Ghost-Unit wrote:
Those of you who've seen me around the forum can probably guess that I'd dislike Spongebob Squarepants as a show. I'm going to step out on a limb here and actually say the opposite. Spongebob is one of the better animated shows out there for multiple reasons that I'll get into below.
Though the characters of Spongebob are generally static (that can be said for countless shows), there are several intricate personalities presented through the characters of this show. Even more can be said about the contradicting personalities of several characters. I'll list some...
Spongebob: annoying, profoundly talented, and usually in a good mood. Yes, not a big deal. However, Spongebob has a very low-end job, service hamburgers at a restaurant that probably isn't even up to par with Mc Donalds; a run down, backwater fast food restaurant called the Krusty Krab. Yet he is accepting of this and is enthusiastic about his job. It is a commonplace of today's society for people to complain about such a job, and they sure as heck do. Spongebob, minus the annoying attitude, represents a very positive outlook on life. He appreciates having a job, and does not need material possessions to be happy.
Squidward: Admittedly the show would not be half of what it is without Squidward, the polar opposite of Spongebob, who harbors a personality more comparable to today. (Not necessarily a bad thing.) Squidward's negativity is rampant, in stark contrast to Spongebob. He complains about his job, feels he needs status to be successful, and is not very lively like Spongebob is. Both characters live a meager existence, but deal with it in different ways. Squidward adds tremendous depth to the show.
Eugene Krabs: Another one of more important characters, Eugene is a salty old Navy man who, at the surface, is a greedy old man. I always felt that Krabs always added a good amount of spice to the show, with all of his navy stories and his wacky antics. Treats his employees as expendable, but when in dire straights actually recognizes that they are worth more than the money they are paid. (Life lesson...?)
I know a lot of you might be thinking of all the childish antics of Spongebob and other characters I didn't mention, and my response to that is the following. I do agree that this show goes overboard sometimes, but alas it is aimed, at least in part, to a younger crowd. But this show offers things for more critical audiences. There is a reason why this show is getting top marks - and it's not because of the kiddies watching it - I'd wager that at least some of what I mentioned above is in part responsible for that.
I have to say first off, this was very well thought out and pleasantly presented, and second I have to agree, Spongebob is a mile above what other cartoons are today and as you stated the characters attitudes play off of one another to create a more dynamic show overall.
