Stephen Hillenburg
Encyclopedia
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg (born August 21, 1961) is an American
animator
, writer
, producer
, actor
, voice actor, and director
best known for creating the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants
. He currently owns his own production company, United Plankton Pictures. He has also written for Mother Goose and Grimm and Rocko's Modern Life
.
and in 1984 with a degree in natural-resource planning and interpretation, with an emphasis in marine resources.
In 1992, he earned a Master of Fine Arts
in experimental animation from the California Institute of the Arts
.
teacher
at what is now the Orange County Ocean Institute. He worked as a marine biologist from 1984–1987. In 1987 Hillenburg decided to pursue a career in animation
, his second lifelong passion. He made several short films, two of which were awarded and played in animation film festivals internationally. His two short films
The Green Beret (1991) (which was featured in an episode of "Liquid Television
"; MTV
misspelled his name "Hillenberg" in the credits) and Wormholes (1992) became popular shorts in several film festivals — and received various awards.
While still attending animation school, Hillenburg received a job on the children's TV series Mother Goose & Grimm from 1991 to 1993. When attending the California Institute of the Arts he made his thesis film called 'Wormholes' (which was funded by the Princess Grace Foundation). Hillenburg displayed his films at various animation festivals. Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life
, met Hillenburg at an animation festival and asked Hillenburg if he would be a director on the show, to which he agreed. Hillenburg joined the Nickelodeon animated series as a writer
, producer
, and storyboard
artist. While working on Rocko's Modern Life, Hillenburg became friends with Tom Kenny
, who would later become the voice of SpongeBob, and future SpongeBob collaborators Mr. Lawrence
, Martin Olson
, Paul Tibbitt and others. He now lives in San Marino, California.
, a friend and comedy writer working on Rocko's Modern Life
. Olson loved it and suggested that Hillenburg rewrite it as an undersea cartoon series
. When Rocko's Modern Life ended in 1996, Hillenburg began developing the concept, and in 1995 teamed with some of his former "Rocko" colleagues to design the show's backgrounds and characters.
In 1996, Hillenburg pitched the show to Nickelodeon, using an aquarium, character models, a theme song and the storyboard that would become the pilot episode "Help Wanted". To voice the main character of SpongeBob, Hillenburg approached Tom Kenny
, who had worked with him on Rocko's Modern Life. Originally, SpongeBob was to be named SpongeBoy, but after voice acting for the original seven minute pilot was recorded in 1997, the Nickelodeon legal department discovered that the name was already in use for a mop product. Upon finding this out, Hillenburg decided to use the name "SpongeBob", as he believed the character's given name still had to contain "Sponge" so that viewers would not mistake him for a "Cheese Man". Hillenburg chose "SquarePants" as a family name as it referred to the character's square shape and "had a nice ring to it".
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
was released in the U.S. on November 19, 2004. It received generally good reviews from critics and successfully grossed over $140 million worldwide. The film was intended to be the series finale
, and creator Hillenburg announced that he would resign and gave the post to Tim Hill
. However, in 2005, it was announced that SpongeBob would be continuing with a fourth season due in May. Hillenburg was rumoured to have left the series; however, he did not actually leave the show but still serves as an executive producer
for the show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, voice actor, and director
Animation director
An animation director is the director in charge of all aspects of the animation process during the production of an animated film or animated segment for a live-action film...
best known for creating the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"...
. He currently owns his own production company, United Plankton Pictures. He has also written for Mother Goose and Grimm and Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life is an animated series created by Joe Murray. The show aired for four seasons between 1993 and 1996 on Nickelodeon. Rocko's Modern Life is based around the surreal, parodic adventures of an anthropomorphic wallaby named Rocko, and his life in the city of O-Town...
.
Early life and education
After graduating from Savannah High School in California, Hillenburg enrolled in Humboldt State UniversityHumboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
and in 1984 with a degree in natural-resource planning and interpretation, with an emphasis in marine resources.
In 1992, he earned a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in experimental animation from the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
.
Career
Hillenburg was a marine biologyMarine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at what is now the Orange County Ocean Institute. He worked as a marine biologist from 1984–1987. In 1987 Hillenburg decided to pursue a career in animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
, his second lifelong passion. He made several short films, two of which were awarded and played in animation film festivals internationally. His two short films
The Green Beret (1991) (which was featured in an episode of "Liquid Television
Liquid Television
Liquid Television is an Emmy Award–winning 1990s animation showcase that appeared on MTV. The first season of Liquid Television also aired on BBC Two in co-production with MTV. Ultimately, MTV commissioned three seasons of the show, which was produced by Colossal Pictures...
"; MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
misspelled his name "Hillenberg" in the credits) and Wormholes (1992) became popular shorts in several film festivals — and received various awards.
While still attending animation school, Hillenburg received a job on the children's TV series Mother Goose & Grimm from 1991 to 1993. When attending the California Institute of the Arts he made his thesis film called 'Wormholes' (which was funded by the Princess Grace Foundation). Hillenburg displayed his films at various animation festivals. Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life is an animated series created by Joe Murray. The show aired for four seasons between 1993 and 1996 on Nickelodeon. Rocko's Modern Life is based around the surreal, parodic adventures of an anthropomorphic wallaby named Rocko, and his life in the city of O-Town...
, met Hillenburg at an animation festival and asked Hillenburg if he would be a director on the show, to which he agreed. Hillenburg joined the Nickelodeon animated series as a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, and storyboard
Storyboard
Storyboards are graphic organizers in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence....
artist. While working on Rocko's Modern Life, Hillenburg became friends with Tom Kenny
Tom Kenny
Thomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on...
, who would later become the voice of SpongeBob, and future SpongeBob collaborators Mr. Lawrence
Mr. Lawrence
Douglas Lawrence Osowski , better known as Mr. Lawrence and sometimes credited as Doug Lawrence, is an American voice actor, comedian, writer, storyboard artist, animator and director.-Career:...
, Martin Olson
Martin Olson
Martin Olson is a comedy writer, television producer, stage director and composer. He is also a playwright and poet known for comedic and unusual subject matter and known as an original member of the notorious "Boston Comedy Scene."...
, Paul Tibbitt and others. He now lives in San Marino, California.
SpongeBob SquarePants
In 1989, at the California Institute of the Arts, Hillenburg wrote a comic book called "The Intertidal Zone" about sea creatures in tidepools. The comic was "hosted" by a sponge, which Hillenburg initially drew as a natural sponge but changed to a square sponge because he thought it looked funnier. He showed it to Martin OlsonMartin Olson
Martin Olson is a comedy writer, television producer, stage director and composer. He is also a playwright and poet known for comedic and unusual subject matter and known as an original member of the notorious "Boston Comedy Scene."...
, a friend and comedy writer working on Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life is an animated series created by Joe Murray. The show aired for four seasons between 1993 and 1996 on Nickelodeon. Rocko's Modern Life is based around the surreal, parodic adventures of an anthropomorphic wallaby named Rocko, and his life in the city of O-Town...
. Olson loved it and suggested that Hillenburg rewrite it as an undersea cartoon series
Cartoon series
A cartoon series is a set of regularly presented animated television programs with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes typically share the same characters and a basic theme...
. When Rocko's Modern Life ended in 1996, Hillenburg began developing the concept, and in 1995 teamed with some of his former "Rocko" colleagues to design the show's backgrounds and characters.
In 1996, Hillenburg pitched the show to Nickelodeon, using an aquarium, character models, a theme song and the storyboard that would become the pilot episode "Help Wanted". To voice the main character of SpongeBob, Hillenburg approached Tom Kenny
Tom Kenny
Thomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on...
, who had worked with him on Rocko's Modern Life. Originally, SpongeBob was to be named SpongeBoy, but after voice acting for the original seven minute pilot was recorded in 1997, the Nickelodeon legal department discovered that the name was already in use for a mop product. Upon finding this out, Hillenburg decided to use the name "SpongeBob", as he believed the character's given name still had to contain "Sponge" so that viewers would not mistake him for a "Cheese Man". Hillenburg chose "SquarePants" as a family name as it referred to the character's square shape and "had a nice ring to it".
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is a 2004 American animated film based on the popular Nickelodeon television series SpongeBob SquarePants. The film stars the voices of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Doug Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin, Jeffrey Tambor, and...
was released in the U.S. on November 19, 2004. It received generally good reviews from critics and successfully grossed over $140 million worldwide. The film was intended to be the series finale
Series finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
, and creator Hillenburg announced that he would resign and gave the post to Tim Hill
Tim Hill
Tim Hill is an American film director and television writer.He began his career in 1993 as a writer and storyboard artist for Rocko's Modern Life, he also created the Kablam! skit Action League Now!...
. However, in 2005, it was announced that SpongeBob would be continuing with a fourth season due in May. Hillenburg was rumoured to have left the series; however, he did not actually leave the show but still serves as an executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
for the show.
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Green Beret | Director Composer |
|
| 1992 | Wormholes | Director | |
| 2004 | The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie is a 2004 American animated film based on the popular Nickelodeon television series SpongeBob SquarePants. The film stars the voices of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Doug Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin, Jeffrey Tambor, and... |
Director Writer Producer |
Television
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–1993 | Mother Goose and Grimm | Writer | |
| 1993–1996 | Rocko's Modern Life Rocko's Modern Life Rocko's Modern Life is an animated series created by Joe Murray. The show aired for four seasons between 1993 and 1996 on Nickelodeon. Rocko's Modern Life is based around the surreal, parodic adventures of an anthropomorphic wallaby named Rocko, and his life in the city of O-Town... |
Writer Director Storyboard artist Executive producer Creative producer Creative director |
|
| 1999–present | SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"... |
Creator Executive producer (2005-present) |
|
| 2008 | The Mighty B! The Mighty B! The Mighty B! is an American animated television series co-created by Amy Poehler, Cynthia True and Erik Wiese for Nickelodeon. The series centers on Bessie Higgenbottom, an ambitious Honeybee girlscout that believes she will become a superhero called the Mighty B if she collects every Honeybee badge... |
Special thanks | Episode 1.1: So Happy Together/Sweet Sixteenth |