This article concerns the show's title character and namesake. For information on the show itself, see SpongeBob SquarePants.

SpongeBob SquarePants is the principal character in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, which first aired in July 1999 on Nickelodeon. The character was designed by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, and is voiced by Tom Kenny.

Appearance

SpongeBob is an anthropomorphic, yellow, porous, sponge with a face. He has disproportionally thin and short extremities extending from his body (arms and legs), and resembles a kitchen sponge more than a sea sponge. SpongeBob has the ability to transform into other shapes at will, absorb physical blows as well as large amounts of water, and reassemble pieces which fall off of him. His arms can become variable in length and shape at will, are retractable, and can be re-grown at will. He has six long black wiry eyelashes, and his eyes have sky-blue irises with very dilated pupils. Like the rest of SpongeBob's body (excluding his eyes, mouth and brain), his hands and feet are made of sponge.

SpongeBob typically wears a private school uniform with a white business shirt, red tie and brown pants, although he has been known to run naked or in his underwear. As a part of the uniform, his shoes are shining black, with a spheric bulge at the front (although still a part of the shoe proper, unlike the balls of the clown shoes). He always wears a pair of (usually) white briefs underneath his pants, although he has been seen wearing blue, green, and red briefs (all at the same time, nonetheless) and even pink to honor his best friend, Patrick. At night, he sometimes has a green bathrobe on but mostly goes to sleep with his underwear and nothing else. He also wears a red bowtie in exchange for his necktie on special occasions, such as his house party or at the Krusty Krab telling Squirrel Jokes. He is considered to be the ancestor of SpongeTron from the future, and a descendant of SpongeGar, from prehistoric time. His most commonly acquainted friends and associates are Patrick Star, Sandy Cheeks, Mr. Krabs, and Squidward Tentacles (although Squidward would be the first to openly claim his dislike for SpongeBob, even bordering on hatred and the fact that he and Patrick are not "good neighbors" because they "stole" Squidward's pedicure and foot massage.).

General

SpongeBob is extremely sweet, generous, friendly, and most of all, trusting. He has a buck-toothed grin and tremendously expressive face and square body that complement his pure and good nature. SpongeBob will rarely knowingly do wrong or harm to anyone and never without remorse. However, he has been known to shout and curse (even "obscenities") when angry or frustrated. He dislikes scary things and stinky things. He is really an adult (you can tell because he has a job) but acts like he was always a child.

Although malleable, SpongeBob's body is generally incredibly weak. He has been known to have enormous difficulty lifting even the lightest of objects. Normally though he can function at a reasonable level. SpongeBob's insides and skeleton have been shown various times (eg. when he appears 'dead' in some future 'flashback'), but every time they appear different. His skeleton varies from a simple spine to a perfect square.

SpongeBob has one pet, a snail named Gary (the analogous of a cat on land). Gary's meows are generally understood by most all residents of Bikini Bottom. Gary and SpongeBob live together alone in a pineapple under the sea.

Job and Leisure

SpongeBob has a career as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab restaurant, home of the Krabby Patty. He takes his job very seriously and is very good at it. He was employee of the month over 26 times (which would mean he has worked there at least 2 years). He works alongside Squidward (much to Squidward's dismay), who manages the cash register for his cheapskate and over-greedy boss, Mr. Eugene Krabs. SpongeBob, in some episodes, seems to have attained a celebrity like status in Bikini Bottom for his masterful fry cooking. In an episode where SpongeBob and Squidward go on strike, he is referred to as a "legend" by a young fry cook who wants to take his job and is asked to sign the young boy’s spatula. In another episode, he is offered a job as Neptune's fry cook, but turns it down because Patrick couldn't come too. And SpongeBob has never been a minute late ever for his job.

SpongeBob has yet to keep a boating license (analogous to a driver's license) because he fails every driver's test at Mrs. Puff's Boating School, mainly due to a tendency to become nervous once behind the wheel (he has been shown to know what he's doing everywhere but inside the boat). Despite this, he perpetually and continuously attends boating school in an attempt to get his license (and because he enjoys it), much to the woe and frustration of his boating instructor Mrs. Puff. At one point, Mrs. Puff becomes so frustrated she gives SpongeBob his boating license by allowing him to do "extra credit". She then takes it back realizing how much chaos he could cause with his license.

In several episodes, most SpongeBob video games, and the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, it is suggested he has brilliant guitar and singing skills. Many times he sings some songs in a different voice, probably by a different voice actor. He also likes to blow bubbles, surf, sun bathe, play the ukulele, and watch his favorite TV show, The New Adventures of Mermaidman and Barnacleboy.

Controversy and media response

Spongebob has become a rapidly popular icon for the gay community for the cartoon character's lifestyle and personality. [[1]]

Spongebob has been the centre of controversy by a conservative american christian organization, called Focus on the Family, for being included in a video made to promote tolerance of sexual identity, a.k.a acceptance of homosexuality. [Newsource msnbc.com]

Family

• Mr. SquarePants, SpongeBob's father (voiced by Tom Kenny)
• Mrs. SquarePants, SpongeBob's mother (voiced by Sirena Irwin)
• Grandpa SquarePants, SpongeBob's grandfather (also voiced by Tom Kenny)
• Grandma SquarePants, SpongeBob's grandmother (voiced by Marion Ross)
• Sherm SquarePants, SpongeBob's uncle (also voiced by Tom Kenny)
• Todd SquarePants, SpongeBob's cousin (also voiced by Tom Kenny), appeared in the Story Reader book, The Never-Ending Stay

Trivia

• In the German version of the show, SpongeBob's last name is "Schwammkopf" meaning "SpongeHead".
• In the French version of the show, Spongebob's name is Bob L'eponge, which literally means Bob the Sponge.
• SpongeBob's name is written in the CamelCase word style.
• SpongeBob's voice is described as a combination of the mayor of Munchkinland from The Wizard of Oz and Elroy Jetson from The Jetsons.
• SpongeBob's character was influenced by Jerry Lewis, Pee Wee Herman, and Charlie Chaplin.
• SpongeBob was originally going to be called SpongeBoy, but the name was already trademarked.
• It is rumored that SpongeBob's birthday could be July 14, 1986. His "driving license" (either fake or temporary) is seen in the season 1 episode, "Sleepy Time", from Mrs. Puff; as well as in the season 2 episode, "No Free Rides", both with the same date. However, the show's creator, Steven Hillenburg has mentioned that he wishes for SpongeBob to remain ageless, like other classic cartoon characters. (although it has been said that his age is 26, he is mathematically just 19.)

Ancestors and Decendants

• SpongeGar (From SpongeBob B.C.)
• SpongeTron (From SB-129)
• Sir SpongeBob (From Dunces & Dragons)

Quotes

• "I’m Ready!"
• "This is going to be the best day ever!"
• "Lets Do This!!"

External links

• SpongeZone-One of the best SpongeBob Websites around.
• SpongeBuddy Mania-A fantastic site, second only to SpongeZone in size.
• Spongebob's House-a (hopefully) complete theory-and-fact of SpongeBob's house (made by Zovistograt).
• Sarah's Spongebob Shrine-an episode guide, transcripts, song lyrics, letras en espaГ±ol, movie facts, AIM icons, an extensive image gallery, and more!
• [2]-SpongeBob Fansite! The world of SpongeBob!sv:Svampbob Fyrkant (figur)