By Robert Scucci
| Up to date 1 month in the past
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have all the time had an inclination to base their characters off of individuals they knew in actual life, and the ever-wholesome Leopold “Butters” Stotch isn’t any exception. For those who dig by way of sufficient interviews, you’ll discover that faculty steerage counselor, Mr. Mackey was primarily based off of Parker’s highschool counselor, Stan Lackey, who was recognized for his signature catchphrase, “m’kay.”
Even Kenny McCormic’s loss of life in each early episode was primarily based on a childhood pal of the identical identify, who was the poorest child at school, wore an orange parka that muffled his voice, and sometimes skipped class, which made his classmates joke that he in all probability died, just for him to indicate up at college the subsequent day.
Butters, alternatively, was really impressed by South Park’s very personal animation director – now producer – Eric Stough after Parker and Stone realized he would make an amazing character for the present due to his innocence and repute for being such a “goody goody.”
From Eric To Butters
Although the character design for Butters was proven on display screen from the very first episode of South Park, “Cartman Will get an Anal Probe,” he wasn’t formally given a reputation till the Season 3 episode, “Two Guys Bare in a Scorching Tub,” three years into the present’s run, simply three weeks after South Park: Larger, Longer & Uncut noticed its theatrical premiere. In reality, the character was merely known as “Puff Puff” and “Swanson” earlier than being formally named, and these names have been dedicated to scripts and storyboards interchangeably till he was given a extra outstanding function within the Season three episode and known as Butters.
So how did Butters come to be because the South Park character we all know and love in the present day?
Eric Stough, South Park’s animation director on the time, was recognized to be a healthful geek of the very best order, leading to Parker and Stone ripping on him, usually referring to him as their little buddy. Over time, they began calling him their little Butters, saying issues like “Who’s our little Butters?,” and “Who’s Butters?” alongside the way in which to get below his pores and skin. This playful ribbing developed into full-blown character growth when Stough, towards the desires of Parker and Stone, determined it was a good suggestion to go away work early with present crew members to attend the premiere of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace whereas the creators have been working tirelessly on their function movie, in addition to Season 3, which was additionally in the midst of an lively run.
Formal Introductions
Vexed by the truth that their animation director jumped ship throughout a vital level within the present’s run and the film’s manufacturing, they determined to deliver his character into the present to proceed ripping on him. Simply three weeks after Larger, Longer, & Uncut premiered, Butters had his first “official” look in South Park within the iteration that we’re conversant in. Impressed by Stough’s unwillingness to offend, and his general healthful countenance, Butters was launched to South Park as a everlasting character, and voiced by Matt Stone shifting ahead.
Identified for his ever-present sense of innocence and naivety, Butters would turn out to be recognized to utter out minced oaths like “oh, hamburgers” and “gee whiz,” like a baby character from a 50s sitcom who needed to precise frustration with out ever saying any profanities.
It wouldn’t be till Season 5’s finale, “Butters’ Very Personal Episode,” that we’d catch a greater take a look at the character’s household life, explaining his sheltered disposition because of his overbearing mother and father when his mom, Linda, tried to drown him by crashing her automobile right into a lake after discovering out that his father, Stephen, was going to questionable therapeutic massage parlors below the guise of trying to find a marriage anniversary current. To at the present time, “Butters’ Very Personal Episode” is one in every of South Park’s darkest entries, regardless that Butters stays in excessive spirits after your complete ordeal, which is an apparent continuation of the joke that Eric Stough is solely a lovable goofball who usually finds himself in extraordinary conditions past his management.
The Relaxation Is Historical past
Because the South Park creators would later be taught, Butters turned out to be the right foil for Eric Cartman, who’s a textbook sociopath, and Parker has continuously gone on file stating that the episodes involving the 2 occurring adventures collectively are his favourite episodes due to the conflict of character between the 2 characters. From “The Loss of life of Eric Cartman” and “Tremendous Enjoyable Time” to the legendary “Casa Bonita,” Cartman and Butters continuously butt heads as Cartman manipulates the narrative in his favor whereas dragging Butters alongside as an unwilling participant who’s so afraid of getting grounded that he’ll cautiously take part on the journey, figuring out full properly that his mother and father are actually going to let him have it when all is claimed and performed.
As South Park approaches its twenty seventh season, Butters is a sequence mainstay, and it’s exhausting to think about the present with out his sunny disposition and sickeningly candy character that always serves because the voice of motive when issues go off the rails in his small mountain city. And to suppose, all it took was three years of jokes at Eric Stough’s expense earlier than he would ultimately turn out to be one of many sequence’ most beloved characters.
