Stephen Hillenburg

If you were looking for the article about the storyboard artist, then see Stephen Herczeg.

If you were looking for the article about the comic book artist, then see Stephen DeStefano.

Person

Credits

Stephen Hillenburg
General Information
Birth:	Stephen McDannell Hillenburg August 21, 1961 Fort Sill, Oklahoma, U.S.
Death:	November 26, 2018 (aged 57) San Marino, California, U.S.
Gender:	Male
Series Information
Credits:	Creator Writer Executive producer Storyboard director
Portrays:	Potty the Parrot (2000 - 2004) Director Dover Sole Baby in stroller Man inside the treasure chest Burger Beard (mouth)
Years:	1999 - 2018

Stephen McDannell Hillenburg (August 21, 1961 - November 26, 2018; aged 57) was an American marine biologist, artist, and the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. He developed the idea for the series while working at the Ocean Institute in California.

The character of SpongeBob was based on an educational book he had illustrated called The Intertidal Zone, and the character of Pearl was inspired by his time as a supervisor of whale watches at the Ocean Institute. He named Karen Plankton after his wife, Karen Hillenburg.

He was the showrunner from 1999 until 2004, when the first movie was completed. He continued to be credited as the executive producer for seasons four to twelve, but his role was much less involved; he received this credit for every episode, regardless of whether or not he contributed at all, making it a "vanity credit" rather than an actual one. According to Vincent Waller, Hillenburg did not do any drawing, directing, or writing whatsoever after the first movie; his only job was "being Steve."

Other than behind-the-scenes work, he was the original voice of Potty the Parrot before the role was passed onto Paul Tibbitt. Tibbitt succeeded Hillenburg as the showrunner for seasons four to nine.

Hillenburg was a strong and firm proponent of "cute, stiff, on-model" animation for the characters. He was well known for being adamant about his visions for the show and for never changing his mind; he was even known to stay at the studio "late every night, going over all the storyboards, making sure SpongeBob was cute in every panel." However, as his health deteriorated, the show's new crew from season 10 onward was able to get him to "loosen up" on a few of his former rules for the show. Mainly, they changed the animation from "on-model" to extremely off-model in the vein of Ren & Stimpy, which many of the new crew members had worked on.

It was announced he was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) on March 13, 2017. His deteriorating health made it difficult for him to speak or offer input on the series. However, he continued to occasionally visit Nickelodeon Animation Studio to check on progress.

Hillenburg passed away on November 26, 2018, due to complications linked to ALS.

Biography

In 1984, Stephen Hillenburg graduated from Humboldt State University with a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation, with an emphasis on Marine Resources. He became a marine biology teacher at the Orange County Marine Institute--now known as the Ocean Institute--in Dana Point, California. Hillenburg's love for the sea and its creatures inspired him to create teaching tools for his students with characters that would later become the main characters of SpongeBob SquarePants.

In 1987, Stephen Hillenburg pursued a degree in Experimental Animation at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia and earned his Master of Fine Arts in 1992. Also during the same year, he won an award for Best Animated Concept at the Ottawa International Animation Festival for his animated short "Wormholes," which was shown at several international animation festivals. From 1993 to 1996, he worked on the Nickelodeon animated series Rocko's Modern Life; during this time, he continued to fine-tune the aquatic series concept that he had begun in the 1980s. It would eventually be pitched to Nickelodeon as SpongeBoy Ahoy! and subsequently renamed SpongeBob SquarePants.

In 2007, a frivolous lawsuit, claiming that a toy inventor named Troy Walker came up with the SpongeBob concept, was filed against Nickelodeon and Hillenburg by a plaintiff wanting a "ridiculous" total of $1.6 billion from Nickelodeon. The claimant, Troy Walker, did not do enough research on his claims before making them, setting his implausible story in 1991, years after Hillenburg had started work on his concept. A summary judgment quickly ruled in Viacom's favor over the flimsy claims.

In March 2017, Hillenburg revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal illness that affects and causes the death of neurons that control the brain and the spinal cord. He tried to work on the series as best as he could from then on.

On November 26, 2018, Hillenburg passed away from ALS-related complications. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered across the coast of California, close to where Bikini Bottom resides. The future of the show is currently in doubt, though Vincent Waller has stated that the show would still continue.

Trivia

Example of Stephen Hillenburg being referred to as "Steve Hillenburg."

• Sometimes, he is referred to as "Steven or Steve Hillenburg."
• Stephen Hillenburg drew inspiration from his own life while designing the main characters. Mr. Krabs was based on Hillenburg's former manager at a sea-themed restaurant. Pearl was inspired by his regular supervision of whale watches while working as a marine science educator. SpongeBob's design was influenced by Hillenburg's appearance as a young child, with "nerdy gapped teeth."
• Following the release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie in 2004, Stephen Hillenburg left the series, because he wanted it to end. However, Hillenburg did not leave the series entirely; he still served as an executive producer during his lifetime.
• On May 25, 2012, it was announced that Stephen Hillenburg would be working on The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.
• Vincent Waller has confirmed on Twitter that Stephen Hillenburg was alive during the storyboard and writing phases of the episode "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout." However, he did not contribute to the episode's boarding or script.
• According to Vincent Waller, he was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall.
• According to Everybody's Talking: The Voices Behind SpongeBob SquarePants, while Tom Kenny was practicing the voice of SpongeBob, Stephen Hillenburg read several of Squidward's lines since his voice actor (Rodger Bumpass) had not been cast yet.
• When the Bikini Atoll island is shown at night, a human finger is visible in the water to portray a reflection of the moon. According to the "Christmas Who?" audio commentary, Stephen Hillenburg filmed the Bikini Atoll island at Steve Belfer's house in his friend's pool in California.
• During the start of SpongeBob, he made several rules and restrictions for the series.
  • SpongeBob should never get his driver's license, no matter what he does. This is because Hillenburg loved the dynamic between SpongeBob and Mrs. Puff, so SpongeBob getting his license would end it. Another reason is that it saved the show from being butchered by Nickelodeon executives who wanted to turn SpongeBob into a kid. 
  • No revealing the identity of Pearl’s mother or the Krabby Patty Formula and keep them a secret throughout the series.
  • SpongeBob should not have a romantic interest, so he made him asexual like real sea sponges.
  • According to Vincent Waller on Twitter, Stephen Hillenburg himself said he hated the idea of SpongeBob having a crossover episode with another cartoon. The only episode of another Nickelodeon show featuring a SpongeBob character is "Big Time Beach Party" from Big Time Rush, which features Patchy the Pirate. Since Big Time Rush is a live-action sitcom and Patchy is a live-action character, there has still never been an official SpongeBob crossover episode with another Nick show outside of video games and promos. 
  • It is also known that Stephen Hillenburg himself said he hated the idea of SpongeBob having a spin-off series before he passed away. In fact, there have been petitions from fans trying to cancel these spin-off productions. According to an interview with Paul Tibbitt: "Steve would always say to me, 'You know, one of these days, they’re going to want to make SpongeBob Babies. That's when I'm out of here.'"
  • He also worried about the excessive merchandising of the show and the consequences it would have on the planet. In a New York Times interview here, Sherm Cohen recalled that Hillenburg told him: "My biggest nightmare is that I'm going to be at the beach one day, and one of these dolls is going to wash up on the shore like garbage." According to Cohen, "being a marine biologist who also surfs, [Stephen] doesn't want to be responsible for bringing a glut of garbage into the world."
  • In the same interview, he treated one of his old classmates with disdain after said classmate introduced him as the creator of SpongeBob, due to his resentment towards the show's popularity. 
  • In some interviews, he recalled that when he first pitched SpongeBob, Nickelodeon executives said they would only greenlight the show if he made SpongeBob and the gang into children. He was about to quit Nickelodeon and give up on the show until he came up with a compromise (putting SpongeBob in a boat driving school so he could remain an adult-aged character).
• Stephen Hillenburg is the first creator of any Nickelodeon series to pass away.
• "Truth or Square" was the last SpongeBob TV movie to premiere during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• According to Vincent Waller on Twitter, the episode "Pineapple RV" was the final episode to be fully finished before Stephen Hillenburg's death.
• The SpongeBob Movie: The Sponge Out of Water is the last entry of the SpongeBob SquarePants film trilogy to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water: The Junior Novelization, Plank-Ton to the Rescue!, Plank-ton's Big Plan!, Krabby Patty Caper, and The Good, The Bad, and the Krabby! were the last SpongeBob movie books to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
    • SpongeBob HeroPants was the last SpongeBob movie-based video game to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• The Complete Ninth Season was the last SpongeBob season DVD to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • The SpongeBob Movie Collection (Blu-ray) was the last SpongeBob Blu-ray to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 19 was the last digital SpongeBob DVD to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• The First & Second Seasons, Big Hits: Volume 1, The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom, and SpongeBob SquarePants Holiday Collection were the last SpongeBob DVDs to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• SpongeBob Comics No. 85, SpongeBob Freestyle Funnies 2018, and SpongeBob Comics Annual Super-Giant Swimtacular No. 6 were the last SpongeBob comic books to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• Nickelodeon Kart Racers was the last SpongeBob video game that is a crossover with other franchises by Nickelodeon to be released during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• Nickelodeon Thanksgiving Weekends was the last SpongeBob event to happen during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• Season 11 is the last season to end before Stephen Hillenburg's passing.
  • "Goons on the Moon" was the last episode to premiere in airing order during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • "Squirrel Jelly" was the last 16-minute episode to premiere during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • "The String" was the last 6-minute episode to premiere during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• Season 12 was the last season to premiere before Stephen Hillenburg's passing.
  • "FarmerBob" was the last episode to premiere in production order during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
    • "FarmerBob" was also the last 11-minute episode to premiere in both production order and airing order during Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• The Eight-Hour marathon was the first SpongeBob event to happen after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• "The Nitwitting" was the first episode to premiere after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • "The Nitwitting" is also the first 11-minute episode to premiere in airing order after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• The Third & Fourth Seasons was the first SpongeBob DVD to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• Sponge at Heart: How to Live a Bikini Bottom Life was the first SpongeBob book to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.

A posthumous mention

• "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout" is the first SpongeBob TV movie to premiere after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • Additionally, a thank you and farewell message for Stephen Hillenburg appears at the end of "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout," dedicating the episode to him. Some staff members have also considered the special as a tribute to him.
• The Complete Tenth Season is the first SpongeBob season DVD to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• "Handemonium" is the first 15-minute episode to premiere in airing order after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• "Escape from Beneath Glove World" is the first 22-minute/double-length episode to premiere after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • However if one were to include the rerun/two-part versions of "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout," then "Escape from Beneath Glove World" is the second/third.
• The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run: The Junior Novelization, The Great Gary Rescue!, Happy Campers!, Welcome to Camp Coral!, and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run: Official Activity Book were the first SpongeBob movie books to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• Super Brawl Universe, SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off, and Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated are the first SpongeBob SquarePants video games to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
  • Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is also the first SpongeBob-centric video game to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime as well.
• The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will be the first entry of the SpongeBob SquarePants film trilogy to be released after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.
• Season 13 will be the first season to premiere after Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime.

Errors

Should be written as "Stephen Hillenburg"

• In "Help Wanted," Stephen Hillenburg's name is misspelled as "Stephen Hilleburg," missing the "N" in his surname.

Should be written as "Stephen Hillenburg"

• While promoting "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run" on the official SpongeBob movie website, Hillenburg's name is misspelled as "Stephen Hillberg." This mistake was later corrected.
• On Amazon Prime Video for the episode "Frankendoodle," the credits say that the portrayer of the artist at sea is Stephen Hillenburg, despite the character actually being portrayed by Doug Lawrence.

Gallery

Photos

A yearbook photo of Stephen Hillenburg in his high school years

Another image of his high school years with his class

Artwork by Hillenburg

Seagulls

Planktonic organisms

Abstract SpongeBob

Main cast in 1996, before Mrs. Puff was added

SpongeBob's original design

Squidward's original design

Pearl's original design

Mr. Krabs' original design

Patrick's original design

Mrs. Puff's original design (1997)

Sketches of Mrs. Puff

Reef blower sketches

Video

References

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Awards and nominations for SpongeBob SquarePants V • E Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) Nominees: Sean Dempsey, Derek Drymon, Juli Murphy Hashiguchi, Sam Henderson, Stephen Hillenburg, Jay Lender, Mark O'Hare, Kent Osborne, Alan Smart, Paul Tibbitt, Tom Yasumi (for "New Student Starfish"/"Clams," 2003) • Derek Drymon, Juli Murphy Hashiguchi, Stephen Hillenburg, Kent Osborne, Andrew Overtoom, Alan Smart, Paul Tibbitt (for "Ugh," 2004) • Mike Bell, C.H. Greenblatt, Stephen Hillenburg, Alan Smart, Paul Tibbitt, Vincent Waller, Tom Yasumi (for "Fear of a Krabby Patty"/"Shell of a Man," 2005) • Casey Alexander, Luke Brookshier, Stephen Hillenburg, Tom King, Dani Michaeli, Chris Mitchell, Andrew Overtoom, Alan Smart, Paul Tibbitt and Tom Yasumi (for "Bummer Vacation"/"Wigstruck," 2007) • Steven Banks, Charlie Bean, Stephen Hillenburg, Dani Michaeli, Chris Reccardi, Alan Smart, Aaron Springer, Paul Tibbitt, Tom Yasumi (for "The Inmates of Summer"/"The Two Faces of Squidward," 2008) Outstanding Short-format Animated Program Nominees: Dina Buteyn, Stephen Hillenburg, Dani Michaeli, Alan Smart, Aaron Springer, Paul Tibbitt and Tom Yasumi (for "Dear Vikings," 2009) • Luke Brookshier, Dina Buteyn, Nate Cash, Stephen Hillenburg, Doug Lawrence, Andrew Overtoom, Alan Smart and Paul Tibbitt (for "That Sinking Feeling," 2011) • Marc Ceccarelli, Stephen Hillenburg, Kyle McCulloch, Jennie Monica, Jack Pendarvis, Alan Smart, Paul Tibbitt, Vincent Waller, Tom Yasumi (for "Company Picnic," 2016) • Luke Brookshier, Marc Ceccarelli, Stephen Hillenburg, Jennie Monica, Adam Paloian, Alan Smart, Vincent Waller, Tom Yasumi (for "Plankton Paranoia," 2019) Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program Directors: Andrew Overtoom, Andrea Romano, Alan Smart and Tom Yasumi (2010) • Casey Alexander, Luke Brookshier, Nate Cash, Zeus Cervas, Sean Charmatz, Andrew Overtoom, Andrea Romano, Alan Smart, Aaron Springer, Paul Tibbitt, Vincent Waller and Tom Yasumi (2012) Outstanding Special Class Animated Program Animators: Dina Buteyn, Stephen Hillenburg and Paul Tibbitt (2010) Outstanding Children's Animated Program Nominees: Stephen Hillenburg, Jennie Monica Hammond and Paul Tibbitt (2012) • Stephen Hillenburg, Marc Ceccarelli, Vincent Waller and Jennie Monica (2018) Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program Voice actors: Rodger Bumpass as Squidward Tentacles (2012) • Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants (2018) • Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants (2020) • Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants (2021) Outstanding Sound Editing – Animation Nominees: Todd Brodie, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Chris Gresham, Matt Hall, Jeffrey Hutchins, James Lifton, Paulette Lifton, D.J. Lynch, Aran Tanchum and Kimberlee Vanek (2012) • Mishelle Fordham, Vincent Guisetti, Jeffrey Hutchins, James Lifton, Paulette Lifton, D.J. Lynch, Wes Otis, Monique Reymond and Aran Tanchum (2013) • Devon Bowman, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Jeff Hutchins, Aran Tanchum and Vincent Guisetti (2014) Outstanding Sound Mixing for an Animated Program Nominees: D.J. Lynch, Justin Brinsfield, Ryan Greene, Manny Grijalva, Jeff Hutchins and Aran Tanchum (2020) Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated Series Nominees: Tom Kenny (2021) Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program Voice actors: Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants (2022) • Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants (2023) Individual Achievement in Animation - Storyboard Nominees: Benjamin Arcand (for "SpongeBob's Road to Christmas," 2022) Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Music Nominees: Stephen Hillenburg, Donna Castricone, Nicholas R. Jennings, Alan Smart, Peter Burns, Doug Lawrence, Derek Drymon, Alex Gordon, Donna Grillo, Jennie Monica, Krandal Crews, Jim Leber, Justin Brinsfield, Tony Ostyn, Nicolas Carr (for "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"/"Pickles;" 2000) • Nicolas Carr (for "Fools in April"/"Neptune's Spatula" in 2001; for "Jellyfish Hunter"/"The Fry Cook Games" in 2002; for "Wet Painters"/"Krusty Krab Training Video" in 2003; for "The Great Snail Race"/"Mid-Life Crustacean" in 2004) • Jimmy Lifton, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Paulette Lifton (for "Mid-Life Crustacean;" 2004) Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Sound Nominees: Nicolas Carr (for "Karate Choppers;" 2000) • Andrea Anderson, Jimmy Lifton, Monette Holderer, D.J. Lynch, Vincent Gutisetti, Jeff Hutchins and Gabriel Rosas (for "Rock Bottom"/"Arrgh!;" 2001) Best Sound Editing in Television – Animation Nominees: Timothy J. Borquez, Jeff Hutchins and Daisuke Sawa (for "The Secret Box"/"Band Geeks;" 2002) Best Sound Editing in Television Animation Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Chris Gresham (for "Nasty Patty"/"Idiot Box;" 2003) Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn, Chris Gresham and Paulette Lifton (for "Pranks a Lot"/"SpongeBob Meets the Strangler;" 2005) • Vincent Gutisetti, Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, Monique Reymond, D.J. Lynch, Mark Howlett, Jeff Hutchins, Aran Tanchum, Mishelle Smith and Paulette Lifton (for "Have You Seen This Snail?;" 2006) • Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeHenge;" 2008) Best Sound Editing: Television Animation Nominees: : Chiho Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Daisuke Sawa, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Dan Cubert, Lawrence Reyes, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "Suction Cup Symphony;" 2009) • Chino Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Eric Freeman, Tom Syslo, Keith Dickens, Jason Stiff, Sergio Silva, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One;" 2010) Best Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR Animation in Television Nominees: Devon Bowman, Justin Brinsfield, Nicolas Carr, Andrea Anderson, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Eric Freeman, Tony Orozco and Danny Tchibinda (for "Gary's New Toy;" 2013) • Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Bobby Crew, Keith Dickens, Gabriel Rossas and Tony Orozco (for "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!;" 2013) Miscellaneous British Academy Children's Awards International Category Recipients: Stephen Hillenburg and Alan Smart (2007) • Paul Tibbitt, Casey Alexander and Zeus Cervas (2012) • Marc Ceccarelli, Luke Brookshier and Vincent Waller (2014) Annecy International Animated Film Festival Special Award Episodes: "Fear of a Krabby Patty" (2005) Special Award for a TV Series Episodes: "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" (2013) Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Animation TV Programming Nominees: Sarah Noonan (2010) Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Animation Nominees: Sarah Noonan (2011; 2013) ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Top Television Series Nominees: Steve Belfer, Nicolas Carr, Derek Drymon, Mark Harrison, Stephen Hillenburg, Pat Irwin, Stephen Marston, Blaise Smith, Barry Anthony Trop and Ron Wasserman (2011-2013) BMI Film & TV Awards BMI Cable Award Nominees: Michael Bolger, Sage Guyton, Eban Schletter and Jeremy Wakefield (2013) Satellite Awards Best Youth DVD DVDs: The Complete 2nd Season (2005) THEA Awards Outstanding Achivement - Attraction Rides: SpongeBob SubPants Adventure (2016) Promax Awards I Need a Hero, WhoBob WhatPants promo, Truth or Square promo