Arin Hanson

Arin Joseph Hanson (born January 6, 1987), also known by the pseudonym Egoraptor, is an American YouTuber, actor, rapper, and former animator.

He is well known for his Flash cartoons, as well as being the co-founder and co-star of the popular YouTube Let's Play series Game Grumps.

Hanson has created numerous shorts and web series on Newgrounds and YouTube, including The Awesome Series, which parodies video game franchises like Pokémon and Metal Gear, and Sequelitis, a series of animated video essays in which he humorously compares a video game and one of its sequels.

He has also voice-acted for television and video games.

He regularly collaborates with Ninja Sex Party, a musical comedy duo consisting of Game Grumps co-host Dan Avidan and Brian Wecht, with whom he formed the video game-based parody musical trio Starbomb.

Arin Hanson was born to Lloyd and Maurette Hanson on January 6, 1987, in Margate, Florida.

For a few years, his family lived in New Hampshire, however Hanson largely grew up in Florida.

From an early age, he had an interest in art and experimented with stop motion animation.

Hanson's mother pulled him out of high school following the first day of his junior year after he had moved; he instead pursued and received a GED.

Hanson joined Newgrounds under the name "Egoraptor" on September 16, 2001.

He released his first animation on DeviantArt, titled "Final Fantasy 7 Flash Spoof", on September 18, 2004.

He submitted his first Awesome animation, "Metal Gear Awesome," to Newgrounds on February 23, 2006.

Hanson went on to upload other comedic video game-related animations, as well as four separate animated webseries (which he then uploaded to YouTube later on); Awesome, short animated videos that parody video games, Lemon 'n Bill, a comedic series in which an anthropomorphic bullet and lemon get trapped within video game worlds, Girlchan in Paradise, a parody of shōnen anime.

After producers at MTV saw "Metal Gear Awesome", Hanson was then approached by the channel to produce animated shorts for MTV's online gaming show, The G-Hole.

In 2006, Hanson starred as the sole voice actor in the animated short J.I.M. on Newgrounds, created by Lee McGuire.

In 2006, Hanson got his very first role in voice acting as the voice of Bruce Banner in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

However, after doing his voice work, Hanson's voice went ultimately unused, and the character was played by Robin Atkin Downes instead for unknown reasons, although his voice was used in the Wii port.

In 2008, Hanson worked together with Ross O'Donovan on the animated webseries Gamer Tonight where he provided the voice of the host, which was broadcast on the Australian television show Good Game.

In 2009, Hanson provided the voice for the character John Gore in the video game Minigore, and later reprised the role in the 2011 remake of Death Rally.

Hanson continued animating through the early 2010s with Sequelitis, a series in which Hanson compares a video game and its sequel along with animations throughout the video.

According to fellow animator and Game Grumps alumnus Ross O'Donovan, changes to YouTube made it increasingly difficult to support animation channels from the mid-2010s.

Even though, Hanson has expressed that he misses animating.

In 2012, Hanson provided his voice for the game Detective Grimoire, a Kickstarter project which was successfully funded on August 3, 2012.

Hanson has also voiced various characters for Hex Heroes, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Target Acquired, Red vs. Blue, Cyanide & Happiness, and Rick and Morty.

In July 2012, Hanson and his colleague Jon Jafari (known for his comedy webseries JonTron) created a joint YouTube channel, called Game Grumps.

In late June 2013, Dan Avidan, of the band Ninja Sex Party, replaced Jafari when he retired from Game Grumps to focus on his personal channel.

On Game Grumps, Hanson and Avidan play video games and talk, to an often comedic effect.

Hanson has also appeared on the channel's spin-off shows Steam Train and GrumpCade, along with other Game Grumps members in a similar format to the parent show; he and Avidan also front the 10 Minute Power Hour, in which they engage in various activities.

A fourth and final episode of the series was released in 2014.

In 2015, Hanson expressed his condolences to RWBY creator Monty Oum after his death, considering him an influence on his animation.

Hanson's voice would later go on to be used in the 2016 re-release of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, in place of Robin Atkin Downes.

From 2016 to 2018, Hanson has been a regular on Cartoon Network's Mighty Magiswords providing the voice of Gateaux, the monosyllabic partner of sorceress Moribidia, played by Mary Faber.

He also plays other recurring characters such as Fibby Croax, Delivery Man Steve, Zonq, as well as many other various additional characters.

According to series creator, Kyle Carrozza, Hanson was originally approached for character design on the show, but he declined.

Although aware of his voice work, Carrozza was not aware of Hanson's SAG-AFTRA membership until he informed him, which led to him being cast on the show.

In 2016, Hanson was added as an Announcer in Move or Die.

Hanson has also voiced multiple characters in the Disney series The Owl House.

Two of those characters being the Snaggleback and The Titan.

The popularity of Game Grumps led to live performances at the Hollywood Improv in late March 2016.

Completely sold out, the event led to future performances in New York and other locations on the East Coast, which itself led to further shows across the United States and internationally through their own touring company.