To most people, South Park will forever remain one of the quirkiest and wittiest animated sitcoms created by two guys who can't draw well if their lives depended on it. This aesthetic gag not only allows Trey Parker and Matt Stone to quickly churn out episodes, but it also contributes to the show's charm.
Looking at South Park's characters, it's hard to imagine what they would look like as real human beings. Luckily, the talented fan art community is far more visionary than most of us, and they've created some astonishingly great depictions of the characters. Here they are, in no particular order.
10 The Cool Gang
Kanda3egle breathes life into the South Park gang with this piece featuring ultra-detailed representations of the comic characters with a healthy dose of color. The paint-dab style is very artistic and blends well with the facial characteristics of each.
There's a real-world weight to the characters in this shot as well, from Butters to Cartman, all the way to Kenny with hints of wings and a halo over his head, as per his TV show representation. Believable, in every sense.
9 Best Buddies
May-Explode may no longer have an active Tumblr page, but this piece continues to live on as a fantastic depiction of the core gang. The sense of camaraderie and friendship shines through much stronger than in the TV show, which tends to focus more on the mean-spirited nature of the characters.
The piece also creates a bit of nostalgia in the viewer, especially those who grew up watching movies like Stand By Me, or Stephen King's It. This is a believable pack of awkward kids sharing a nice moment.
8 Band Practice
Kinari21 goes anime style with this piece featuring the gang participating in what appears to be a July 4th celebration with Old Glory swinging proudly in the background. Patriotic, but comical at the same time.
Stan seems to have suffered a head wound throughout the ordeal, while the others goof around. One gets the impression they aren't great at the whole celebration thing.
7 The Stick of Truth
Tuooneo did a marvelously cute rendition of the gang from Stick of Truth, and this piece alone would be enough to make fan salivate for a reboot/re-imagining of the show. The level of detail in the characters is great, right down to their authentic costumes.
Certain characters like Cartman and Butters are rendered in a more realistic and toned down fashion, which grounds this piece in a more plausible feeling. It's a unique take on an already great premise.
6 Anime South Park
DioLorette's quad-panel portrait series of Kyle, Stan, Kenny, and Cartman is both cartooney enough to appeal to fans of the actual series, and detailed enough to make them stand out as actual human characters. The signature traits of the four kids are on full display here, from Cartman's gluttony to Kenny's zipped up hoodie.
The inventive use of trademark character colors works well here as background motifs to better draw the eye to each distinct panel. This, combined with the bright colors and sharp details (especially in the eyes) really make the piece pop.
5 Birthday Gang
FoxyDodo goes full-on high school comedy with this excellent shot featuring a birthday party already going to the dogs before the knife touches the cake. Cartman seems impatient, Kenny seems nervous, and Stan looks like he's having a grand old time while Kyle cooks up a plan.
The light sourcing from the candle helps draw the eye to the centerline where Kyle is the prominent figure. The characters look like high schoolers here, which is a slightly more mature take on the original gang, and it pays off nicely.
4 Toon Park
Platinumft uses a bubbly art style with simple, straightforward lines and angles mixed with candy colors bathed in a cool tint for this piece. The combination looks striking against a plain white canvas background, helping each character pop right off the panel.
The use of heavy whites in the character faces also references South Park's Colorado setting and its high altitude colder temperatures - hence all the winter gear.
3 The Gang In Class
hakurinn0215 goes above and beyond with this wonderful anime-inspired piece that tosses in a few more characters into the mix, including Mr. Garrison wielding an ever-lively Mr. Hat (who looks nearly identical to the TV show representation).
Butters draws the eye on this shot, complete with exclamation symbols to create a sense of motion and activity. Meanwhile, the gang sits around waiting for the bell to ring, which is true to form for the show. The bright colors are an especially excellent addition as well.
2 Manga South Park
Damleg cranked out this wonderfully detailed shot of the gang with realistic proportions, all without losing anything that makes the characters what they are. He also saw fit to reference the original characters up top for the sake of a direct comparison.
While South Park's distinctive art style is a key ingredient in making the show what it is, one has to wonder what an alternative animated take would feel like if it were done in Damleg's style.
1 Ultra-Realistic South Park
Akreon stands tall on this list as the one artist who most closely approximates real-world interpretations of South Park's principal gang. The level of detail and realism (especially in the faces) is spectacular, and he correctly captures each character's personalities without losing so much as an ounce in the process.
Cartman looks like the spoiled brat he is, complete with folded arms. Kenny looks withdrawn and huddled behind his parka hood. Stan looks awkward and troubled, just as his TV show persona would suggest, and Kyle's trademark irritability and frustration are captured with total precision. Definitely one of the best in the fan art scene.
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