During his first career position, which involved educating the public about marine science and history, he created a comic book called, “The Intertidal Zone.” The main character in this comic book was Bob the Sponge who resembled an actual sea sponge. As an aspiring artist he majored in Marine Biology and minored in Art at Humboldt State University. A few noted examples include: the local magazine in the show, “Toxic Waste Monthly,” and the mushroom-like explosions in various episodes.Īccording to the Wikipedia article entitled, “SpongeBob SquarePants the Character,” Stephen was drawn to marine life as a young child. The astute viewer may have already picked up on the, sometimes not so subtle, references to the sinister origins of Bikini Bottom. Surmised to be mutant creatures born out of radiation wreaked habitations, the quirky and lovable cast of SpongeBob SquarePants has been entertaining and possibly educating for over 2 decades. The most devastating and powerful test was the Castle Bravo test which occurred on March 1, 1954, destroying 3 islands and leaving a lifetime of radiation and health complications for the Marshallese people in the surrounding area.įast forward to 1999 and the creation of the unusual residents of a hauntingly similar Bikini Bottom. An atoll is a ring shaped reef, island or group of islands made from coral. It is said that the vacant island shown during the SpongeBob theme song is Bikini Atoll. This was 1946 and the radiation levels were never safe enough for humans to inhabit the island again.įrom 1946 through 1958, the United States completed 67 nuclear tests in the surrounding area. The residents were removed and told they could return after the testing was completed. Bikini Atoll, which was inhabited by 146 people was forcibly vacated. This vast and secluded area attracted the attention of the war department as an ideal spot to test the effects of nuclear bombs on war ships while displacing only a few people from the remote islands. Stepping back to just after World War II, the United States had gained control of the Marshall Islands, halfway between Hawaii and Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. Created by a marine educator turned animator, Stephen Hillenburg, few people are aware of the sinister beginnings of Bikini Bottom, the home of SpongeBob and friends.
First premiering in 1999 the show was wildly popular with children and adults alike. The innocent and silly SpongeBob SquarePants is no exception.
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