South Park

Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore

Elianandkenny

South Park production comparison

BLACK SOUL SINGER ISAAC HAYES PERFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK... - NARA - 556307

South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Debuting in 1997, the series has become renowned for its crude language, dark, surreal humor that satirizes a wide range of topics towards a mature audience. Set in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado, it revolves around four boys—Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick—and their exploits in and around the titular locale.

Premise

The show's humor comes from its satirical approach towards current events, celebrity culture, and the American lifestyle, often using the innocence of childhood to offer a critical perspective of the adult world. Each episode is typically written and produced in the week preceding its broadcast, allowing it to remain topical. South Park is known for its unique animation style, which mimics cutout animation and was originally created using paper cutouts before transitioning to computer software.

Characters

The main characters of South Park are:

• Stan Marsh: Often the show's everyman, Stan is portrayed as rational and frequently ends episodes with a moral monologue.
• Kyle Broflovski: A Jewish character who is Stan's best friend, known for his moral compass and often finding himself at odds with Cartman.
• Eric Cartman: The show's antagonist, Cartman is selfish, prejudiced, and manipulative, but occasionally shows moments of vulnerability.
• Kenny McCormick: Known for dying in almost every episode in the early seasons, his deaths have become less frequent over time. Kenny comes from a poor family and his muffled voice leads to misunderstood remarks.

Production

Trey Parker and Matt Stone met at the University of Colorado Boulder and conceived South Park from an animated short titled "The Spirit of Christmas". The series is produced by South Park Digital Studios and has been distributed by ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks. The animation style has evolved from using paper cutouts in its earliest episodes to sophisticated computer software, maintaining the look of the original technique.

Reception

South Park has received critical acclaim for its satirical approach and relevance to current events, though it has also been the subject of controversy for its profanity and dark humor. It has won numerous awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards.

Impact and Legacy

The series has had a significant impact on popular culture, with phrases and elements from the show entering the cultural lexicon. It has also sparked debates on censorship, the boundaries of satire, and the portrayal of certain topics in media. South Park has spawned various merchandise, a feature film titled South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999), and several video games.

See Also

• Animation in the United States in the television era
• List of South Park episodes
• Censorship of South Park