Stephen Hillenburg

Stephen Hillenburg (1961–2018) was an American animator and marine science educator who created the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants.

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Tom Kenny: An American voice actor best known for voicing SpongeBob SquarePants. Kenny’s performance gave Hillenburg’s central character his distinctive voice.
Orange County Marine Institute: A California marine education center, now called the Ocean Institute, in Dana Point. Hillenburg taught marine science there before pursuing animation.
Marine biology: The scientific study of organisms and ecosystems in oceans and other saltwater environments. Hillenburg’s training and teaching centered on marine life.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: A 2004 animated comedy film based on Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants television series. Hillenburg directed and co-wrote this feature-film continuation of his creation.
Derek Drymon: An American animation writer, director, and producer who worked on SpongeBob SquarePants. Drymon helped develop the series during its early production.
The Intertidal Zone: An educational comic book about tide-pool life created by Stephen Hillenburg. Its sea-creature characters and setting anticipated elements of SpongeBob SquarePants.
Tide pool: A shallow coastal pool of seawater left among rocks when the tide recedes. Tide-pool organisms inspired Hillenburg’s early educational work and sea-life characters.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical: A stage musical adaptation of SpongeBob SquarePants with a book by Kyle Jarrow and music by multiple artists. The adaptation carried Hillenburg’s characters into live theater after his death.
Tim Hill: An American filmmaker and animator who worked on SpongeBob SquarePants. Hill was among the early collaborators who helped shape the show.
California Institute of the Arts: A private arts university in Valencia, California, founded by Walt Disney and his brother Roy. Hillenburg studied experimental animation there after working in marine education.