The Most Popular Girls in School

The Most Popular Girls in School

Cast of MPGIS (Clockwise from upper left: Cameron, Shay, Jenna, Rachel, Deandra, Brittnay, Mackenzie and Trisha)
Genre
Created by Mark Cope
Carlo Moss
Starring Character list
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 70 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Mark Cope
Carlo Moss
Producer(s) Lily Vonnegut
Release
Original network YouTube
Original release May 1, 2012 (2012-05-01) – March 31, 2015 (2015-03-31)
External links
Website

The Most Popular Girls in School (abbreviated MPGIS) is an American stop-motion animated comedy web series that debuted on YouTube on May 1, 2012. Created by Mark Cope and Carlo Moss, the series animates Barbie, Ken and other fashion dolls, usually with customized costumes and hairstyles, as various characters. MPGIS follows the exploits of the fictional Overland Park High School cheerleading squad and their friends, family and enemies. Variety described the series as "Mean Girls meets South Park".[1] To date, 70 episodes have been released. The first episode has been viewed over 7.5 million times,[2] and most episodes have received views in the millions.

In April 2013, MPGIS parodied the viral email rant of Delta Gamma sorority member Rebecca Martinson by having the character Brittnay Matthews (voiced by Lily Vonnegut) reenact the so-called "Deranged Sorority Girl Email". The MPGIS video went viral itself.[3][4][5][6]

In January 2015, Variety reported that Charlize Theron's production company Denver and Delilah was developing a stop-motion animation series based on MPGIS with comic book writer Greg Rucka.[7]

Storyline

Dominating Head Cheerleader Mackenzie Zales and her absent-minded fellow cheerleader Trisha Cappelletti confront new Overland Park High School student Deandra when she attempts to use their restricted restroom. They broker an alliance just as the Shay van Buren—the most popular girl in school outside of the cheer squad—and her sisters drag the cheerleaders and her sisters into a bitter feud, hoping to finally crush Mackenzie's cheerleading reign.

Outside this drama, cheerleader Brittnay Matthews breaks up with her dimwitted second string quarterback boyfriend Blaine, who immediately begins dating her nemesis, the annoyingly French exchange student Saison Marguerite. Brittnay is further infuriated by the Cheer Squad/Van Buren feud and the acceptance of new girl Deandra into the confidence of the squad.

Meanwhile, lonely lurker Jonathan Getslinhaumer tries to get the attention of the football team with his strange slang and empty threats, which mostly leaves them repulsed by his unconscious sexual innuendos. Finally, the unpopular and unattractive Rachel Tice, a childhood friend of Brittnay and Mackenzie who has since fallen out of favor, plots with her friend Judith to try improve their social status. Rachel's moody sister Bridget occasionally makes an appearance to offer disdainful ridicule, and Lunch Lady Belinda cannot quite hide her crush on the dazzling Overland Park alumna Cameron Van Buren.

Later plotlines include the rivalry with cheerleaders from Atchinson High School, a sabotaged prom and a carefully planned revenge plot against Mackenzie.

The first four seasons take place in the girls' Junior year at Overland Park, while season 5 is set to take place during a summer vacation with multiple locations.[8]

Characters

Name Voice Talent Description First
Appearance
Mackenzie Zales Marian Bruno (Ep. 1, 3)
Kate Frisbee (Ep. 6–present)		 The domineering Head Cheerleader of the Overland Park Cheer Squad; specifically, "Head Cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, part time model". She wants full control of the school and will do anything to get and maintain it, even betraying her friends now and then. Her constant stress causes her to develop female pattern baldness. Episode 01
Brittnay Matthews Lily Vonnegut The angry, foulmouthed Overland Park Co-Head Cheerleader. She has little patience for other people—especially Saison Marguerite and Rachel Tice. Episode 02
Trisha Cappelletti Garrett Mendez The sweet, airheaded Overland Park cheerleader who tries to keep the peace between everyone. She is Matthew Derringer's girlfriend and best friend of the other Trisha. Episode 01
Deandra Carlo Moss The new girl in school, she ends up with a robotic arm when the Cheer Squad and Van Burens rip both of her arms out. She is a one-time member of the football team, and a singer with a hit song "Here Comes the Poop". Episode 01
Tanner Christiansen Pete Capella The gay quarterback of the Overland Park football team, and the boyfriend of Tristan Mckie. Episode 04
Tristan Mckie Ray Hebel Tanner's flamboyant boyfriend, who attends Blue Valley North West. He is close friends with Brittnay. Episode 12
Matthew Derringer Dave Hill The classy African-American member of the football team. He is also Trisha Cappelletti's boyfriend and was born without a penis. Episode 04
Jonathan "Than" Getslinhaumer Mark Cope A social climber who is conflicted about his sexuality. He later joins the football team. Episode 04
Blaine Carlo Moss Brittnay's ex-boyfriend, who takes up with Saison Marguerite. He plays on the football team and is the father of Saison's child. Episode 02
Connor Devarnan Carlo Moss Brittnay's ex-hookup, he likes to spread dirt about her "second rate handjobs". Episode 10
Shay Van Buren Andrew Delman A popular girl who plots to replace Mackenzie as Head Cheerleader. She is the middle sister of the Van Burens. Episode 03
Cameron Van Buren Aaron Krebs Shay's older sister, former prom queen and most popular girl in the history of the Blue Valley School District. She moves frantically from boyfriend to boyfriend. Episode 03
Saison Marguerite Andrew Delman A foreign exchange student who claims to be from France. She steals Brittnay's boyfriend and has his baby. Episode 02
Lunch Lady Belinda Bill Sindelar Overland Park's lunch lady, she has a lesbian attachment to Cameron Van Buren and is often pushed aside by Overland Park students. Episode 05
Rachel Tice Carlo Moss A desperately unpopular and unattractive girl. Once part of the gang until she ate a Roly Poly in the 3rd grade, she is Judith's best friend and is a huge fan of Gossip Girl. She wins Prom Queen thanks to a secret plan. Episode 02
Bridget Tice Christine Tarbet Rachel's blunt and sarcastic older sister, who works at Pizza Street. Episode 07
Judith Dinsmore Lily Vonnegut Rachel's equally unpopular and unattractive friend. She wears orthodontic headgear and cannot eat gluten, and is also a fan of Gossip Girl. Episode 05
Jenna Dapananian Jessie Schneiderman Overland Park cheerleader who is constantly behind on developments surrounding the squad. She decides to leave the cheer squad and joins Jenna Darabond in her uprising of hipster-ism. Episode 21
Ashley Katchadorian Kate Frisbee In charge of snacks, she is accused of letting Deandra into the restricted ladies room, inviting the hatred of Trisha and the Cheer Squad. She later betrays the Overland Park girls and joins Atchison. Episode 11
Tanya Berkowitz Lee Newton Head Cheerleader of the Atchison High Cheer Squad. She and her squad infiltrate the Overland Park mall when theirs is burned down. She plans to beat Overland Park in cheer nationals, but fails. Tanya also stabs Jenna Darabond when she finds out that Jenna caused he mall to burn. Episode 18
Taylor McDevitt Carla Henderson Atchison High Cheer Squad cheerleader who stole Brittnay's boyfriend in the past. Episode 18
Trisha 2 Haley Mancini Atchison High Cheer Squad cheerleader. She quickly becomes Trisha's best friend. After losing cheer nationals she transfers to Overland Park and becomes a cheer leader there. Episode 18
Amberlynn Weggers Dave Hill A kind and well-liked girl, she is nominated for Prom Queen and writes for the Overland Park Gazette. Episode 10
Jennifer McMinamin Jason Earles The girl who knows Saison Marguerite's secret. New Year's Party
Jenna Darabond Afton Quast Former Overland Park cheerleader who returns to plot the squad's destruction; she was supposed to be watching the door. She tries to stop the cheerleaders from taking over the school and plans to rule with hipster-ism. She burns down Atchison Mall down and is arrested, and is later stabbed by Tanya and dies in the hospital. Episode 30
Mikayla Van Buren Lily Vonnegut Cameron and Shay's little sister, the most popular girl at Meadowlane Elementary. Episode 03
Katelynn Zales Lee Newton Mackenzie's little sister. She is in Cheer Tots. and is a little crazy. Episode 33
Shaun 'Shaw' Carlo Moss Tristan's hard to understand cousin, he takes a shine to Than and ends up sleeping with him. Episode 62

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113May 1, 2012 (2012-05-01)November 13, 2012 (2012-11-13)
217March 5, 2013 (2013-03-05)July 23, 2013 (2013-07-23)
328November 5, 2013 (2013-11-05)May 20, 2014 (2014-05-20)
412January 6, 2015 (2015-01-06)March 31, 2015 (2015-03-31)

Production and broadcast

The Most Popular Girls in School animates Barbie, Ken and related Mattel fashion dolls,[3][4] generic fashion dolls and various branded dolls, usually with customized costumes and hairstyles, as various characters. Other dolls used include Disney's, Ariel, Belle, Merida and Mother Gothel,[9] Finnick Odair from The Hunger Games, Tyr Anasazi from Andromeda, and Oscar and Evanora from Oz the Great and Powerful. Guest voice talent has included Grace Helbig, Jason Earles, Lee Newton, Tyler Oakley, Michelle Visage, Kingsley, EpicLLOYD and the cast of Camp Takota.

A March 2013 Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign funded season 2 of the series,[10] a November 2013 Indiegogo campaign funded season 3,[11] and a November 2014 Indiegogo campaign funded season 4.[12]

MPGIS premiered on YouTube on May 1, 2012.[2] As of February 2016, the series' YouTube channel has over 867,000 subscribers and over 110 million views.[13] MPGIS has also produced spin-off shows The Trisha Show and Judy and Red, as well as bonus material like "Making of" and "Behind the Scenes" videos, viewer mail Q&A and "Extra Credit" (outtakes).

Reception

Variety described the series as "Mean Girls meets South Park in this trash-talking, boundary-busting high-school-set Web series, acted out by stop-motion Barbie dolls."[1] The first episode has been viewed over 6.5 million times,[2] and most episodes have received views in the millions.

In April 2013, MPGIS parodied the viral email rant of Delta Gamma sorority member Rebecca Martinson by having the character Brittnay Matthews (voiced by Lily Vonnegut) reenact Martinson's so-called "Deranged Sorority Girl Email". The MPGIS video went viral itself.[3][4][5][6]

In January 2015, Variety reported that Charlize Theron's production company Denver and Delilah was developing a stop-motion animation series based on MPGIS with comic book writer Greg Rucka.[7]

In August 2015, MPGIS was nominated for a Streamy Award for Costume Design.[14][15]

References

  1. 1 2 Saperstein, Pat (April 14, 2013). "Devour: Most Popular Girls in School, CBG19, The Beatles, Carol Burnett, More". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "MPGIS - Episode 1: The New Girl". YouTube. May 1, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rebecca Martinson's Insane Sorority Email Gets Parodied By Barbie". The Huffington Post. April 22, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 O'Connor, Maureen (April 22, 2013). "Watch a Psycho Barbie Reenact That Sorority E-mail". New York. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Weaver, Caity (April 18, 2013). "The Most Deranged Sorority Girl Email You Will Ever Read". Gawker. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Real-Life 'Mean Girl' Parodied on Web After Rant". Good Morning America. April 24, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Wagmeister, Elizabeth (January 15, 2015). "Charlize Theron Inks First-Look Deal With Universal Cable Prods.". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Where The F is MPGiS??!!". YouTube. August 10, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Mother Gothel Classic Doll". Disney Store. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Most Popular Girls in School Season 2". Kickstarter. March 4, 2013. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  11. ↑ "The Most Popular Girls in School Season 3". Indiegogo. November 15, 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  12. ↑ "The Most Popular Girls in School Season 4". Indiegogo. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  13. ↑ "About The Most Popular Girls in School". YouTube. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  14. ↑ Hurwitz, Daniel (August 13, 2015). "And the 2015 Streamy Awards nominees are ...". USA Today. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  15. ↑ "5th Annual Nominees". Streamy Awards. August 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
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