Iconic webcomic “Homestuck” is set to make waves once more, this time through an animated pilot, 16 years after its debut online.

Created by American artist Andrew Hussie in 2009, "Homestuck" was the fourth addition to his online webcomic series known as “MS Paint Adventures.” It ran from 2009 to 2016 and spans over 8,000 pages, containing an estimated 1.2 million words. The story centers around John Egbert and his friends (Dave Strider, Rose Lalonde, and Jade Harley), who accidentally cause the end of the world after installing a video game.

As intimidating as the page and word count may sound, it didn’t stop much of its passionate fanbase from reading through every bit of it. The webcomic’s format was unusual for its time, often using animated images and accompanying it with walls of text akin to early internet chat logs. Characters are distinguished through the different typing quirks and font colors. At its peak, the website hosting the webcomic would have millions of visitors to read each update.

Over the years, the webcomic’s popularity quieted down since its ending, surviving mostly through passionate fans who continued spreading the word to future readers. It seems now, though, the work of fans holding out has finally paid off, as a new animated pilot was announced to be in the works. SpindleRoo, an Australian branch of the US-based SpindleRock animation studios, will be taking on the pilot. SpindleRock, under the helm of Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano, is known for notable animated series like “Helluva Boss” and “Hazbin Hotel.” Toby Fox of “Undertale” and “Deltarune” fame is set to voice John for the pilot. One alarming bit about the announcement, however, is that it comes directly after issues regarding the creator’s legal tussles with a fan-collected archive of the webcomic went viral on X (formerly Twitter). As of writing, visiting the “Homestuck” website also leads to a broken website.

“Homestuck’s” influence has also been notable in the local sphere, mostly through the formation of the now-disbanded Homestuck Philippines (HSPH) group. In its heyday, the Facebook group had over 2,000 members and was known for its mini gatherings and formal events celebrating everyone’s love for the webcomic. Filipino-American actor Dante Basco was also a notable fan of the series, hosting an impromptu meetup once with local fans. A character named Rufioh Nitram, largely inspired by Dante’s appearance in 1991’s “Hook,” was created in his honor.