I was always interested in the ocean and also in art. I had to figure out how to put the two together,… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I just kind of figured that the marine biology would be a career, and the art would be something I did for… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I've always been interested in art and making things, but I chose not to go to art school because I thought I… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I studied natural resources planning and thought I could get a job at some marine park. But I was great at art… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
In the '70s, as a kid, someone took me to a Tournee of Animation festival at the L.A. County Museum of Art. — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I never imagined that I'd end up in animation, but marine biology and art collided, and here we are! — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
When I pitched the show, I made this special seashell. You could pick it up and hear me singing, 'Spongeboy, Spongeboy!' I also made… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I eventually thought of SpongeBob, but he needed a last name - SquarePants came to mind. — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I was just looking at a packet that had SpongeBob thong underwear, so it goes farther than I would imagine. — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
Laurel and Hardy are among my strongest influences, and I think they're perfect examples of two naive, kid-like characters that are still funny today.… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on 'SpongeBob SquarePants' and my other passions for as long as I am… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
On TV, it is more efficient to use voice-over people because it is really hard to get celebrity voices to recur in a series. — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
In the show, the whole point of the fast food - the fact that SpongeBob loves being part of the fast-food chain and that… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I studied marine biology, even taught marine science before I got into animation, so I had an interest in that field and those animals. — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
When you set out to do a show about a sponge, you can't anticipate this kind of craze. We just try to make ourselves… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
Everybody's got some fascination with undersea life, don't you think? — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
The characters are likable. Even the villainous Plankton - he's still flawed, and you still root for him, in a way, and the style… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
I knew I wanted to create a character who was nerdy and kind of square, so when I drew a square sponge, everything came… — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
