Editing Stan Marsh (section)

===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>