I've always been interested in art and making things, but I chose not to go to art school because I thought I needed to do something else. Art was a tough way to make a living. — Stephen Hillenburg Copy Share Image
A lot of things came out of my interest in marine biology, like the fact that there are scallops that fly in the air, and in SpongeBob's world, scallops swim the same way in the ocean. — 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
