South Park is an acclaimed animated television show known for its satirical and often controversial take on various topics. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the series follows four boys - Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick in the bizarre adventures they encounter in the titular town.
RELATED:THQ Nordic Tease New South Park Game As One Of 26 Unannounced Projects
Over the years, characters like Butters, the naive and well-meaning classmate, Randy Marsh, Stan’s eccentric father, and Mr. Garrison, the often inappropriate school teacher, have grown in popularity. These characters, each with unique personalities and quirks, navigate the absurdity of their small-town life, makingSouth Park episodesgroundbreaking and entertaining.
Token Black, commonly referred to as Token, is the wealthiest kid in South Park and is often portrayed as a rational and mature member of the school kids. The character is known for being the only African-American child in the town, a fact the show often uses to satirically address racial stereotypes and the concept of tokenism in media, hence his name.
His character also highlights the socioeconomic divide in the town. Token has had some significant storylines, usually involving his relationship with the other characters, especially Eric Cartman.
9PC Principal
PC Principal is a character from South Park introduced in Season 19. He is the current principal of South Park Elementary and a strong advocate for political correctness. PC Principal is characterized by his sunglasses, frat-boy attire, and intense demeanor.
RELATED:Best Teachers In Anime, Ranked
He is enthusiastic about promoting social justice and isn’t afraid to use physical violence to enforce political correctness, paradoxically. Throughout the series, his character serves as a satire on the extremes of political correctness. Despite his combative nature, he sincerely desires to make South Park more progressive.
8Liane Cartman
Liane Cartman is best known as Eric Cartman’s mother, portrayed as a sweet and caring parent who is somewhat naive about her son’s misdeeds. She is often overly indulgent in Cartman’s behavior, rarely disciplining him, contributing to his manipulative and spoiled personality.
The character has also been the subject of many adult-oriented jokes, particularly regarding her promiscuity, which is frequently referenced throughout the series. Despite her son’s often disrespectful treatment of her, she continues to dote on him, highlighting the show’s exploration of complex parent-child dynamics.
7Mr. Garrison
Mr. Garrison was first introduced as the third-grade teacher at South Park Elementary. His character is known for his hand puppet, Mr. Hat and identity changes. He’s been portrayed as both male and female, having undergone sex change surgery and later reverted.
Mr. Garrison is openly gay, and his character is used to exploreLGBTQ+ themes. He has also been shown as the President of the United States, parodying Donald Trump. His teaching style is unconventional and often inappropriate, further contributing to the show’s comedic take on education.
Butters Stotch, also known as Leopold Stotch, was a supporting character that evolved into a main character due to his naive, sweet, and often gullible personality that contrasts with the other more cynical characters. He’s known for being excessively trusting, often falling victim to Cartman’s manipulative schemes.
Butters comes from a strict family and is regularly grounded. Despite the difficult circumstances he often finds himself in, Butters maintains an optimistic outlook. His alter ego, Professor Chaos, represents his occasional frustration with always being the good, obedient boy.
5Kenny McCormick
Kenny McCormick is a main character known for his muffled voice due to his parka hood covering his mouth and recurring deaths in earlier seasons. Each death, typically occurring in bizarre and violent ways, became a running gag with the catchphrase, ‘Oh my God, they killed Kenny!’
He would inexplicably return in the next episode without mentioning his death. Kenny comes from a low-income family, and his character often satirically showcases poverty. Despite his friends' mockery, Kenny is the most knowledgeable about mature content among the four main boys.
4Randy Marsh
Randy Marsh is the father of one of the main characters, Stan Marsh. Initially a geologist, Randy is known for his impulsive behavior, often diving headfirst into the latest fads or causes, regardless of their absurdity or danger.
RELATED:Best Comedy Anime Series, Ranked
These include becoming Lorde (a pop singer), running a marijuana farm, and many more. Randy’s antics often serve as a parody of adult hypocrisy and overreaction. His character has become more prominent inlater seasons, making him a fan favorite due to his unpredictable and humorous storylines.
3Kyle Broflovski
Kyle Broflovski is a main character known for his strong moral compass, intelligence, and complex relationship with his friend and sometimes antagonist, Eric Cartman. Kyle is often portrayed as the voice of reason within the group, although his efforts are usually in vain.
He is one of the few Jewish residents in the town, and the show frequently uses his character to mock religious and cultural issues. Despite being the target of Cartman’s anti-Semitic remarks, Kyle continues to defend himself, highlighting the absurdity of various situations.
2Stan Marsh
Stan Marsh is a main character portrayed as the average, everyman. He has a strong sense of justice and is willing to take a stand for what he believes is right. Stan is best friends with Kyle Broflovski, and the two often unite and share the same views.
Stan also frequently clashes with Cartman due to their differing opinions. His character is used to explore and add humor to many issues such as dating and marijuana. Stan is also known for his on-again, off-again relationship with Wendy Testaburger.
1Eric Cartman
Eric Cartman is a main character infamous for his controversial and often politically incorrect humor. Cartman constantly ridicules Kyle Broflovski over his Jewish heritage. He is known for his manipulative, selfish, and often morally reprehensible behavior, with outrageous schemes that drive the plot.
However, Cartman can be surprisingly cunning and resourceful, making him a complex character. He also strongly loves cheesy poofs, a fictional snack in the show. Cartman displays a comedic portrayal of various social, political, and cultural issues, making him one of the most memorable characters.
