Editing Stan Marsh (section)

==Character==

===Creation and design===
[[Image:StanWithoutHat.png|thumb|left|200px|Stan's hair, which is usually hidden underneath his hat]]
An unnamed precursor to Stan first appeared in the first ''The Spirit of Christmas'' short called ''Jesus vs. Frosty'', created by Parker and Stone in 1992. 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://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_crappy_possible_method/ | access-date = April 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090329014416/http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_crappy_possible_method/ <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date = March 29, 2009}}</ref> When asked 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'', in which Stan also appeared.<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> Stan next appeared on August 13, 1997, when ''South Park'' debuted on [[Comedy Central]] with the episode "[[Cartman Gets an Anal Probe]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/south-park-turns-10/2006/09/26/1159036537807.html|title=South Park turns 10|date=September 27, 2006|publisher=theage.com.au|access-date=July 23, 2009|archive-date=November 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104015253/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/south-park-turns-10/2006/09/26/1159036537807.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the tradition of the show's [[Cutout animation|animation style]], Stan 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 only one angle, and his movements are animated in an intentionally jerky fashion.<ref name="method"/><ref name="avr"/><ref name="growsup2">{{cite news|author=Jaime J. Weinman |title=South Park grows up |publisher=Macleans.ca |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> Since the show's third episode, "[[Weight Gain 4000]]", Stan and all characters on the show have been animated with computer software, though portrayed to give the impression that the show still utilizes its original technique.<ref name="method"/>

Stan is usually depicted in winter attire consisting of a brown jacket, blue jeans, red gloves/mittens, and a red-brimmed blue [[Tuque|knit cap]] adorned with a decorative red [[pom-pom]]. When shown without a cap, Stan is styled with shaggy black hair. He shares his surname of "Marsh" with Parker's paternal step-grandfather.<ref name="abc3"/> Stan's birthday is October 19, which is also Parker's birthday.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=[[You Have 0 Friends]]|series=[[South Park]]|network=[[Comedy Central]]|air-date=April 7, 2010}}</ref>

Parker developed Stan's voice while he and Stone were in film class, where they would speak in high-pitched childish voices: they would reuse these voices when ''South Park'' debuted.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Making Fun Of Everyone On 'South Park'|url=https://www.wbur.org/npr/127210540/story.php|access-date=2021-04-06|website=WBUR|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=2021-04-06|archive-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627175917/https://southpark.cc.com/seasons/south-park|url-status=live}}</ref> While originally voicing Stan without any computer manipulation, Parker now speaks within his normal vocal range while adding a childlike inflection. The recorded audio is then edited with [[Pro Tools]], and the pitch is altered to make the voice sound more like that of a fourth grader.<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 | 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 | url-status = dead }}</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>

===Personality and traits===
[[File:TreyParkerHWOFApr2013.jpg|thumb|upright|Stan is modeled after his voice actor, series co-creator [[Trey Parker]].]]
Stan is foul-mouthed as a means for Parker and Stone to display how they claim young boys really talk when they are alone.<ref name="avr"/><ref name="abc4">{{cite news| author=Jake Trapper and Dan Morris| title=Secrets of 'South Park'| publisher=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> While Stan is [[Cynicism (contemporary)|cynical]] and profane, Parker still notes that there is an "underlying sweetness" to the character,<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 ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine described Stan and his friends as "sometimes cruel but with a core of innocence".<ref name="time"/> Stan is amused by bodily functions and [[toilet humor]],<ref name="time"/> and his favorite television personalities are [[Terrance and Phillip]], a Canadian duo whose comedy routines on their show-within-the-show revolve substantially around [[flatulence humor|fart jokes]].<ref>{{Cite video | people=[[Trey Parker|Parker, Trey]]|date = November 2002|title=South Park: The Complete Fifth Season: "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow"|medium= DVD|publisher=[[Paramount Pictures#Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount Home Entertainment]]}}</ref>

Stan is an avid animal lover. He is highly against his uncle Jimbo's hunting, and was also known to commit to [[vegetarianism]] after feeling compassion for baby calves in a farm. He was forced to quit vegetarianism because of a severe illness he developed, but still fights for [[animal rights]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Pagels |first=Jim |title=This Is the Ultimate Episode of South Park |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/07/09/south_park_best_episode_ever_is_douche_and_turd_video.html |website=Slate Magazine |access-date=March 7, 2022 |date=July 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = South Park: Whale Whores | url = https://www.avclub.com/south-park-whale-whores-1798207297 | first = Josh | last = Modell | date = October 29, 2009 | newspaper = [[The A.V. Club]] | publisher = [[The Onion]] | access-date = January 28, 2010 | archive-date = March 12, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220312211052/https://www.avclub.com/south-park-whale-whores-1798207297 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The only adult on the show that Stan liked was [[Chef (South Park)|Chef]]. He generally holds the rest of the show's adult population in low regard because of their tendency to behave irrationally when subjected to scams, cults, and sensationalized media stories,<ref name="philo">Arp and Jacoby, pp. 58–65</ref> and engage in hypocritical behavior.<ref name="tvamerica">{{cite news| author = Randy Fallows| title = The Theology of South Park| publisher = The Institute for the Study of American Popular Culture| date = January 2002| url = http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/tv/theology_southpark.htm| access-date = May 3, 2009| archive-date = May 13, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190513135108/http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/tv/theology_southpark.htm| url-status = live}}</ref> He doubts the legitimacy of [[alternative medicine|holistic medicine]],<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> declares cults to be dangerous,<ref>{{cite news |title=The brats take on religion |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 22, 2006 |page=49}}</ref> and regards those claiming to be psychic mediums as frauds.<ref>{{cite episode |title=[[The Biggest Douche in the Universe]] |series=South Park |credits=Trey Parker and Matt Stone |network=Comedy Central |air-date=November 27, 2002 |season=6 |number=615}}</ref>

Stan became extremely cynical after his 10th birthday and lost interest in many things that he once enjoyed. Stan's friendships with the other main characters ended, his parents divorced, and he moved out of his home. This episode formed a [[cliffhanger]] and set off widespread speculation that the series was coming to an end.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/south-park-youre-getting-old-getting-ready-to-say-goodbye/| title = 'South Park' – 'You're Getting Old': Getting ready to say goodbye?| author = Sepinwall, Alan| work = [[Uproxx]]| date = June 9, 2011}}</ref> The premiere of the second half of the episode resolved the arc, as Stan was erroneously diagnosed with [[Asperger's syndrome]], and discovers [[Jameson Irish Whiskey]] cures cynicism. After struggling to repair his life, he finally explains he does not want things to go back to normal, when his parents get back together and his life is repaired.  Although the end of the episode implies Stan may be [[Alcoholism|permanently bound to whiskey]] to continue an everyday life.<ref>{{cite episode |title=[[Ass Burgers]] |series=South Park |credits=Trey Parker and Matt Stone |network=Comedy Central |air-date=October 6, 2011 |season=15 |number=1508}}</ref>