History Recap / SouthParkS3E11Chinpokomon

* ArtShift: The commercials for the toys the focus groups show the boys are filmed in live-action.
* BilingualBonus: "Chinpoko" is childish Japanese slang for "penis." "Chinpokomon" literally translates to "penis monster."

* GratuitousJapanese: Several instances throughout the episode. Notably, what's spoken is actual Japanese (which Trey Parker speaks fluently), as opposed to [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign foreign-sounding gibberish]].

** At the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' franchise and the massive fandom it amassed, which was skyrocketing in popularity at the time of the episode's airing.
** Sharon convinces Randy that Chinpokmon could be damaging to a kid's mind by comparing it to ''Battle of the Network Stars''.

--> '''Cartman:''' ''[swatting rats away from Kenny]'' Get off of him, he's not dead yet!

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of the hoopla around the anime series (which was the driving force behind the franchise's early popularity in the US) has passed due to being a LongRunner and a formulaic series unwilling to take risks or make massive changes to the Status Quo until 2019 (the main protagonist, even after going through what amounts to many years of travel, is still somehow ten-years old, and never achieved his dreams and goals until the gen VII and VIII stories which finally had a few big changes and started to shake things up) but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no signs of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]). Later ''South Park'' media, especially the two major [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth video]] [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole games]], bring back Chinpokomon in various forms to spoof newer ''Pokémon'' games and generations.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of the hoopla around the anime series (which was the driving force behind the franchise's early popularity in the US) has passed due to being a LongRunner and a formulaic series unwilling to take risks or make massive changes to the Status Quo until 2019 (the main protagonist, even after going through what amounts to many years of travel, is still somehow ten-years old, and never achieved his dreams and goals until
the gen VII and VIII stories which finally had a few big changes and started to shake things up) but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no signs of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]). Later ''South Park'' media, especially the two major [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth video]] [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole games]], bring back Chinpokomon in various forms to spoof newer ''Pokémon'' games and generations.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of the hoopla around the anime series (which was the driving force behind the franchise's early popularity in the US) has passed due to being a LongRunner and a formulaic series unwilling to take risks or make massive changes to the Status Quo (the main protagonist, even after going through what amounts to six years of travel, is still somehow ten-years old, and never achieved his dreams and goals until
the gen VII and VIII stories which '''finally''' had a few big changes and started to shake things up) but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no signs of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]). Later ''South Park'' media, especially the two major [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth video]] [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole games]], bring back Chinpokomon in various forms to spoof newer ''Pokémon'' games and generations.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of the hoopla around the anime series (which was the driving force behind the franchise's early popularity in the US) has passed due to being a LongRunner and a formulaic series unwilling to take risks or make massive changes to the Status Quo (the main protagonist, even after going through what amounts to six years of travel, is still somehow ten-years old, has never achieved his goals and dreams because the plot says so), but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no signs of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]). Later ''South Park'' media, especially the two major [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth video]] [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole games]], bring back Chinpokomon in various forms to spoof newer ''Pokémon'' games and generations.

* TheyKilledKennyAgain: Kenny dies from a seizure he gets from playing the ''Chinpokomon'' video game, though it's not entirely clear when he actually dies as he's still fully mobile (though speechless) until the end of the episode, when rats come out of his body. Stan and Kyle don't say their usual catchphrase, they just laugh.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of the hoopla around the anime series (which was the driving force behind the franchise's early popularity in the US) has passed due to being a LongRunner and a formulaic series unwilling to take risks or make massive changes to the Status Quo (the main protagonist, even after going through what amounts to six years of travel, is still somehow ten-years old), but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no signs of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]). Later ''South Park'' media, especially the two major [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth video]] [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole games]], bring back Chinpokomon in various forms to spoof newer ''Pokémon'' games and generations.

* HilariousInHindsight: The parents' befudllement over the Chimpokomon craze is this when you remember the franchise it was spoofing proved to have massive staying power. Today, the parents of South Park would likely have fond memories of watching the show and collecting the monsters themselves.

* TakeThat: At the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' franchise and the massive fandom it amassed, which was skyrocketing in popularity at the time of the episode's airing.

* TrendAesop: {{Deconstructed|Trope}}. Early on, Gerald tries to convince Kyle not to keep up with fads and assert his individuality, only for Kyle to tell him that he'll get bullied if he doesn't participate in the latest fads. Towards the end of the episode, Stan tells Kyle that they only liked Chinpokomon because of group mentality, and it's time to move on. Kyle, however, refuses to do so, since he considers quitting Chinpokomon as following the group, and wants to express his individuality by staying with the dying fad. He ultimately gives it up when Stan contradicts himself by saying following the group is good.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of the hoopla around the anime series (which was the driving force behind the franchise's early popularity in the US) has passed, but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no signs of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]). Later ''South Park'' media, especially the two major [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth video]] [[VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole games]], bring back Chinpokomon in various forms to spoof newer ''Pokémon'' games and generations.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of the hoopla around the anime series (which was the driving force behind the franchise's early popularity in the US) has passed, but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no signs of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]).

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' was extremely popular at the time this episode came out, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. As of TheNewTens, much of a hoopla around the "first generation" has passed, but ''Pokemon'' as a whole is a massive CashCowFranchise and pop culture phenomenon with no sign of going away (in fact, both ''South Park'' and ''Pokemon'' began in 1997, with the same [[LongRunner staying power]]).

* {{Animesque}}: The ''South Park'' cast gain anime faces to show their addiction to Chinpokomon. They are limited to one facial expression.

* DopeSlap: The assistant receives one after telling Sharon she has a big penis

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Granted pokemon was extremely popular at the time, but most people (including Matt and Trey) just assumed that it was merely a fad and would go away in a couple years. Now as a mass market pop culture phenomenon, this is somewhat true, but pokemon as a brand only got stronger over time and has been around for 20 years now with no sign of going away.
* NowBuyTheMerchandise: In the Chinpokomon cartoon, instad of trying to catch the eponymous {{Mon}}s, the characters are actually trying to ''buy'' them (which given how heavily merchandised Pokemon and other children's anime are isn't COMPLETELY inaccurate).

* TakeThat: At the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' franchise, which was skyrocketing in popularity at the time of the episode's airing.
* TrendAesop: {{Deconstructed|Trope}}. Early on, Gerald tries to convince Kyle not to keep up with fads and assert his individually, only for Kyle to tell him that he'll get bullied if he doesn't participate in the latest fads. Towards the end of the episode, Stan tells Kyle that they only liked Chinpokomon because of group mentality, and it's time to move on. Kyle, however, refuses to do so, since he considers quitting Chinpokomon as following the group, and wants to express his individually by staying with the dying fad. He ultimately gives it up when Stan contradicts himself by saying following the group is good.

* NowBuyTheMerchandise: In the Chinpokomon cartoon, instad of trying to catch the eponymous {{Mon}}s, the characters are actually trying to ''buy'' them.

* BilingualBonus: "Chinpoko" is childish Japanese slang for "penis."

* {{Animeesque}}: The ''South Park'' cast gain anime faces to show their addiction to Chinpokomon. They are limited to one facial expression.

* TakeThat: At the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' franchise, which was skyrocketing in popularity at the time of the episode's airing.