Eric Cartman

Eric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the animated series South Park. He is one of the four central characters, all of whom are eight-year old boys.

According to creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, when they were creating South Park, they were upset that "nowadays, it would be impossible to put a character like Archie Bunker on TV." But they thought that if he was a cartoon character, it might just be allowed. Hence, Cartman was born.

Cartman is spoiled, self-centered to the point of narcissism, foul-tempered, disloyal, cowardly, racist, bullying, and openly contemptuous of the few who can stand his company.

Perhaps his family life is to blame: his mother is a hermaphroditic porn-queen (but a very sweet mom all the same), his father is probably his mother, and all of his other relatives appear to have exactly the same temperament as Eric himself.

As the chubby antihero of the four lads, he was never intended to be the hero of the series, but within the first season he captured the popular imagination more than his three friends. The more outrageous his behavior, the more audiences seem to love him. His total (yet unfounded) belief in himself and disregard for others marks him for a type of greatness: he could be President someday.