Crew Interviews

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 Sbob 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?

ISpongeBob 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 Sbob?

8. 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 Sbob moment of all time?

Hey, just be patient—I’m working on it!

RICHARD PURSEL, WRITER on SpongeBob SquarePants