10 Fun Facts About South Park That You Probably Didn’t Know
South Park has been a beloved animated series for over two decades, captivating its audience with its irreverent humor, social commentary, and offbeat storylines. With a reputation for pushing boundaries and tackling taboo topics, the show has become a cultural phenomenon that has stayed relevant for years. However, there are many things about this show that might surprise even its most devoted fans. In this article, we’ll dive into 10 fun facts about South Park that you probably didn’t know.
1. South Park was originally a Christmas special
South Park initially began as a Christmas special in 1995 called “The Spirit of Christmas”. The short film was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the show, while they were attending film school. It featured the characters of Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, who were all prototypes of the characters from the show.
2. South Park has used 3D animation
While the show predominantly uses traditional animation, it has delved into 3D animation for certain episodes. Most notably, the episode “Imaginationland” features 3D animation, which was used to create the fictional world where the story takes place.
3. The South Park characters are made out of construction paper
The distinct look of the South Park characters has become iconic, but their appearance is a result of necessity rather than design. The original “Spirit of Christmas” short film was made on a shoestring budget, and the creators used construction paper to create the characters.
4. South Park has its own language
The show has its own unique language, known as “South Park speak”. It involves the characters using made-up phrases and jargon that are specific to the show, such as “m’kay” and “respect my authoritah”.
5. South Park has a theme park ride
In 2018, South Park opened its own theme park ride, “South Park: The Stick of Truth”. The ride is located at Universal Studios Hollywood and takes riders on a virtual adventure through South Park.
6. South Park is one of the longest-running animated series on TV
South Park is one of the longest-running animated series on TV, having been on the air since 1997. It has aired over 300 episodes to date, and the show doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
7. The South Park creators have received high praise for their musical numbers
The South Park creators have occasionally included musical numbers in their episodes, which have been highly praised by critics and fans alike. The 1999 episode “Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo” featured the song “Kyle’s Mom is a Big Fat Bitch”, which became an instant classic.
8. South Park has been censored numerous times
Due to the show’s controversial content, South Park has been censored numerous times. In fact, the show is known for the lengths that it will go to in order to get around censoring, such as covering up profanity with bleeps or with sounds of animals.
9. South Park has won multiple awards
Despite its controversial content, South Park has won numerous awards throughout its run, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and a Grammy Award.
10. South Park once aired an episode without any commercials
In 2007, Comedy Central aired an episode of South Park without any commercial breaks. The episode, titled “Imaginationland Episode III”, was 30 minutes long and was broadcast uninterrupted. This was a groundbreaking moment in TV history, as it had never been done before.
Conclusion
South Park is a show that has been loved by fans for over two decades, and it’s not hard to see why. With its unique blend of irreverent humor, social commentary, and heartfelt moments, the show has become a cultural phenomenon that has stayed relevant over the years. As we’ve seen from these 10 fun facts, the show has an interesting history that goes beyond what we see on-screen. From its beginnings as a low-budget Christmas special to its award-winning status, South Park has certainly made its mark on TV history.
