Pixstar Runner/The Year Without a Thnikkaman

Toon Category: Holiday Toons

When Strong Bad discovers that nobody believes in the Dethemberween Thnikkaman, it's up to him and The Cheat to save the holiday from certain cancellation!

Cast (in order of appearance): Strong Bad, Strong Sad, Marzipan, Homestar Runner, Bubs, The Poopsmith, The Cheat, Homsar, The King of Town, Senor Cardgage, The Thnikkaman

Places: Computer Room, The Field, The Stick, Bubs' Concession Stand, The Brick Wall, Basement of the Brothers Strong

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Running Time: 9:28

Transcript
This transcript is in progress by .

{Opens in the computer room; pan-down to see Strong Bad writing at his desk}

STRONG BAD: Dear Dethemberween Thnikkaman... {close-up on the letter; the text appears as Strong Bad speaks} It's me, Strong Bad (aka Cool Awesome Wrestleman Supreme). How you been doin', man? I am proud to inform you that I have been very awesome all year, so I expect a minimum of no less than 21 gift-wrapped boxes this Decemberween. Some of the essentials of my list include high-velocity firearms, a laser-equipped robot suit, and $899 in cash or chocolates. I hope you have a safe ride or... whatever it is that you do. Tenaciously yours, Strong Bad.

{Front view of Strong Bad, as Strong Sad walks in from the left.}

STRONG SAD: Hey, Strong Bad. What are you doing in here?

STRONG BAD: None of your business, Dumpian Gray! I'm writing my letter to the Dethemberween Thnikkaman.

STRONG SAD: The Dethemberween Thnikkaman? You still write letters to him? Everybody knows he's just a myth made up to scare little kids!

{Wide shot of the computer room, which is decorated with holly and a small potted Christmas tree}

STRONG BAD: Wait, what are you saying? You don't believe in the Thnikkaman?

STRONG SAD: No! The cool shades... the unmarked van... the sneaking into town in the dead of night... it always seemed really sketchy to me.

STRONG BAD: Unbeliever! You'll see on Decemberween morning, when you wake up and find your slippers fulla blank Sandisks! {he takes his letter and walks off to the left; fadeout}

''{Fade in to a snow-covered The Field, with snow continuously falling. Strong Bad walks up to his mailbox, wearing his winter hat and holding his letter. Marzipan stands next to the mailbox.}''

MARZIPAN: Oh, hi Strong Bad. I was just sending my annual five-cent donation to Depressing Old Person Holiday Fundraiser.

STRONG BAD: Isn't this my mailbox?

MARZIPAN: I don't think so. Who are you writing to?

STRONG BAD: Oh, I'm just mailing my list to the Dethemberween Thnikkaman. Gotta be sure I get the appropriate amount of present-loot, you know.

MARZIPAN: There's no such Dethemberween Thnikkaman, Strong Bad. I find that idea offensive. I prefer to celebrate Decemberween for more spiritual reasons, like frenzied consumerism and marketing greed. {She pulls out a sign that says "Put the Ween back in Decemberween" and walks off}

Explanations

 * Marzipan's slogan "Put the Ween back in Decemberween" parodies the slogan "Put the Christ back in Christmas", used to encourage people to recognize the religious side of Christmas.

Trivia

 * Several style changes have been made in this cartoon:
 * Strong Bad has a new design, with more realistic eyes and boxing gloves and a more complex walking animation, among other changes.
 * Homestar's design has also been changed somewhat, having colors more based on the original character.
 * The Field has a new design and is animated differently; the bushes can now pan, zoom, and move independently of the sky.
 * Talking animations have changed; every character except Homsar now has two different "talk" costumes which alternate randomly as the character speaks.

Remarks

 * Homestar's eyes do not blink in this cartoon.
 * Although Strong Bad finds the Thnikkaman's glasses near the end of the toon, the Thnikkaman shows up already wearing them. This inconsistency was going to be acknowledged in an un-included Easter egg.

Goofs

 * During the zoom-out in the Poopsmith's scene, a small sliver of sky can be seen to the left of the field sprite.

Fixed Goofs

 * Originally, during Strong Bad's dialogue with Strong Sad, one pixel of Strong Bad's face would change color repeatedly while he talked. This was fixed on January 13.

Inside References

 * The Soapbox that Strong Bad stands on is labelled "Eighteen For Real".
 * "Youngster-snappers" is a portmanteau of youngsters and whippersnappers.
 * The King of Town refers to Decemberween as "the Decemberweens".

Real-World References

 * The name of the cartoon parodies the Rankin/Bass stop-motion Christmas special The Year Without a Santa Claus.
 * The nickname "Dumpian Gray" refers to the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
 * Sandisk is a company that produces devices such as USB flash drives.
 * Strong Bad's line about no "packages, boxes, or bags", and the Thnikkaman's line "Somehow or other, I came just the same", are references to the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
 * The line "Remember, my friends, listen to me, because I pass this way but once!" is from the song "Ya Got Trouble" from the 1962 musical The Music Man.
 * Strong Bad and the Thnikkaman's closing lines are a takeoff of the last line of the classic poem The Night Before Christmas.