OUAN403 - Animation Skills - Identify: Trey Parker & Matt Stone's "South Park"

OUAN403 - Animation Skills:

Following onto something completely different that isn't all sweet, cute and fuzzy around the edges, here's my childhood favourite of South Park! Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, this animation was originally created using cutout animation as this was the only form of animation that the team could afford to express their bitter yet comical views on the world and society.

The pilot episode was actually the first and only episode to be created using cutout animation and thereafter, software was used to emulate that of the cutout techniques as they were finally able to afford such software.

Our protagonists Eric Cartman, Kyle Brovlowski, Stan Marsh and of course Kenny, are set in the small yet snowy town of South Park in Colorado state. It is here that they go on many wild and wacky adventures to figure out conspiracies, myths and so forth in a very tongue in cheek sort of fashion. The animation themes itself are very controversial as within the group of boys, there is Kyle: a strong Jewish believer (based on Stone), Kenny: a boy from a poor family, Stan: the everyman who keeps himself to himself (based on Parker), and of course Cartman: an obnoxious racist who is seen as the leader of the group.

Personally, I find this animation so appealing and entertaining to watch as i find myself reflected in this show as i am a very controversial and outspoken person who believes that anything is funny if it's created for a laugh and a laugh alone. Although there has been much criticism over this show, (there certainly was criticism of my parents for my letting me watch this when I was five!) there is no hurtful intent as it so garishly states at the beginning of the opening sequence:

"All characters and events in this show-–even those based on real people–-are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone." - Fagin Barry S. (May 2000) "Goin' Down to South Park: How kids can learn from 'vile trash'"

So, albeit the obscene taboo language, racist remarks (that are obviously jokes), and general criticism and poking fun at other sub cultures, trends and popular culture, I find that it's a perfect show for those who have an open mind and a great sense of humour!