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Quite an odd question, I'm sure but it's this - what makes South Park 'South Park' to you?

As a (retired) fanfic writer, a big thing with me used to be trying my best to emulate the actual show itself - which I did a pretty 50/50 job at I like to think - but there was always this question of what elements are truly necessary to get that South Park feeling?

Obviously, one of the core elements is satire. This one's the no-brainer - even many early South Park episodes included some simple satirical humor, like "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" and "Starvin Marvin". Now, true, not every episode includes it, but it's what makes the show famous.

What do you guys see as some other necessary elements of the show's style?

The way they'll put their own little twist on language for an episode or two. Everyone says, "The fuck?" instead of "What the fuck?"
"Jesus tap-dancing Christ."
"Oh, that's so tits!"
"Aw... awwww!"

And Cartmanisms like "authori-tah" and "Kmy-isle".

Wish we still got most of those in episodes :/

Insanity. Almost everyone in the show is just batshit crazy, or at least have their moments of pure insanity.

The way it can be really clever and really stupid at the same time

The kids in the show go through crazier sh*t than most kids do in America. Their parents (dads most of the time) are clueless about what's right in front of them. The fact that you see all sorts of things go on that in real life would really mess a person up. Someone is killed is some stupid way every few episodes. But at the end of the day we still get some sweet moments of the boys being boys. Being kids and want nothing but to be at home with their video games and toys and parents. It makes those rare moments all the more heartwarming.

Several things:

- The puppet show feel. The fact that it's just two guys doing all the voices is crucial. One character sounds like all the others.

- The poor animation and, more broadly, an emphasis on substance over style. What seems like a kids show on the surface actually has adult appeal...that's the whole game.

- The satire.

- The distinction between adults (stupid) and children (smart)...it's the basis for much of the humor

- Absurdity...the whacky, ridiculous sh*t in the show (some of which comes from Monty Python).

I know what you mean, 16th season and not one episode that wasn't entertaining.
Sure some are better then others but, there was never a bad one.

-As mentioned before, that the parents are dumb and absolutely batsh*t crazy and the children are mostly by good mental health (except cartman).

-Controversies thrown into your face.
I love it when they point out controversy, in nature/humanity.

-Mocking/tributing/making fun of other motion pictures

-The moment where you think "He isn't actually going to do this." (like the sarcastaball moment with butters creamy goo and cartman)

-Showing the unexpected

-It often thematises current events

-It doesn't take itself seriously
(in my opinion if that isn't given, then it is not funny)

South Park is awesome and learned me some valuable life lessons, like when do i have to take myself seriously and when i don't. I can't be insulted anymore by some dumb sh*t, most people would care about.

Yes, the choppy animation is a plus too! I love how it has gotten more detailed as the years went by yet the characters still look like they did in season 1 pretty much. I love how they can create such nice details in the background and blend it in with the crappy animation of everything else. Plus it's a show that doesn't rely on 'guest stars' doing the voices of the characters. Everything is said and done pretty much in the same spot, the same studio. In 6 days. Always amazes me.

Crude animation. Irreverent sense of humor. Being very clever and stupid at the same time. Most of all, celebrities getting skewered!!