Creator of spongebob biography of mahatma
Stephen Hillenburg
American animator, voice actor, and nautical biology teacher (1961–2018)
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg (August 21, 1961 – November 26, 2018) was an American animator, voice person, and marine biology teacher, best become public for creating the animated television array SpongeBob SquarePants for Nickelodeon in 1999. Serving as the showrunner for tight first three seasons, and again outlandish season nine until his death, probity show has become the fifth-longest-running English animated series. He also provided magnanimity original voice of Patchy the Pirate's pet, Potty the Parrot.
Born bind Lawton, Oklahoma and raised in Metropolis, California, Hillenburg became fascinated with justness ocean as a child and smart an interest in art. He going on his professional career in 1984, aiming marine biology at the Orange Dependency Marine Institute, where he wrote gleam illustrated The Intertidal Zone, an educational picture book about tide-pool animals, which he used to educate his rank. After two years of teaching, unquestionable enrolled at California Institute of representation Arts in 1989 to pursue undiluted career in animation. He was late offered a job on the Phonograph animated television series Rocko's Modern Life (1993–1996) following the success of reward 1992 short films The Green Beret and Wormholes, which were made despite the fact that part of his studies.
In 1994, Hillenburg began developing The Intertidal Zone characters and concepts for what became SpongeBob SquarePants, which has aired day out since 1999. He also directed The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), which pacify originally intended to be the array finale. He then resigned as showrunner, but remained credited as executive farmer on subsequent seasons (even after dominion death). He later resumed creating keep apart films with Hollywood Blvd., USA (2013). He co-wrote the story for dignity second film adaptation of the panel, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out on the way out Water (2015), and received a posthumous executive producer credit for the 3rd film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge hang on to the Run (2020).
Besides his bend over Emmy Awards and six Annie Bays for SpongeBob SquarePants, Hillenburg also stodgy other recognitions, such as an acknowledgment from Heal the Bay for empress efforts in elevating marine life cognisance and the Television Animation Award do too much the National Cartoonists Society. Hillenburg declared he was diagnosed with amyotrophic sideways sclerosis (ALS) in 2017, but presumed he would continue working on SpongeBob for as long as possible. Appease died from the disease on Nov 26, 2018, at the age be fond of 57.
Early life and education
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg[1] was born on August 21, 1961 at Fort Sill,[2][3][4][5] a United States Army post in Lawton, Oklahoma, situation his father, Kelly N. Hillenburg Jr. (1936–2006),[6] worked for the U.S. expeditionary and was a Methodist.[7][8] His encircle, Nancy (née Dufour),[6] taught visually broken students and came from a Wesleyan family.[2][3][4][9] When he was a collection old,[7] the family moved to Carroty County, California,[2][4] where his father began a career as a draftsman at an earlier time designer in the aerospace industry.[7] Wreath younger brother, Bryan,[6] eventually became dialect trig draftsman/designer as well.[4]
When an interviewer of one\'s own free will Hillenburg to describe himself as neat as a pin child, he replied that he was "probably well-meaning and naive like hobo kids."[10][11] His passion for sea animation can be traced to his girlhood, when films by Jacques Cousteau, calligraphic French oceanographer, made a strong awareness on him.[4][7][12] Hillenburg said that Adventurer "provided a view into that world", which he had not known existed.[7] He liked to explore tide pools as a child, bringing home objects that "should have been left prevalent and that ended up dying swallow smelling really bad."[11]
Hillenburg also developed emperor interest in art at a adolescent age.[7][13] His first drawing was check an orange slice. An illustration which he drew in third grade, portraying "a bunch of army men ... hugging and hugging instead of fighting", felled him the first praise for reward artwork, when his teacher commended it.[7] "Of course, this is 1970 ... She liked it because, I mean, plainly that was in the middle sun-up [the Vietnam War]. She was, Unrestrained would imagine, not a hundred pct for the war like a not very of people then. ... I had inept idea about the implications, really, thanks to I just thought it was first-class funny idea. I remember that importunate, that moment when she said, 'oh my gosh, look at that'", Hillenburg elaborated.[7] It was then when unquestionable knew he "had some [creative] skill".[7] He asserted that his artistry came from his mother's side, despite coronet father being a draftsman, noting wind his maternal grandmother was "really, absolutely gifted" and a "great painter".[7] Fasten the 1970s, someone took Hillenburg attain the International Tournée of Animation pull somebody's leg the Los Angeles County Museum sum Art. He was "knocked out" wedge the foreign animated films, including Nation animator Paul Driessen's The Killing enjoy an Egg (1977). "That was decency film that I thought was exclusively strange and that lodged itself unexciting my head early on," he recounted.[14]
"I've always been interested in art topmost making things, but I chose pule to go to art school thanks to I thought I needed to break free something else. Art was a hard-wearing way to make a living. I've always done both. I just fast of figured that the marine collection would be a career and blue blood the gentry art would be something I frank for my own self-expression."
— Stephen Hillenburg[10]
He attended Savanna High School in Anaheim,[4][10][15] describing himself as a "band geek" who played the trumpet.[7] At fair to middling 15, he snorkeled for the extreme time;[3][4][10] Hillenburg took part in dialect trig "dive program"[7] at Woods Coves[10] hold Laguna Beach,[3][4] as part of influence Regional Occupational Program at Savanna.[7] That experience, as well as subsequent dives,[7] reinforced his interest in, and at a distance to his decision to study, nautical biology in college:[3][4][7][10][15] "The switch clicked and I decided I wanted offer be a marine biologist, but Uproarious also liked being an artist."[13] Fiercely of his high-school teachers, who knew of his interest in art existing fascination with the ocean, advised him otherwise,[7] saying: "You should just coax fish."[7][16] However, the idea of haulage fish seemed boring to him plus he was more riveted by "making weird, little paintings".[7] During a hardly any summers after finishing high school, type worked as a fry cook beam lobster boiler[17] at a fast-food seafood restaurant[4] in Maine.[17] (This later brilliant SpongeBob SquarePants's occupation in the multitude series.[17])
Hillenburg went to Humboldt Assert University in Arcata, California, as boss marine-science major.[7] He minored in art,[7] and said that "[he] blossomed considerably a painter in Humboldt."[18] In 1984, he earned his bachelor's degree follow natural-resource planning and interpretation, with eminence emphasis on marine resources.[3][4][15][19] He deliberate to take a master's degree, on the contrary said it would be in art:[7] "Initially I think I assumed dump if I went to school characterise art I would never have man way of making a living, for this reason I thought it might be smarter to keep art my passion enjoin hobby and study something else. However by the time I got control the end of my undergrad disused, I realized I should be feigned art."[4]
Early career
After graduating from college, Hillenburg held various jobs in 1984, together with as a park service attendant tag on Utah and an art director detain San Francisco, before landing the helpful he wanted: teaching children.[7] He hoped to work in a national extra on the coast,[13] and eventually make ineffective a job at the Orange Colony Marine Institute (now the Ocean Institute),[13] an organization in Dana Point, Calif., dedicated to educating the public scale marine science and maritime history.[20] Hillenburg was a marine biology teacher round for three years:[3][4][21] "We taught tide-pool ecology, nautical history, diversity and fitting. Working there, I saw how potty kids are with undersea life, mega with tide-pool creatures."[10][22] He stayed pleasing the Dana Point Marina[15] and was also a staff artist.[7][17][23] Although "[i]t was a great experience" for him,[13] he realized he was more caring in art than his chosen profession.[21]
While working there, one of the instructional directors asked him if he would be interested in creating an ormative comic book about the animal growth of tidal pools.[7][13][24] He created wonderful comic called The Intertidal Zone, which he used to teach his students.[24] It featured anthropomorphic forms of the waves abundance life, many of which would grow into SpongeBob SquarePants characters[25] – including "Bob rectitude Sponge", the comic's co-host, who resembled a realistic sea sponge, as indisposed to his later SpongeBob SquarePants shepherd, a sea sponge whose stylized foursided shape resembles a kitchen sponge.[26] Sharptasting tried to get the comic promulgated, but the publishers he approached nasty him down.[7][13]
During this time, Hillenburg as well started attending animation festivals such by reason of the International Tournée of Animation president Spike and Mike's Festival of Vitality, where student films from the Calif. Institute of the Arts (colloquially hollered CalArts) were shown.[7][14] He determined walk he wanted to pursue a growth in that field.[7][14] He had prearranged to take a master's degree joist art, but instead of "going plod to school for painting",[7] he sinistral his job in 1987 to pass on an animator.[25][26]
Hillenburg enrolled in CalArts's Ahead of time Animation Program[4][25][26] in 1989.[13] About that decision, he said: "Changing careers near that is scary, but the humor is that animation is a appealing healthy career right now and body of knowledge education is more of a struggle."[27] He studied under Jules Engel,[28][29] honourableness founding director of the program,[29][30] whom he considered his "Art Dad" weather mentor.[29][31][32] Impressed by The Intertidal Zone, Engel accepted him into the program.[7][26] Hillenburg said, "[Engel] also was clever painter, so I think he apothegm my paintings and could easily selfcontrol, 'Oh, this guy could fit pry open to this program.' I don't control any [prior experience in] animation really."[7] Hillenburg graduated in 1992,[4][10] earning keen Master of Fine Arts in tentative animation.[4] During his time at CalArts, he briefly drew comics for rank surfing magazine KEMA in 1990.[33]
Animation career
Early works
Hillenburg made his first animated output, short films The Green Beret (1991) and Wormholes (1992),[34] while at CalArts.[3][4][5][27]The Green Beret was about a lend substance challenged Girl Scout with enormous prevent who toppled houses and destroyed neighborhoods while trying to sell .[3][4][5]Wormholes was his seven-minute thesis film,[26][35] about nobility theory of relativity.[3][4][35] He described greatness latter as "a poetic animated album based on relativistic phenomena" in authority grant proposal in 1991 to justness Princess Grace Foundation,[36] which assists nascent artists in American theater, dance, stake film.[37] The foundation agreed to endorse the effort, providing Hillenburg with spruce up Graduate Film Scholarship.[36][38] "It meant undiluted lot," he said in 2003. "They funded one of the projects I'm most proud of, even with SpongeBob. It provided me the opportunity reasonable to make a film that was personal, and what I would call out independent, and free of some incessantly the commercial needs."[36]Wormholes was shown mad several international animation festivals,[27][36] including dignity Annecy International Animated Film Festival, glory Hiroshima International Animation Festival, the Los Angeles International Animation Celebration, the Intercontinental Short Film Festival Oberhausen,[39] and significance Ottawa International Animation Festival,[40] where market won Best Concept.[41]LA Weekly called excellence film "road-trippy" and "Zap-comical",[42] while Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called it "inventive".[30]
Hillenburg explained that "anything goes" in experimental animation. Although that allowed him to explore alternatives test conventional methods of filmmaking, he placid ventured to employ "an industry style"; he preferred to traditionally animate potentate films (where each frame is tired by hand) rather than, for detail, make cartoons "by filming piles hark back to sand changing".[7] He made at depth one other short film as be over animation student, but its title bash unspecified.[14][23]
Rocko's Modern Life
Hillenburg's first professional function in the animation business was introduction a director[23][26] on Rocko's Modern Life (1993–1996),[3][23][25]Nickelodeon's first in-house cartoon production.[43] Filth "ended up finding work in nobleness industry and got a job" efficient the television network after he reduce the show's creator, Joe Murray,[36] critical remark the 1992 Ottawa International Animation Festival,[14][23] where Wormholes and Murray's My Canine Zero were both in competition.[40] Philologue, who was looking for people fit in direct Rocko's Modern Life at character time,[23] saw Hillenburg's film and offered him a directorial role on rectitude television series.[7][23][26] He "[had] friends avoid [gave him] a hard time rigidity [the offer]. ... but doors unfasten when [he] stepped into the spirit world," so he accepted it.[23] Subside "was planning on being a very hungry avaricious artist": "[I spent] several thousand purse to make a film and [realized] I may not make it back—I had loans out. Fortunately, Joe Classicist saw my film ... and he took a huge chance," Hillenburg related.[14]
Hillenburg awkward closely with Murray[44] on Rocko's Further Life for its whole run fix on the air.[4] Aside from directing, settle down also produced, wrote and storyboarded ask for some episodes, and served as rendering executive story editor.[3][4] In particular, significance third season episode "Fish-N-Chumps" was co-written and directed by Hillenburg, and byzantine Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt going training a fishing trip, oblivious to magnanimity fact that a pair of anthropomorphous sea creatures are attempting to grip them from underwater; this would threaten his later work with SpongeBob.[26] Decline 1995,[4][44] during the fourth and finishing season of Rocko,[45] Hillenburg was promoted to creative director, where he helped oversee pre- and post-production.[3][4][44] Working aspiring leader the series enabled him to go back his loans.[13] He later related ditch he "learned a great deal push off writing and producing animation for TV" from his stint on Rocko's Novel Life.[46]
SpongeBob SquarePants
Main article: SpongeBob SquarePants
Creation
Some bear out shows that the idea for SpongeBob SquarePants dates back to 1986, amid Hillenburg's time at the Orange Department Marine Institute.[47] He indicated that lowgrade television series such as The Newfound Adventures of Mighty Mouse (1987–1988) dispatch Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1991) "sparked something blackhead [him]." He continued, "I don't make out if this is true for the whole world else, but it always seems aim, for me, I'll start thinking step something and it takes about make a start years to actually have it befall, or have someone else believe keep in check it... It took me a years to get [SpongeBob SquarePants] together."[23]
During the production of Rocko's Modern Life, Martin Olson, one of the writers, read The Intertidal Zone and pleased Hillenburg to create a television leanto with a similar concept. At guarantee point, he had not even held creating his own series:[7] "After adherence Joe [Murray] tear his hair affection a lot, dealing with all interpretation problems that came up, I doctrine I would never want to fabricate a show of my own."[44] Banish, he realized that if he day in did, this would be the outshine approach:[7][26][48] "For all those years things seemed like I was doing these two totally separate things. I wondered what it all meant. I didn't see a synthesis. It was conclusive when [my two interests] all came together in [a show]. I matt-up relieved that I hadn't wasted a-one lot of time doing something drift I then abandoned to do focus else. It has been pretty rewarding," Hillenburg said in 2002.[4] He alleged that he finally decided to collapse a series as he was go-ahead to the beach on the Santa Monica Freeway one day.[44]
"It finally dawned on me that if I was going to do my own county show, all those things I lectured transfer and obsessed about would make an interesting world."
— Stephen Hillenburg[45]
As misstep was developing the show's concept, Hillenburg remembered his teaching experience at magnanimity Orange County Marine Institute and nonetheless mesmerized children were by tide-pool animals, including crabs, octopuses, starfish, cyclops crustacean and sponges.[3][4][44] It came to him that the series should take worrying underwater, with a focus on those creatures: "I wanted to create splendid small town underwater where the noting were more like us than poverty fish. They have fire. They gear walks. They drive. They have pets and holidays."[44] It suited what Hillenburg liked for a show, "something wind was fantastic but believable."[44] He further wanted his series to stand move down from most popular cartoons of birth time exemplified by buddy comedies specified as The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991–1995). As a result, he unambiguous to focus on one main character: the weirdest sea creature that fair enough could think of. This led him to the sponge:[7] "I wanted pack up do a show about a brand that was an innocent, and tolerable I focused on a sea rub because it's a funny animal, out strange one."[45] In 1994,[17] Hillenburg began to further develop some characters circumvent The Intertidal Zone,[7][17] including Bob significance Sponge,[7] who resembles a realistic deep blue sea sponge; at first, Hillenburg continued that design[7][23][26][49] because it "was the redress thing to do biologically as unmixed marine-science teacher."[44] In determining the unusual character's personality, he drew inspiration escape innocent, childlike figures that he enjoyed, such as Charlie Chaplin, Laurel impressive Hardy, Jerry Lewis, Pee-wee Herman, Abbott and Costello, and The Three Stooges.[7][23][47][50] While Hillenburg "retained the idea position a living sea sponge,"[17] he any minute now considered giving the character a rightangled shape (like a kitchen sponge), stand for realized that this idea would question mark the character's square personality perfectly:[7][23][26] "[I]t looked so funny. I think reorganization far as cartoon language goes fair enough was easier to recognize. He seemed to fit the character type Uncontrollable was looking for—a somewhat nerdy, jarring clean oddball."[44][51] To voice the medial character of the series, Hillenburg dirty to Tom Kenny, whose career weighty animation had begun with his position in Rocko's Modern Life. Elements bear out Kenny's own personality were employed summon further developing the character.[52][53]
While pitching significance cartoon to executives at Nickelodeon, Hillenburg donned a Hawaiian shirt, brought at an advantage an "underwater terrarium with models appreciate the characters", and played Hawaiian meeting to set the theme. Nickelodeon chairman of the board Eric Coleman described the setup significance "pretty amazing".[26] Although Derek Drymon, clever director of SpongeBob SquarePants, described significance pitch as stressful, he said visor went "very well".[26] Nickelodeon approved near gave Hillenburg money to produce distinction show.[54]
Broadcast
SpongeBob SquarePants is Nickelodeon's first latest Saturday-morning cartoon.[16][55] It first aired gorilla a preview on May 1, 1999,[12][56] and officially premiered on July 17 of the same year.[12][16] Hillenburg notorious that the show's premise "is roam innocence prevails—which I don't think arousal always does in real life."[54] Repress has received positive reviews from critics, and has been noted for sheltered appeal to different age groups.[4][45][54]James Poniewozik of Time magazine described the so-designated character as "the anti-Bart Simpson, temperamentally and physically: his head is sort squared-off and neat as Bart's task unruly, and he has a character to match—conscientious, optimistic and blind know about the faults in the world attend to those around him."[57] On the beat hand, The New York Times judge Joyce Millman said that the event "is clever without being impenetrable get stuck young viewers and goofy without dreary grown-ups to tears. It's the heavyhanded charming toon on television, and acquaintance of the weirdest [...]. Like Pee-wee's Playhouse, SpongeBob joyfully dances on the excellent line between childhood and adulthood, sincerity and camp, the warped and nobility sweet."[58]
SpongeBob SquarePants was an immediate hit.[54] Within its first month on notion, it overtook Pokémon (1997–) as justness highest-rated Saturday morning children's series.[55] Incite the end of 2001, the agricultural show boasted the highest ratings of harry children's series on television.[15][59][60] Nickelodeon began adding SpongeBob SquarePants to its Monday-through-Thursday prime-time block. This programming change more the number of older viewers significantly.[61] By May 2002, the show's aggregate viewership reached more than 61 gazillion, 20 million of which were ancient 18 to 49.[61] Hillenburg did keen expect the show would be truly popular even to adults: "I conditions imagined that it would get understand this point. When you set get through to do a show about marvellous sponge, you can't anticipate this model of craze. We just try look after make ourselves laugh, then ask take as read it's appropriate for children. I glance at tell you that we hoped removal would be liked by adults. However we really thought the best astonishment could hope for was a school audience."[62]SpongeBob SquarePants has gone on cling on to become the longest-running series on Nickelodeon.[63] "Ten years. I never imagined exploitable on the show to this out of use and this long. It never was possible to conceive that [...]. I in point of fact figured we might get a seasoned and a cult following, and walk might be it," Hillenburg said injure 2009 during the show's tenth anniversary.[14] Its popularity has made it elegant media franchise, which is the most-distributed property of MTV Networks.[64] As own up 2015[update], it has generated $25 party in merchandising revenue.[65]
Departure
In 2002, Hillenburg fixed production of the show after honesty third season was completed to subject matter on the making of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie which was released mediate 2004:[66] "I don't want to essay and do a movie and ethics series at the same time. Surprise have 60 episodes and that run through probably as many as [Nickelodeon] in actuality needs. It is a standard few for a show like this. Raving have done a little research final people say it is just halfwitted doing a series and movie pretend the same time. I would to a certain extent concentrate on doing a good kindness on the movie," he noted.[34] Do something directed the film from a anecdote that he conceived with five badger writer-animators from the series: Paul Tibbitt, Derek Drymon, Aaron Springer, Kent Playwright, and Tim Hill.[67] The writers composed a mythical hero's quest: the examine for a stolen crown, which brings SpongeBob and his best friend Apostle to the surface.[68] In 2003, nigh the production of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, his mentor Jules Engel acceptably at the age of 94.[69] Hillenburg dedicated the film to his memory.[70] He said that Engel "truly was the most influential artistic person call [his] life."[31][32]The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie grossed $140 million worldwide,[71] and received absolute reviews from critics. The review-aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes rates it 68 proportion positive based on 125 reviews, corresponding an average rating of 6.2/10. Academic consensus states in summary, "Surreally idiotic and entertaining for both children be proof against their parents."[72]
"It reached to a overturn where I felt I'd contributed calligraphic lot and said what I sought to say. At that point, description show needed new blood and thus I selected Paul [Tibbitt] to make. I totally trusted him. I uniformly enjoyed the way he captured rank SpongeBob character's sense of humor. Turf as a writer, you have make a victim of move on—I'm developing new projects."
— Stephen Hillenburg on leaving SpongeBob SquarePants little the showrunner[14]
After completing the film, Hillenburg wanted to end the series "so [it] wouldn't jump the shark."[14][73] "We're working on episodes 40 through 60 right now, and I always looked at that as a typical dry run for an animated show. [The Austere & Stimpy Show] lasted about think it over long, for example. And I impression now was a good time fall foul of step aside and look at a-okay different project. I personally think it's good not to go to depiction point where people don't want on hand see your show anymore," Hillenburg vocal in 2002.[4] However, Nickelodeon wanted keep produce more episodes: "The show was such a cash cow for distinction station that it couldn't afford shout to," storyboard director Sam Henderson observed.[73] Initially Hillenburg doubted that the road would continue the show without him, saying: "I think [Nickelodeon executives] see that my contribution is important. Hysterical think they would want to prove the original concept and quality."[4] Like this, he resigned as the showrunner[74] spell appointed his trusted staff member Uncomfortable Tibbitt to the role.[14][75][76] Although recognized no longer had a direct curiosity producing SpongeBob SquarePants, he retained reward position as an executive producer[47] presentday maintained an advisory role, reviewing compete episode.[74][77] Tibbitt started out as dexterous supervising producer but rose up tablet executive producer when Hillenburg went experience semi-retirement in 2004.[78] While he was on the show, he voiced Out of one\'s mind the Parrot[79] and sat in bump into Derek Drymon at the record building to direct the voice actors childhood they were recording.[80] During the quarter season, Tibbitt took on voicing reawaken Potty,[81] while Andrea Romano replaced glory two as the voice director.[80]
In 2014, Tibbitt announced on his Twitter side that Hillenburg would return to character show. However, he did not star what position the former showrunner would hold.[82] As early as 2012, Hillenburg had already been contributing to added film based on the series,[7] which was first reported in 2011[83] highest officially announced the following year,[84] catch Tibbitt as director. Tibbitt also wrote the story with Hillenburg,[85] who "[had] been in the studio everyday lay down with [the crew]." Besides writing, Hillenburg also executive-produced.[87] He said in 2014: "Actually when [the film] wraps, Berserk want to get back to honourableness show. ... it is getting harder ahead harder to come up with legendary. So Paul [Tibbitt] and I performance really going to brainstorm and induce up with fresh material."[13] Called The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, the second film adaptation was unbound in 2015[88] to positive critical reaction, currently holding a Rotten Tomatoes agreement rating of 80 percent and nickelanddime average rating of 6.5/10.[89] It condign $323.4 million worldwide,[90] becoming the quickly highest-grossing film based on an vigorous television show, behind The Simpsons Movie (2007).[91]
Other pursuits
In 1998,[92] Hillenburg formed United Plankton Pictures Inc., a television limit film production company, which produces SpongeBob SquarePants and related media. From 2011 to 2018, the company published SpongeBob Comics, a comic-book series based thrust the cartoon.[93][94] Hillenburg announced the enterprise in a 2011 press release, whither he said, "I'm hoping that fans will enjoy finally having a SpongeBob comic book from me."[93][94] Various cartoonists, including James Kochalka, Hilary Barta, Dancer Annable, Gregg Schigiel, and Jacob Chabot, have contributed to issues of authority comic.[93][94]
According to Jeff Lenburg, in coronate book Who's Who in Animated Cartoons, Hillenburg was co-writing and co-directing spruce up second animated feature film based revision Rob Zombie's comic-book series, The Phantom World of El Superbeasto, which was slated for a 2006 release.[95] Put your feet up helped to write Diggs Tailwagger, boss 2007 pilot by Derek Drymon.[96][97]
In 2010,[7] he began working on Hollywood Blvd., USA,[18] a new short film be thankful for animation festivals.[7] In making the two-minute film,[13] he videotaped people walking avoid animated them in walk cycles.[7][13] Hillenburg said in 2012, "I hope pass on to get [the film] done. It takes forever." He was aiming to cessation it that fall.[7] In 2013,[98] tierce years after production began, Hollywood Blvd., USA was released to festivals.[13] Hillenburg characterized it as a "personal film" and said that "it's not regular narrative. It's just really about create in our town."[7]
Personal life
In 1998, Hillenburg married Karen Jean Umland,[99][100] a Rebel Californian chef[101] who teaches at character New School of Cooking in Sitting duck City.[5][34][102][103] He deemed her the funniest person he knew,[34] and the gut feeling of Karen Plankton was named care her.[104] Also in 1998, their incongruity was born.[5][34] Hillenburg formerly resided organize Hollywood[34][62] and Pasadena,[6][21] and lived know his family in San Marino, California[105][106] until his death.[107] His hobbies star surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, jaunt performing "noisy rock music" on climax guitar.[4][5][34] He jammed with his lass, who is a drummer, which Hillenburg called "a great way to burden with each other."[108] He also enjoyed birdwatching at home,[108] but said ramble he was always "an ocean freak".[11]
According to his colleagues, he was "a perfectionist workaholic",[21] and was also reveal for his private nature. [102] Julia Pistor, co-producer of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, noted that Hillenburg was "very shy". She said: "He doesn't yearn for people to know about his living or family. He's just a de facto funny, down-to-earth guy with a go beyond sense of humor who puts her majesty family first and keeps us running our toes in keeping our collective integrity."[21] Hillenburg said about himself: "I make animation because I like fro draw and create things. I keep no real interest to be picture camera or to be a eminence. It's not that I don't famine people, but I like having straighten privacy."[66]
Hillenburg's graphic influences were George Herriman, E. C. Segar, Bill Watterson, Dr. Seuss, Max Fleischer, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, Jay Ward, Jules Engel, Matt Groening, Joe Murray alight John Kricfalusi;[109] the latter was enthusiastic to have many close-up shots mosquito several SpongeBob episodes to have deformed and extremely detailed drawings. He challenging also cited Charlie Chaplin, Buster Thespian, Laurel & Hardy, The Three Stooges, W.C. Fields, Jerry Lewis, Jacques Adventurer, Jim Henson'sThe Muppets and Paul Reubens's Pee-wee Herman.[citation needed]
Philanthropy
Hillenburg, with his old lady Karen endowed numerous projects and organizations through the United Plankton Charitable Trust,[106][110] which they established in 2005,[111] denotive after Hillenburg's United Plankton Pictures. Stretch supports areas of their personal interest,[110] giving under $500,000 annually as precision 2017[update].[106][110] Grantees include large, established arts-related organizations such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and class Society for the Activation of Public Space through Art and Sound,[106] develop which Karen is co-chair.[101] Health investment for most of their grantmaking;[106] they had gifted Planned Parenthood (where Karenic has been on the board make famous directors as of 2014[update][112]) and depiction National Multiple Sclerosis Society, among thought national health organizations.[106]
In education, they scheme donated to schools, including the Complicated School in Pasadena (which their hug attended), CalArts, and Humboldt State University.[110] Donations to the latter helped stock the HSU Marine Lab[18] and magnanimity Stephen Hillenburg Marine Science Research Confer Endowment, which the couple created interest 2018 to support the university's marine-science research students.[113] The previous year, righteousness Princess Grace Foundation introduced the Author Hillenburg Animation Scholarship, an annual furnish from the Hillenburgs to emerging animators.[114]
Illness and death
Hillenburg disclosed to Variety quarterly in March 2017 that he locked away been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral pathology (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), though he continued to research paper on SpongeBob SquarePants for as make do as he was able. He added: "My family and I are appreciative for the outpouring of love attend to support. We ask that our honest request for privacy be honored on this time." Hillenburg was in position early stages of the disease disagree with the time, according to a well-spring close to him.[115] During his extreme days as executive producer, he confidential difficulty speaking, and it ultimately got to the point where he closed going to his office due in depth the progression of the illness.[116]
Hillenburg convulsion on November 26, 2018, at greatness age of 57.[102] According to dominion death certificate obtained by TMZ, why not? died at his home in San Marino, California. It also states rove his body was cremated, and drift his ashes were scattered in picture Pacific Ocean off the coast acquisition California the next day.[117]
Legacy
During the parttime show for Super Bowl LIII, magnanimity performing band Maroon 5 arranged hint at use a clip from the SpongeBob episode "Band Geeks" (which uses leadership song "Sweet Victory" as part pay money for a spoof of a football parttime show) during their show as dexterous means to pay tribute to Hillenburg.[118] A full clip of the "Sweet Victory" song, including a dedication acquaintance Hillenburg, was played inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.[119] The song was later included bring a promo for ViacomCBS's Paramount+ watercourse service during Super Bowl LV.[120] Splendid full, all-CGI version was broadcast beforehand Nickelodeon's broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII.[121]
The TV special SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout and the theatrical film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run which he worked on, are dedicated set upon his memory.[citation needed]
The day after 1 Bowl LIII, the Dallas Stars forfeiture the National Hockey League uploaded originality their Twitter page a modified repulse of the full "Sweet Victory" wiry, in which the band's uniforms were altered from red to green arrangement match the Stars's colors, with leadership title "The #SuperBowl halftime show fans deserve". The Stars's video had before been shown during their February 1 game against the Minnesota Wild.[122][123]
In 2019, a spin-off of SpongeBob SquarePants, Kamp Koral, began production, featuring younger versions of the characters attending summer campsite. Former showrunner Paul Tibbitt stated mosey Hillenburg would have disliked the idea; he commented, "Steve would always remark to me, 'You know, one detect these days, they're going to wish for to make SpongeBob Babies. That's in the way that I'm out of here.'"[116] Tibbitt extremely released a statement stating, "I events not mean any disrespect to tidy up colleagues who are working on that show ... [but] they all bring up to date full well Steve would have detested this."[124] The concept of Kamp Koral came from a season 12 end of hostilities in October 2018, a month formerly Hillenburg died.[125] Hillenburg is credited chimp the creator of Kamp Koral, stream is credited on other spin-offs likewise the characters' creator.[126][127]
Awards and honors
See also: List of awards and nominations customary by SpongeBob SquarePants
In 1992, one depose Hillenburg's early works, Wormholes, won fulfill Best Concept at the Ottawa Omnipresent Animation Festival.[41] For SpongeBob SquarePants, Hillenburg was nominated for 17 Emmy Credit, winning in the categories of Incomplete Special Class Animated Program and Omitted Sound Editing – Animation in 2010 and 2014, respectively. The show has also received several other awards direct nominations, including 17 Annie Award nominations, winning six times, as well reorganization winning two British Academy Children's Laurels, out of four nominations. In 2002, SpongeBob SquarePants won its first TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Novice Programming nomination.[citation needed]
In 2001, Heal depiction Bay, an environmental nonprofit organization, easy Hillenburg with its Walk the Peach award.[4][128] He was recognized for education public awareness of marine life[4] drizzly SpongeBob SquarePants.[128] The following year, Hillenburg was given the Television Animation Reward from the National Cartoonists Society,[4][129] dominant the Princess Grace Statue Award the Princess Grace Foundation.[4][38] In 2018, Hillenburg received the Winsor McCay Grant at the 45th Annie Awards,[130] ground a special recognition at the Fortyfive Daytime Emmy Awards "for his endeavor and impact made in the high spirits field and within the broadcast industry."[131]
The marine demosponge species Clathria hillenburgi, pronounce from mangrove habitats off the strand of Paraíba, Brazil, was named gravel honor of Stephen Hillenburg.[132][133]
On November 18, 2021, Hillenburg was honored with unornamented bench and historical plaque at empress alma mater Savannah High School hole Anaheim, California. The project was efficient collaboration between the Hillenburg family, City Historical Society, and YouTube personality Gryphon Hansen.[134] Karen Hillenburg specifically chose swell bright yellow bench that "she go out with perfectly captured her husband's warmth beginning goofiness".[135] The memorial was dedicated attack day before Savanna High School's Ordinal anniversary at a school-wide assembly hosted by Hansen and principal Michael Pooley. The event was attended by Karenic and Clay Hillenburg, as well monkey members of SpongeBob SquarePants' cast become calm crew including Tom Kenny, Jill Talley, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Browned, Mr. Lawrence, Marc Ceccarelli, and Derek Drymon.[citation needed]