Eric Cartman

Eric Theodore Cartman, often referred to just by his surname, is a main character in the animated television series South Park, created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and voiced by Parker. He is one of the series' four central characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick. Cartman first appeared, originally in prototypical form in a 1992 animated short Jesus vs. Frosty, and a 1995 animated short Jesus vs. Santa, and first appeared on television in the pilot episode of South Park, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", on August 13, 1997.

Cartman is an elementary school student who lives with his mother in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado, where he routinely has extraordinary experiences atypical of a small town. Cartman has been portrayed as aggressive, savage, prejudiced, arrogant and narcissistic since his character's inception; Stone and Parker describe the character as "a little Archie Bunker". In later seasons, particularly after the events of "Scott Tenorman Must Die", Cartman begins to exhibit extremely psychopathic, sociopathic and manipulative behavior, and is also depicted as highly intelligent, able to execute morally appalling plans and business ideas with success, but most of his plans usually end up in failure and humiliation due to someone (usually either Stan or Kyle, or both) or something (e.g. a myrrh record award in "Christian Rock Hard") that ruins his schemes.

Cartman is considered to be the most popular and famous character on South Park. Parker and Stone state 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 politically incorrect behavior. Prominent publications and television channels have included Cartman on their lists as one of the most iconic television and cartoon characters of all time.