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South Park.
The cartoon series that premiered in 1997 with a pilot episode involving an alien invasion is South Park. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park debuted on August 13, 1997, on Comedy Central, and quickly became one of the most controversial and influential animated shows in television history.
The pilot episode, titled “Cartman Gets an Anal Probe,” introduced audiences to the show’s four central characters: Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick – a group of foul-mouthed but oddly endearing elementary school children living in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado. In this first episode, Cartman begins experiencing strange symptoms, including mysterious weight gain and bizarre dreams, after reportedly being abducted by aliens. Meanwhile, Kyle tries to rescue his brother, Ike, who has also been taken by extraterrestrials.
This unusual and irreverent storyline set the tone for what South Park would become known for: blending crude humor, shocking content, and sharp social commentary. What made the show groundbreaking was not only its subject matter, but also its animation style, which mimicked the look of paper cutouts and was created using computer software. The creators initially gained attention from their short film “The Spirit of Christmas,” which also featured the South Park characters and helped launch their careers.
Despite early criticism for its vulgar language and offensive humor, South Park quickly developed a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim for its fearless approach to satire. The alien invasion in the pilot was just the beginning of a long-running series that would go on to tackle politics, religion, pop culture, and everything in between – often within days of real-world events.
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