View source for Eric Cartman

{{short description|South Park character}}
{{Redirect|Cartman|other uses|Cartman (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Eric Carmen}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox character
| series = [[South Park]]
| image = EricCartman.png
| first = ''[[The Spirit of Christmas (short film)|Jesus vs. Frosty]]'' (1992, short)
| creator = [[Trey Parker]]<br>[[Matt Stone]]
| voice = Trey Parker
| designer = Trey Parker<br>Matt Stone
| full_name = Eric Theodore Cartman
| gender = Male
| occupation = {{plainlist|
* Student
* Rabbi (''[[South Park: Post COVID]]'')
* Unemployed (revised timeline in ''[[South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID]]'')
}}
| family = {{plainlist|
* [[Liane Cartman]] (mother)
* Jack Tenorman (father)
* Mrs. Tenorman (stepmother)
* Scott Tenorman (paternal half-brother)
}}
| children = {{plain list|
* Menorah Cartman (alternate future daughter)
* Moisha Cartman (alternate future son)
* Hackelm Cartman (alternate future son)
}}
| significant_other = Heidi Turner (ex-girlfriend)
| spouse = Yentl Cartman ([[alternate future]] wife)
| alias = The Coon<!--"The Coon" is currently the only alias for Cartman. Do NOT add any other names to this parameter without either: 1) first achieving consensus on this article's talk page AND noting that consensus in your edit summary; or 2) supplying a reference to at least one reliable source (per WP:RS). If you do not do one of these two things, you will be reverted.-->
| nationality = American
| lbl23 = Residence
| data23 = [[South Park, Colorado]], United States
}}
'''Eric Theodore Cartman''', commonly referred to by his surname as just '''Cartman''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/full-episodes/s02e11-roger-ebert-should-lay-off-the-fatty-foods|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717051507/http://southpark.cc.com/full-episodes/s02e11-roger-ebert-should-lay-off-the-fatty-foods|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2014|title=Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods|date=September 2, 1998|access-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> is a fictional character in the [[adult animation|adult]] [[animated sitcom]] ''[[South Park]]'', created by [[Trey Parker]] and [[Matt Stone]]. He is voiced by Parker, and is one of the series' four main characters, alongside [[Stan Marsh]], [[Kyle Broflovski]], and [[Kenny McCormick]]. He first appeared with the name Kenny in the short film ''[[The Spirit of Christmas (short films)|The Spirit of Christmas]]'' (1992), and later appeared in the 1995 film of the same title before debuting in "[[Cartman Gets an Anal Probe]]", the first episode of the series, on August 13, 1997.

Cartman is an elementary school student who lives with his single mother, [[Liane Cartman|Liane]], in the eponymous [[Colorado]] town. Cartman is principally characterized by his obesity, his amorality, and his bigoted and especially [[antisemitism|antisemitic]] disposition, being described by Parker and Stone as "a little [[Archie Bunker]]". In later seasons, particularly following the [[South Park (season 5)|fifth season]] episode "[[Scott Tenorman Must Die]]" (in which he turns the titular Scott Tenorman's parents into chili, in order to feed it to him as revenge for bullying him), Cartman exhibits increasingly [[antisocial personality disorder|psychopathic]] and [[Manipulation (psychology)|manipulative]] behavior. The latter is showcased through Cartman's various schemes, the majority of which fail either due to opposition from other characters or Cartman's own [[hubris]], frequently leaving Cartman in complete humiliation.

Cartman is widely considered to be the most popular ''South Park'' character, one of the most influential fictional characters of all time, and an American cultural icon.<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695|title=Eric Cartman: America's Favorite Little $@#&*%|work=[[NPR]]|date=April 5, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2013|last=Rovner|first=Julie|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524070427/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="am">{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment/top-10-cartman-moments.html|title=Top 10: Cartman Moments|work=[[AskMen]]|access-date=July 22, 2013|last=McKee|first=Ryan|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012013421/http://www.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment/top-10-cartman-moments.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IGN top"/> Parker and Stone have stated that he is their favorite character, and the one with whom they most identify. ''South Park'' has received both praise and criticism for Cartman's transgressive behavior.

==Role in ''South Park''==
Cartman attends South Park Elementary as part of [[Mr. Garrison]]'s class. During the first 58 episodes, he and his classmates were in the third grade, before transitioning to the fourth grade during the fourth season. He is the [[only child]] of [[Liane Cartman]], a promiscuous single mother. In the episode "[[Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut]]", Liane is said to be [[intersex]], being both Eric's mother and father.<ref name="mcfarland1">{{cite news| first = Melanie| last = McFarland| title = Oh my God, 'South Park' killed a decade!| work = [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]| date = September 30, 2006| url = http://www.seattlepi.com/tv/287052_southpark02.html| access-date = May 9, 2009| archive-date = February 27, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200227122725/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/Oh-my-God-South-Park-killed-a-decade-1216016.php| url-status = live}}</ref> This is later revealed to be an elaborate ruse in the fourteenth-season episode "[[200 (South Park)|200]]". In the following episode, "[[201 (South Park)|201]]", it is revealed that Cartman's true biological father is Jack Tenorman, a former player for the [[Denver Broncos]] whom he arranged to have killed in "[[Scott Tenorman Must Die]]"; Scott Tenorman, Jack's son, is thus revealed to be Cartman's half-brother.<ref name="cartmandad">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/south-park-201-1798164797|title=201|last=O'Neal|first=Sean|date=April 21, 2010|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=Onion Inc.|access-date=April 22, 2010|archive-date=April 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425154542/http://www.avclub.com/articles/201%2C40382/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cartman is distinguished from most of the other children by a wider physical appearance,<ref name="growsup2">{{cite magazine|author=Jaime J. Weinman |title=South Park grows up |magazine=[[Maclean's]] |date=March 12, 2008 |url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131&page=2 |access-date=April 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802210052/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131&page=2 |archive-date=August 2, 2009}}</ref> and is subject to ridicule from others for his obesity.<ref name="islam">{{cite news|author=Ali Asadullah |title=Contemporary Cartoon Conjures Racist Past |publisher=IslamOnline.net |date=November 15, 2001 |url=http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658390218&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout |access-date=May 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317003250/http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658390218&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout |archive-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref> He is most commonly portrayed as an antagonist, with most of his actions driving the events of many episodes.<ref name="NPR"/> Cartman is alienated by the majority of the other children for his strong amorality,<ref>{{cite news |author=Jonathan Groce |title=Entertainment and wartime make strange bedfellows |work=[[The Johns Hopkins News-Letter]] |date=April 18, 2003 |url=http://www.jhunewsletter.com/2003/04/17/entertainment-and-wartime-make-strange-bedfellows-78555/ |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |access-date=December 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053349/http://www.jhunewsletter.com/2003/04/17/entertainment-and-wartime-make-strange-bedfellows-78555/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lowbrow">{{cite news| author = Dennis Lim| title = Television: Lowbrow and proud of it| newspaper = independent.co.uk| date = March 29, 1998| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html| access-date = May 9, 2009| archive-date = May 15, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190515083355/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="lear">{{cite news| author = Jesse McKinley| title = Norman Lear Discovers Soul Mates in 'South Park'| newspaper = [[The New York Times]]| date = April 10, 2003| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/movies/norman-lear-discovers-soul-mates-in-south-park.html| access-date = May 9, 2009| archive-date = December 10, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191210110153/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/movies/norman-lear-discovers-soul-mates-in-south-park.html| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="asullivan">{{cite magazine| author = Andrew Sullivan| title = South Park and Imus| magazine = [[The Atlantic]]| date = April 13, 2007| url = https://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2007/04/south-park-and-imus/229330/| access-date = May 9, 2009| author-link = Andrew Sullivan| archive-date = May 23, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220523004043/https://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2007/04/south-park-and-imus/229330/| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="philo">Arp and Miller, pp.177–88</ref> but they are occasionally influenced by his manipulation.<ref name="philo2">Arp and Johnson, pp. 213–23</ref>

Although Cartman has shared an enmity with all three of his friends, his rivalry with Stan and Kyle has progressed significantly during the show's run, with Cartman routinely exposing them to physical endangerment. Cartman, a staunch [[antisemitism|antisemite]], reflects most of his hatred towards Kyle, a [[Jewish]] boy, such as deliberately infecting him with [[HIV]] ("[[Tonsil Trouble]]").<ref name="growsup2"/><ref name="AIDS">{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/859/859352p1.html|title='Tonsil Trouble' Review|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=October 12, 2009|archive-date=August 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801084410/http://tv.ign.com/articles/859/859352p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Kyle occasionally exhibits similar behavior in such episodes as "[[Fatbeard]]", wherein Kyle  encourages Cartman to travel to [[Somalia]], hoping he will be killed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Neal |first=Sean |title=South Park: Season 13: Episode 7: "Fatbeard" |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=April 22, 2009 |url=https://www.avclub.com/south-park-fatbeard-1798206093 |access-date=April 23, 2009}}</ref>

His rivalry with the other characters stems from opposition with their personalities. Where Kyle is restrained by firm morals, Cartman indulges in sadistic hedonism. He revealed that he hated Kenny the most in the episode "[[Jakovasaurs]]" and has, on numerous occasions, made fun of him for being [[poor]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbr.com/south-park-cartman-nastiest-jabs-karma-kenny/|title=South Park: Cartman's Nastiest Jabs at Kenny Resulted in Dark (Yet Hilarious) Karma|first=Renaldo|last=Matadeen|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR.com]]|date=February 23, 2022|accessdate=September 29, 2022|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930011355/https://www.cbr.com/south-park-cartman-nastiest-jabs-karma-kenny/|url-status=live}}</ref> In "[[Kenny Dies]]", Cartman takes advantage of his declining health to get a ban on stem cell research lifted in order to construct his own [[Shakey's Pizza]] restaurant out of fetus stem cells. However, Cartman also implies that Kenny is his best friend, making their relationship unclear.<ref>{{cite news| last = Dominic| first = Serene| title = Cheap Trick vs. All Four Original Members of Asia!: 'Don't Cry' if Mommy & Daddy just seem a little weird over who to 'Surrender' the fun money to this weekend!| work = [[Metro Times|Detroit Metro Times]]| date = July 4, 2007| url = https://m.metrotimes.com/detroit/cheap-trick-vs-all-four-original-members-of-asia/Content?oid=2187709| accessdate = March 6, 2022| archive-date = March 6, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220306221718/https://m.metrotimes.com/detroit/cheap-trick-vs-all-four-original-members-of-asia/Content?oid=2187709| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/18/classic-south-park-jakovasaurs-review|title=Classic South Park: "Jakovasaurs" Review|last=Fickett|first=Travis|date=January 17, 2008|website=IGN|access-date=December 11, 2016}}</ref>

Kyle is sometimes an enthusiastic participant in Cartman's schemes and he is sometimes seen treating Kyle well, although this is generally to put aside their hatred momentarily for a common goal or for manipulation.<ref>e.g. "[[Wing (South Park)|Wing]]", "[[Crack Baby Athletic Association]]"</ref> Parker and Stone have compared the relationship to that between [[Archie Bunker]] and [[Michael Stivic]] on ''[[All in the Family]]''. Kyle has a tendency to make what he thinks are safe bets with Cartman, often losing these bets when the improbable actions promised by Cartman are accomplished. Cartman's motivation in this regard is not only monetary gain, but an obsession with beating Kyle, a fixation that ultimately plays a major part in a subplot to the three-part "[[Imaginationland: The Movie|Imaginationland]]".<ref name="growsup2"/> This obsession has been shown to overshadow other goals Cartman wishes to achieve. Cartman has a high sadistic streak towards Kyle, and has repeatedly expressed desire in seeing him suffer,<ref>e.g "[[Fat Butt and Pancake Head]]"</ref> often to extremes.<ref>e.g "[[Humancentipad]]", "[[Ginger Cow]]"</ref>
In "[[You're Getting Old]]", it is suggested that Kyle and Cartman may be developing a genuine friendship, possibly due to the void left by Stan's apparent departure. This relationship ends in "[[Ass Burgers]]", however, due to Kyle finding out how Cartman was producing his hamburgers. Cartman's resentment of Stan is at times reserved for when Cartman actively proclaims his hatred for both Stan and Kyle as a duo, and his contempt for Stan as an individual is usually due to his annoyance with Stan's sensitivity, affection for animals, and relationship with [[Wendy Testaburger]].<ref name="philo3">Arp and Jacoby, pp. 58–65</ref>

Despite being intolerant of other cultures, Cartman displays an aptitude for learning foreign languages. He knows [[German language|German]], and once uses this knowledge to impersonate [[Adolf Hitler]] while promoting the extermination of Jews to an oblivious audience that did not speak German,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/south-park-cartman-darkest-storylines/|title=South Park: Eric Cartman's 10 Darkest Storylines|date=October 24, 2019|website=ScreenRant|access-date=March 10, 2022|archive-date=March 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310021810/https://screenrant.com/south-park-cartman-darkest-storylines/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in interactions with Mexican laborers, such as the episode "[[My Future Self n' Me]]", seems to speak at least conversational [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Park: The Complete Sixth Season DVD Review |work=IGN |date=February 26, 2009 |last=Schorn |first=Peter |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/14/south-park-the-complete-sixth-season |accessdate=January 25, 2017 |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205103538/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/14/south-park-the-complete-sixth-season |url-status=live }}</ref> This is in service of a running joke in which Cartman displays incredible aptitude at quickly learning almost any topic in service of his schemes, despite being an awful student in a school environment and displaying extreme ignorance about subjects that do not immediately interest him.

Conversely, in "[[Major Boobage]]", Cartman shelters the town's cats when they are outlawed;<ref>Fickett, Travis (March 27, 2008). [http://tv.ign.com/articles/862/862445p1.html "South Park: 'Major Boobage' Review"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808215143/http://tv.ign.com/articles/862/862445p1.html |date=August 8, 2012 }}. ''IGN''.</ref> outside of episodes that take place in alternate timelines, this is the only multi-scene plotline in which Cartman acts in a traditionally moral way without any ulterior motive being indicated on-screen.

Cartman will use an awkward pause during a conversation as an opportunity to casually remind Kenny that he hates him.<ref name="bullzeye">{{cite news| author = Jamey Codding| title = Bullz-Eye's All-Time Best Cartoon Characters| publisher = Bullz-Eye.com| date = January 28, 2006| url = http://www.bullz-eye.com/entertainment/features/2006/best_cartoon_characters.htm| access-date = May 11, 2009| archive-date = September 19, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090919140708/http://www.bullz-eye.com/entertainment/features/2006/best_cartoon_characters.htm| url-status = dead}}</ref> Cartman's mischievous treatment of Butters, and the relationship the duo shares, has received significant focus in the more recent seasons of the series.<ref name="growsup2"/> This reflects Parker's interest, as the scenes between the two are the ones he most enjoys writing.<ref name="buttersfave">{{cite news| author = Dudley Price| title = Butters one of 'South Park' creator Trey Parker's favorite characters.| publisher = [[The America's Intelligence Wire]]| date = December 18, 2003| url = http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19761309_ITM| access-date = May 9, 2009| archive-date = July 20, 2012| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120720045843/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19761309_ITM| url-status = live}}</ref>

Several episodes concern Cartman's greed and his get-rich-quick schemes, although his numerous attempts to attain wealth generally fail.<ref name="NPR"/> His extreme disdain for [[hippie]]s serves to satirize the [[counterculture of the 1960s]] and its influence in contemporary society,<ref name="cityjournal"/> reflecting Parker's real-life antipathy towards hippies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/behind/interviews.php?interview=25|title=An interview with Matt Stone|publisher=www.southparkstudios.com/|access-date=February 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219061433/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/behind/interviews.php?interview=25|archive-date=December 19, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Though the role is customarily taken by Stan or Kyle, Cartman will occasionally be the one to reflect on the lessons learned during the course of an episode with a speech that often begins with "You know, I've learned something today...".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~smaji/southpark.html |title=List of "I've learned something today" quotes including relevant episode citations |access-date=September 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627134449/http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~smaji/southpark.html |archive-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref>

==Character==
===Creation and design===
[[Image:CartmanWithoutHat.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cartman's hair, which is usually hidden underneath his hat]]
A precursor to Cartman first appeared in the first ''The Spirit of Christmas'' short, dubbed ''Jesus vs. Frosty'', created by Parker and Stone in 1992 while they were students at the [[University of Colorado at Boulder|University of Colorado]]. In the short, the character resembling Cartman was named "Kenny", and a variation of the catchphrase "Oh my God, they killed Kenny!" was exclaimed when this character was killed by an evil snowman. The character was composed of [[construction paper]] cutouts and animated through the use of [[stop motion]].<ref name="method">{{cite news | author = Matt Cheplic | title = 'As Crappy As Possible': The Method Behind the Madness of South Park | publisher = [[Penton Media]] | date = May 1, 1998 | url = http://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/news/news-articles/crappy-possible-method-behind-madness-south-park/382927/ | access-date = April 28, 2009 | archive-date = December 22, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222091538/http://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/news/news-articles/crappy-possible-method-behind-madness-south-park/382927 | url-status = live }}</ref> When commissioned three years later by friend Brian Graden to create another short as a [[video]] [[Christmas card]] that he could send to friends, Parker and Stone created another similarly-animated ''The Spirit of Christmas'' short, dubbed ''Jesus vs. Santa''.<ref name="VH1">{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/press/bios/brian_graden.jhtml |title=Brian Graden's Bio |publisher=VH1.com |access-date=January 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120161058/http://www.vh1.com/press/bios/brian_graden.jhtml |archive-date=January 20, 2008}}</ref> In this short, his character first appears as he does in the series, and is given the name "Cartman", while the character of Kenny appears as the character is depicted today and given Cartman's moniker from the previous short. Cartman next appeared on August 13, 1997, when ''South Park'' debuted on [[Comedy Central]] with the episode "[[Cartman Gets an Anal Probe]]".

In keeping with the show's [[Cutout animation|animation style]], Cartman is composed of simple geometrical shapes and [[primary color]]s.<ref name="method"/><ref name="avr">{{cite news|author=Abbie Bernstein |title=South Park – Volume 2 |publisher=AVRev.com |date=October 27, 1998 |url=http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |access-date=April 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515045446/http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |archive-date=May 15, 2013}}</ref> He is not offered the same free range of motion associated with hand-drawn characters; his character is mostly shown from one direction, and his movements intentionally jerky.<ref name="growsup2"/><ref name="method"/><ref name="avr"/> Ever since the show's second episode, "[[Weight Gain 4000]]" ([[South Park (season 1)|season one]], 1997), Cartman, like all other characters on the show, has been animated with computer software, though he is portrayed to give the impression that the show still utilizes its original technique.<ref name="method"/>

Cartman is usually depicted wearing winter attire which consists of a red coat, brown pants, yellow gloves/mittens, and a yellow-brimmed turquoise [[knit cap]] tapered with a yellow [[pom-pom]]. He has parted brown hair, and he is seen without his hat more often than the other characters with distinctive headwear. As he is overweight, his body is wider and his hands noticeably larger than those of the other children, and his head is more elliptical. An additional curved line on his lower face represents a double chin.

Parker adduced that he came up with the voice of Cartman while he and Stone were in film class, where they would speak in high-pitched childish voices, which was quite irksome to their film teachers. They would naturally reproduce these voices in the initial seasons of ''South Park''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Making Fun Of Everyone On 'South Park'|url=https://www.wbur.org/npr/127210540/story.php|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=wbur.org|archive-date=September 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928161934/https://www.wbur.org/npr/127210540/story.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=South Park - Season 24 - TV Series|url=https://southpark.cc.com/seasons/south-park|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627175917/https://southpark.cc.com/seasons/south-park|url-status=live}}</ref> Although he had originally voiced Cartman without any computer manipulation, Parker now does so by speaking within his normal vocal range with a childlike inflection. The recorded audio is then edited with [[Pro Tools]], and the pitch is altered to make the voice sound like that of a 10-year-old.<ref name="digizine">{{cite web|author=Stephanie Jorgl |title=South Park: Where The Sound Ain't No Joke! |publisher=Digizine |year=2005 |url=http://www2.digidesign.com/digizine/dz_Q105/features/cover_story/index.cfm?pagenum=2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131130070727/http://www2.digidesign.com/digizine/dz_Q105/features/cover_story/index.cfm?pagenum=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 30, 2013 |access-date=April 30, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = South Park FAQ | url = http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=2&year=2009 | date = February 10, 2009 | publisher = South Park Studios | access-date = April 30, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090511145241/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=2&year=2009 | archive-date = May 11, 2009}}</ref><ref name="sps40">{{cite web|title=40 Questions |url=http://treyparker.info/archives_spstudios.htm |date=October 4, 2001 |publisher=South Park Studios |access-date=January 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129004417/http://treyparker.info/archives_spstudios.htm |archive-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> Parker says to achieve the effect of Cartman's voice, he simply uses the same technique when voicing Stan while "adding a lot of fat to it".<ref>{{cite news|title=Yahoo! Internet Life |publisher=treyparker.info (transcribed from yahoo.com) |year=1998 |url=http://treyparker.info/archives_yahoo_98.htm |access-date=May 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129005316/http://treyparker.info/archives_yahoo_98.htm |archive-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

===Development===
[[File:TreyParkerHWOFApr2013.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Cartman is voiced by series co-creator [[Trey Parker]].]]
Cartman is partially named after and based on Matt Karpman, a high school classmate of Parker who remains a friend of both Parker and Stone.<ref name=karpmancartman>{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?id=11264|title=FAQ Archives|access-date=May 9, 2009|publisher=South Park Studios|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408072434/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?id=11264|archive-date=April 8, 2008}}</ref> Cartman is also inspired to some degree by ''[[All in the Family]]'' patriarch [[Archie Bunker]], who is himself inspired by [[Alf Garnett]] from ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]'', the British sitcom upon which ''All in the Family'' was based. Parker and Stone are reportedly big fans of ''All in the Family''. They alleged in 2008 that creating Cartman as a "little eight-year-old fat kid" made it easier for the two to portray a Bunker-like character after the introduction of [[political correctness]] to late-20th century television.<ref name="NPR">{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695 |title=Eric Cartman: America's Favorite Little $@#&*% |access-date=October 25, 2008 |last=Rovner |first=Julie |date=April 5, 2008 |work=[[National Public Radio|NPR]] |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524070427/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite interview|url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12881 |title=Matt Stone, Trey Parker, Larry Divney 'Speaking Freely' transcript |access-date=February 8, 2007 |date=March 1, 2002 |subject=Trey Parker |subject2=Matt Stone |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209001855/http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12881 |archive-date=February 9, 2010}}</ref> While developing the character, Parker noted that everyone either remembers "an annoying fat kid in their pasts", or "they were the annoying fat kid".<ref>{{cite web|title=Yahoo! Chat |publisher=treyparker.info (transcribed from yahoo.com) |date=June 28, 1999 |url=http://treyparker.info/archives_transcripts_yahoo_28jun99.htm |access-date=May 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129011634/http://treyparker.info/archives_transcripts_yahoo_28jun99.htm |archive-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> Stone has observed that "kids are not nice, innocent, flower-loving little rainbow children&nbsp;... they don't have any kind of social tact or etiquette, they're just complete little raging bastards".<ref name="lowbrow"/>

In the [[South Park (season 5)|season five]] (2001) episode "[[Scott Tenorman Must Die]]", Cartman is tricked into buying the [[pubic hair]] of a local ninth-grader named Scott Tenorman for $16.12. He then successfully executes an elaborate scheme to publicly humiliate Scott in front of his favorite band [[Radiohead]], by getting Scott's parents killed and then tricking Scott into eating them.<ref name="mcfarland2">{{cite news|author=Melanie McFarland|title=Social satire keeps 'South Park' fans coming back for a gasp, and a laugh|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=October 2, 2006|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/tv/287050_tv02.html|access-date=May 12, 2009|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915113720/http://www.seattlepi.com/tv/287050_tv02.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The show's writers debated during production of the episode whether the incident would be "a step too far, even for Cartman".<ref name="NPR"/> Parker felt that the act could sufficiently be the culmination of Cartman's [[sociopath]]ic behavior, and would "[set] a new bar" by portraying Cartman as being capable of performing anything short of murder.<ref name="NPR"/><ref name="hitscommentary">{{cite AV media|last1=Parker|first1=Trey|last2=Stone|first2=Matt|title=Audio commentary for "Scott Tenorman Must Die"|work=South Park – The Hits: Volume 1|year=2006|medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}}</ref><ref name="60minutes_cartman">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rKIFr-2CaU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/1rKIFr-2CaU| archive-date=November 7, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Creating the incorrigible Cartman|work=[[60 Minutes]]|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=September 25, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="commentary">{{cite AV media|last1=Parker|first1=Trey|last2=Stone|first2=Matt|title= Audio commentary for "Scott Tenorman Must Die"|work=South Park – The Complete Fifth Season|year=2005|medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}}</ref> Fans reacted by ranking it as Cartman's "greatest moment" in a 2005 poll on [[Comedy Central]]'s website.<ref name="cartman25">{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/events/south_park/cartman_25/index.jhtml|title=Comedy Central voting page for Cartman's 25 Greatest South Park Moments|access-date=December 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211024032/http://www.comedycentral.com/events/south_park/cartman_25/index.jhtml|archive-date=December 11, 2007}}</ref> It is later revealed in the [[South Park (season 14)|season fourteen]] episode "[[201 (South Park)|201]]" that Jack Tenorman, Scott's father, was a [[American football|football]] player for the [[Denver Broncos]] who impregnated Cartman's mom, therefore making him Cartman's father too.<ref>{{cite episode|title=[[201 (South Park)|201]]|series=[[South Park]]|date=April 21, 2010|network=[[Comedy Central]]}}</ref>

Parker and Stone, despite being the basis for Stan and Kyle, insist that Cartman is their favorite character, and the one with whom they identify the most.<ref name="NPR"/><ref name="goin down">{{cite AV media|last1=Parker|first1=Trey|last2=Stone|first2=Matt|title=Goin' Down to South Park|medium=Television documentary|publisher=Comedy Central}}</ref>

===Personality and traits===
{{Quote box
| quote = There's a big part of me that's Eric Cartman. He's both of our dark sides, the things we'd never say.
| source = &nbsp;[[Trey Parker]]<ref>[https://huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html Matt Stone & Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies (No Matter What You Believe)] by Alex Leo, ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', February 25, 2010</ref>
 | width = 30%
 | align = right
}}

Cartman uses profanity (as do his friends) to provide a means for Parker and Stone to portray how they believe young boys really talk when they are alone.<ref name="avr"/><ref name="abc4">{{cite web| author=Jake Trapper and Dan Morris| title=Secrets of 'South Park'| work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]| date=September 22, 2006| url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=4| access-date=April 18, 2009| archive-date=March 19, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319073834/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=4| url-status=live}}</ref> According to Parker, Cartman does not possess the "underlying sweetness" of the show's other child characters. Cartman is shown at times to be completely amoral and remorseless. Cartman, as with [[Stan Marsh]] and [[Kyle Broflovski]], is amused by bodily functions and [[toilet humor]],<ref name="time">{{cite news|author1=Jeffrey Ressner|author2=James Collins| title = Gross And Grosser | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date = March 23, 1998 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988028,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821033347/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988028,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 21, 2009 | access-date = April 28, 2009}}</ref> and his favorite television personalities are [[Terrance and Phillip]], a Canadian duo whose comedy routines on their show-within-the-show revolve substantially around fart jokes.

Cartman is sensitive and in denial about his [[obesity]]. He often reasserts Liane's notion by exclaiming "I'm not fat, I'm big-boned!" and will just as often either threaten to bring harm to anyone who mocks his weight or curse them out in aggravation.<ref name="NPR"/> He has also had people killed due to his insecurity; for example, after his psychiatrist mocked his weight, Cartman framed the man as a [[pedophilia|pedophile]] to his wife, causing her to commit [[suicide]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=T.M.I. |episode-link=T.M.I. (South Park) |series=South Park |series-link=South Park |last=Parker |first=Trey |author-link=Trey Parker |network=[[Comedy Central]] |date=May 18, 2011 |season=15 |number=4}}</ref> He views himself as more mature than his fellow friends and classmates, and often grows impatient with their company; despite claiming to be more mature, he will often break down crying childishly and pathetically whenever he feels defeated. This often leads to loud arguments, which in earlier seasons typically end with Cartman peevishly saying "Screw you guys&nbsp;... I'm going home!" and then leaving.<ref name="NPR"/> In an action [[King's College (Pennsylvania)|King's College]] [[philosophy]] professor [[David Kyle Johnson]] describes as "directed either toward accomplishing his own happiness or the unhappiness of others", Cartman often feigns actual friendship with his classmates when needing a favor.<ref name="philo2"/> The lack of a true father figure in his life, and Liane's promiscuity and drug use have caused repressed [[psychology|psychological]] hardship in Cartman's life. As a parent, Liane often spoils Cartman,<ref name="salon">{{cite news|author=David Horowitz |title=Why Gore would censor "South Park" |work=Salon.com |date=July 19, 1999 |url=http://www.salon.com/news/col/horo/1999/07/19/south_park/index2.html |access-date=May 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121035850/http://www.salon.com/news/col/horo/1999/07/19/south_park/index2.html |archive-date=November 21, 2009}}</ref><ref name="bw">{{cite news|author=Joan Oleck |title='South Park': Canny bait-and-switch |work=[[BusinessWeek]] |date=April 27, 1998 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1998/b3575069.arc.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118183134/http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1998/b3575069.arc.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=May 12, 2009}}</ref> and is largely ineffectual as a disciplinarian.<ref name="nytimesmorals">{{cite news|author=Virginia Heffernan |title=What? Morals in 'South Park'? |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 28, 2004 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/arts/television/28SOUT.html?ei=5007&en=9cf4a2bb20610253&ex=1398484800&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=all&position |access-date=July 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803023224/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/arts/television/28SOUT.html?ei=5007&en=9cf4a2bb20610253&ex=1398484800&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=all&position |archive-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> Cartman sometimes commands his mom to do tasks for him, but more often resorts to pleading with her in an ingratiating tone. When neither method works, he resorts to excessive and indecipherable whining, to which Liane usually succumbs.<ref name="lezard">{{cite news| author= Nick Lezard| author-link= Nicholas Lezard| title= Cartman, a true hero of our age| newspaper= independent.co.uk| date= August 27, 1999| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/cartman-a-true-hero-of-our-age-1115522.html| access-date= May 9, 2009| archive-date= June 7, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090607100430/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/cartman-a-true-hero-of-our-age-1115522.html| url-status= live}}</ref> Parker has noted that this is the primary cause for Cartman's behavior, stating that Cartman is "just a product of his environment".<ref name="NPR"/>

{{blockquote|We always had this thing where Cartman's mother was so sweet—she was always so sweet to him and giving him whatever he wanted. And I don't know if it's worse in L.A. than most places in the country—I hope so—but [we've met] so many parents who were just so desperately trying to be friends to their kids. And it was the thing we really picked up on. And it was just like, 'These [people] are making these really evil kids'.<br />– Trey Parker, discussing Liane's role in shaping Cartman's personality in an interview with [[NPR]]<ref name="NPR"/>}}
Cartman thrives on achieving ascendancy over others,<ref name="philo4">Arp and White, pp. 66–76</ref> and exerts his will by [[demagoguery]] and by demanding that others "Respect my authoritah!"<ref name="NPR"/> Cartman has several times declared that his dream is getting "Ten million dollars", and that if he got it he would be "so happy". He has shown initiative in taking a businesslike approach to earning money, starting his own "[[hippie]] control" and "parental revenge" operations, as well as a [[Christian Rock]] and a [[boy band]], a basketball team of [[crack babies]] (parody of the [[NCAA]]) and his own church.<ref name="crm">{{cite news|author=Amber Conrad |title=25 Things I Learned About Business from "South Park" |publisher=InsideCRM |date=June 3, 2008|url=http://www.insidecrm.com/features/south-park-business-lessons-060308/ |access-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318170003/http://www.insidecrm.com/features/south-park-business-lessons-060308/ |archive-date=March 18, 2009}}</ref>

Cartman's anti-Semitism, while mostly limited to mocking Kyle, culminates in the [[South Park (season 8)|season eight]] episode "[[The Passion of the Jew]]". In the episode, Cartman, after watching ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' numerous times, [[Apotheosis|deifies]] the film's director, [[Mel Gibson]], and starts an official Gibson fan club, praising Gibson for "trying to express—through cinema—the horror and filthiness of the common Jew".<ref name="gross">{{cite news| author = Max Gross| title = 'The Passion of the Christ' Fuels Antisemitism—on 'South Park'| work = [[The Jewish Daily Forward]]| date = April 9, 2004| url = http://www.forward.com/articles/5445/| access-date = May 9, 2009| archive-date = June 6, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110606013626/http://www.forward.com/articles/5445/| url-status = live}}</ref> Cartman's interpretation of the film influences him to dress up as [[Adolf Hitler]] and lead other fan club members (who are oblivious of Cartman's actual intentions) in a failed effort to engage in a systematic [[genocide]] of the Jews similar to that of the [[Final Solution]].<ref name="gross"/> In the [[South Park (season 10)|season 10]] episode "[[Smug Alert!]]", Cartman anonymously saves Kyle's life in an effort to get him and his family to return to South Park from [[San Francisco]], revealing that he craves the animosity shared between the two.<ref name="smug">{{cite web|author=Eric Goldman |title=TV Review: This week's target? Hybrid drivers. |website=IGN |date=March 30, 2006 |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/699/699373p1.html |access-date=May 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426025359/http://movies.ign.com/articles/699/699373p1.html |archive-date=April 26, 2010}}</ref> Cartman later directs the "evil god" [[Cthulhu]] to destroy "most of the synagogues" during the [[South Park (season 14)|season 14]] episode "[[Coon vs. Coon and Friends]]".<ref>{{cite episode|title=Coon vs. Coon and Friends|series=South Park|author=Trey Parker|network=Comedy Central|airdate=November 10, 2010|season=14}}</ref>

Upon hearing his classmates tell him that they hold him in the lowest regard possible and that they could not possibly think any worse of him, a stubborn Cartman misinterprets this act as their attempt to make him feel better, and convinces himself that everyone thinks he is the "coolest kid in school". In the [[South Park (season 13)|season 13]] (2009) episode "[[Fishsticks (South Park)|Fishsticks]]", Cartman subconsciously believes that he helped in creating a joke that quickly becomes a nationwide sensation, despite the fact that the character [[Jimmy Valmer]] writes the joke without any assistance. Carlos Delgado of ''If Magazine'' noted this as "Cartman being so egotistical that he manipulates the past to serve his own purposes".<ref>{{cite news|last=Delgado |first=Carlos |title=TV Review: South Park – Season 13 – 'Fishsticks' |work=If Magazine |date=April 9, 2009 |url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp?article=3168 |access-date=April 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015113520/http://www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp?article=3168 |archive-date=October 15, 2009}}</ref>

Though he is commonly portrayed as having a chauvinist disrespect for foreign cultures, Cartman is shown at least twice ("[[My Future Self n' Me]]" and "[[Pandemic (South Park)|Pandemic]]") to be able to speak fluent Spanish (and German).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/episodes/xfaqzg/south-park-my-future-self-n-me-season-6-ep-16|title=South Park - My Future Self n' Me|date=December 4, 2002|website=South Park United States|access-date=March 10, 2022|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319073835/https://southpark.cc.com/episodes/xfaqzg/south-park-my-future-self-n-me-season-6-ep-16|url-status=live}}</ref> Cartman attempts [[suicide]] in the episode "[[Sermon on the 'Mount (South Park)|Sermon on the 'Mount]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Yes, 'South Park' Went There — And It's Glorious |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/south-park-donald-trump-ai-penis-1235393024/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=July 24, 2025 |date=July 25, 2025 |archive-date=July 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724175552/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/south-park-donald-trump-ai-penis-1235393024/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Cultural impact==
Cartman is a ''South Park'' fan favorite,<ref name="islam"/> and is often described as the most famous character from the series as well as having a significant influence on comedy and culture.<ref name="NPR"/><ref name="411mania">{{cite news | author = Jeremy Thomas | title = South Park: The Cult of Cartman – Revelations DVD Review | publisher = 411mania.com | date = October 20, 2008 | url = http://www.411mania.com/movies/dvd_reviews/88174/South-Park:-The-Cult-of-Cartman---Revelations-DVD-Review.htm | access-date = May 11, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081021143638/http://www.411mania.com/movies/dvd_reviews/88174/South-Park:-The-Cult-of-Cartman---Revelations-DVD-Review.htm | archive-date = October 21, 2008 | url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="kidsnews">{{cite news|author=Hemant Tavathia |title=Music and Entertainment 2: South Park Hits 100 |publisher=Kidsnewsroom.org |date=April 11, 2003 |url=http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/newsissues/041103/index.asp?page=Music2 |access-date=May 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208125207/http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/newsissues/041103/index.asp?page=Music2 |archive-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref> With a headline to their online written version of a radio report, [[NPR]] declared Cartman as "America's Favorite Little $@#&*%".<ref name="NPR"/> "Respect my authoritah!" and "Screw you guys&nbsp;... I'm going home!" became catchphrases and, during the show's earlier seasons, were highly popular in the lexicon of viewers.<ref name="perth">{{cite news |last1=DeCeglie|first1=Anthony|last2=Blake|first2=Sarah| title = TV comedy sends WA students 'Jonah' | work = [[The Sunday Times (Western Australia)|The Sunday Times]] | date = September 14, 2007 | url= https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/27/1040511174507.html | access-date = May 9, 2009}}</ref><ref name="oldandnew">{{cite news|last=Diaz|first=Glenn L.|title=Old and New 'South Park'|publisher=[[BuddyTV]]|date=January 22, 2009|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/south-park/old-and-new-south-park-25870.aspx|access-date=May 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302082642/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/south-park/old-and-new-south-park-25870.aspx|archive-date=March 2, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> His eccentric enunciation of "Hey!" was included in the 2002 edition of ''The Oxford Dictionary of Catchphrases''.<ref name="oxford">{{cite news | author = David Dale| title = The Oxford Dictionary of Catchphrases | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = December 28, 2002 | url= https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/27/1040511174507.html | access-date = May 9, 2009}}</ref> Stone has said that when fans recognize him or Parker, the fans will usually do their imitation of Cartman, or, in Parker's case, request that he do Cartman's voice.<ref name="page2">{{cite news|author=Page 2 Staff |title=Matt Stone |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=March 13, 2002 |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1350858&type=page2Story |access-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109224708/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1350858&type=page2Story |archive-date=November 9, 2013}}</ref>

In 2005, [[Comedy Central]] ran a three-night marathon of episodes showcasing what voters had deemed to be his "25 greatest moments".<ref name="cartman25"/> A two-disc DVD collection entitled "[[The Cult Of Cartman|The Cult of Cartman]]", which Comedy Central described as "12 classic episodes with Cartman at his very worst!", was released in 2008.<ref name="cult">{{cite news| author = David Lambert| title = Join the Cult of Cartman this October| publisher = TVShowsOnDVD.com| date = July 14, 2008| url = http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Cult-of-Cartman/10055| access-date = May 9, 2009| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090523102724/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Cult-of-Cartman/10055| archive-date = May 23, 2009}}</ref>

In a 1999 poll conducted by [[NatWest Bank]], eight and nine-year-old children in the United Kingdom voted Cartman as their favorite personality. This drew the concern of several parent councils who were expecting a character from a television show aimed at children to top the list, to which Stone responded by claiming the results of the poll were "upsetting to people who have an idyllic vision of what kids are like".<ref name="bbcpoll">{{cite news | title = Cartman top with kids | publisher = BBC | date = August 26, 1999 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/430977.stm | access-date = May 9, 2009 | archive-date = February 13, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210213052216/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/430977.stm | url-status = live }}</ref>

While some in the [[Jewish community]] have praised the show's depiction of Cartman holding an anti-Semitic attitude towards Kyle as a means of accurately portraying what it is like for a young Jew to have to endure prejudice,<ref name="mediatrans">{{cite news|author=Robert Bolton |title=The Media Report: South Park |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=July 23, 1998 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/mstories/mr980723.htm |access-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311041603/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/mstories/mr980723.htm |archive-date=March 11, 2005}}</ref> other Jews have blamed ''South Park'' and Cartman for having found themselves surrounded by "acceptable racism".<ref name="margolis">{{cite news | author = David Margolis | title = Anti-Semitism in the playground | newspaper = independent.co.uk | date = February 1, 1999 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/antisemitism-in-the-playground-1067983.html | access-date = May 9, 2009 | archive-date = February 4, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150204040005/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/antisemitism-in-the-playground-1067983.html | url-status = live }}</ref> On November 20, 2008, a [[Facebook]] group titled "National Kick a Ginger Day, are you going to do it?" surfaced, suggesting abuse towards [[Red hair|redheads]]. Thousands of internet users signed up as a member of the group, and reports of a feared increase of bullying of [[Red hair|red-headed]] students across Canada soon followed. The group's administrator, a 14-year-old from [[Vancouver Island]], said the group was only intended as a joke, and apologized for the offense it caused. The group was inspired by the [[South Park (season 9)|season nine]] (2005) episode "[[Ginger Kids]]", in which Cartman incites prejudice towards those with red hair, pale skin, and freckles, a group he calls "Gingers" and claims are inherently evil and without souls.<ref name="kickaginger">{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=49022ee5-66d1-46e0-a057-7707de6e140b |title=RCMP investigating Facebook group over 'Kick a Ginger' day |last=Barber |first=Mike |author2=Catherine Rolfsen |date=November 20, 2008 |publisher=Canada.com |access-date=November 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211010429/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=49022ee5-66d1-46e0-a057-7707de6e140b |archive-date=December 11, 2008}}</ref>
[[File:Supercon Retro Sunday FLOOR SHOTS - IMG 3189 (34317393572).jpg|thumb|A cosplayer as Cartman at a convention]]
Other characters commonly express lessons learned from the antagonistic actions Cartman commonly provokes; this has resulted in these characters giving their opinions on issues such as [[Hate crime laws in the United States|hate crime legislation]],<ref name="nytimesconserv">{{cite news | author = Frank Rich | title = Conservatives ♥ 'South Park' | work = The New York Times | date = May 1, 2005 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html | access-date = May 3, 2009 | archive-date = January 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150108083620/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html | url-status = live }}</ref> [[civil liberties]],<ref name="cityjournal">{{cite news| author = Brian C. Anderson| title = We're Not Losing the Culture Wars Anymore| publisher = [[Manhattan Institute]]| year = 2003| url = http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_were_not_losing.html| access-date = May 3, 2009| archive-date = January 18, 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160118080938/http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_were_not_losing.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> excessive religious devotion,<ref name="philo5">Arp, pp. 40–54</ref> the [[stem cell controversy]],<ref name="lear"/> [[anabolic steroid]] use,<ref name="steroids">{{cite news|author=David Kuhn |title=Steroids sour fun of Olympics |work=[[The Daily Pennsylvanian]] |date=July 22, 2004 |url=http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2004/07/22/Sports/David.Kuhn.Steroids.Sour.Fun.Of.Olympics-2151098.shtml |access-date=May 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104232914/http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2004/07/22/Sports/David.Kuhn.Steroids.Sour.Fun.Of.Olympics-2151098.shtml |archive-date=November 4, 2008}}</ref> the "[[right to die]]" debate,<ref name="loudlewd">{{cite news | author = Frazier Moore | title = Loud and lewd but sweet underneath | work = [[The Age]] | date = December 14, 2006 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/loud-and-lewd-but-sweet-underneath/2006/12/13/1165685687176.html?page=2 | access-date = May 9, 2009 | archive-date = May 11, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511220852/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/loud-and-lewd-but-sweet-underneath/2006/12/13/1165685687176.html?page=2 | url-status = live }}</ref> and [[prejudice]].<ref name="islam"/> In the [[South Park (season 10)|season 10]] (2006) episode "[[Cartoon Wars Part II]]", Cartman, planning to exploit the public's fear of [[terrorism]], seeks to get the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television series ''[[Family Guy]]'', a program he despises, permanently removed from the airwaves when Fox plans to air an episode despite its inclusion of a cartoon likeness of [[Muhammad]]. This leads Kyle to give a short speech about the ethics of [[censorship]],<ref name="growsup1">{{cite magazine|author=Jaime J. Weinman |title=South Park grows up |magazine=Maclean's |date=March 12, 2008 |url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131&page=1 |access-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719082617/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131&page=1 |archive-date=July 19, 2009}}</ref> which reiterates Parker and Stone's sentiments of "Either it's all okay, or none of it is" in regards to whether any subject should remain off-limits to satire.<ref name="bbcnews">{{cite news| author = Thomas H. Maugh II| title = South Park duo criticise network| work = BBC News| date = April 14, 2006| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4909820.stm| access-date = May 3, 2009| archive-date = April 17, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100417131113/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4909820.stm| url-status = live}}</ref> Both Cartman's commentary and the commentary resulting in response to his actions have been interpreted as statements Parker and Stone are attempting to make to the viewing public, and these opinions have been subject to much critical analysis in the media and literary world.<ref name="seriously">Fallows and Weinstock, p. 165</ref>

The book ''[[South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today]]'' includes an essay in which Johnson uses Cartman's actions and behavior as examples when discussing the [[Problem of evil|logical problem of moral evil]],<ref name="blackwell">[http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/book.asp?ref=9781405161602&site=1 South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901034507/http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/book.asp?ref=9781405161602&site=1 |date=September 1, 2007}}, Blackwell Publishing, ''Series: The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series'', Retrieved January 21, 2008</ref> and another essay by [[College of Staten Island]] professor Mark D. White cited the [[South Park (season 2)|season two]] (1998) episode "[[Chickenlover]]", in which Cartman is temporarily granted law enforcement powers, in its discussion regarding the [[The Concept of Law#Austin's "Command theory"|command theory of law]] and what obligates a citizen to obey the law.<ref name="blackwell"/> Essays in the books ''[[South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating]]'', ''Blame Canada! South Park and Contemporary Culture'', and ''Taking South Park Seriously'' have also analyzed Cartman's perspectives within the framework of popular philosophical, theological, political, and social concepts.<ref name="seriously"/><ref name="blmp">{{cite book | editor-last = Hanley | editor-first = Richard | title = South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating | publisher = Open Court | date = March 8, 2007 | isbn = 978-0-8126-9613-4}}</ref><ref name="blame">{{cite book | last = Johnson-Woods | first = Toni | title = Blame Canada! South Park and Contemporary Culture | publisher = Continuum International Publishing Group | date = January 30, 2007 | isbn = 978-0-8264-1731-2 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/blamecanada00toni}}</ref> Parker and Stone downplay the show's alignment with any particular political affiliation, and deny having a political agenda when creating an episode.<ref name="mcfarland2"/><ref name="refugees">{{cite news| author = John Tierney| title = South Park Refugees| work = The New York Times| date = August 29, 2006| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E4DC113EF93AA1575BC0A9609C8B63| access-date = May 3, 2009| archive-date = May 11, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511120400/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E4DC113EF93AA1575BC0A9609C8B63| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author = Lynn Barker | title = Trey Parker and Matt Stone: The "South Park" Guys, Uncut| publisher = TeenHollywood.com |date = October 14, 2004| url= http://www.teenhollywood.com/printerversion.asp?r=81433| access-date = May 3, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In response to the focus on elements of satire in ''South Park'', Parker has said that the main goal of the show is to portray Cartman and his friends as "kids just being kids" as a means of accurately showcasing "what it's like to be in [elementary school] in America".<ref name="rocky">{{cite news| author = Saunders| title = At 10, 'South Park' still bites| work = [[Rocky Mountain News]]| date = July 17, 2006| url = http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23962_4848796,00.html| access-date = May 3, 2009| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070104070024/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23962_4848796%2C00.html| archive-date = January 4, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://drbmk.com/parker-and-stone-interview-at-10th-season-premiere|title=Parker and stone interview at 10th season premiere – Drugs are bad mkay- A south park fan site|access-date=December 30, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222134846/http://drbmk.com/parker-and-stone-interview-at-10th-season-premiere/|archive-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref>

===Recognition===
''[[TV Guide]]'' ranked Cartman at number 10 on their 2002 list of the "Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters",<ref name="TVGuide">{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/ |title=TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time |access-date=August 25, 2007 |date=July 30, 2002 |publisher=CNN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320230753/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/ |archive-date=March 20, 2007}}</ref> 24th on [[TV Guide]]'s "25 Greatest TV Villains", 198th on [[VH1]]'s "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons",<ref name="pop">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b1ruwF6xYNIC&q=eric+cartman&pg=PA144 | title=From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th | location=[[Kansas City, Missouri]] | publisher=[[Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC]] | year=2005 | isbn=0-7407-5118-2 | oclc=57316726 | first=David|last=Mansour}}</ref> and 19th on [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]]'s "100 Greatest TV Characters" television special in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bravoprofiles.com/The_100_Greatest_TV_Characters/index.shtml |title=The 100 Greatest TV Characters |publisher=[[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]] |access-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507184134/http://www.bravoprofiles.com/The_100_Greatest_TV_Characters/index.shtml |archive-date=May 7, 2009}}</ref> When declaring him the second-scariest character on television (behind only [[Mr. Burns]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'') in 2005, [[MSNBC]]'s Brian Bellmont described Cartman as a "bundle of pure, unadulterated evil all wrapped up in a fat—er, big-boned—cartoony package" who "takes a feral delight in his evildoing".<ref name="msnbc">{{cite news| author = Brian Bellmont| title = TV's top 10 scariest characters| work = Today.com| date = November 1, 2005| url = https://www.today.com/popculture/tv-s-top-10-scariest-characters-wbna9699636| access-date = May 9, 2009| archive-date = March 19, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220319073834/https://www.today.com/popculture/tv-s-top-10-scariest-characters-wbna9699636| url-status = live}}</ref> In 2014, ''[[IGN]]'' ranked Cartman first place on their list of "The Top 25 South Park Characters", commenting that he was "the obvious choice" of number one and that "sometimes the obvious choice is also the right one". The website stated that despite Cartman being "one of the worst human beings in the history of fiction&nbsp;... he's the most loathsome character we've ever loved." ''IGN'' concluded by calling him "the biggest contribution to the world of animated characters that South Park has made – and that's saying something."<ref name="IGN top">{{cite web| author1 = Ramsey Isler| author2 = Jesse Schedeen| title = The Top 25 South Park Characters| page = 5| website = IGN| date = February 28, 2014| url = https://ign.com/articles/2014/03/01/top-25-south-park-characters?page=5| access-date = March 19, 2014| archive-date = March 6, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140306032237/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/01/top-25-south-park-characters?page=5| url-status = live}}</ref> In 2020, ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' ranked Cartman as #17 of their "The 50 Best Cartoon Characters of All Time".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-50-best-cartoon-characters-of-all-time/|title=The 50 Best Cartoon Characters of All Time|date=May 10, 2010|website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=March 10, 2022|archive-date=April 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404051515/https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-50-best-cartoon-characters-of-all-time/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==In other media==
* Cartman has a major role in ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,77038,00.html|title=South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut &#124; Reviews &#124; guardian.co.uk Film|date=August 27, 1999|work=guardian.co.uk|access-date=July 24, 2009|last=Pulver|first=Andrew|archive-date=May 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528053325/http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,77038,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the full-length film based on the series, and appeared on the [[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (soundtrack)|film's soundtrack]] singing the same musical numbers performed in the movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-From-And-Inspired-By-The-Motion-Picture-South-Park-Bigger-Longer-Uncut/release/1396078|title=Various – Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut|date=December 7, 1999|publisher=www.discogs.com|access-date=July 24, 2009|archive-date=February 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214004646/http://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-From-And-Inspired-By-The-Motion-Picture-South-Park-Bigger-Longer-Uncut/release/1396078|url-status=live}}</ref> As a tribute to the [[Dead Parrot sketch]], a short that features Cartman attempting to return a dead Kenny to a shop run by Kyle aired during a 1999 BBC television special commemorating the 30th anniversary of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?sf=3&set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw939324300430R131|title=News – Pythons cut train crash from funny show|publisher=www.iol.co.za|access-date=August 1, 2009}}</ref> Cartman is also featured in the [[documentary film]] ''[[The Aristocrats (film)|The Aristocrats]]'', telling his version of the film's titular joke to Stan, Kyle, and Kenny,<ref name="aristocrats">{{cite web |title=HBO Documentary Films: The Aristocrats |url=http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/aristocrats/synopsis.html |publisher=[[HBO]] |access-date=March 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426054948/http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/aristocrats/synopsis.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in "The Gauntlet", a short spoofing both ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'' and ''[[Battlefield Earth (film)|Battlefield Earth]]'' that aired during the [[2000 MTV Movie Awards]].<ref name="ortega">{{cite news|last=Ortega|first=Tony|title=Sympathy For The Devil: Tory Bezazian was a veteran Scientologist who loved going after church critics. Until she met the darkest detractor of all.|work=[[New Times Los Angeles]]|date=September 27, 2001}}</ref><ref name="mtvshort">{{cite video | people=Trey Parker, Matt Stone|date=2000|title=The Gauntlet |medium=Television special|publisher=MTV, Comedy Central}} Short that aired during the [[2000 MTV Movie Awards]]</ref>
* Cartman is a central character in ''[[South Park: Post COVID]]'', the first television special made for [[Paramount+]]. In the special, which takes place 40 years after the events of the series, Cartman is depicted as having converted to [[Orthodox Judaism]], becoming a [[rabbi]] with a wife and three children, much to the chagrin of Kyle.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 26, 2021|title=South Park Post-Covid's take on adult Cartman has fans in utter shock|url=https://www.thefocus.news/tv/south-park-adult-cartman/|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=The Focus|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129131557/https://www.thefocus.news/tv/south-park-adult-cartman/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Cartman returns in the follow-up special ''[[South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID]]''. In it, Cartman has thoroughly convinced his family that Kyle is out to break them apart on the grounds of being anti-Jewish (in reality, Kyle intends to go back in time to try and alter the events of the COVID outbreak and Cartman is concerned that this will cost him his family). In retaliation, Cartman organizes a rebellion group consisting of Butters, Clyde and Scott Malkinson with the sole purpose of going back in time and killing him. After a brief altercation with Kyle himself, Cartman changes his mind about the plan and kills an adult Clyde in the past, who volunteered to attempt to kill Kyle, allowing Stan and Kyle to help their younger selves save their friendship before the pandemic kicked off. In the now-altered future, Cartman is shown to be alcoholic, homeless, and bitter.<ref>https://amp/s/www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/south-park-fans-struggling-cartman-future-1235064319/amp/{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
* For their 2007 [[Snakes & Arrows]] tour, the rock band [[Rush (band)|Rush]] commissioned a short, video introduction for the song "[[Tom Sawyer (song)|Tom Sawyer]]". Cartman, dressed in a long wig to look like singer [[Geddy Lee]], sings his own, personal, version of the song's lyrics prompting the usual outrage from Kyle. The video can be seen on the band's ''Snakes & Arrows'' concert video.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G5ZKZS|title=Amazon.com: RUSH: Snakes & Arrows Live: RUSH: Movies & TV|website=Amazon|date=November 24, 2008|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210222112/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G5ZKZS|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In [[2001–02 NHL season|2002]], Cartman became the main protagonist of a series of promotional videos for the [[Los Angeles Kings]] of the [[NHL]], which are played on the big-screen TVs inside of [[Staples Center]] where the character ridicules the mascots of rival teams and reacts to various aspects of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/news/2002/may|title=May 2002 Press Releases|date=May 29, 2002|publisher=South Park Studios|access-date=January 15, 2010|last=Riess|first=Breayle|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508104949/http://www.southparkstudios.com/news/2002/may|archive-date=May 8, 2011}}</ref>
* Short clips of Cartman introducing the starting lineup for the [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]] football team were featured during [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s coverage of the 2007 match-up between Colorado and [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]].<ref name="cubuffs">{{cite web|url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=1325618|title=Colorado Beats Huskers to Become Bowl Eligible|date=November 23, 2007|publisher=University of Colorado|access-date=January 17, 2010|archive-date=May 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510224023/http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=1325618|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2008, Parker, as Cartman, gave answers to a [[Proust Questionnaire]] conducted by [[List of National Public Radio personnel|Julie Rovner]] of [[NPR]].<ref name="NPR"/>
* Parker performs as Cartman on tracks for ''[[Chef Aid: The South Park Album]]'' and ''[[Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/01/08/psycho-music-and-inspired-motion-picture/|title=Shower Hooks|date=January 8, 1999|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=July 24, 2009|last=Browne|first=David|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217154324/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273973,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/H/Hayes_Isaac/1998/11/27/745908.html|title="Chef" hayes cooks crazy stew|publisher=jam.canoe.ca|access-date=July 24, 2009|last=Nazareth|first=Errol|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120916043148/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/H/Hayes_Isaac/1998/11/27/745908.html|archive-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/music/various-artists/|title=Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics|date=December 23, 1999|website=[[Phoenix New Times]]|access-date=July 24, 2009|last=Moorhead|first=M.V.|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511175421/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/music/various-artists/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cartman also appears in six ''South Park''-related video games: In ''[[South Park (video game)|South Park]]'', Cartman is controlled by the player through the [[first-person shooter]] mode who attempts to ward off enemies from terrorizing the town of South Park.<ref>{{cite web |first=Christopher Michael |last=Baker |title=South Park – Overview |url=http://allgame.com/game.php?id=19249 |work=[[Allgame]] |access-date=July 16, 2009 |archive-date=December 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210201415/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19249 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In ''[[South Park: Chef's Luv Shack]]'', a user has the option of playing as Cartman when participating in the game's several "minigames" based on other popular arcade games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=2100 |title=Review: South Park: Chef's Luv Shack |publisher=ComputerAndVideoGames.com |access-date=July 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070330000425/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=2100 |archive-date=March 30, 2007}}</ref> In the racing game ''[[South Park Rally]]'', a user can race as Cartman against other users playing as other characters, while choosing to place him in any of a variety of vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.dreamcast.ign.com/articles/133/133474p1.html|title=South Park Rally Preview|website=IGN|access-date=July 19, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713004750/http://uk.dreamcast.ign.com/articles/133/133474p1.html|archive-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref> In ''[[South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!]]'', Cartman can be selected as a playable character used to establish a [[tower defense]] against the game's antagonists.<ref name="igntower">{{cite web|url=http://uk.xboxlive.ign.com/articles/103/1031444p1.html|title=South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play Review|last=Brudvig|first=Erik|date=October 6, 2009|work=IGN |access-date=October 10, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010182058/http://uk.xboxlive.ign.com/articles/103/1031444p1.html|archive-date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> In ''[[South Park: The Stick of Truth]]'', Cartman is the leader of one of two tribes in South Park, at war over the Stick of Truth.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Dave |url=https://www.vg247.com/2014/03/04/south-park-the-stick-of-truth-is-the-funniest-episode-in-years/ |title=South Park: The Stick of Truth is the funniest episode in years |website=[[VG247]] |date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=January 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909011327/http://www.vg247.com/2014/03/04/south-park-the-stick-of-truth-is-the-funniest-episode-in-years/ |archive-date=September 9, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He plays a similar role in this game's superhero themed sequel, ''[[South Park: The Fractured but Whole]]'', where he leads the Coon & Friends team.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Thomsen |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/10/23/south-park-the-fractured-but-whole-is-a-game-thats-too-eager-to-laugh-at-cruelty/ |title='South Park: The Fractured but Whole' is a game that's too eager to laugh at cruelty |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 23, 2017 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108185939/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/10/23/south-park-the-fractured-but-whole-is-a-game-thats-too-eager-to-laugh-at-cruelty/ |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|United States|Colorado|Television|Animation|Comedy}}
* [[South Park (Park County, Colorado)]]
* [[South Park City]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | editor-last = Arp | editor-first = Robert | editor-last2= Jacoby |editor-first2=Henry |editor-last3=Johnson |editor-first3=David Kyle |display-authors=etal | title = South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today | publisher = Blackwell Publishing (The Blackwell Philosophy & Pop Culture Series) | year = 2006 | isbn = 978-1-4051-6160-2}}
* {{cite book | editor-last = Weinstock | editor-first = Jeffrey Andrew |last=Fallows |first=Randall |chapter= South Park Heretics | title = Taking South Park Seriously | publisher = [[State University of New York Press]] | year = 2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H7OEFij0QkgC | isbn = 978-0-7914-7566-9}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=October 1, 2021|Eric Cartman.ogg}}
* [https://southpark.cc.com/wiki/Eric_Cartman Eric Cartman] at South Park Studios

{{South Park}}
{{Trey Parker and Matt Stone}}
{{Good article}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cartman, Eric}}
[[Category:American male characters in television]]
[[Category:Animated characters introduced in 1992]]
[[Category:Culture of the United States]]
[[Category:Animated human characters]]
[[Category:Fiction about antisemitism]]
[[Category:Child characters in animated films]]
[[Category:Child characters in animated television series]]
[[Category:Comedy film characters]]
[[Category:Fiction about racism]]
[[Category:Fictional American criminals]]
[[Category:Fictional Catholics]]
[[Category:Fictional characters based on real people]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from Colorado]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with alter egos]]
[[Category:Fictional con artists]]
[[Category:Fictional criminals in television]]
[[Category:Fictional mass murderers]]
[[Category:Fictional patricides]]
[[Category:Fictional school bullies]]
[[Category:Fictional vigilantes]]
[[Category:Fictional victims of child sexual abuse]]
[[Category:Fictional white nationalists]]
[[Category:Male characters in animated television series]]
[[Category:South Park characters]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1992]]
[[Category:Villains in animated television series]]
[[Category:Male film villains]]
[[Category:Fictional homeless people]]
[[Category:Fictional attempted suicides]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1999]]