Ever wondered what it would be like if the creators of South Park took a playful jab at the very project that sparked the creation of the show? Well, that's exactly what happens in Season 4 Episode 17 "A Very Crappy Christmas" in which the kids—Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny try to bring back their town's Christmas spirit.
Through this episode, the co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone mock their short film "The Spirit of Christmas" as the kids use simple paper cutouts and basic animation to make a short animated film. This serves as a direct reference to how the 1992 short film was created.
Following the first film, the duo crafted a polished version of the short film in 1995 and then finally brought South Park in 1997 for Comedy Central. Since its debut, the American sitcom has been known for addressing sensitive and controversial issues through its episodes.
From actors like Tom Cruise and Barbra Streisand to even mentioning TV personalities and politicians like Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and more, South Park has never shied away from poking fun and pushing the boundaries of humor and social commentary.
Continue reading to explore more about the episode in which they mock its origin.
South Park Christmas episode mocked its origins
Since it’s Christmas, why not celebrate by talking about a South Park Christmas episode? As mentioned above, this article dives into the seventeenth episode of Season 4, in which the kids' efforts to bring back the town's festive spirit also take a playful jab at "The Spirit of Christmas".
As seen in the 1992 short film, Santa Claus and Jesus Christ battle over the true meaning of Christmas. While Jesus claims the festival is to celebrate his birth, Santa Claus argues that it's about forgiving.
Their differences result in a violent and absurd fight, including the murders of some kids. While the plot remains the same in both short films, the 1995 version is a bit polished.
Following the idea of the Christmas spirit, the Season 4 episode begins with the boys disappointed in Mr. Hankey, the Christmas poo as he didn't remind the town about the festive spirit. To fix this, they came up with their own Christmas special short film titled "The Christmas Spirit" to inspire everyone.
Here's how the episode pokes fun at the original short film:
Cut-out Animation: The boys used cut-out animation to reflect on the time when it was quite difficult to create animation this way. It also highlights how the animated show has progressed since then.
Voice Changes: If you noticed, Stan mimics Cartman’s voice, making fun of how the voices change between the short films.
Outsourcing to South Korea: The boys then sent their unfinished animation to South Korea, poking fun at how many animated shows, including South Park, relied on overseas labor for animation.
Also Read: Dune: Prophecy Season 2- what to expect, and more
How to stream South Park Christmas episodes: Options explored
After exploring what happens in South Park Season 4 Episode 17, many might want to go back to the show and stream some of its best episodes.
While the animated show airs on Comedy Central, US viewers watch Season 1-25 on HBO Max with a subscription. As for the UK fans, you can stream the show on Paramount+.
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