Olan Rogers
Born
Thomas Olan Rogers

(1987-06-11) June 11, 1987
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Memphis
Occupation(s)Comedian, actor, filmmaker, YouTuber
Years active2007–present

Thomas Olan Rogers (born June 11, 1987) is an American comedian, actor, filmmaker,[1] and YouTuber.[2] He is the creator of the animated television series Final Space as well as the voice of Gary Goodspeed, Mooncake, and various others.

Career

Rogers started his career on YouTube alongside two Collierville High School and University of Memphis friends 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] In September 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]

After Final Space

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 fund about 8-9 minutes of animation, so it would be a short instead.[22] This was followed up with an upload on November 18,[23] discussing that while waiting for various shows he had pitched to start production, he had found a renewed passion for creating content outside of television or animation, after returning temporarily to Tennessee. Production on Godspeed began on January 9, 2023.[24]

Godspeed featured voice actors such as Troy Baker, Claudia Black, Coty Galloway, and Rogers, and was described as having "some potential" and "another example of the appetite for independent adult animation."[25][26] It premiered on YouTube on December 15.[27] There are also plans for a graphic novel involving the Final Space characters, which will be released in 2024.[28][29]

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Role Notes
2011 New Prime Valavingee / Ferris / Daniels / Zak McSleuthburger / Bob Also director, writer, producer, executive producer
2016 The Matchbreaker Mitchell

Other Media

Year Title Role Notes
2007–2010 BalloonShop Himself Also director
2008 "In a Cave" (Tokyo Police Club) Himself Music video; also director
2011 Annoying Orange Meteortron 1 episode only
2014 As Dreamers Do Walt Disney
2015 Oscar's Hotel for Fantastical Creatures Box Death
2016–2017 Mr. Student Body President Mr. Bayblock
2017 Ear Biscuits Himself 1 episode only
2018 Conan Himself 1 episode only
2018–2021 Final Space Gary Goodspeed / Mooncake / Tribore Menendez / Biskit / Additional Voices Also creator, director, executive producer
2023 Godspeed Bowie Also creator, writer

Video games

Year Title Role
2022 Final Space: The Rescue Gary 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. 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".
  16. ↑ https://twitter.com/OlanRogers/status/1573686640094191617
  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". Comic Book. 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". Comic Book. 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. ↑ ""my last update video"". YouTube.
  24. ↑ 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.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ 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.
  28. ↑ Salmon, Will. "Cult Adult Swim animation Final Space returns as a graphic novel". Gamesradar. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  29. ↑ Bonomolo, Cameron (April 24, 2023). "Final Space Creator Olan Rogers Releasing The Final Chapter Graphic Novel". Comic Book. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
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