Stephen Hillenburg (Creator of Spongebob Squarepants) dies at 57

[Nowhere Man]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/entertainment-arts-46365439

Very sad to hear this, as someone in their mid 20s I absolutely love those early seasons of Spongebob, even on the odd rewatch they still hold up fantastically. Many of those jokes still pop up in my head and make it hard to resist laughing out loud. He created an incredible universe of characters.

He also had a huge part in the success of Rocko's  Modern Life, of which he was a creative director of, and another favourite cartoon of mine.

It might be cheesy to say but his work played a big role in my childhood years of TV watching so I really am quite gutted to hear about his early passing.

[the]

Fucking Motor Neurone, it swoops in and takes people.

This is sad, Spongebob was great. Yes, it effectively built on the comedy and animation rhythms established by Ren & Stimpy and made them much more palatable, but as animated comedy it wasn't an inferior sanitised product, it had strength, joy and a consistency of its own.

The first Spongebob movie is excellent with some big laughs (haven't seen the later one). SS also contained one of my all-time favourite comedy ideas - Spongebob's driving instructor is a female pufferfish who involuntarily inflates whenever Spongebob crashes the car.

RIP.

[Petey Pate]

He had an unusual career path, having studied marine biology and taught it for a few years before deciding to become an animator.

RIP

[Lemming]

Fuck. The first three seasons of Spongebob have got to be some of the most joke-packed pieces of TV ever made, easily giving golden-era Simpsons a run for its money in terms of sheer laugh density.

Since everyone will no doubt be quoting and referencing their favourite jokes, here's a few of mine:

That's a perfectly ordinary Krabby Pa-OH MY GOODNESS

We're not talking about THIS, or THIS, we're talking about THIIIIIIS

Oh look, an ambulance (this is one of my favourite jokes in anything ever)

[cliggg]

I am glad he is not suffering anymore but sad about his death. R.I.P. Mr. Hillenburg and thanks for all the laughs.

[The Lurker]

Oh look, an ambulance (this is one of my favourite jokes in anything ever)

That's still brilliant and it's now led to me watching classic Spongebob clips on YouTube. I'll just leave these here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob-d5TnNQSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eDPWsRZfEg

[Twed]

I will listen to Ocean Man to pay my respects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E5m_XtCX3c

[Nowhere Man]

I will listen to Ocean Man to pay my respects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E5m_XtCX3c

Perfect song to remember him by, not like an excuse is ever needed to listen to Ween though! (It's crazy to think of how many Ween fans were introduced to them through Spongebob.)