- For other uses, see Pip (disambiguation).
Philip "Pip" Pirrip was an often mistreated, awkward English exchange student, who was heavily based on the protagonist with the same name from the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations. He was voiced by Matt Stone. He was a major character in the early seasons, but ultimately in "201", he was crushed to death by Mecha-Streisand, while trying to convince her to leave South Park alone.
Background
Pip told the others in "Summer Sucks" that his parents were dead. However, in the previous season, during the episode "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo", he was seen caroling along with a British-looking family. It is assumed by fans that this family adopted him, or were instead some of his other close relatives. It could be possible he has parents in "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" because at an adult party, he is sent down to the basement with a few other children: Stan, Butters, and Dougie, whose parents had nowhere to take their children, and it was assumed that it is the same situation for Pip. However, he may have been there with the foster family mentioned above.
Before coming to South Park, he attended Stratfordshire Primary in Stratford, England (though in the episode "Pip," it was shown that he was briefly educated in London), and excelled in archery.
Role
During the first three seasons, Pip was a very prominent character, and usually served as the "tortured guinea pig" of the kids, being bullied mercilessly. However, his role diminished dramatically after Butters' introduction, as Butters claimed more and more of the parts for his own character. After his own episode during the fourth season, Pip was rarely seen afterward, usually in class or playing with other boys, implying that since his character-decline, he had gained more acceptance in school. He made one last speaking appearance in "Professor Chaos", being among the final six of the boys' potential friends. Ironically, the last lines they speak to him are "Pip, get the fudge out!"
In some episodes, such as "Follow That Egg!" Pip was missing entirely, and he disappeared permanently midway through "D-Yikes!", his seat being empty for the remainder of the episode. No mention or reason for his disappearance was shown, although it may have had something to do with the brief war between America and Britain in "The Snuke". He did not appear on the ranked list of boys in "The List", although nor did Bill Allen, Terrance Mephesto, Fosse McDonald, or DogPoo Petuski.
His removal from the show is likely due to Matt and Trey mentioning during the commentary for "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" that they consider Butters "a better character" and Pip's final appearances coincide with Butters' growth, and in addition, Pip's role as "tortured guinea pig" was very similar to what Butters has assumed. Although their opinions can be contradicted considering the means of "torture" of which the two were dealt are very different. Pip received lots of physical and verbal abuse, as opposed to Butters who wasn't so much as abused but manipulated and cruelly taken advantage of. And on occasion, Butters is accepted into the boys group, whereas Pip was outcasted. However even Butters' role has been surmised slightly, with Scott Malkinson later being considered the least popular kid in school, although Butters remains a major character while Scott has only made a few significant appearances.
Criminal Record
- Underage Drug Use: Sniffs a bowl of marijauna that Mr. Mackey gives the children to pass around in "Ike's Wee Wee".
- Murder by proxy: In "Pip", near the end of the episode, Pip unhooks Estella from the Genesis Machine, resulting in the death of Ms. Havisham.
Death
Pip finally made a brief reappearance in "201", his second speaking appearance in eight years, where he politely asked Mecha-Streisand to stop destroying the town (coming back while other townspeople ran away), but she merely moved forward and stepped on him as he ran, leaving his bloodied remains behind. His death was not addressed by the other characters. When asked if he was really dead, the South Park Studios FAQ replied, "he looked pretty dead to me." However, when asked if he had died for good in another question, it was replied, "it's too early to tell now, but we'll just have to see about Pip." Considering Kenny has died on numerous occasions and is okay in the next episode, this could mean Pip will make a return at some point in the future.
Appearance
Pip wears an old-fashioned, brown gatsby cap (nowadays known as a 'newsboy' cap), a brown bow-tie, an old-fashioned red smoking jacket, a white shirt, and blue and violet trousers. He has blond hair. His head is shaped subtly differently from the other children in that his jaw section is more angular than the other children's, and his body is slightly smaller. However, he is occasionally seen with a more "normal" appearance. After his titular episode, Pip was cleaned up slightly, with a fringe of hair sticking out under his cap on the top left.
- To see images of Pip Pirrip, visit Pip Pirrip/Gallery.
Personality
He is generally portrayed as a cheerful, laid-back character, who may be constantly knocked down, but always got right back up again. The only time he ever seemed to act against this description is in the episode "Conjoined Fetus Lady". In the episode, the main characters continually called him "French", despite the fact that he hated French people. Whenever they insulted him in this way, he would pick up the dodge ball and throw it at whoever was saying it, at times with inhuman strength and precision, including taking out an entire steroid-juiced Chinese dodge ball team with a single throw. He would usually apologize a moment later and revert to his old self.
He was not generally foul-mouthed, but he had uttered a few swear words in two episodes, Worst of all, "Pip", in which he used the word "bitch" and also briefly in "Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000" - both times saying "arse". He also is seen singing "Uncle Fucka" in the film with his classmates.
Pip was very friendly with the other students at South Park Elementary, but they did not return the favor.
Relationships
The Boys
In the first three seasons, the main boys taunted him, saying nasty things about him and performing horrible activities with him - in "Hooked on Monkey Fonics" Stan makes him request that they hit him, claiming he won't, only to do so anyway, per example.
Damien Thorn
In the Season One episode, "Damien", he briefly befriended Damien Thorn, though this friendship also seemed to be one-sided. This became even more apparent when, at Cartman's birthday party, Damien and Pip crashed at the party, and Damien then set Pip on fire so that he would gain popularity amongst the other kids. Pip was never seen with Damien again after that.
In the Season Four episode, "Pip", a spoof of the novel: Great Expectations, Pip befriended a boy named "Pocket" (a character based on Herbert Pocket, from the original novel) who later died of Hepatitis B.
Estella Havisham
Pip also had a romance with Estella Havisham (another character reference), though this relationship was also one-sided until the end of the episode.
Butters Stotch and Dougie
Pip seemed to have been friends with Butters and Dougie, as they were seen playing together and getting along very well in the Season Three episode, "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub". However, Butters can be seen punching Pip in "Weight Gain 4000".
Other Children
Pip can be seen talking to Timmy, Jimmy, and Kevin Stoley in "South Park is Gay!".
Lizzy
Pip was seen at the school dance with Lizzy in "Hooked on Monkey Fonics" and they didn't seem to mind each other's presence.
Chef
Despite being nice to the school children, Chef doesn't seem to care for Pip. In "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride", when the kids are about to play football, Pip is the only one on the team without a helmet. Chef tells him that the school can't afford helmets for everybody, so he advises him to just cope with it. Acknowledging this, Pip politely tries negotiating with him to rotate who doesn't get to wear a helmet each week, but Chef declines his request. Expressing no concern for his well-being, Chef advises him to bear through it and "get his ass" in the football field.
Despite his distaste for Pip, Chef showed a lot of appreciation for him after he saw how good he was at dodgeball in "Conjoined Fetus Lady" and encouraged him to keep up the good work in order to make the South Park Cows team world champions. This didn't last long, as once Pip knocks out the final team of players, Chef realizes that his obsession with dodgeball went too far and thus feels regretful for forcing the children into it. As a result, he doesn't bother congratulating Pip after he cheerfully exclaims that he won the game. He instead tells him to shut up as he walks out and goes home with the children.
Quotes
- Pip: "Hello, my name is Philip, but everyone calls me Pip, because they hate me."
Damien: "Then I will call you Pip."
Pip: "Righto." from "Damien". - Pip: "Not so fast you ugly ancient bitch!" from "Pip".
Trivia
- Although disliked in the show, Pip has been very popular with many fans since the series began.
- Outside of the show, Pip is featured in 3 South Park video games, South Park, South Park Rally, and South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!, as an unlockable character in each.
- Pip is likely left-handed.
- Matt and Trey compare Pip's role in the series to Butters Stotch's, proclaiming in the audio mini-commentary for "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" that Butters is "a better character than Pip."
- Before an episode featuring his death, Pip has had a speaking role in 15 episodes.
Prominence
- "The Unaired Pilot" - Pip hits his head and is later seen neglected in the nurse's office.
- "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" - Pip is set on fire by Cartman's flaming fart.
- "Weight Gain 4000" - Seen beaten up by Butters Stotch.
- "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" - Pip is the only football player without a helmet, despite his constant pleas to Chef. He fills in for Stan during the homecoming game and is beaten up by the Middle Park team.
- "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig" - The boys make fun of him in the lunch room in a scene recycled from the pilot.
- "Pinkeye" - Pip is one of the many South Park residents that turns into a zombie.
- "Damien" - Pip befriends Damien and is set on fire by Damien at Cartman's party to entertain everyone. This is one of the first episodes where he is seen a lot more than a crowd character.
- "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" - Appears visiting a mall Santa and later singing Christmas carols with his presumed adoptive family.
- "Mecha-Streisand" - Cartman Roshambo's him for an arrow head he found but gives it back to him.
- "Chickenlover"- Seen standing outside of the bookmobile with the rest of the class , in the classroom, and at the petting zoo.
- "Ike's Wee Wee" - Pip is the first in class who smokes a marijuana.
- "Conjoined Fetus Lady" - Pip becomes the star player of the school dodgeball team, and singlehandedly wins the world championship. First time he gets angry.
- "Summer Sucks" - He tells Mr. Garrison that he can't go home because his parents are dead, later appears in the school band.
- "Gnomes" - Pip is in a group with Wendy, Bebe, Token, and Clyde.
- "Clubhouses" - Briefly seen on the school playground.
- "Merry Christmas Charlie Manson!" - Briefly seen in the mall without his hat beating up the police with the other kids
- "Rainforest Shmainforest" - Pip yawns when Mrs. Stevens explains why it is necessary to save the rainforest.
- "Jakovasaurs" - Jakov's and Jun-Jun's offspring jump on Pip's desk.
- "Sexual Harassment Panda" - Pip sues Cartman for 1.6 million dollars for Cartman telling him to "suck his...you-know-what"
- "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" - Pip spends the night at a meteor shower party with Butters Stotch, Dougie and Stan. He is revealed to be an archery esquire at Stratfordshire Primary.
- "Chinpokomon" - Seen at Chinpokomon camp.
- "Hooked on Monkey Fonics" - Stan plays a game with him in which Pip is repeatedly hit. He is later seen dancing at the disco, and is kissed by Rebecca Cotswolds.
- "Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000" - Cartman knocks him out with a rock, then asks if British people count as an ethnic minority.
- "Pip" - Pip is the main character in the retelling of Charles Dickens' novel, Great Expectations.
- "Do the Handicapped Go to Hell?" - Pip is one of the students in the Sunday-school class.
- "The Wacky Molestation Adventure" - Pip is one of the kids that attacks the kindergarteners after they cross the white line.
- "Proper Condom Use" - Pip is part of the boys' army near the end of the episode. He has a black mohawk.
- "Butters' Very Own Episode" - Pip can be seen in different Butters-related snippets, most notably those from "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub."
- "Fun with Veal" - He can be seen at the back while on the field trip.
- "Professor Chaos" - Pip is one of the potential replacement friends. He is eliminated after asking for tea and crumpets at a baseball game. This was his last speaking appearance until the fourteenth season.
- "Bebe's Boobs Destroy Society" - Pip holds cellotape for the "Bebe For Class President" poster and is seen regularly as one of the 'ape-men'
- "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers" Pip plays an elf from Lord Of The Rings, though he does not speak.
- "I'm a Little Bit Country" - Pip is in a group with Craig, Tweek, Bradley and Francis.
- "Lil' Crime Stoppers" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class.
- "Butt Out" - Seen running out of the school.
- "Raisins"- Briefly seen on the playground and in the locker room at school.
- "South Park is Gay!" - Pip is seen as one of the metrosexuals at school, though he does not speak.
- "AWESOM-O" (cameo)
- "The Jeffersons" - Seen at the Jefferson's house jumping on the trampoline.
- "Douche and Turd" - Pip is seen voting for Turd Sandwich.
- "Woodland Critter Christmas" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class.
- "Wing" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class.
- "Best Friends Forever" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class, looking along with other classmates on Kenny playing his new PSP.
- "Erection Day" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class, and briefly (but not easily) seen in the audience in Jimmy's nightmare.
- "Marjorine"- Seen in Mr. Garrison's class.
- "Mystery of the Urinal Deuce" - Pip, along with Timmy, Bill and Terrance are seen in the audience when Mr. Mackey is giving his speech, though he does not speak.
- "Go God Go" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class.
- "Cartman Sucks" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class when Cartman shows the photo to the shock of everyone.
- "The Snuke" - Seen in the background of Mr. Garrison's class.
- "D-Yikes!" - Penultimate appearance, disappears midway through the episode.
- "201" - His final appearance. He confronts Mecha-Streisand, who steps on him, crushing and killing him.
Video Games
South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!
In the video game South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play! Pip reappeared for the first time since being written out of the show. When the level "South Park Docks" is complete, the Japanese Video Game Voice announces "You have unlocked... Pip", Pip greets the boys, who immediately react with groans of anger. Pip begins to explain he knows who is behind the game's events but the kids quiet him insisting they're not hanging out with him and tell him to go away, proclaiming "It'll be a cold day in hell before we need help from Europeans." According to his character biography, his special ability is "French rage", but his secret ability involves him singing "The Merrie Tune of Stratford" and then running - anything he touches will take damage or die. Aside his special ability, Pip plays identically to Kenny McCormick, Craig Tucker, and Professor Chaos, dealing a lot of damage with snowballs and having great range but being extremely slow.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Pip's picture is seen on the "Wall of Honor" along with deceased faculty members (excluding Mr. Mackey and Ms. Claridge who were featured, but not deceased) and Gordon Stoltski.
References
Template:South Park children