by Alex Brown

Created on: October 29, 2010

Spongebob is a modern cartoon classic. The show is original, and completely unique to any other kid's television show. Where else can you find a nautical yellow sponge who lives in a pineapple? Nowhere, of course!

The show is short, usually only 12 minutes an episode, but it always manages to make me laugh at the silliest things. The characters really make the show; without their personalities, the show would be nothing. My personal favorite is the pink, dopey and lovable starfish that is Patrick Star. His simple wit and utterly stupid statements make him a favorite among many. He is Spongebob Squarepants' best friend, and lives two houses down under a rock.

Between these two nautical neighbors is a grumpy, sarcastic cephalopod named SquidwardTentacles. His only attire is a brown sweater, leaving his bottom half naked. He lives inside of a tiki house, and loves to play the clarinet. His neighbor's drive him crazy, which is unfortunate since he works at the same restaurant as Spongebob.

The owner of this restaurant, Eugene Krabs, is a cheap red crustacean who is in love with money. He started the restaurant out of a bankrupt retirement home, turned it into a burger joint and sells the underwater delicacy he calls the "Krabby Patty". The coveted secret recipe to this burger has been sought after for years by his arch-nemesis, Sheldon Plankton.

Plankton is.. well, a plankton! He's a small green plant with a temper, and a single eye. His wife is a computer named Karen, Who's aided him in his quest to get the Krabby Patty recipe. He used to be a close friend to Mr. Krabs, but they went their separate ways after a dispute over the Recipe many years earlier.

Sandy is an undersea squirrel from Texas who resides in a tree closed off by an air dome. She wears an air suit to breathe, and when it comes off it usually reveals a bikini. Her personality is a little aggressive, highly intelligent and finds humor in things most others don't. She's a self-proclaimed professional in karate (or care-ah-tay as it sometimes pronounced) and many other athletic activities, including many southern pass times.

Mrs. Puff is Spongebob's driving instructor, a woman prone to anxiety attacks when Spongebob is at the wheel. When he crashes the care, Mrs. Puff puffs up, usually adding to the damage Spongebob caused. She has a misty past, and has been known to talk about her failed life as a driving instructor elsewhere.

Larry the lobster is a muscular beach goer who doesn't add much importance to the show. He's often found at the beach as a lifeguard or in the gym.

The Flying Dutchman is a green ghost that sometimes terrorizes the citizens of Bikini Bottom, and has taken Spongebob as a slave before, but became so irritated that he kicked Spongebob off his ship.

And of course, Gary is Spongebob's loyal companion, the snail. He resembles a cat in many ways, from purring to hating baths.

The rest of the characters are mostly unimportant to the show, only appearing in a single episode, like the red guy he meets at rock bottom, or the famous surfer Jack Kahuna Laguna. There's also a man heard screaming "My leg!" when a catastrophe takes place. These hilarious and well-planned character traits make the show the amazingly funny cartoon that it is.

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