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Tag: spongebob
I don’t think we can really define Spongebob as Classic Spongebob and Modern Spongebob anymore. I would argue that there are now three distinct eras of the show.
First, we have the Classic Era. Starting with the first season, up until the release of the 2004 movie. These were the seasons produced while Stephen Hillenburg (RIP) was the showrunner. After production on the movie was wrapped up, Hillenburg stepped down and most of the original production team left to work on other projects.
This brings us to the second era, formerly called Modern Spongebob, a more appropriate name for this era now would be the Seasonal Rot Era. Starting with Season 4, most of the production staff was replaced, and the writing took a steady decline in quality. While the show still had it’s share of good episodes, the number of bad or mediocre episodes increased. The most notable complaint was flanderization; the personality traits of all of the main characters were exaggerated into caricatures of what they once were. Season 9 was the last season produced during this era, which brings us to the current era of the show.
Stephen Hillenburg and some of the original writers returned for the second Spongebob movie Sponge Out Of Water, and rejoined the production staff partway through Season 9. The writing started improving again, the flanderization from earlier seasons was slowly undone, and we started getting episodes that were either almost as good, if not on parr, with Classic episodes. This is what Modern Spongebob refers to now. It’s not quite the same as the classic seasons, but it’s also an improvement over the post-movie seasons.
that post was right i wouldn’t have a sense of humor without spongebob. its still some of the goddamn funniest shit i’ve ever seen. spongebob almost dying because he’s too polite to ask for a glass of water at sandy’s house. mr. krabs and spongebob killing the health inspector. smittywerbenjagermenjensen. “I was born with glass bones and paper skin. every morning I break my legs. and every afternoon I break my arms.” the perfume department on the flying dutchman’s boat. that time spongebob cleared his mind to be a fine dining waiter and forgot his own name because that’s how customer service just BE. the ugly barnacle that was so ugly everyone DIED. the END. the one where squidward buys a pie but it’s actually a bomb. and the MUSICAL numbers like??? the fun song. the christmas song. tony award winning song “this grill is not a grill”. the entire band geeks episode like…this is all from the top of my head!!!!! just from the top of my head!!! there’s so much more!!! thank god for stephen and all the laughs i’ve had because of him.
Stephen Hillenburg was a marine biologist who created Spongebob as a part of a project to help educate kids on the ocean while working at the orange county marine institute. many of the characters in this educational comic went on to become a part of the series, including the future cartoon’s titular character, then known as Bob the Sponge.
this cartoon revolutionized the industry and in its initial boom was widely adored for its ability to be enjoyed by all ages and all demographics, creating an animated juggernaut for its generation akin to the simpsons or looney tunes, with people of all stripes able to remember its finest moments at the drop of a hat.
hillenburg began his official work on this groundbreaking program 15 years after graduating college. he left his career at the marine institute to study at CalArts. he didnt get his MFA until the early 90s. spongebob squarepants, now considered by many to be nickelodeon’s premier nicktoon, began airing the year he turned 38. his adventure as a professional truly shows the power of pursuing far-flung dreams, and that someone can do something huge long after their supposed “prime.”
this man changed animation, nickelodeon, and the childhoods of millions of people around the world forever in his unfortunately short life. i think it should be known just how much he managed to do in his time here, though, and his work and lofty ambition was something to be admired.
the above clip, featuring tiny tim’s “Living in the Sunlight,” is from the debut episode, “Help Wanted,” partially written by Hillenburg. It perfectly encapsulates the completely unorthodox and wildly entertaining tone that made this show so great.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
When I was in middle school, I took commissions from classmates for drawings of Spongebob characters for about a quarter a pop. It was one of my first forays into “professional” cartooning, and only a small example of the monumental impact of this plucky underwater sponge.
I know I’m not alone in believing that the show has left an indelible mark on the face of cartoon and internet history, and its aftershock will continue for many years.
Rest in Peace, Stephen Hillenburg. Thanks for the good times.
well i guess this is it 