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SpongeBob SquarePants (character)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| SpongeBob SquarePants character | |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | |
 |
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| General Information | |
| Gender: | Male |
|---|---|
| Color: | Yellow |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Birthday: | July 14, 1986[1] |
| Height: | 4 in. (as seen on a freeze frame of SpongeBob's driving license) |
| Weight: | One ounce |
| Interests: | Jellyfish hunting, flipping burgers at the Krusty Krab, karate, blowing bubbles, watching "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy", hanging out with his friends |
| Series Information | |
| First appearance: | Help Wanted |
| Portrayer: | Tom Kenny Taiki Matsuno (Japanese) Santiago Ziesmer (German) Kim Sulocki (Swedish) Sébastien Desjours (French) Jens Jacob Tychsen (Danish) Sigurður Sigurjónsson (Icelandic) Lex Passchier (Dutch) Alex Saudinós (Spanish) Kaihiamal Martínez/Luis Carreño (Spanish, Latin America) Claudio Moneta (Italian) |
SpongeBob SquarePants is the eponymous character of the Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. He was designed by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, and is voiced by Tom Kenny.
SpongeBob was originally going to be named SpongeBoy,[2] and used to wear a red hat with a green base and a white business shirt with a tie. The name "SpongeBoy" did not make it into the show since the name was already officially trademarked by Bob Burden, creator of Flaming Carrot. Hillenburg later chose the alternative name "SpongeBob". The original name was once referenced in the show by Mr. Krabs' line, "SpongeBoy, me Bob!."
Contents |
SpongeBob is a porous yellow sponge with large blue eyes, a mouth with prominent front buck teeth, dimples and freckles. He is also, at times, shown to have hair. He typically wears a white shirt with a red tie and brown square trousers--hence his family name--and black leather shoes. When he works at the Krusty Krab, he wears a hat with an anchor on it as a uniform. He replaces the necktie with a chokie bowtie for special events. He sleeps in pajamas or in underwear, with shoes, or without shoes in various episodes.
SpongeBob is a sea sponge, but he is drawn to resemble a kitchen sponge. Due to his soft, pliable frame, he is capable of shape shifting and has shown a degree of super "human" durability.
SpongeBob lives with his pet snail Gary in a large "pineapple-house". The house has been shown to be edible.
SpongeBob is marked for his cheerful nature. He is kind almost to a fault, and tries his hardest to make friends with those around him but has occassionaly been known to be malicious. Though he is generally harmless, he can become very dangerous when he puts his mind to a task; when SpongeBob focuses on a job, he will stick to it almost religiously, and go to extreme lengths to accomplish it.
SpongeBob is an adult, but he has a very childlike manner--he is not ashamed of enjoying things associated with young children, such as cartoons and homemade cookies. He cannot discern sarcasm very well, and is very literal-minded. Despite these traits and his lack of physical strength, SpongeBob considers himself very tough and mature, and has attempted--and failed--to prove his "manliness" on many occasions.
SpongeBob has a career as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab restaurant. In spite of his meager salary (he once claimed that he is forced to pay his own boss) and the restaurant's poor working conditions, he is very proud of his trade. He is very skilled at his job, and has won the Employee of the Month award on numerous occasions. As such, he is highly favored by his boss, Mr. Krabs, with whom he has a twisted avuncular relationship; SpongeBob often follows Krabs's orders against his own better judgment.
SpongeBob's best friends are the dimwitted Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks, whom he often attempts to best in fights and competitions. He has an awkward relationship with his neighbor Squidward Tentacles: Squidward despises both SpongeBob and Patrick, though they both view Squidward as very close friend and cannot be convinced otherwise. Squidward receives the brunt of the consequences of SpongeBob's actions, often by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
SpongeBob is an enthusiastic practitioner of karate. His level of skill varies between episodes; at times he can defeat Sandy with ease, and at others he is incompetent.
A recurring joke in the series reveals that SpongeBob is incapable of getting his driver's license. He has attended Mrs. Puff's boating school for many years, and each year, manages to fail his driving test. SpongeBob attributes this to nervousness behind the wheel; despite knowing how to drive, he loses his composure when driving, often ending up in a car accident.
The creators of Spongebob Squarepants have been attacked by some evangelical groups in the US because they see the character SpongeBob as homosexual, ever since the episode Rock-A-Bye-Bivalve, in which Patrick and SpongeBob were parenting a baby scallop.[3] The creator stated that the characters are not gay (see below).
James Dobson of Focus on the Family accused the makers of a video in which SpongeBob appears with other cartoon characters meant to promote diversity and tolerance as promoting homosexuality.[4] Creator of the character, Stephen Hillenburg, has denied that SpongeBob is gay and has said that he is in fact asexual.[5]
Dobson later clarified his comments by saying his original complaints were not with the video, but with the We Are Family Foundation, who he says make available pro-homosexual material on their website.[6] After the controversy, John H. Thomas, the United Church of Christ's general minister and president said they would welcome SpongeBob into their ministry. He said, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."[7]
- ^ This date is listed on Spongebob's driving license in the episode No Free Rides, but according to a querstion answered by Stephen Hillenburg in the book, SpongeBob Exposed!, he wants him (along with Mr. Krabs) to remain ageless.[citation needed]
- ^ "SpongeBob Exposed! The Insiders Guide to SpongeBob SquarePants" book
- ^ Associated Press (2005-01-22). Spongebob, Muppets and the Sister Sledge writer suffer criticism (html). USA Today. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ BBC Staff (2005-01-20). US right attacks SpongeBob video (html). BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ BBC Staff (2002-10-09). Camp cartoon star 'is not gay' (html). BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ Chang, Pauline J. (2005-01-28). [http://www.christianpost.com/article/20050128/20875.htm Dobson clarifies Pro-Gay SpongeBob Video Controversy] (html). The Christian Post. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ Till, Francis (2005-02-04). Ministry celebrates SpongeBob: Gay, happy, yellow, orange, whatever, he's welcome (html). National Business Review. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since December 2007 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Fictional shapeshifters | Fictional characters who can change their size | Fictional characters who can stretch themselves | Fictional chefs | Animated characters | Fictional singers | Fictional sea creatures | Fictional karateka | Anthropomorphic martial artists | Fictional characters who can move at superhuman speeds | Fictional invertebrates