South Park’s Butters is Eerily Similar to Bojack Horseman’s Todd. Here’s Why

It’s probably not fair to compare two different characters from shows that are very distinct from one another. If one is about apples, the other is about oranges. But at the core of every show, character sketches often match. But because they are based in entirely different settings, it’s often hard for people to catch similarities.

Recently, someone suggested to me that Todd from Bojack Horseman is similar to South Park’s Butters Stotch. Initially, it was an idea that I didn’t want to entertain. But the more I dwelt on it, the clearer it became to me.

Todd and Butters have personalities that match one another. In fact, if they existed in the same universe, they’d probably be good friends. In a nutshell, they often get picked on by the central characters and are often reduced to sidekicks offering comic relief. If these animated shows were a Shakespearean play, they’d both be clowns.

Their alter ego is rather edgy and they both suffer from difficult parenting. Did I pique your interest? Well then, let’s understand why they are both similar.

Disclaimer: Spoilers ahead!

They’re Both Punching Bags

If I had a dime for any time someone on Bojack Horseman uttered ‘Shut up Todd’, I’d be a rich person. In fact, it almost became borderline annoying when even drunk Diane resorted to asking Todd to shut up.

Both Butters and Todd are bashed by people they consider their best friends. Eric Cartman often uses Butters in his evil endeavours and the poor chap is often left with no choice, but to help. Todd is no different and is often used by Bojack, Mr. PeanutButter, and even Princess Carolyn sometimes to get their way.

Both are often made fun of and reduced to merely people that anyone can ridicule and get away. In a way, they both induce a sense of pity in the audience.

They Don’t Know How to Say No

As stated before, both Butters and Todd are used by the main characters to get their way or get some work done. The problem is that because they get picked on so easily, they are often not able to say no. This could imply that both Todd and Butters suffer from a constant need of validation. In Todd’s case, this is highly evident. He is there for everyone, be it family, friends, or anyone else. But we feel less bad for Todd because at the end of the day, he’s shown as a rather carefree guy who hops from one adventure to another.

But in Butters’ case, it hits us right in the feels. In the episode ‘Safe Space’, Cartman approaches PC principal to help him filter negative comments online. Without having even the slightest respect for Butters’ schedule, he is appointed to filter comments for several celebrities. The poor kid is not able to say No like others, and in fact, even tries to die of suicide, only hurting himself rather badly in the process.

They Both Have an Edgy Alter Ego

Todd’s alter ego comes to the stage rather rarely but whenever we’ve witnessed it, it’s quite villainous and edgy. When Todd launches his own Disneyland, it’s incredibly grotesque and is nowhere close to the original Disneyland where everything is positive and full of sunshine.

In the episode ‘Still Broken’, Todd meets a janitor who introduces him to a vending machine that changes him into a cool person. This is obviously the placebo effect, but Todd steals a motorcycle, and does similar things that make him look cool and edgy.

Butters, on the other hand, has a famous alter-ego called Professor Chaos. The name itself is enough to suggest that this alter ego isn’t the cute and wholesome Butters but a rather edgy person who in the words of South Park’s wiki is described as ‘born from a life of dejection, he vows to bring chaos to the world that has shunned him time and time again’.

This definitely implies that both Todd and Butters suffer from low self-esteem which has been fed on by their selfish friends and family. However, given the slightest chance, both will choose to be as cool and tough as possible.

They Have an Unconventional Sexuality

This is another important point, and one that should have been discussed more. Though sexual orientation isn’t a choice, both Butters and Todd have been characterised as having an unconventional sexuality. It’s probably for the best as they both can handle it and do not have any reservations attached to it.

Todd is a self-proclaimed asexual and in fact, is not taken aback when Emily reveals it to him initially. In fact, Todd often participates in asexual meetups and even launches an app to meet his desired partner. Todd holds no reservations for being an asexual.

Butters, on the other hand, is probably a bisexual. However, it’s true that he is often confused about it. The only difference is that Butters does not get the same support as Todd with respect to his sexuality. Butters’ father sends him to a bisexual healing camp to apparently rid him off his ‘gayness’.

What I like about this is that both Butters and Todd have helped many individuals in coming out to their parents.

They Both Get Their Own Episode

In South Park, there is an episode titled ‘Butters’ Very Own Episode’ and Bojack Horseman has an episode titled ‘Hooray! Todd Episode!’.

The creators of both the shows felt it important to create an individual episode of these characters as they are often perceived as wholesome to the audience. Is there anyone who despises Todd and Butters? I don’t think so.

Awful Parenting

This also brings us to a sub-point where I can highlight how Todd and Butters suffered from horrible parenting. In this very episode, Butters’ background is shown where his father ostracizes him for being a bisexual and his mom tries to drown him. In fact, the sole reason why Butters suffers from the horrible episode of suicide is because he’s constantly tormented by the thoughts of getting grounded.

Todd, on the other hand, has suffered from similar parenting. His over-involvement of his step father and lack of support from his biological mother is enough to highlight that he’s suffered from horrible parenting. Despite the fact that Todd has a steady job as a nanny, his step father still considers him worthless. But even then, Todd goes out of his way to donate his kidney to his mother.

Final Thoughts

While these must be thoughts off the top of my head, it is hard not to think of this as co-incidental. At the end of the day, I think Butters and Todd are great friends, who would do anything for their friends and family.