime/game character and/or trope. Stinkoman and 1-Up however, rock futuristic stylin' boots significant of a super anime-themed video game also out in 2XXX, being Mega Man.
- Marzi-Mei was originally a Sailor Senshi Send-Up, though her 2020 redesign lessened this aspect a bit. Her hippie design gives her a blue headband like Celes Chere, while 20X6 Carol is aesthetically reminiscent of a Keyblade.
- Cheatball parodies Pokémon, being a strange creature that only says its name and has very confusing battle mechanics. Cheatball is also considered to transform into a spaceship, not unlike the cabbit Ryo-Oki from Tenchi Muyo!, while its 2020 redesign gives it a Haro-like robotic look.
- The Shadowy Figure is a double reference, combining elements of Zero and Sigma.
- Trogador is a red-colored Shenron (with a Dragon Ball- like Beefy Arm to match), while his counterpart Mecha-Trogador is one to Mechagodzilla.
- Sticklyman also takes naming conventions from Mega Man, and is based on the shared anime-inspired Flash stick figure Xiao Xiao fighting animations.
- Shallow Parody: Invoked. The Chapman Brothers don't know much about anime, so they decided to have Strong Bad describe the most superficial, stereotypical Western idea of 'Japanimation' humanly possible.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Prawns for Stinkoman and pudding for 1-Up.
- Truth in Television: You'd think Strong Bad is just playing along, but it couldn't be any nearer to the truth. A lot of US anime fans around the 1990s/1980s were also exposed to anime through Japanese video games than anime outright and were video gamers as a shared interest.
- Volumetric Mouth: Practically everyone when speaking. The only real exception is the Cheatball. Lampshaded by Strong Bad, when describing Stinkoman:"Then there's my mouth. Real tiny when it's closed; ridiculously huge when it's open."
- Year X: The setting takes place in a year of this kind, though it's the decade rather than the individual year that's not known.
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The Good Guys
Stinkoman
Stinkoman
ARE YOU ASKING FOR A CHALLENGE!?
Debut: "Email Japanese cartoon"
Counterpart: Strong Bad
The hero of this universe. Hot-tempered and fight-happy, this young man scours the world of Planet K looking for his next challenge.
- '80s Hair: Artwork normally depicting him doesn't do this, as it's simply drawn as a patch of blue hair on top of his mask. The FMV opening, however, features him with a messy blue mullet covering his head.
- Accent Upon The Wrong Syllable: Stinkoman speaks as if he's an English dub trying to match Japanese lip flaps.
- Adaptational Jerkass: In Stinkoman 20X6, he's a lot more callous and flippant than he is in the shorts.
- Aloof Big Brother: Stinkoman acts as one to 1-Up, as he barely makes any time for him and usually just outright ignores him. Despite this, he does go out of his way to help him once in a while.
- Ambiguously Human: While he looks humanoid, his boots were referred to as "robot boots" by Strong Bad, and his gloves lack digits, implying both are part of his body. He's capable of eating and complains that "[his] stummy hurts" when he loses in Stinkoman 20X6, but the Stinkowing (a non-sapient machine) also complains of this when it blows up.
- Calling Your Attacks: DOUBLE DEUUUUUUUCE!!!
- Challenge Seeker: Stinkoman lives for the thrill of a challenge seeker. It's even his Catchphrase.
- The Champion: Known as "The Guy" in-universe, which appears to be a lauded position.
- Character Catchphrase: "DOUBLE DEUUUUUUUCE!!!" and "Are you ASKING FOR A CHALLENGE?!"
- Cloudcuckoolander: Stinkoman has no comprehension of anything beyond challenge-n-fighting.Stinkoman: Oh man, those first 400 bites of dirt were not so good. Maybe the next one will be better.
(reaches his hand into ground and bumps against something in it)
Stinkoman: What is this? Some sort of a challenge buried in the GROUND? - Cool Ship: The Stinkowing, an aircraft shaped like the pattern on his mask.
- Idiot Hero: As a parody of anime heroes, Stinkoman also parodies this trope by doing things like leaping into the stratosphere to clear a wall just taller than his standard jump height and eating 400 bites of dirt in the hopes that he'd eventually find a tasty one.
- Large Ham: Every sentence has him at the top of his lungs at some point.
- No Indoor Voice: Again, Stinkoman has a habit of punctuating his words at the top of his lungs.
- Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs: Stinkoman likes to dish these out.
- Red Is Heroic: He's the de-facto leader of his group, and wears red on his gloves, boots, and mask.
- Saying Sound Effects Out Loud: Has a habit of saying "Dot Dot Dot" in tense moments, and even combines this with Unsound Effect when powering up.Stinkoman: MAKING SMALL ROCKS FLOAT UP OFF THE GROUND!
- Stock Shōnen Hero: Stinkoman, being the fight-happy, kind of dimwitted, somewhat good-hearted, and fisticuffs fighter of the heroes' side, fits this trope perfectly.
- Surfer Dude: He doesn't surf at all, but his speech makes him sound like your typical laidback Californian.
- Top-Heavy Guy: His Super Mode. Beefy Liefeldian muscles on top, regular legs at the bottom. Ironically, the only thing stronger about him in gameplay is his jumping ability.
1-Up
1-Up
Everyone says you're The Guy, but... I wanna be The Guy, too!
Debut: "Email Japanese cartoon"
Counterpart: Homestar Runner
Stinkoman's kid(-like?) sidekick. He's a cheerful, optimistic boy who aspires to be like his idol and become The Guy someday.
- Age Lift: Unlike Homestar, who is Strong Bad's contemporary in age, 1-Up is portrayed as younger than Stinkoman.
- Amazing Technicolor Population: Like his Free Country, USA counterpart, he's stark-white.
- Armless Biped: He lacks arms, leading him to primarily use his long legs for attacks.
- Distressed Dude: Stinkoman 20X6 sees him along with Pan Pan held captive by the Shadowy Figure after Level 5.
- Escort Mission: In Stinkoman 20X6, Stinkoman has to help him navigate the Lava Zone in one piece, as he's a One-Hit-Point Wonder for the level. In Stinkoman's case, it's less about protecting him than it is protecting the Power Crunch he borrowed.
- Hurricane Kick: His method of attack.
- Just a Kid: Wants to be The Guy like Stinkoman, but is usually rebuffed due to his age. Maybe when he's older...
- Primary-Color Champion: He wears a bright red shirt, a blue cap, and white and blue boots, and he plays second fiddle to the heroic Stinkoman.
- Time-Passage Beard: Grows one in Level 10 of Stinkoman 20X6 while waiting for Stinkoman to rescue him. It appears to be fake, as it blows off during the epilogue.
- Vague Age: He acts younger than the rest of the cast, but how young he is compared to them is unclear.
Pan Pan
Pan Pan
Debut: "Email Japanese cartoon"
Counterpart: Pom-Pom
A giant panda known for his elastic qualities and a huge appetite.
- Adaptation Species Change: Goes from being a beach ball-like Pom in the main Homestar Runner universe to being a giant panda here.
- Bigger on the Inside: Pan Pan's gut is big enough to act as a makeshift room.
- Distressed Dude: He is kidnapped by the Shadowy Figure early in Stinkoman 20X6.
- Explosive Breeder: During the Level 10 time skip in Stinkoman 20X6, he's shown to somehow father 100 babies, much to the Shadowy Figure's disgust.
- Intelligible Unintelligible: He speaks with bouncing ball sound effects, though the rest of the cast can understand him.
- Vacuum Mouth: He's capable of inhaling multiple people, and the FMV intro for Stinkoman 20X6 shows him using this as an attack.
Marzi-Mei
Marzi-Mei
Debut: "Main Page 17"
Counterpart: Marzipan
A savvy flower child that knows the gang. Her sunflower-shaped guitar also doubles as a powerful laser.
- Advertised Extra: The new opening intro of Stinkoman 20X6 hints that she would finally join and fight along the cast of 20x6 after over a decade of absence... but only shows up in the last cutscene along with Cheatball. She does lampshade that she hopes she'll finally be used for the sequel or animated series.
- Cute Oversized Sleeves: Mari-Mei's redesign gives her a baggy hippie jumpsuit with sleeves and pant legs that completely cover her arms and legs.
- Early Installment Character-Design Difference: Marzi-Mei's original design was more reminiscent of the '90s Sailor Moon anime, with her long legs, bright blue eyes, and a Minidress of Power. By contrast, her design as of the Stinkoman 20X6 Level 10 update and the animated opening gives her a hippie costume. Also a case of Adaptational Modesty, as her new look is a full-body outfit that covers her limbs up.
- Given Name Reveal: It wasn't until the Level 10 update that she was named. She holds the longest record between the first appearance of a character and their naming in the Homerstar Runner series- debuting in 2004 and only being named in 2020.
- Instrument of Murder: Marzi-Mei can shoot lasers from her guitar.
- Magical Girl Warrior: Downplayed. The Main Page version of Marzi-Mei visually references the trope by giving her a similar look to a Sailor Senshi, though her abilities aren't shown. While her redesign is more hippie-like, her abilities still have magical girl inspiration, using a laser-blasting guitar to do battle.
- Out of Focus: She has only shown up twice.
- Perpetual Smiler: She's always shown smiling, even in the middle of a fight.
- Sailor Senshi Send-Up: Her original design was this before her Level 10 cameo, with a little Chun-Li mixed in.
- Token Human: Of the group, Marzi-Mei is the most human-like.
Cheatball
Cheatball
Debut: "Scrolling Shooter Games Menu"
Counterpart: The Cheat
A small round creature that's friends with Stinkoman and the others.- Advertised Extra: The new opening intro of Stinkoman 20X6 hints that he and Marzi-Mei would play a major role in level 10... but only shows up in the last cutscene.
- Poisonous Person: In The Cheat's card game, it knows the attack Poison Rain Vornado.
- Pokémon Speak: Its only spoken line was its own name, implying this.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: Cheatball is round and huggable.
- Robot Buddy: The FMV version of it is redesigned to have a hinge-like mouth and wider eyes, making it resemble a Haro.
The Bad Guys
Shadowy Figure
Shadowy Figure/Z Sabre
When Stinkoman arrives, we will see if he is really 'the guy' or just another guy. But not 'the guy.' See? Did I make that distinction clear? Can I start over?
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6 (shadowed), "Scrolling Shooter Games Menu" (unshadowed)
Counterpart: Coach Z
The Big Bad of the setting, the mysterious Shadowy Figure is a brute set out to claim Stinkoman's title as "The Guy", no matter what levels he'll stoop to do it.
- Adaptational Villainy: Coach Z is possibly one of the least antagonistic characters among the Homestar Runner cast, unless you want to count his creepy tendencies. Not this case in the 20X6 Universe, where he's the Big Bad to Stinkoman, seeking to take his place as "The Guy".
- Big Bad: Is behind some nefarious plot involving crystals in "Twenty THANXty Six", and kidnaps Pan-Pan and 1-Up to lure out Stinkoman during the game.
- Body Horror: At the end of Stinkoman 20X6, his injuries include a gaping wound running across his lower face. He decides to use this gash as his new mouth.
- Boss Remix: His battle theme is a remix of the standard boss music.
- Brought to You by the Letter "S": True to his name, he carries around a sword in the shape of a Z.
- He Was Right There All Along:
- Considering he's the 20X6 counterpart of Coach Z, his identity has been exposed ever since the vertical-scrolling-styled games menu.
- Also applies to his name. A clever user, datamining the sprites used before the Level 10 update, found out that he was named Z-Sabre long before it was confirmed.
- Klingon Promotion: The Shadowy Figure wants to become "The Guy" by defeating Stinkoman.
- No Mouth: As Coach Z's counterpart, he had this going on. That is until he emerges from the wreckage of his castle, having gotten a mouth as a battle scar.
- Oddly Shaped Sword: He's got one that ends in a Z shape.
- Orcus on His Throne: He's shown in the distance scheming during "Twenty THANXty Six", and he spends most of Stinkoman 20X6 waiting for Stinkoman to come to him, aside from his brief attacks throughout Level 10. You can't just rush into the score zone, after all.
- Proactive Boss: He'll pop up from time to time in 10.1 and 10.2 to try and take out Stinkoman pre-emptively with his spread shot.
- Red/Green Contrast: Compared to the red on Stinkoman, the Shadowy Figure wears an all-green bodysuit underneath his cape.
- Sinister Silhouettes: He's shown in this up until Level 10.3.
- Zorro Mark: In his reveal cutscene, he attacks Stinkoman with Zorro's Trope Naming "Z" pattern.
Stinkoman 20X6 bosses (Spoilers!)
Tampo
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
Counterpart: Visor Robot
A giant robot who gets smashed up in the opening cutscene. His brain comes back to fight Stinkoman.- Attack Its Weak Point: His cerebellum, a flashing red ball on his underside.
- Brain in a Jar: Well, more like brain in a robot, but it’s the same thing.
- Brain Monster: He's a giant living brain capable of shooting laser balls. The metal body appears to be a formality.
- Cutscene Boss: Subverted. While his robot body was defeated in the opening cutscene, his brain is still the boss of Level 1.
Brody
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
A massive chicken whose bone Stinkoman chokes on.- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: He’s so big he doesn’t completely appear onscreen.
- Giant Foot of Stomping: His primary means of attack.
- Russian Reversal: In 20X6, the chicken chokes you.
Stlunko
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
A robot who disguises himself as a wall and emerges once Stinkoman jumps over him.- Giant Hands of Doom: Two big metal hands float all over to crush Stinkoman.
- Inconveniently-Placed Conveyor Belt: His main body is a conveyor belt that Stinkoman needs to run on.
Saargtsson & Firey-Hot
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
A lava serpent and his flaming minion.- Playing with Fire: Well, they are found in the fire level...
- Segmented Serpent: Saargtsson is a caterpillar-like robot whose tail segment is the most vulnerable.
Nebulon
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
Counterpart: Nebulon
A giant green alien that 1-Up has a run-in with on the Moon. No one likes his style.- Adaptational Villainy: Nebulon is a neutral, if inexplicably disliked, character in the main series but is a hostile alien in 20X6.
- Butt-Monkey: When 1-Up sees him, he's totally unintimidated and asks where the end boss is. He proceeds to beat on Nebulon anyway, then tells him no one likes his style as he leaves.
- Phrase Catcher: "Get out of here, Nebulon! No one likes your style!"
The Liekand
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
A sentient tornado with the ability to shoot bubbles.- Cool Shades: Sports a pair of yellow sunglasses.
- Do Not Touch the Funnel Cloud: True to the trope, The Liekand is the only part of the tornado that deals damage in his stage. Stinkoman only gets drawn in when he wants him to.
- The Man Behind the Curtain: His large, imposing form turns out to be the work of a tiny mouse, which Stinkoman swiftly punts.
An Ice Machine
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
A giant machine that spews ice blocks and jets of water.- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: The Videlectrix devs were blunt with this one.
Ekersby
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
A jumble of "good graphics" from the rest of the game that resides in the Negative Zone.- Attack Its Weak Point: Its weak point is a plate of ham in the fridge that makes up its torso. Occasionally, it will make the fridge open the wrong way to prevent Stinkoman from harming it.
- Glitch Entity: A parody of such, with its body being made of random sprites from the rest of the game.
- More Dakka: Two Downtants for eyes, two Uptants and two Browntants for hands. All of them shoot laser balls.
Harvax XVII
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
A cybernetic mobster with the ability to fly and shoot missiles from his massive tommygun. He is not, as the manual might imply, a giant octopus alien from the planet of the same name.- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: If his size compared to the Stinkowing is any indication, he's a giant.
- Giant Space Flea from Nowhere: After fighting through a jungle full of sea-themed enemies, the boss of Level 9 is... a giant robot gangster. Assuming the octopus described was supposed to be in his place, they likely tacked on the "filled with prawn enemies" part to keep him in-theme.
- Manual Misprint: Invoked. The manual describes a completely different character, much to his dismay. The actual character described shows up in the credits.
- Mobile-Suit Human: After his defeat, he's revealed to be a group of Prudenches piloting him together.
The Worst End Boss Ever
Debut: Skills of an Artist "End Boss"
A pile of whatsit connected to a bundle of cotton candy on treads.- Non-Indicative Name: It appears as the opening boss of Level 10. According to the Shadowy Figure's dialogue, it was likely intended to be the boss Stinkoman faces after climbing up the castle from the entrance, but he was getting impatient.
- Visual Pun: It's a literally crappy boss.
- Zero-Effort Boss: If you keep shooting at it straight on, it will die long before it begins its charge.
Mecha-Trogador
Debut: Stinkoman 20X6
Counterpart: TROGDOR the BURNiNATOR
The Shadowy Figure's pet inside-quotes dragon. Mecha-Trogador is a large, imposing reptile with a Beefy Arm and several weapons in its arsenal. Powering it is the Crystal Heart of Mecha-Trogador, a device made out of 7 multicolored crystal shards in its chest.
- Attack Its Weak Point: It has to be damaged by shooting its eyes, which exposes the Crystal Heart after being hit 3 times to actually damage it.
- Breath Weapon: The third attack in its attack cycle is firing its Atomic Breath at the ground.
- Boss Remix: His battle theme is a remix of the standard Trogdor theme.
- Final Boss: Boss of 10.4 and the final boss battle in the game.
- Right-Hand Attack Dog: Serves as this for the Shadowy Figure.
- Rule of Three: Three hits to the eyes exposes the Crystal Heart of Mecha-Trogador, allowing for three hits to the Crystal Heart. Perform this routine three times to defeat the boss.
- Turns Red: When it's taken 6 hits, its talon-shooting attack fires two talons instead of one.
Other Guys
Trogador
Trogador
Debut: "Happy Trogday"
Counterpart: TROGDOR the BURNiNATOR
A Chinese dragon with a beefy Dragon-Ball-style Arm.
- The Dreaded: The normally fight-happy Stinkoman is left running for his life when Trogador shows up.
- Intentional Engrish for Funny: Trogador's name is styled similarly to how the English word Dragon is sometimes pronounced as Doragon in Japanese.
Sticklyman
Sticklyman
Debut: "Under Construction"
A stick-figure with a shovel, originally found on an "Under Construction" road sign.
- Moveset Clone: In Stinkoman 20X6, he's a headswap of the Val Yancey enemy that can jump.
- Optional Boss: In 8Bit is Enough, he's speculated to be this for level 10.5 of Stinkoman 20X6. The game proper has him fightable during the credits, though neither opponent can be defeated.
- Shovel Strike: Sticklyman uses a shovel as his main weapon.
- Suddenly Voiced: In "Halloween Safety", he runs away screaming when a sludge monster version of Homestar rises out of the dirt he's shoveling.
