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STEVEN BANKS, STORY EDITOR
1. Which character do you relate to or sympathize with the most? Why?
SpongeBob. Because he works hard, cries daily, likes his job, loves his friends and wears cool clothes.
2. Why do you think people of all ages love the show?
I have no idea. If I did I would create a show and make millions.
3. What makes SpongeBob different than other shows?
SpongeBob is in it.
4. What¹s the best thing about working on the show?
The cold hard cash, people are impressed when I tell them what I do, I get to hang around with funny people and we get free donuts on Monday and Friday.
5. What is challenging about working on the show?
Coming up with new ideas after doing more than 240 stories.
6. How long does it take to put together one episode of the show?
Too long. About 9 months.
7. Why do you think SpongeBob, the character, is so beloved?
(see answer #2)
8. What¹s your favorite episode of SpongeBob?
The Two Faces of Squidward.
9. How did you get started in the business?
My agent asked me if I had ever thought about doing animation. I said “No.” He then asked if I wanted to interview for a job on CatDog, I did and got it. Then I worked on Jimmy Neutron and now SpongeBob for the past 4 years.
10. What do you think is the funniest SpongeBob moment of all time?
When Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob that the hat he’s wearing makes him look like a girl and SpongeBob asks, “Am I a pretty girl?”
Thanks!
DEREK IVERSEN, WRITER
1. Which character do you relate to or sympathize with the most? Why?
I relate to SpongeBob more than anybody. Like him, I've been accused of being a zealot, a freak, a spaz -- sometimes all in one day. He's awkward and sincere, as I can be, but there are far worse things to be.
2. Why do you think people of all ages love the show?
I think it has something to do with SpongeBob's vulnerability. At first you find yourself laughing at what an obsessive idiot lunatic he can be. But before long, you realize that at some point in your life, that was you. And that just makes it even funnier ... as long as you've gotten past it.
3. What makes SpongeBob different than other shows?
When SpongeBob came out, I noticed that a lot other cartoons at the time had sarcastic, snarky kid characters -- characters who were so busy being cool and facile with witty repartees that they seemed more like little adults than kids. SpongeBob kind of bucked that trend, and he is still unique in how free he is of guile. He is a true innocent. That gets him in a lot of trouble too, but I think it is his unpretentious nature that makes him lovable and refreshing.
4. What’s the best thing about working on the show?
I really enjoy the people I work with. I have the privilege of working with talented, intelligent, nice, and relentlessly helpful people. I hear that not all jobs are like this.
5. What is challenging about working on the show?
As a writer, my biggest challenge now is coming with entirely new stories that haven't yet been done. With more than 200 stories completed, it's hard sometimes to spin a SpongeBob yarn that hasn't already been spun!
6. How long does it take to put together one episode of the show?
From start to finish, it may be about a year from when an idea leaves my brain to when it lands on your screen. Come to think of it, it's a little disturbing that my brain somehow got connected to your screen. You should call your cable company about that.
7. Why do you think SpongeBob, the character, is so beloved?
I think people love SpongeBob because he is a genuinely nice person. No matter how annoying, obsessive, loud, moronic or spastic he may be -- and that can be pretty severe -- he is always a loyal friend, a hard worker, and an optimist. That's pretty lovable!
8. What’s your favorite episode of SpongeBob?
It's very hard to choose a favorite, but SB129 is certainly one of them.
This is a hilarious episode that features time travel, for which I am always a sucker, as well as the first appearance of caveman Sponge and Pat. The funny drawings, great dialogue and weird risks this episode takes make it vintage SpongeBob for me.
9. How did you get started in the business?
I got my start in "the biz" in the Nickelodeon mailroom. I patiently worked my way up from there. In 1998, I moved up to a production assistant job on a curious new show called "SpongeBob SquarePants." At the time, we figured we'd be lucky if we got to do one whole season before they pulled the plug on us. Ten years and seven seasons later, it looks like we're better than lucky!
10. What do you think is the funniest SpongeBob moment of all time?
In The SpongeBob Movie, Sponge and Pat throw an impromptu "bubble party" at a biker bar bathroom. But when they discover that "All bubble blowing babies will be beaten senseless by every able-bodied patron in the bar,"they rush to cover their tracks by popping every bubble they just blew!
That, and the Goofy Goober "interrogation" that follows, makes me laugh every time.
MR. LAWRENCE, WRITER
1. Which character do you relate to or sympathize with the most? Why?
Well I created the voice of Plankton as well as writing his adventures, so I am partial to the little creep. I must say unfortunately that I'm probably closer to Plankton's personality than any of the other characters but I wouldn’t want anyone to know that I'm megalomaniacal.
2. Why do you think people of all ages love the show?
Three reasons: One, it's funny. Two, it's funny, and three, it's funny.
It's hard to hate a show that is genuinely funny, no matter what age you are.
3. What makes SpongeBob different than other shows?
I don't see any other show whose hero can absorb and hold five hundred gallons of water, do you?
4. What¹s the best thing about working on the show?
The best thing about working on the show is I get to work with animals; like crabs and squirrels. I tried working with people but they're filthy.
5. What is challenging about working on the show?
The challenging part of this job has to be the annual visit we all take to Bikini Bottom. I hate snorkeling but I knew what I was in for when I took the job.
6. How long does it take to put together one episode of the show?
Three Ceptons, (that's "cartoon" jargon, look it up.)
7. Why do you think SpongeBob, the character, is so beloved?
I think it's because deep down we're all a bunch of squares.
8. What¹s your favorite episode of SpongeBob?
Frankendoodle is my favorite because I play the live-action artist in the boat that book-ends the episode.
9. How did you get started in the business?
My father was an animated bear, so It's definitely who you know.
10. What do you think is the funniest SpongeBob moment of all time?
The funniest moment is still in my head, but I hope to write it down soon.
Love
Mr. Lawrence and Sheldon
DANI MICHAELI, WRITER
1. Which character do you relate to or sympathize with the most? Why?
I relate to SpongeBob because coming to work each day is such a joy (corny but true) -- just like at the Krusty Krab!
2. Why do you think people of all ages love the show?
It could be that people of all ages respond to SpongeBob because there is an innocent, enthusiastic and totally psyched little sponge inside all of us. Or it could be that the show is on almost all day long.
3. What makes SpongeBob different than other shows?
SpongeBob is unique for many different reasons but something that makes it a very funny show is our storyboard directors.
4. What’s the best thing about working on the show?
No single best thing about working on the show (unless you count donuts on Monday and Friday)... It's all great.
5. What is challenging about working on the show?
At this late date, coming up with ideas we haven't done before is the biggest challenge of working on SpongeBob.
6. How long does it take to put together one episode of the show?
I believe each episode takes about nine months from idea to finished cartoon.
7. Why do you think SpongeBob, the character, is so beloved?
I would guess the source of SpongeBob's enduring popularity is his optimism. You can't keep SpongeBob down.
8. What’s your favorite episode of SpongeBob?
For sentimental reasons, "Bummer Vacation" is my favorite... It's the first episode I worked on.
9. How did you get started in the business?
I got started in show business shortly after my grandmother kicked me out of her apartment.
10. What do you think is the funniest SpongeBob moment of all time?
I can't reveal that since it's in an upcoming episode. Second funniest is when Squidward performed open heart surgery on SpongeBob in the exploding pie episode.
RICHARD PURSEL, WRITER
1. Which character do you relate to or sympathize with the most? Why?
Gary. He’s obviously smart, though he doesn’t talk much (“Meow!”) His single meow can be interpreted in a million different ways and I just love that!
2. Why do you think people of all ages love the show?
SpongeBob is a labor of love. It’s well crafted and viewers know that and appreciate that. It can be smart as well as dumb, and we’re all capable of being smart and dumb sometimes.
3. What makes SpongeBob different than other shows?
SpongeBob is a REAL cartoon with funny gags written and drawn by hand by real funny people. Other shows tend to be complicated and zap the fun out. The idea that a sponge, squid, sea star, and crab all live together underwater in the intertidal zone in a place called Bikini Bottom is naturally funny and easy to understand.
4. What’s the best thing about working on the show?
SpongeBob is perhaps the best run show I’ve ever worked on; it’s a well-oiled machine and everybody gets along. I really feel that the SpongeBob crew is a mutual admiration society—we are all fans of the individuals that make each part great! The writers are nice, the artists are nice, the actors are nice, and even the bosses are nice! I think we’re all inspired by such great characters and are proud of our work and the end results!
5. What is challenging about working on the show?
Coming up with new cartoon ideas that haven’t been done before. Finding new situations to place SpongeBob and crew in is getting increasingly tough!
6. How long does it take to put together one episode of the show?
That one percent of inspiration can come in a flash and I have to remember all the puzzle pieces and write theme down before they evaporate from my memory! I’ve meditated on an idea while riding my bike to work and figured out the guts to many a story, then the next week I’ll sculpt and craft the exact wording until I’m proud to show it off; so about a week for a page-long premise.
7. Why do you think SpongeBob, the character, is so beloved?
SpongeBob is an eternal optimist. Smile and the world smiles with you!
8. What’s your favorite episode of SpongeBob?
I LOVE “Jellyfish Jam”! Jellyfish are intricate and inspiring in the real life sea world; they’re endlessly fascinating. Down in Bikini Bottom, “jelly fishing” is the equivalent to butterfly collecting on the surface world; except you can milk them for yummy jelly—and jellyfish are inspired by music! When Squidward asks SpongeBob, “How can you possibly have fun with jellyfish?” Sponge shows us in an incredible dance sequence that’s totally outta control! How fun is that?!
9. How did you get started in the business?
I started as a production assistant on Tiny Toons and then worked my way up as a storyboard artist and writer on the Ren & Stimpy Show.
10. What do you think is the funniest SpongeBob moment of all time?
Hey, just be patient—I’m working on it!
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