TV Show Spongebob Squarepants

The show Spongebob Squarepants has television watchers around the world hooked due to its wit and endearing characters. Taking place in Bikini Bottom, Spongebob Squarepants, the most prominent of all the characters, is a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. Most often seen at the Krusty Krab, Spongebob expresses his love of cooking krabby patties and provides an income for him and his pet snail, Gary. Run by the greedy Mr. Krabs, the Krusty Krab is a fast food restaurant envied by Plankton, a small creature that owns an unsuccessful diner near the Krusty Krab. Squidward, another Krusty Krab employee as well as Spongebob’s neighbor, is pessimistic about nearly everything. He constantly complains about Spongebob and only enjoys things

that have to do with fine arts, such as his clarinet.

Patrick Star, a pink starfish that lives by Spongebob, never proves to have much intelligence and could be compared to a sloth. Patrick and Spongebob are the greatest of friends and usually enjoy their time together by acting on a new, silly idea. Sometimes accompanying them on this is Sandy Cheeks, a prideful squirrel from Texas. Though the television show aims to appeal to children, certain actions taken by the characters prove to intrigue adults due to its relatable references.
The characters of the show demonstrate numerous values such as accomplishment, bravery, inspiration, and much more. Yet, a realization occurs when a viewer realizes that each character represents a value that they demonstrate to the extreme. It is recognized that Mr. Krabs represents greed. The restaurant owner only cares about money, leading every one of his acts to revolve around its financial effect on himself. Squidward signifies prestige and holds no patriotism for his small town of Bikini Bottom. His only concern is with becoming famous through his artistic and musical abilities. Patrick Star exemplifies laziness due to loving to eat, sleep, and having an unwillingness to act.

Patrick seems to gratify only the most basic bodily desires and refuses to attempt to excel in life. Sandy Cheeks epitomizes the idea of intellectual achievement, as well as represents pride. Known to be the smartest citizen in Bikini Bottom, Sandy frequently lets everyone know that since she is a mammal and land creature, she is better than sea critters that occupy the town. Denoting the idea of power, Plankton is the character that desires dominance. He wishes to be in control of others and will do whatever it takes to satisfy this need. Most importantly, Spongebob characterizes what is means to be a child. He is unaware of social status, the value of money, or any other thing that helps to drive adults in society. Spongebob just strives to keep a close group of friends and to work hard at his job. Yet, not because of the salary he earns, but the satisfaction he gets from being good at making Krabby Patties. Spongebob’s personality is irresistible, allowing his honorable qualities to stand out from the other characters. Each character struggles with the consequences that comes along with their values. While their basic value system usually triumphs, viewers are provided the opportunity to witness the decisions the characters are faced with and the frustrations that endure.
The town of Bikini Bottom is home to all of these characters and then some.

Similar to real life situations, the town proves to be a representation of society. Each citizen is unique, yet must learn to coexist with those around them. Bikini Bottom consists of educational institutes, places of employment, and divisions of town where the citizens must live. Just like in American society, the citizens must unite to provide an adequate living environment for themselves and others. Yet, a cunning realization of the show is that it not only encourages the American Dream, but it also notes life’s tests. No matter a person’s age, a citizen is going to experience conflicts that inevitably go along with living in society. For the younger audience, Bikini Bottom provides them with an understanding of what to expect in life. Struggles and clashes that occur in Bikini Bottom are similar to those that happen in a real society. The comical characters, particularly Spongebob, provide children with the types of ways they will see people dealing with the misfortunes of life. For example, Spongebob deals with struggling by using optimism to make the best of a situation. Mr. Krabs retorts to this same kind of situation by looking for someone else to blame. No matter how the character’s personality forces them to react to pressure, it shows the young viewer an important lesson of people. For the older audience, these same personalities of characters help them reflect on the people they have

encountered in life. All adults have come across an optimistic person like Spongebob, or a loyal friend you would do anything for like Patrick. A neighbor who hates us for no reason, or a self -centered boss who could use a reality check. Adults can relate to the situations that the characters are enduring and may find humor in the way the characters react. In the end, this television show merely meant to tell about a sponge who lives under the sea is able to give people the meaning of life experiences.
Within the television show there are elements that the audience can expect to be recurring in every episode. One example is the very familiar music that has become engraved into the audience’s head. The familiar Spongebob Squarepants theme song beginning with, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” is an uplifting song that signifies the optimism within the television show. This quirky music helps to add to the humor of the genre in every episode. Another example of recurring elements within the show in the title sequences that are present at the beginning of each episode. Always proving to be creative and humorous, these titles are usually similar to phrases in American society that are used daily. The third persistent element is the show itself. Unlike the 3D style that most present day cartoons use, Spongebob Squarepants is in a 2D style. This is vital in allowing the older audience to relate to the traditional style of cartoons they are used to, while standing out from other cartoons of this generation. Also, even though they are never actually spoken of, each character has characteristics that can also be expected in each episode. This ranges from the exaggerated, loud laugh of Spongebob to other characters being able to morph into different shapes. This type of style adds to the cartoons genre, as well as make life seem that much more humorous.