Pip Pirrup

Phillip "Pip" Pirrup was a South Park character, an often mistreated, awkward British exchange student, who was heavily based on the protagonist with the same name from the Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations", as well as Dickens himself. He was a major character in early seasons, but ultimately in 201, he was crushed to death by Mecha-Streisand while trying to convince her to leave South Park alone. Many people questioned the South Park Studios FAQ, which has left open the possibility of his return. He was voiced by Matt Stone.

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 and his body is slightly smaller, although he is occasionally seen normal. After his titular episode, Pip was cleaned up slightly, with a fringe of hair sticking out under his cap on the top left.

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 (A stereotypical British trait). 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 dodgeball 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. In the first three seasons, the main boys were forever taunting him, saying nasty things about him and performing horrible activities with him - in "Hooked on Monkey Phonics" Stan makes him request that they hit him, claiming he won't, only to do so anyway, per example: In the episode, "Damien", he briefly befriended Damien, though this friendship also seemed to be one-sided (Pip: Hello, my name is Phillip, but everyone calls me Pip, because they hate me. Damien: Then I shall call you Pip. Pip: Righto.). 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 never hung out with Damien again after that. (Given, Damien wasn't featured as a speaking character in an episode since then.)

In the 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. He also had a romance with Estella Havisham (another character reference), though this relationship was also one-sided until the end of the episode.

Pip may have been friends with Butters and Dougie, as they were seen playing together (and getting along very well) in the episode "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub." He can also be seen talking to Timmy, Jimmy and Kevin Stoley in South Park is Gay!.

Background[]

In keeping up with the character from "Great Expectations", Pip told the others in the episode, "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. If this is true then it could mean Skeeter and Rebecca could be related to him. 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 no where 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. This is probably because no English orphanage would take him after his parents died, until someone from South Park took him in.

Role[]

During the first three seasons, Pip was a very prominent character, and usually served as the "tortured guinea pig" of the kids, being usually bullied mercilessly. 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, Terrance and Fosse, the boys who call things gay in several episodes or Dog Poo. He returned on the South Park video game: South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play. He knows who is behind the evil forces being unleashed on South Park, but the boys ignore him, exclaiming that "it'll be a cold day in Hell before we need help from Europeans!"

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 that Butters has assumed. However even Butters' role has been surmised slightly, with Scott Malkinson later being considered the least popular kid in school.

Death[]

Pip finally made a brief reappearance in 201, his second speaking appearance in ten years, where he politely asked Mecha Streisand to stop destroying town (coming back while other townspeople ran away), but she merely stepped on him, leaving his remains behind. His death was not addressed by the other characters. Some fans speculate Pip may return, and there have been many inquiries to the SouthParkStudios.com FAQ on the issue. When asked if he was really dead, the FAQ replied that "he looked pretty dead to me." but when asked on who 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."

Some fans hold out hope, and there is a Facebook group set up for his return.

Major Appearances[]

"Unaired Pilot" - Pip talks to the four main boys in the cafeteria (a scene which is later moved to "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig".) When dared to go down the slide, Pip hits his head on the slide post and is later seen neglected in the nurse's office. He also ends the episode with the line "God bless us, everyone." another Dickens reference.
"Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" - Pip is set on fire by Cartman's flaming fart.
"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
"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. Garrsion that he can't go home because his parents are dead, later appears in the school band
"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.
"Hooked on Monkey Phonics" - 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 a ethnic minority.
"Pip" - Pip is the main character in the retelling of Charles Dickens' novel, Great Expectations.
"The Wacky Molestation Adventure" Pip is one of the kids that attacks the kindergardeners after they cross the white line.
"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 for several seasons.
"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.
"South Park Is Gay" Pip is seen as one of the metrosexuals at school.
"Mystery of the Urinal Deuce" Pip, along with Timmy, Bill and Terrance are seen in the audience when Mr. Mackey is giving his speech.
"201" - His final appearance, he confronts Mecha-Striesand and asks her if she wouldn't mind not destroying the town. She steps on him.

Trivia[]

Outside of the show, Pip is featured in 3 South Park video games, "South Park", "South Park Rally", and "South Park Lets Go Tower Defense Play" as an unlockable character in each.
In South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play after the Japanese announcer says "leburu compreeto!" he says "You have unlocked... Pip." in which an image of Kyle, Eric, Stan and Kenny pissed off was shown. Although his special ability was named "French Rage" and the character biography, his real special ablity in the game was singing "The Merrie Tune of Stratford" and if any thing touches him, they will die.
Although disliked in the show, Pip turns out to be very popular with many fans.
Pip's initial (PPP) happens to be slang for Hirsuties papillaris genitalis. Whether or not this was intentional or not is unknown.