The Best Episodes of South Park Completely Changed the Show’s Animation

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Occasionally, South Park deviates from its signature flat animation style. While these departures don’t consistently deliver the desired impact, such as in “Korn’s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery,” “A Scause for Applause,” and “Handicar,” they can be exceptionally effective when executed successfully. For instance, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone managed to pull it off not just once but twice during Season 10. In this analysis, we’ll delve into why these animation changes proved so successful across five episodes, or six if we consider a two-parter as two separate episodes.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’d like to clarify that our focus isn’t on episodes where real individuals are depicted using South Park characters’ bodies, such as Mel Gibson in “The Passion of the Jew.” This technique has undeniably contributed to the show’s enduring success even in its latest season. However, here, we’re delving into a different aspect – the reasons behind the effectiveness of transitions between various animation styles in South Park.

Recreating The Simpsons and Family Guy in “Simpsons Already Did It” and “Cartoon Wars”

As a dedicated fan, I must admit that Season 6 marked a significant shift for the show, attempting to move forward without Kenny. Parker and Stone cleverly employed various strategies to keep the narrative engaging, and despite my deep affection for our beloved parka-wearing kiddo, it managed to hold its ground.

One innovative approach they took was having Kenny’s spirit inhabit Cartman’s body, a transformation made possible by Chef’s parents. Another intriguing twist was the tragic demise of Ms. Choksondik. It was indeed an exciting and unexpected turn for the series!

In “Simpsons Already Did It,” this particular episode held significance for more reasons than just being set within that universe. For the first time, the show imitated the animation style of another widely recognized program. Contrary to the satirical approach taken in the “Family Guy” parody episode, this one was designed to honor “The Simpsons.

As a passionate movie reviewer, I’d say “Simpsons Already Did It” is an exceptional film that beautifully encapsulates the genuine writing process behind South Park. In the early stages of its production, ideas would often be proposed in the writers’ room, only for someone to exclaim, “The Simpsons have already tackled this.” Indeed, art often mirrors life, and this movie captures that essence brilliantly.

The show didn’t use another series’ animation style again until four years later, specifically during the episodes centered around Family Guy, titled “Cartoon Wars Part I” and “Cartoon Wars Part II.” These episodes are particularly notable as they sparked a substantial amount of controversy and internal upheaval, making them more significant than the episode known as “Simpsons Already Did It.

The commotion wasn’t due to it viciously criticizing Family Guy as some might assume. On the contrary, Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane described the episode as “funny and accurate.” While Family Guy may not be universally loved, such a positive response is indeed respectable. However, the controversy didn’t arise from its treatment of Family Guy; instead, it was about the episode’s focus on the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

In a similar vein to Season 5’s “Super Best Friends” (similar to “Cartoon Wars,” unavailable for streaming), creators Parker and Stone initially planned to feature Muhammad at the end of the second segment. The crux of the discussion in these episodes largely revolved around this significant moment. However, due to disagreements with Comedy Central, the network opted for censorship, leading to the episode being split into two parts because of these lengthy negotiations.

Lucky for us, both episodes remain highly relevant. In fact, it can be contended that the closing question from the first episode (essentially asking if Comedy Central would stand firm and air Muhammad) carries an added emotional weight due to their decision to ultimately censor it.

Although the discussions on censorship are the main focus of the episodes, it’s the Family Guy elements that make them hilarious. This critique is spot-on and would not have been as impactful if South Park hadn’t briefly adopted a style similar to Family Guy for a moment.

Becoming Japanese Warriors in “Good Times with Weapons”

In this episode, “Good Times with Weapons,” the character of Butters, often considered the show’s standout, is brilliantly utilized. The plot unfolds as Butters gets struck in the eye with a ninja star, then the boys attempt to disguise him as a dog due to his whimpers of pain. They even take him to a vet to avoid suspicion about their recently acquired weapons. However, when the boys are momentarily distracted, the resourceful Butters manages to crawl to the hospital, only to be turned away by a doctor who specializes in treating people. It’s unfortunate, but poor Butters just can’t seem to catch a break.

One notable aspect of the ninja star scene is how it swiftly transitions back to conventional animation once Professor Chaos’ helmet is removed. Initially, when the boys engage with their weapons, they are depicted in a Japanese anime style, reflecting their imaginative play. Upon realizing that Butters is the villain and he does indeed have an object in his eye, they abruptly exit this imagined world and return to reality. This transition is skillfully executed, making for a memorable moment.

The “Good Times with Weapons” episode is ideal for opening or closing an season due to its grandeur. It was the kickoff of Season 8, often considered the show’s funniest and most consistent year by fans. In fact, in 2015, creators Parker and Stone ranked “Good Times with Weapons” as their second-best episode they have ever produced.

Saving the World…of Warcraft in “Make Love, Not Warcraft”

In a somewhat ironic turn of events, the episode “Make Love, Not Warcraft” ranked third among their favorite episodes for Parker and Stone. Interestingly, this particular episode caused quite a scare during production as Parker himself was filled with apprehension. Up until the day before it was broadcasted, he expressed his doubts, saying, “I’ve lost my touch. I don’t know how to continue like this anymore.” He even pleaded with the producers to inform Comedy Central that South Park wouldn’t air that week.

Despite incorporating machinima, which is similar to the animation style of “World of Warcraft,” producing “Make Love, Not Warcraft” wasn’t significantly more time-consuming than an average episode. Approximately a month was spent on planning and data collection, whereas the machinima segments took merely five days to create. The team managed both the non-machinima and machinima scenes concurrently. Kudos to Blizzard Entertainment for their cooperation in helping Parker, Stone, and their team create this episode, as it must have been challenging to trust a satirical show with their profitable franchise.

One key element that contributes to the episode’s uniqueness is its warmth. Despite many criticizing _World of Warcraft_ players and those devoted to MMORPGs, the show _South Park_ wittily focuses on this subject matter. While it does lampoon the gradual decline in physical appearance for those engrossed in computer games all day, the episode primarily employs _Warcraft_ as a means to narrate a gripping tale of anger and revenge.

The episode “Make Love, Not Warcraft” from the series is particularly humorous for two main reasons. Firstly, there’s a memorable scene involving Cartman’s mom handling his explosive diarrhea with a bedpan, which results in an amusing moment that never fails to make people laugh. Secondly, the game that Butters plays, “Hello Kitty Island Adventure,” was actually turned into a real video game, making this bit of trivia intriguing as well.

Calling It Heavy Metal in “Major Boobage”

Occasionally, South Park incorporates actual Colorado landmarks, while other times it delves into an entirely different cinematic realm. For instance, “Major Boobage” episode takes us to the universe of the cult movie “Heavy Metal”.

It was quite unusual for “South Park” to imitate the style of “Heavy Metal”, as by 2008, it hadn’t been a significant part of popular culture for some time. However, surprisingly, it turned out brilliantly.

Witnessing Kenny stride into a realm, accompanied by “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” by Don Felder and “Heavy Metal” by Sammy Hagar (both tunes that echoed in the movie, including “Radar Rider,” played during the humorous scene where Kenny and Gerald Broflovski gallop towards each other atop oversized ostriches), perfectly captures his jubilant spirit.

For those not familiar with “Heavy Metal,” the episode’s portrayal of an excessive focus on large breasts is quite accurate to the genre. It’s a film that’s heavily sexual (and also quite violent, as briefly hinted at in certain scenes), and it certainly delivers on both counts. This episode is filled with numerous memorable moments, many of which are set within the “Heavy Metal” universe, making the extended eight-week production (twice as long as usual) a worthwhile investment.

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2025-08-17 22:50