8 Iconic Cartoon Styles That Perfectly Capture The American Chopper 'Two Fellas' Meme
The phrase "turn these two fellas into cartoon characters" has become a viral rallying cry across the internet, a challenge issued to artists, animators, and AI enthusiasts to reimagine one of reality television's most iconic and volatile duos. As of December 2025, the subject of this enduring artistic meme is none other than Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr., the father-son custom motorcycle builders from the hit reality show *American Chopper*.
The image in question—a multi-panel screenshot of an explosive, escalating argument—is a goldmine for character design, capturing intense emotion, distinct personalities, and unforgettable visual drama. This article dives into the biographies of the men, the enduring power of the meme, and the most popular cartoon styles artists have used to immortalize the infamous "two fellas."
The Fellas: Complete Biography and Feud Profile
The two men at the heart of this viral art challenge are Paul Teutul Sr. and his son, Paul Teutul Jr. Their professional and personal conflict was the central drama of *American Chopper*, a series that ran on the Discovery Channel and TLC for multiple seasons, catapulting them to global fame.
- Paul John Teutul Sr.
- Born: May 1, 1949, in Yonkers, New York.
- Career: Founder of Orange County Choppers (OCC), a world-renowned custom motorcycle manufacturer. He began his career in the steel fabrication business before founding OCC in 1999.
- TV Personality: Star of *American Chopper* (2003–2010, 2018–2019) and *Orange County Choppers* (2020).
- Key Characteristics: Known for his signature handlebar mustache, intense demeanor, and the iconic "OCC" logo T-shirts.
- Paul Michael Teutul Jr.
- Born: October 2, 1974.
- Career: Co-founder and Chief Designer at Orange County Choppers (OCC) before a dramatic fallout with his father. He later founded his own successful custom motorcycle and design company, Paul Jr. Designs (PJD), in 2010.
- TV Personality: Star of *American Chopper* and his own spin-off series, *American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior*.
- Key Characteristics: Recognizable by his distinct, often elaborate, custom motorcycle designs and his more reserved, though equally passionate, personality compared to his father.
The meme that sparked the "turn these two fellas into cartoon characters" trend originates from a 2009 episode where a particularly explosive argument about Paul Jr.'s work ethic and contractual obligations was captured in a series of highly expressive screenshots. This sequence perfectly illustrates an escalating debate, making it a universal template for online arguments and artistic interpretation.
The Viral Art Challenge: Why The 'Chopper' Meme Endures
The enduring popularity of the *American Chopper* argument meme is rooted in its universal theme of an escalating, often illogical, debate. The image's multi-panel format is essentially a ready-made comic strip, which is why it translates so perfectly into the world of cartooning and character design. The challenge to transform the real-life Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. into animated figures is a test of a digital artist’s ability to capture raw emotion and distinct visual cues.
The trend gained massive traction on platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram, often falling under the umbrella of "Draw This In Your Style" challenges. Artists are drawn to the distinct visual contrast between the two men: Paul Sr.'s imposing build and aggressive posture versus Paul Jr.'s often exasperated or defiant stance. The challenge is not just to draw them, but to exaggerate their features—their facial hair, tattoos, and body language—to fit a specific cartoon aesthetic.
This artistic movement is a modern form of caricature, where the goal is to amplify the subjects' most recognizable traits for comedic or dramatic effect. The resulting artwork, which is often sold as prints, stickers, and t-shirts on sites like Redbubble and Etsy, keeps the meme fresh and continuously introduces the "two fellas" to new generations.
8 Iconic Cartoon Styles That Redefine The Argument
The most successful cartoon interpretations of the Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. meme manage to merge the distinct personalities of the custom motorcycle builders with the visual language of established animation styles. Here are eight of the most popular and compelling artistic styles used for the "turn these two fellas into cartoon characters" challenge, demonstrating the topical authority of the meme in the art world:
- The *Rick and Morty* Style: This style emphasizes exaggerated, often grotesque, facial expressions and skinny limbs. Paul Sr.'s yelling face is perfect for the frenetic, wide-eyed look of Adult Swim animation, while Paul Jr. can be rendered with a more subdued, cynical expression.
- The *The Simpsons* Style (Groening): A classic choice that uses simple, rounded shapes and the iconic yellow skin tone. Paul Sr.'s mustache and bald head are easily translated into the distinctive Matt Groening aesthetic, making them look like residents of Springfield.
- The Disney/Pixar 3D Style: This interpretation focuses on hyper-detailed textures—like the leather of Paul Sr.'s vest or the shine on the custom bikes—while maintaining the rounded, expressive eyes and soft lighting of modern 3D animation. This gives the argument a surprisingly wholesome, yet still intense, feel.
- The *South Park* Style (Cutout): The simplest and most satirical approach. The characters are reduced to basic geometric shapes and are often shown with their mouths wide open and jagged, capturing the raw, low-fidelity anger of the original meme.
- The 1930s Rubber-Hose Style: A throwback to early animation, featuring fluid, "rubber-hose" limbs, pie-cut eyes, and a grainy, black-and-white or sepia palette. This anachronistic style gives the modern meme a bizarre, timeless quality.
- Japanese Anime/Manga Style: Artists using this approach often employ dramatic shading, speed lines, and large, expressive eyes to convey the intensity of the feud. Paul Jr.'s frustration can be drawn with classic anime sweat drops or a dramatic close-up panel.
- The *Beavis and Butt-Head* Style (Mike Judge): Characterized by rough, scratchy lines and a deliberately unpolished look. This style perfectly complements the raw, unscripted nature of the original reality TV confrontation, leaning into a slacker comedy aesthetic.
- Digital Caricature: A professional artist’s take, focusing on extreme exaggeration. Paul Sr.'s head might be drawn disproportionately large with a massive mustache, while Paul Jr. is drawn as a slender figure overwhelmed by his father's presence. This is the most common style for custom commissions.
The "turn these two fellas into cartoon characters" challenge is a powerful example of how a moment from pop culture can be endlessly reinterpreted through art. It serves as a continuous source of inspiration for digital artists, traditional illustrators, and AI art generators alike, ensuring that the Teutul family feud remains a vibrant and evolving entity in the digital landscape.
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