Terrance Mephesto
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 10 |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Status | Deceased |
| Occupation | Student |
| Grade | 4th Grade |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Father | Dr. Alphonse Mephesto |
| Mother | Unknown |
| Brother (adopted) | Kevin Mephesto |
| Voiced by | Matt Stone |
| First Appearance | An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig |
About
An arrogant and spiteful boy who took pride in his intellect and scientific achievement, Terrance believed his fellow students were insolent "plebeians" who are below him, more concerned about science than human safety. He was the boys' rival at the South Park Elementary Science Fair in the third grade, working with Bill Allen and Fosse McDonald to clone a human, an experiment that lead to his father spawning the Evil Clone Stan, whom Terrance freed arrogantly and set on a rampage. Since his failed attempt against the boys, Terrance receded from prominence, and died at the hands of Mecha-Streisand.
Since then, his father has worked in his genetics laboratory to create genetic mutations of him, fondly recalling his "dead son" to tourists. There are those who believe his father's later work has been an effort to bring back his "dead son", but his father prefers to tell tourists that he is merely giving his son additional asses.
Personality and Traits
Arrogance
Throughout his debut appearance, Terrance referred to those around him as "ignorant", "plebeians" and "stupid", seeing himself as far more superior and intelligent than they were. He valued intelligence, rationality and the pursuit of science over the safety of those round him, and this lead to his downfall as he released his clone of Stan prematurely, causing it to attack the town. He indeed exhibited a lack of concern for the townspeople due as they were all "stupid" anyway.
Memorable Quotes
- "Hey dumbasses. You morons give up on your stupid science fair project yet?" (An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig)
- "Boys, Mr. Garrison, fellow students, for our science fair project Bill, Fosse, and I have spawned a creature genetically far superior to man. I present to you, the five-assed monkey." (An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig)
- "My vengeance set me free." (South Park: Phone Destroyer)
Family
Terrance's father was South Park's resident mad scientist, Dr. Mephesto, and Mephesto's adopted son Kevin was therefore Terrance's brother. He looked up to his father fondly and believed him to be the best, although he lacked his father's empathy, and as far as we know, attachment to asses. His mother has never been seen to date.
Dr. Alphonse Mephesto (father)
Kevin Mephesto (brother)
Close Friends
During his main appearance, Terrance was flocked by his two henchmen, Bill and Fosse, who helped him out with his science project. The script refers to all three boys as 'nerdy'.
In background appearances in later seasons, Terrance is seen with other children. In "World Wide Recorder Concert", he spends much of the episode in close proximity to Red, suggesting they were friends or may have been dating, and they both sang with Kevin Stoley in the film.
<char name="Bill Allen" image="http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/bill-allen.png"/> <char name="Fosse McDonald" image=" http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/fossie-mcdonald.png"/> <char name="Red" image=" http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/red.png"/> <char name="Kevin Stoley" image=" http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/kevin-stoley.png"/>
Rivals
Terrance was the boys' original rival, before Craig and Those Guys came to the forefront, and while we're not sure what he would think of them now, it probably wouldn't be too nice.
<char name="Stan Marsh" image="http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/stan-marsh.png"/>
<char name="Kyle Broflovski" image="http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/kyle-broflovski.png"/>
<char name="Eric Cartman" image="http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/eric-cartman.png"/>
<char name="Kenny McCormick" image="http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/kids/kenny-mccormick.png"/>
Possible Residence
Dr. Mephesto has always been seen at the South Park Genetic Engineering Ranch, usually with his assistant Kevin, but Terrance has only been seen there in his debut episode. The place has therefore been implied strongly to be the former's residence (though no 'living space' outside the laboratory has been seen) although whether or not Terrance worked or resided there was speculative.
His mutated clones remain there today.
South Park Genetic Engineering Ranch
Appearances and Sightings
Featured Episodes
- An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig (s01e05; debut)
- Raisins (s07e14; cameo)
- Breast Cancer Show Ever (s12e09; cameo)
Background Appearances
- World Wide Recorder Concert (s03e17)
- Funnybot (s15e02)
Video Games
South Park: The Stick of Truth
An icon for him (labeled Terrence) is included in the game's files, but he was cut from the final game. His possible role is unknown.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
During the tour through the South Park Genetic Engineering Ranch, Mephesto keeps a variety of horrifying mutations of his "dead son" on display, and reminds the children that "most people don't remember that [he] once had a young child named Terrance" and explains that he was killed by Mecha-Streisand when some boys were playing with a relic. It seems suggested his efforts to refurbish the lab are related to bringing him back, but Mephesto insists his son cannot rest in peace without multiple asses.
South Park: Phone Destroyer
He is a rare character in the mobile game, where he uses a small device with spinning blades and large engines to perform as "an aerial bomber who deals heavy damage". He also appears during the Character Creation process in his father's laboratory, alongside his brother Kevin.
- Matt Stone recorded new dialogue for the character in this game, but his voice is pitched down, similarly to Bill Allen and Fosse McDonald.
Bonus Factoids
- While Terrance made cameo appearances in the background of various scenes until fairly recently, he has only ever spoken in "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig".
- His biggest cameos were in "Raisins", where he filled in for Token Black in the kids' football game at the conclusion, and "Breast Cancer Show Ever", where he is one of the many kids cheering. These cameos might not be canon, however.
- It is unknown whether his death occurred during "Mecha-Streisand" or "201" as he continued to appear in the background throughout and after both episodes.
- Mephesto's phrasing ("some kids in town playing with a relic belonging to Barbra Streisand") indicates the former, as does Mysterion's worry that it was their fault. This would render his many background appearances non-canon.
- However, it may be noted that his father seemed to work alone throughout the latter episode, but seems to be running a larger facility in the game, making the second attack seem more likely. This would only affect background appearances after "201".
- Both Terrance Mephesto and Pip Pirrup are child characters from early seasons who were since killed by Mecha-Streisand.
Myths & Legends
- He is sometimes confused with Bill Allen due to their similar appearance. Terrance has been falsely reported as being on the school basketball team in "Elementary School Musical", for example, but that's Bill.