SpongeBob is a porous yellow sponge with large blue eyes, a mouth with prominent front teeth, dimples and freckles. He is also, at times, shown to have hair. He typically wears a white collared business shirt with a red necktie and brown pants--hence his surname--and black dress shoes. He replaces the necktie with a bowtie for special occasions.

SpongeBob is a sea sponge, but he is drawn to resemble a kitchen sponge, apparently because Hillenburg found this design to be more inherently funny.

Character biography

SpongeBob is marked for his cheerful nature. He is kind almost to a fault, and tries his hardest to make friends with those around him. Though he is generally innocuous, his zealousness in performing many tasks can cause major problems for others; when SpongeBob puts his mind to a job, he will stick to it almost religiously, and go to extreme lengths to accomplish it.

Though SpongeBob is said to be an adult, he has a very childlike manner--he is not ashamed to enjoy things generally attributed to younger children, such as cartoons and homemade cookies. He is not good at discerning sarcasm from sincerity, and, at times, is very literal-minded, which can lead to disaster for the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom. Despite these traits, his harmless appearance, and his extreme lack of physical strength, SpongeBob considers himself very manly, and has attempted--and failed--to prove his toughness on many occasions.

SpongeBob has a career as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab restaurant. In spite of his meager salary (he once claimed that he is forced to pay his own boss) and the restaurant's poor working conditions, he is very proud of his work as a chef. In fact, it is hinted in "Bummer Vaction" that SpongeBob makes less than a nickel every year. He is highly skilled at his job, and has won the Employee of the Month award hundreds of times. As such, he is highly favored by his boss, Mr. Krabs, with whom he has a twisted avuncular relationship; SpongeBob often follows Krabs's orders against his own better judgment.

A recurring joke in the series reveals that SpongeBob is incapable of getting his driving license. He has attended Mrs. Puff's boating school for many years, and each year, manages to fail his driving test. SpongeBob attributes this to nervousness behind the wheel; despite knowing how to drive, he loses his composure when driving, often ending up in a car accident. Mrs. Puff is terrified of SpongeBob and has repeatedly tried to give him his driver's license without having to go through another year of teaching him.

SpongeBob's best friends are the dimwitted Patrick Star and the tomboyish Sandy Cheeks, whom he often attempts to best in fights and competitions. He has an awkward relationship with his neighbor Squidward Tentacles, who despises SpongeBob, though the sponge views him as very close friend and cannot be convinced otherwise. Squidward often receives the brunt of the consequences of SpongeBob's actions, often by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the episode Black Jack, it is revealed that his full name is Bobby.

The episode "Artist Unkown" reveals SpongeBob to be an amzing artist when he attends Squidward's art class. He even made a marble statue of David by hitting a chunk of marble once. However, this ability switches with Squidward's inability to make good art after he drives SpongeBob off and consults with Mr. Moneybags.

[edit] SpongeBob's Family

* Grandma SquarePants
* Grandpa SquarePants
* Mr. and Mrs. SquarePants
* Uncle Cap'n Blue SquarePants
* Cousin Todd SquarePants
* Cousin BlackJack SquarePants
* Uncle Sherm SquarePants (mentioned in Krab Borg)

Are you ready kids?
I said, are you ready?
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
(SpongeBob SquarePants!)
Absorbent and yellow and porous is he!
(SpongeBob SquarePants!)
If nautical nonsense be something you wish...
(SpongeBob SquarePants!)
Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!
(SpongeBob SquarePants!)
SpongeBob SquarePants! SpongeBob SquarePants!
SpongeBob SquarePants!
SpongeBob.... SquarePants!

Spongebob: It's not about winning, it's about fun!
Plankton: What's that?
Spongebob: Fun is when you...fun is...it' like...it's kinda...sorta like a...
What is fun?? HERE...Let me spell it for you!

Spongebob:
F is for Friends who do stuff together.
U is for You and me.
N is for Anywhere and anytime at all.

Sea Creatures:
Down here in the deep blue sea!

Plankton:
F is for Fire that burns down the whole town.
U is for URANIUM...BOMBS!
N is for No survivors when you're-

Spongebob:
Plankton! Those things aren't what fun is all about!
Now, do it like this,
F is for Friends who do stuff to-

Plankton:
Never! That's completely idiotic!

Spongebob:
Here, Let me help you...
F is for friends who do stuff together.
U is for You and me, TRY IT!

Plankton:
N is for Anywhere and anytime at all.

Sea Creatures:
Down here in the deep blue sea!

Plankton:
Wait...I don't understand ...I feel all tingly inside...
Should we stop?

Spongebob:
No! That's how you're supposed to feel!

Plankton:
Well I like it! Lets do it again!

Spongebob:
Okay!

Spongebob & Plankton:
F is for Frolic through all the flowers.
U is for Ukelele.
N is for Nose picking, chewing gum, and sand licking.
Here with my best buddy.

(Laughing part)

Sea Creatures:
Down in the deep blue sea..