--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to create a small town…" description: "\"I wanted to create a small town underwater where the characters were more like us than like fish. They have fire. They take walks. They drive. They hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/stephen-hillenburg-10039_create_i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwat_1249527.jpg" --- # I wanted to create a small town underwater where the… ![“I wanted to create a small town underwater where the characters were more like us than like fish. They have fire. They take walks. They drive. They have pets and holidays.” quote by Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/stephen-hillenburg-10039_create_i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwat_1249527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/stephen-hillenburg-10039_create_i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwat_1249527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/stephen-hillenburg-10039_create_i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwat_1249527.jpg) > “I wanted to create a small town underwater where the characters were more like us than like fish. They have fire. They take walks. They drive. They have pets and holidays.” [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fantastical underwater town where residents share human traits and everyday life, highlighting imagination and relatability. **In simple terms:** An underwater city with human‑like people and daily life. Key Takeaway Envision worlds that blend the familiar with the fantastical. Themes imagination humanity community Mood playful creative Type inspirational conceptual When to use this quote - creative writing - animation design - concept art - storytelling - game design Key Concepts world‑building anthropomorphism Questions to Reflect On - How can human traits enhance storytelling in non‑human settings? - What balance of realism and fantasy works best? A Different Perspective May limit realism and audience suspension of disbelief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Holidays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holidays/) [Like Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-fish/) [Small town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-town/) [Town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/town/) [Town Underwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/town-underwater-3931991/) [Underwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underwater/) [Underwater Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underwater-characters-3931990/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [Like a fish needs a bicycle. A goldfish riding a bicycle underwater. I need a man like a fish needs a bicycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-dunn/like-a-fish-needs-a-bicycle-a-goldfish-riding-a-bicycle-underwater-i/) [Irina Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-dunn/) > [I like to fish. I always go when I'm on holidays in Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-mari/i-like-to-fish-i-always-go-when-i-m-on-holidays-in-spain/) [Pablo Mari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-mari/) > [“If I was going to spend the next day in jail for obstruction of justice, I'd better get a good nights sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathi-daley/if-i-was-going-to-spend-the-next-day-in-jail-for-obstruction-of/) [Kathi Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathi-daley/) > [“My name was Salmon like the fish, first name Susie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/my-name-was-salmon-like-the-fish-first-name-susie/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“All I can register of these people is a pattern of blur, one string of masks instead of faces. Atonal, solid, boring. They look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-anske/all-i-can-register-of-these-people-is-a-pattern-of-blur-one-string-of/) [Ksenia Anske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-anske/) > [“When you kiss a Mer-male, does it taste like fish?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-christian/when-you-kiss-a-mer-male-does-it-taste-like-fish/) [Nadine Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-christian/) > [I've always wanted to be able to hold my breath for like, ever, and swim in the water like a fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-pena-jr/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-able-to-hold-my-breath-for-like-ever-and/) [Carlos Pena, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-pena-jr/) > [“They drink like fish and ask the most probing questions." "Welcome to the South." Patrick laughed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/they-drink-like-fish-and-ask-the-most-probing-questions-welcome-to/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“You know in this moment that Gabriel is at your mercy, you can do what you want, he is completely yours and with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-gemmell/you-know-in-this-moment-that-gabriel-is-at-your-mercy-you-can-do-what/) [Nikki Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-gemmell/) > [“I will hear a noise, like a fish jumping, and when I look I'll see Lizzy coming to the surface, shaking off her pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/i-will-hear-a-noise-like-a-fish-jumping-and-when-i-look-i-ll-see/) [Jane Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hamilton/) > [Twinkle twinkle little whore, close them legs, they smell like fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/racheey-babbeess/twinkle-twinkle-little-whore-close-them-legs-they-smell-like-fish/) [Racheey Babbeess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/racheey-babbeess/) > [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I like to fish. Fishing is always a way of relaxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-like-to-fish-fishing-is-always-a-way-of-relaxing/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-have-learned-to-fly-the-air-like-birds-and-swim-the-sea-like-fish/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“They're not people at all, they're graduate students, there's a difference. They fuck like bunnies and drink like fish and stay up late worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-canty/they-re-not-people-at-all-they-re-graduate-students-there-s-a/) [Kevin Canty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-canty/) ## More by Stephen Hillenburg > [When I pitched the show, I made this special seashell. You could pick it up and hear me singing, 'Spongeboy, Spongeboy!' I also made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/when-i-pitched-the-show-i-made-this-special-seashell-you-could-pick/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I eventually thought of SpongeBob, but he needed a last name - SquarePants came to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-eventually-thought-of-spongebob-but-he-needed-a-last-name/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I was just looking at a packet that had SpongeBob thong underwear, so it goes farther than I would imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-was-just-looking-at-a-packet-that-had-spongebob-thong-underwear-so/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/laurel-and-hardy-are-among-my-strongest-influences-and-i-think-they/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on 'SpongeBob SquarePants' and my other passions for as long as I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/anyone-who-knows-me-knows-that-i-will-continue-to-work-on-spongebob/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/on-tv-it-is-more-efficient-to-use-voice-over-people-because-it-is/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [In the show, the whole point of the fast food - the fact that SpongeBob loves being part of the fast-food chain and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/in-the-show-the-whole-point-of-the-fast-food-the-fact-that-spongebob/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I studied marine biology, even taught marine science before I got into animation, so I had an interest in that field and those animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-studied-marine-biology-even-taught-marine-science-before-i-got-into/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/when-you-set-out-to-do-a-show-about-a-sponge-you-can-t-anticipate/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [Everybody's got some fascination with undersea life, don't you think?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/everybody-s-got-some-fascination-with-undersea-life-don-t-you-think/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [The characters are likable. Even the villainous Plankton - he's still flawed, and you still root for him, in a way, and the style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/the-characters-are-likable-even-the-villainous-plankton-he-s-still/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I knew I wanted to create a character who was nerdy and kind of square, so when I drew a square sponge, everything came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-knew-i-wanted-to-create-a-character-who-was-nerdy-and-kind-of/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I thought, well, what about a show that stars undersea creatures, and some of the ones you rarely see animated. So, from there, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-thought-well-what-about-a-show-that-stars-undersea-creatures-and/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [Most sponges in the ocean are sedentary: They attach themselves to a rock and sit and filter-feed the rest of their lives and reproduce,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/most-sponges-in-the-ocean-are-sedentary-they-attach-themselves-to-a/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I was always interested in the ocean and also in art. I had to figure out how to put the two together, but painting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-was-always-interested-in-the-ocean-and-also-in-art-i-had-to-figure/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) [Explore all 68 Stephen Hillenburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) ## More Create quotes > [As far as Vern and I go, we have had situations where people have tried to take photographs of me and cut Vernon out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/as-far-as-vern-and-i-go-we-have-had-situations-where-people-have/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [I'd take garbage, and I'd glue them together and create inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-d-take-garbage-and-i-d-glue-them-together-and-create-inventions/) [Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/) > [United Way works to create a safe and healthy home for everyone in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steward/united-way-works-to-create-a-safe-and-healthy-home-for-everyone-in/) [David Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steward/) > [Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/renewable-energy-could-reduce-emissions-but-also-create-jobs-and/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [“If I can create something unique in the world, so can you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scifurz/if-i-can-create-something-unique-in-the-world-so-can-you/) [SciFurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scifurz/) > [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [For a long time at Blackburn and at Fulham last season, I was playing on the right wing. I've never seen myself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cairney/for-a-long-time-at-blackburn-and-at-fulham-last-season-i-was-playing/) [Tom Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cairney/) > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) [Browse all 5,654 Create quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to create a small town underwater where the characters were more like us than like fish. They have fire. They take walks. They drive. They have pets and holidays.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Hillenburg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwater-where-the-characters-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Create" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwater-where-the-characters-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/stephen-hillenburg-10039_create_i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwat_1249527.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/stephen-hillenburg-10039_create_i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwat_1249527.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/stephen-hillenburg-10039_create_i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwat_1249527.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wanted to create a small town underwater where the characters were more like us than like fish. They have…” — Stephen Hillenburg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Hillenburg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wanted to create a small...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwater-where-the-characters-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-wanted-to-create-a-small-town-underwater-where-the-characters-were/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```