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Animation cel used in production of SpongeBob SquarePants

Object Details

Description (Brief)
Animation cel used in the production of the Nickelodeon animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. The hand-inked, three-part animation cel depicts SpongeBob SquarePants at the Krusty Krab holding a spatula in his hand. The cel is comprised of two animation cels atop a painted background. The top cel is of the sink counter only and at bottom of cel is marked "S/B #109/ UL -4" in black marker. Cel #2 is the character Sponge Bob with " B6" written in black marker at the bottom of the cel. Third layer is one hole punch paper with painted background.
Premiering on Nickelodeon in 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants became one of the most popular and successful animated children’s television series of all time over its 13 seasons (as of 2022), numerous feature and television films, video game, Broadway musical, and other adaptations. The show was created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg based in part on his unpublished 1989 educational comic book The Intertidal Zone, written to teach children about aquatic ecosystems. The animated series features the deep-sea denizens of Bikini Bottom, including SpongeBob, an earnest, happily oblivious, and unapologetically silly sea sponge. Heavy on slapstick and sight gags, the show nevertheless introduced kids six to 12 to the diversity of human motives, the complexities of social interaction, and big-picture thinking. As illustrated in this cel, SpongeBob loves his job—wielding a spatula and flipping burgers at the Krusty Krab Diner.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
maker
Nickelodeon
date made
1999
Physical Description
paint (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 11 in x 13 in; 27.94 cm x 33.02 cm
Object Name
cel, animation
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