45 SpongeBob SquarePants Facts: Do You Know This Cartoon?

Oluniyi Akande
Oct 20, 2023 By Oluniyi Akande
Originally Published on Apr 09, 2022
Read 'SpongeBob SquarePants' facts to know more about SpongeBob's birthday.

Nickelodeon's 'SpongeBob SquarePants' has enjoyed success as a popular kids' show since 1999.

However, the pint-sized yellow sea sponge's career began nearly two decades earlier as a concept for an animated children's book. SpongeBob was born out of necessity during the '80s. Creator Stephen Hillenburg, an art school graduate who majored in experimental animation pitched to Nickelodeon in the '90s.

The show itself follows the everyday life of SpongeBob SquarePants, an enthusiastic sea sponge who lives with his pet snail Gary in a pineapple-styled house in a fictitious underwater land called Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob's Hawaiian shirt influence can be seen among the young children which they have seen through the different episodes of this TV series.

A comic book of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' was also published in the year 2017. Beige is believed to be SpongeBob's favorite color, while Patrick's favorite food is Krabby Patties.

Jerry Lewis's character has also influenced the main character building.

Mermaid Man is one of the retired heroes along with Barnacle Boy. Johnny Depp also did a voice-over of the surf guru in this cartoon series.

Art Direction

'SpongeBob SquarePants' is an animated television series that is well-known among several 3D animated American shows. It was created by Stephen Hillenburg and aired on Nickelodeon, which also produced it.

Stephen Hillenburg was a marine biologist and thought of creating sea creatures to entertain the small children from the small creative idea of a fish tank along with a comic book.

Sea sponge character was created with the help of childlike figures like Jerry Lewis, Pee-wee Herman, and many more.

The series follows the main protagonist and all his other buddies through their varied escapades throughout the fictitious oceanic metropolis of Bikini Bottom.

The art direction of the SpongeBob cartoon character is very good considering the lighthearted nature of the show.

The show has taken care to make sure that each character looks distinct, even if they are wearing the same outfit in almost every episode.

SpongeBob himself is cute, with his bucktooth smile and O-shaped mouth. His body language is also very easygoing and cheerful.

Also, it is a cartoon about a restaurant called the 'Krusty Krab'; it is important to have a lot of food around, and they captured this by drawing many different kinds of food. Patrick Star enjoys Krabby Patty at Krusty Krab.

The backgrounds are very vibrant and detailed, which is appropriate for a show set in an underwater environment with such strange features as jellyfish playing in the background.

The series centers on the adventures and endeavors of the title character SpongeBob SquarePants alongside his various friends including Patrick Star, Squidward Tentacles, Mr. Krabs, and Sandy Cheeks.

The voice-over of SpongeBob SquarePants is done by voice-over artist Tom Kenny.

Tom Kenny revealed that SpongeBob SquarePants' laugh was intended to evoke thoughts of the sea along with other sea animals' characters.

Audience Reception

There is no easy answer to that question because people can interpret what they see and hear in 'SpongeBob SquarePants' as they wish.

In general, 'SpongeBob SquarePants' has been well received by audiences of all ages since its debut on Nickelodeon, a US cable television channel aimed at children aged from two to 11 years old.

The show has been extremely popular with older viewers as well ever since it first aired in 1999.

It continues to be popular today both domestically and internationally because of its dynamic characters, imaginative animation techniques, and cross-cultural humor which appeals to adults who grew up watching cartoons just as much as it does to the babies who are being introduced to the series now.

With several years of life under its belt, 'SpongeBob SquarePants' has entertained millions of people around the world making it one of the most popular cartoons in recent history.

While Nickelodeon's core demographic is children aged two to 11 years old, an increasing number of adult viewers have developed a fondness for 'SpongeBob SquarePants' over the last decade whether they are aware of it or not.

An episode features Squidward finding out about SpongeBob and Patrick's secret underground clubhouse and he decides to use their hideaway as a means of escaping his crazy neighbors.

Mr. Krabs also discovers the entrance to the clubhouse and lets Plankton in on Squidward's scheme, which leads him to outsmart the others and take over Bikini Bottom.

Plankton's basic goal was world domination!

This episode is remarkable because it was made by an independent animator and features some of Nickelodeon's most popular characters casually interacting despite never having been presented together in such a way before due to its unique concept.

'SpongeBob SquarePants' is an American animated television series, that has received several awards and nominations.

The show has won 19 Kids' Choice Awards.

It has also won eight Golden Reel Awards, six Annie Awards as well as four Emmy Awards.

It won two BAFTA Children's Awards out of five nominations.

It won Kids' Choice Awards from the years 2003 to 2007 straight for the 'Favorite Cartoon' category.

In 2014, at Kid's Choice Awards, it won one award for 'Favorite Animated Animal Sidekick' and another for the 'Favorite Cartoon' category.

Pop Culture

The influence on the pop culture of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' is inevitable. The TV show has been honored with several prestigious awards, its merchandise sales are still strong, and the franchise is making its mark on pop culture.

His unconventional appearance proves itself as SpongeBob is now considered one of the most popular cartoon characters in modern history.

Nickelodeon prepared for 'The Bob Squad' event in 2009.

'The Bob Squad' is a play on the phrase 'The Bomb Squad' and new episodes were released during this event.

And one must not forget about Stephen Hillenburg himself, who is now an Internet sensation.

In most cases though, it takes more than just funny clips to make it into pop culture.

Perhaps our favorite pop culture references to the sea sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea are his guest appearances outside of TV.

'The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius', 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', and 'CatDog' are some shows that have SpongeBob SquarePants' references.

Popular shows like 'The Big Bang Theory', 'Doctor Who', 'Family Guy', 'Fuller House', 'Glee' and 'The Office' also make some references to 'SpongeBob SquarePants'.

Several references to 'SpongeBob SquarePants' can be seen in 'The Simpsons' too.

Theories About SpongeBob

There are different theories about 'SpongeBob SquarePants'. Here are some:

Bikini Bottoms is sometimes thought to be the consequence of nuclear testing.

According to one of the most popular 'SpongeBob SquarePants' theories, Bikini Bottom is buried deep beneath Bikini Atoll.

The United States government detonated 23 nuclear bombs on Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands during the Cold War.

The title is a reference to the fact that SpongeBob and his pals are aquatic mutants caused by the nuclear radiation above.

It is believed that the important characters of SpongeBob SquarePants are the depiction of seven deadly sins: greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, pride, and sloth.

Patrick star slumbers most of his day beneath a rock, so he represents the sloth.

The avarice of Krusty Krab makes his strong candidature for greed, while Squidward's crankiness is an excellent fit for fury or wrath.

Plankton's sole aim in his life is to rob the Krabby Patty secret.

Gary who is a pet snail, Sandy, and SpongeBob are all guilty of different sins.

Some believe that Squidward is the guardian of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Squidward's house is demolished at least 10 times.

The other theory that revolves around is that characters also represent the global warming impact on surroundings.

Squidward represents liberalism, while SpongeBob SquarePants, a sea sponge represents the sponge as a waste from the kitchen creating pollution.

FAQs

Who is SpongeBob's girlfriend?

Sandy, the squirrel from the surface is SpongeBob's girlfriend.

Is SpongeBob 20 years old?

'SpongeBob SquarePants' was created on July 14, 1986, and will make him 36 years old in 2022.

Does SpongeBob have ADHD?

According to some of the SpongeBob SquarePants facts, he is suspected to have ADHD.

How did SpongeBob end?

The last episode of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' aired on December 10, 2021. It ends with SpongeBob being friends with the entire Bikini Bottom.

Why is it called 'Spongebob Squarepants'?

SpongeBob's creator, Stephen Hillenburg, revealed that his favorite sea creature is a sponge. He derived the character's name from the animal. Stephen Hillenburg noted that the 'SquarePants' name is also a play on words as sea sponges look like squares.

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

Sources

https://facts.net/spongebob-squarepants-facts/

https://thriftyniftymommy.com/20-awesome-spongebob-squarepants-facts-to-celebrate-20-years/

https://www.softschools.com/facts/movies/spongebob_squarepants_facts/2873/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60090/14-things-you-may-not-have-known-about-spongebob-squarepants

https://screenrant.com/spongebob-squarepants-unknown-trivia-facts/amp/

See All

Written by Oluniyi Akande

Doctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

Oluniyi Akande picture

Oluniyi AkandeDoctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

With an accomplished background as a Veterinarian, SEO content writer, and public speaker, Oluniyi brings a wealth of skills and experience to his work. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, he provides exceptional consulting services to pet owners, animal farms, and agricultural establishments. Oluniyi's impressive writing career spans over five years, during which he has produced over 5000 high-quality short- and long-form pieces of content. His versatility shines through as he tackles a diverse array of topics, including pets, real estate, sports, games, technology, landscaping, healthcare, cosmetics, personal loans, debt management, construction, and agriculture.

Read full bio >