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List of South Park characters

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The four main boys are in the foreground, waving at the viewer. Kenny is climbed on a wooden sign labeled "SOUTH PARK". In the background, the entire population of the city and all the other characters present on the show have gathered, looking at the viewer also.
South Park title image depicting most of the characters appearing on the show

South Park is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become infamous for its crude, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics. The ongoing narrative revolves mostly around four children, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick, and their bizarre adventures in and around the fictional and titular Colorado town.[1] The town, sometimes described within the show as "a pissant white-bread mountain town",[2] is also home to an assortment of frequent characters such as students, families, elementary school staff, and other various residents.,[1][2] of which only the main, supporting, and recurring characters are listed.

Stan is portrayed as the everyman of the group,[3] as the show's official website describes him as "a normal, average, American, mixed-up kid".[4] Kyle is the lone Jew among the group, and his portrayal in this role is often dealt with satirically.[3] Stan and Kyle are best friends, and their relationship, which is intended to reflect the real-life friendship between South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone,[5] is a common topic throughout the series. Cartman—loud, obnoxious, and obese—is sometimes portrayed as an antagonist,[6] and whose anti-Semitic attitude has resulted in an ever-progressing rivalry with Kyle.[3] Kenny, who comes from a poor family, wears his parka hood so tightly that it covers most of his face and muffles his speech. During the show's first five seasons, Kenny would die in nearly each episode before returning in the next with little or no definitive explanation given.[7][8]

Stone and Parker voice most of the male South Park characters.[2][3][9] Mary Kay Bergman voiced the majority of the female characters until her death in 1999, near the end of the third season.[10] Since 1999, respectively 2000, Eliza Schneider and Mona Marshall succeeded Bergman, with Schneider leaving the show in 2003, after the seventh season.[10] She was replaced by April Stewart, who, along with Marshall, continues to voice most of the female characters.[10] Bergman was originally listed in the credits under the alias Shannen Cassidy to protect her reputation as the voice of several Disney characters.[11] Stewart was originally credited under the name Gracie Lazar,[12] while Schneider was sometimes credited under her rock opera performance pseudonym Blue Girl.[13] Some South Park staff members voice other recurring characters; supervising producer Jennifer Howell voices student Bebe Stevens,[9] writing consultant Vernon Chatman voices an anthropomorphic towel named Towelie,[9] and production supervisor John Hansen voices Mr. Slave, the former gay lover of Mr. Garrison.[14] South Park producer and storyboard artist Adrien Beard, who voices Token Black, the only black kid in South Park, was recruited to voice the character "because he was the only black guy [in the] building" when Parker needed to quickly find someone to voice the character during the production of the season four (2000) episode "Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000".[15][16]


Creation and inception

The original idea for what would later become the show South Park, came in 1992 when creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, at the time students at the University of Colorado, met in a film class. The two discussed filming a three-minute short film involving a boy who befriended a talking stool named Mr. Hankey.[17] Instead, Parker and Stone created two Christmas-related animated shorts films called "Jesus vs. Frosty" and "Jesus vs. Santa", which served as precursors to the South Park series. The low-budget, crudely made "Jesus vs. Frosty" film featured prototypes of the main characters ofSouth Park, including characters resembling Cartman, Stan, and Kyle. Fox Broadcasting Company executive Brian Graden saw the film and in 1995 commissioned Parker and Stone to create a second short film that he could send to his friends as a video Christmas card. Titled "Jesus vs. Santa", it resembled the style of the later series more closely.[18]

The video was popular and was widely shared, and when it began to generate interest for a possible television series, Parker and Stone originally conceived the idea of a South Park-like show with four children characters, but with a talking stool named Mr. Hankey as the show's main protagonist; they planned to call it The Mr. Hankey Show. Eventually, Parker and Stone adapted their original idea into a show revolving around the South Park town and four children without Mr. Hankey as a protagonist, but as a minor supporting role in a future episode.[19] Later, when Comedy Central expressed interest in the series, and picked up the show. The first episode of the series, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", debuted on Comedy Central on August 13, 1997, as Mr. Hankey would debut in the tenth episode, "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo".[17][20]

In tradition with the show's animation style, the characters are composed of simple geometrical shapes and primary colors.[21][22] They is not offered the same free range of motion associated with hand-drawn characters, as they are mostly shown from only one angle, and their movements are animated in an intentionally jerky fashion.[3][21][22] Ever since the show's second episode, "Weight Gain 4000", all the characters on the show have been animated with computer software, though he is portrayed to give the impression that the show still utilizes its original technique.[21]

Main characters

Character Voiced by Role First appearance
Eric Cartman Trey Parker[9] One of the original four main boys, who is an obese, manipulative, and an ill-tempered bigot The Spirit of Christmas
Stan Marsh Trey Parker[9] One of the original four main boys, one of South Park's more sensible characters and the everyman of the group The Spirit of Christmas
Kyle Broflovski Matt Stone[9] One of the original four main boys, and one of few Jewish children in South Park. Kyle is the most intelligent member of the group, and often displays higher moral standards than his friends. The Spirit of Christmas
Kenny McCormick Matt Stone[9] One of the original four main boys and resident of a poor household. Kenny is known for his muffled speech and his habit of dying in nearly every episode of South Park. His frequent deaths and poverty are however somewhat downplayed in later seasons. The Spirit of Christmas
Leopold "Butters" Stotch Matt Stone[9] The 5th main character in the series and is very often involved in the antics of the main four, and has become somewhat of a sidekick of Cartman, due to his well mannered and gullible nature. "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"

Students

Main article: List of students at South Park Elementary
Character Voiced by Role First appearance
Bebe Stevens Jennifer Howell[9] The boys' classmate and Wendy's best friend "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Clyde Donovan Trey Parker[15] One of the boys' classmates "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Craig Tucker Matt Stone[23] One of the boys' classmate who occasionally antagonizes them, and known to give the middle finger to anyone around him "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Dougie unknown A geeky, second-grade boy who assumes the role of "General Disarray", a sidekick to Butters's alter-ego "Professor Chaos" "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub"
Jimmy Vulmer Trey Parker[9] One of the boys' two handicapped classmates and an amateur standup comedian "Cripple Fight"
Pip Pirrup Matt Stone[9] The boys' extremely unpopular British classmate "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Timmy Trey Parker[9] One of the boys' two handicapped classmates whose vocabulary is mostly limited to the enthusiastic shouting of his own name "The Tooth Fairy Tats 2000"
Token Black Adrien Beard[15] The boys' wealthiest classmate and apparently the only African American child in the town "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Tweek Tweak Matt Stone[24] The boys' hyperactive classmate due to an excessive intake of coffee "Gnomes"
Wendy Testaburger Mary Kay Bergman,[10] Eliza Schneider,[10] Mona Marshall,[25] April Stewart[10] The boys' classmate and Stan's girlfriend The Spirit of Christmas

Staff at South Park Elementary

Main article: List of staff at South Park Elementary
Character Voiced by Role First appearance
Chef (Jerome McElroy) Isaac Hayes,[26] Peter Serafinowicz (Darth Chef)[27] The school's chef and good friend of the boys, who was killed at the beginning of the tenth season "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Ms. Choksondik Trey Parker[9] The boys' former teacher who died during the sixth season "4th Grade"
Ms. Crabtree Mary Kay Bergman,[28][29] Eliza Schneider[30] The former school bus driver before her death during the eighth season "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Mr. Garrison Trey Parker[9] The boys' teacher who had a sex change operation during season nine, before changing it back during season twelve "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Mr. Mackey Trey Parker[9] The school's counselor, who says "Mmkay" randomly "Damien"
Mr. Slave John 'Nancy' Hansen[14] Mr. Garrison's lover and classroom assistant, who later married Big Gay Al "The Death Camp of Tolerance"
Principal Victoria Eliza Schneider,[30] April Stewart[10] The principal of the school "Pinkeye"

Family members

Main article: List of South Park families
Character Voiced by Role First appearance
Randy Marsh Trey Parker[9] Stan's father, who worked as a geologist "Volcano"
Sharon Marsh Mary Kay Bergman,[10] Eliza Schneider,[10] April Stewart[10] Randy's wife and Stan's mother "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig"
Shelley Marsh Mary Kay Bergman,[28] Eliza Schneider,[30] April Stewart[23] Stan's violent and ill-tempered older sister "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig"
Grandpa Marvin Marsh Trey Parker[9] Randy's father and Stan's grandfather, who attempts to kill himself or have others do so in several episodes "Death"
Jimbo Kern Matt Stone[9] Randy Marsh's half brother[31] and Stan's uncle, who is portrayed as a hunter, TV show host, and gun store owner "Weight Gain 4000"
Gerald Broflovski Matt Stone[9] Kyle's father, who works as a lawyer. "Starvin' Marvin"
Sheila Broflovski Mary Kay Bergman,[10] Mona Marshall[10] Kyle's overly-protective mother. "Death"
Ike Broflovski various children of South Park employees[9] Kyle's younger brother, the Canadian-born adopted son of Gerald and Sheila "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Kyle Schwartz Trey Parker[32] Kyle's stereotypically Jewish cousin from Connecticut "The Entity"
Liane Cartman Mary Kay Bergman,[10] Eliza Schneider,[10] April Stewart[10] Mother/Father of Cartman[33] "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Stuart McCormick Matt Stone[9] Kenny's alcoholized and violent father "Starvin' Marvin"
Carol McCormick Mary Kay Bergman,[10] Eliza Schneider,[10] April Stewart[23] Kenny's alcoholized and violent mother "Starvin' Marvin"
Kevin McCormick unknown Kenny's older brother "Starvin' Marvin"
Stephen Stotch unknown Butters' strict father "Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls"
Linda Stotch Mona Marshall[25] Butters' mother "The Wacky Molestation Adventure"

Supporting characters

Main article: List of supporting characters on South Park
Character Voiced by Role First appearance
Officer Barbrady Trey Parker[9] The town's highly untrained and undereducated police officer "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Big Gay Al Matt Stone[9] Ex-scout leader who used to own a sanctuary for gay animals, portrayed as the show's stereotypical gay character "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride"
Ned Gerblansky Trey Parker[9] Jimbo Kern's best friend who speaks through a voicebox "Volcano"
God Trey Parker[34] God, portrayed as a strange animal "Are You There God? It's Me, Jesus"
Jesus Matt Stone[9] Character based on Jesus, who lives in an ordinary house and hosts a talk show on the local TV station The Spirit of Christmas
Mr. Hankey Trey Parker[35] A talking feces "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo"
Saddam Hussein Matt Stone[9] A character based on Saddam Hussein, who was involved in a homosexual relationship with Satan "Terrance and Phillip in Not Without My Anus"
Kevin none Mephisto's silent companion "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig"
Tuong Lu Kim Trey Parker[34] City Wok owner "Jared Has Aides"
Mr. Kitty unknown Cartman's cat, who is constantly yelled at and belittled by Cartman "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe"
Father Maxi Matt Stone[9] Catholic priest "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo"
Mayor McDaniels Mary Kay Bergman,[10] Eliza Schneider,[10] Town's mayor "Weight Gain 4000"
Nellie and Thomas McElroy Trey Parker (Nellie)[36] and Matt Stone (Thomas)[36] Chef's parents, who live in Scotland "The Succubus"
Dr. Alphonse Mephisto Trey Parker[9] Local mad scientist and Marlon Brando lookalike "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig"
Moses Trey Parker A character based on Moses, a gigantic dreidel who looks and talks like MCP from Tron[37] "Jewbilee"
Santa Trey Parker[9] A character based on Santa Claus The Spirit of Christmas
Satan Trey Parker[9] A character based on the Judeo-Christian Satan "Damien"
Starvin' Marvin Trey Parker[9] An Ethiopian boy "Starvin' Marvin"
Terrance and Phillip Matt Stone (Terrance)[9] and Trey Parker (Phillip)[9] A Canadian television comedy duo "Death"
Towelie Vernon Chatman[9] A talking stoner towel "Towelie"
Sergeant Harrison Yates Trey Parker[23] A police detective "Christian Rock Hard"

Merchandise

The characters of South Park have spawned several merchandise items, varying from toys to apparel items. In 2004, the first action figure collection was released by Mirage Toys containing five series each with four characters.[38] In 2006,Mezco toys released a second collection containing a total of six series, each containing six or four figures.[39] Comedy Centralitself has made available a variety of products through its website, including t-shirts, figures, hats, pants, and even shot glasses.[40] A number of fan websites provides an even more extended amount of merchandise, ranging from posters, to magnets, ties and even skateboards,[41] South Park Studios offer through their website the possibility of creating personalized South Park avatars.[42] Similar possibilities have been available on multiple fansites.[43]

References

  1. ^ a b Eric Griffiths (2007-06-21). "Young offenders". New Statesman. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  2. ^ a b c Virginia Heffernan (2004-04-28). "What? Morals in 'South Park'?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e Jaime J. Weinman (2008-03-12). "South Park grows up". Macleans.ca. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  4. ^ "Stan Marsh". South Park Studios. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  5. ^ Jeffrey Ressner and James Collins (1998-03-23). "Gross And Grosser". Time. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  6. ^ Rovner, Julie (2008-04-05). "Eric Cartman: America's Favorite Little $@#&*%". NPR. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  7. ^ "FAQ: October 2008". southparkstudios.com. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  8. ^ "FAQ: January 2005". southparkstudios.com. 2005-01-11. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "FAQ: April 2002". southparkstudios.com. 2002-04-23. Retrieved 2008-10-19. Cite error: The named reference "faq-23apr2002" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "South Park Cast and Crew on". Tv.com. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  11. ^ Bonin, Liane (1999-11-22). "A Voice Silenced". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  12. ^ "April Stewart - South Patk". Aprilstewart.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  13. ^ "MY BIO :::: Eliza Jane". Elizaschneider.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  14. ^ a b "FAQ: November 2003". southparkstudios.com. 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  15. ^ a b c "FAQ: April 2001". southparkstudios.com. 2001-04-30. Retrieved 2008-10-19. Cite error: The named reference "faq-30apr2001" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  16. ^ Trey Parker, Matt Stone (2003). "South Park" - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD). Comedy Central. Mini-commentary for episode "Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000"
  17. ^ a b Trey Parker, Matt Stone (2003). South Park: The Complete First Season: "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" (CD). Comedy Central. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  18. ^ Littlefield, Kinney (1998-01-28). "Comedy Central scores with poop and circumstance;Television: Trey Parker and Matt Stone subvert prime-time comedy with the animated satire "South Park"". The Orange County Register. Santa Ana, California. p. F04.
  19. ^ Trey Parker, Matt Stone (2003). South Park: The Complete First Season: "Weight Gain 4000" (CD). Comedy Central. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  20. ^ Vognar, Chris (1998-02-01). "Brats entertainment; "South Park" creators potty hardy on Comedy Central show". The Dallas Morning News. Pasadena, California. p. 1C.
  21. ^ a b c Matt Cheplic (1998-05-01). "'As Crappy As Possible': The Method Behind the Madness of South Park". Penton Media. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  22. ^ a b Abbie Bernstein (1998-10-27). "South Park - Volume 2". AVRev.com. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  23. ^ a b c d "South Park - Premiere.com". Premiere.com. 1997-08-13. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  24. ^ "FAQ: April 2001". southparkstudios.com. 2001-04-18. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  25. ^ a b "Mona Marshall Biography". Filmreference.com. 2002-07-26. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  26. ^ "FAQ: June 2001". southparkstudios.com. 2001-06-28. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  27. ^ Philby, Charlotte (2008-08-30). "My Secret Life: Peter Serafinowicz, Actor and comedian, age 36". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  28. ^ a b "Mary Kay Bergman - Voice Actor Profile at Voice Chasers". Voicechasers.com. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  29. ^ "The Babes of South Park". Wackyvoices.com. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
  30. ^ a b c "Eliza Schneider - Voice Actor Profile at Voice Chasers". Voicechasers.com. 1978-02-03. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  31. ^ "Interview: Matt Stone (2005-11-15)". southparkstudios.com. 2005-11-15. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  32. ^ "FAQ: April 2002". southparkstudios.com. 2001-11-25. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  33. ^ "FAQ: April 2001". southparkstudios.com. 2001-04-19. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  34. ^ a b "Trey Parker - Voice Actor Profile at Voice Chasers". Voicechasers.com. 1969-10-19. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  35. ^ "FAQ: December 2001". southparkstudios.com. 2001-12-05. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  36. ^ a b "FAQ: May 2001". southparkstudios.com. 2001-05-01. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
  37. ^ "FAQ: February 2008". southparkstudios.com. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  38. ^ http://superherotoys.com/tv---cartoon-toys-south-park.html
  39. ^ "Mezco Toyz | Movie, Television and Proprietary Action Figures & Collectibles". Mezco.net. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  40. ^ "South Park: DVDs, T-Shirts & Merchandise - Comedy Central Store". Shop.comedycentral.com. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  41. ^ "southpark: Products: Zazzle.com Store". Zazzle.com. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  42. ^ "South Park Studios Netherlands". Southparkstudios.com. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  43. ^ Midevil917. "South Park Char Creator 3". Newgrounds.com. Retrieved 2010-01-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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