- This article is about the series. For the protoganist of this series, see SpongeBob SquarePants (character). For other uses, see SpongeBob.
SpongeBob SquarePants is a popular animated television series created by marine biologist/animator Stephen Hillenburg. The premiere first aired in the US on Nickelodeon after Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards on May 1, 1999. It officially aired on July 17 of the same year with the second episode "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants". The main character is an accident-prone sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, his dumb starfish pal Patrick Star, the stingy octopus Squidward Tentacles, the cheapskate crab Mr. Krabs, his fashion-obsessed daughter Pearl and the overly hyper squirrel Sandy Cheeks, who wears an astronaut suit all the time and is characterized as a south westerner. Most episodes take place in the town of Bikini Bottom or the surrounding lagoon floor, islets, deep, or at their own houses. In 2008, the show unveiled its new logo.
The cartoon is designed to appeal to older viewers as much as to children. This has a lot to do with the way underwater life and situations are represented, absurdly, as though they are almost equivalent to normal terrestrial lifestyles. Instead of cars, the residents of Bikini Bottom drive boats—with wheels of course. Once, while on a camping trip, Patrick questions how they could have a camp fire on the lagoon bottom—the fire is immediately extinguished with a sizzle. A flurry of bubbles accompany many actions, just to remind the viewer everything is underwater. SpongeBob lives in a pineapple, while his neighbour Squidward lives in an Easter Island head and Patrick lives under a rock. The suggestion is that both have fallen from a tropical island to become underwater habitats. Spongebob's house-pet is a snail named Gary, who only meows like a cat, though characters have shown signs of being able to understand him. As such, worms are the undersea equivalent of dogs. Scallops are the equivalent of birds, as they "fly" and are kept in cages. Jellyfish are the equivalent of bees as they buzz and sting, and are used for their jelly. but are collected or appreciated like butterflies
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, the first and only currently theatrical film based on the series, was released on November 19, 2004. According to Square Roots, the movie was also the reason for the long hiatus between "Pranks a Lot" and "Fear of a Krabby Patty".
Popularity
SpongeBob SquarePants has gained a loyal international following with children and adults alike. Merchandise based on the show, for instance, ranges from Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Kellogg's Cereal, and video games to boxer shorts, pajamas, and t-shirts. It has become a favorite cartoon for television viewers. There have been kids meal tie-ins at Wendy's and Burger King restaurants, so much so when a SpongeBob SquarePants movie promotion ran in 2004, thieves stole nine-foot-high by nine-foot-wide SpongeBob inflatables, wanting Krabby Patties as ransom, and signed by someone who claims to be Sheldon J. Plankton. He was also featured on VH1's I Love the 90s: Part Deux: 1999 as part of a commentary by Michael Ian Black. More recently, a tie-in beverage for 7-Eleven convenience stores has been created, a pineapple-flavored Slurpee.
SpongeBob is the first "low budget" Nickelodeon cartoon, according to the network, to become extremely popular. Long had low-budget cartoons been living in the shadow of Rugrats, but SpongeBob aired in 1999 and almost immediately became more popular. SpongeBob is the fourth Nickelodeon show to attract "older" followers (the first was Rocko's Modern Life, whose executive producer was SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg, then the Kablam! skit Action League Now!, then The Angry Beavers, then SpongeBob, and after SpongeBob, The Fairly OddParents, and Invader ZIM took a similar role when they aired in 2001 and the former is now second only to SpongeBob in popularity).
SpongeBob is onein a long line of shows to include more "adult" references, and has become so popular with the adult crowd that it has been shown on MTV and Spike TV. A certain quote by Patrick ("It's gonna rock!") has been used as a promo for rock stations.
The series became so popular, that SpongeBob became one of Nickelodeon's mascots.
Theme Song
Every day im shufflin.
History / Production
- Main article: SpongeBob SquarePants Timeline
Hey Arnold!: Mugged/Roughin' It (1996) Credits
Cast
- Dee Bradley Baker: Squilliam Fancyson, Various Squids, Customers, Vendors
- Doug Lawrence (a.k.a. Mr. Lawrence): Sheldon J. Plankton, Larry Lobster
- Mary Jo Catlett: Poppy Puff
- Stephen Hillenburg: Potty
- Marion Ross: Grandma Squarepants
- Jill Talley: Karen, Plankton's computer wife.
Additional voices in the movie
- Stephen Hillenburg: Creator/Executive Producer (1999-2004)
- Derek Drymon: Creative Director/Writer/Story Editor/Executive Producer(1999-2004)
- Sherm Cohen: Art Director/Writer/Executive Prouducer (2005-2006)
- Paul Tibbitt: Writer/Storyboard Director/Backing Voice Actor/Executive Producer, Showrunner(1999-2004;2005-present)
- Merriwether Williams: Story Editor/Writer
- Doug Lawrence (Mr. Lawrence): Writer/Story Editor/Voice Of Plankton and Larry
- Chuck Klein: Writer/Storyboard Artist & Director
- Jay Lender: Writer/Storyboard Artist & Director
- Sam Henderson: Writer/Storyboard Director
- Kaz: Writer/Storyboard Artist
- Aaron Springer: Writer/Storyboard Artist & Director
- C.H. Greenblatt: Writer/Storyboard Artist & Director
- Bradley Carow: Music
- David Wigforss: Special Effects (CG visual effects animator)
- Caleb Muerer: Art Director
- Andy Rheingold: Executive in Charge of Production
- Tim Hill: Writer
- Eric Wiese: Writer/Storyboard Artist
- Mark O'Hare: Writer/Storyboard Artist & Director
- Steven Fonti: Writer/Storyboard Director (1999)
- Chris Mitchell: Writer/Storyboard Artist (1999)
- Mike Bell: Writer/Storyboard Director (2005-)
- Vincent Waller: Writer/Storyboard Artist & Director/Technicial Director (2005-)
- Alan Smart: Animation Director
- Tom Yasumi: Animation Director
- Andrew Overtoom: Animation Director
- Sean Dempsey: Animation Director
Characters
The rape ape
- Main article: List of SpongeBob SquarePants characters
Episodes
- Main article: List of SpongeBob SquarePants episodes
Seasons
Episodes:
| Season | Episodes | First Episode | Latest Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | May 1, 1999 | April 8, 2000 | |
| Season 2 | 20 | October 26, 2000 | July 26, 2003 |
| Season 3 | 20 | October 5, 2001 | October 11, 2004 |
| Season 4 | 20 | May 5, 2005 | July 24, 2006 |
| Season 5 | 20 | February 19, 2007 | July 19, 2008 |
| Season 6 | 26 | March 3, 2008 | July 5, 2009 |
| Season 7 | 26 | July 19, 2010 | June 11, 2011 |
| Season 8 | 26 | March 26, 2011 | December 6, 2012 |
| Season 9 | 26 | July 21, 2012 | TBA |
| Season 10 | 37 | TBA | TBA |
Movies
| Title | Release Date | Note | Running Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie | November 19, 2004 | Feature-length Movie | 87 Minutes |
| Atlantis SquarePants | November 21, 2007 | TV Movie | 42 Minutes |
| Truth or Square | November 6, 2009 | TV Movie | 51 Minutes |
| The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2 | November 21, 2014 | Feature-length Movie | Currently unknown |
Transcripts
- Main article: List of SpongeBob SquarePants episode transcripts
DVD
- Main article: List of SpongeBob SquarePants video releases
References
External links
| SNICK | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1992-1994 | Clarissa Explains It All • Roundhouse • The Ren & Stimpy Show • Are You Afraid of the Dark? | |
| 1994-1996 | The Secret World of Alex Mack • All That • Space Cases • Kenan and Kel• The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo • KaBlam! | |
| 1997-1999 | Rugrats • The Journey of Allen Strange • Animorphs • Cousin Skeeter | |
| 1999-2002 | SpongeBob SquarePants • The Amanda Show • 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd • The Nick Cannon Show • Taina | |