![]() | This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. (April 2017) |
Mr. Garrison | |
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South Park character | |
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First appearance | "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" (1997) |
Created by | Trey Parker Matt Stone |
Designed by | Trey Parker Matt Stone |
Voiced by | Trey Parker |
In-universe information | |
Full name | Herbert Garrison |
Aliases | Janet Garrison Ethan P. Garrison Mr. Hammerhead The President[1] |
Gender | Male (seasons 1–8; 12–present) Female (seasons 9–12) |
Title | Mr. (seasons 1–8, 12–19, 24–present) Mrs. (seasons 9–12) President (seasons 20–24)[2] |
Occupation | School teacher President of the United States (seasons 20–24)[2] |
Family | Mr. Garrison Senior (father) Mrs. Garrison Senior (mother) |
Significant others | Mr. Slave (ex-boyfriend) Richard Dawkins (ex-boyfriend) Allison (ex-girlfriend) Rick (current boyfriend) |
Religion | Roman Catholic Atheist (formerly) |
Home |
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Mr. Herbert Garrison is a fictional character and occasional antagonist featured in the American animated television series South Park, created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker (who also voices the character). Garrison first appeared in South Park's pilot episode, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", which aired on August 13, 1997.
Garrison is primarily employed as a teacher at South Park Elementary, originally of the main characters' third grade class,[3] and currently, their fourth-grade class.[4] In the earlier seasons, Garrison uses a hand puppet named Mr. Hat as a teaching resource; the puppet occasionally shows signs of sentience and has been suggested to be a manifestation of Garrison's own latent homosexual feelings. Mr. Hat was largely retired by the sixth season.[3] Garrison was partially inspired by Parker's kindergarten teacher, who also used a puppet named Mr. Hat,[5] as well as a British literature professor Parker had at the University of Colorado.[6] Garrison is characterized as particularly cynical, especially in comparison with the other adults in South Park, and he is one of the few characters on South Park to have broken the fourth wall.[7]
In the ninth season premiere, "Mr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina", Garrison comes out as a trans woman, undergoes a sex change operation and renames herself Janet Garrison.[8] In the twelfth season episode "Eek, a Penis!", a disillusioned Garrison undergoes another sex change operation to detransition.[9] During the twentieth season, Garrison is elected President of the United States and serves in the role until the twenty–fourth season. He is never referred to by name during this period, and is exclusively referred to as "the President".[1][4]
Parker has stated that Garrison has become one of the most complex characters on South Park, particularly due to his relationship with Mr. Hat and his sexuality and gender issues. He describes Garrison as "the soap opera element to the whole series. [He] has a real story going on."[6]