The inventor of "SpongeBob Squarepants" died at the age of 57

Stephen Hillenburg was the father of "SpongBob" and made millions of people laugh with his cartoon character. At the age of 57, he succumbed to the disease.

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The inventor of the popular animated series "SpongeBob Squarepants", Stephen Hillenburg, died Monday at the age of 57 from the SLA Nervous Disease, said Nickelodeon transmitter Tuesday. He filled the series with "a unique sense of humor and innocence". "His totally original characters and the Bikini Bottom universe will long keep in mind the values ​​of optimism, friendship and boundless imagination," he said. declared.

In 1999, "SpongBob" was broadcast for the first time

In his studies and as a professor of marine biology, Hillenburg dealt with the flora and fauna of the oceans. In 1992, he graduated with a degree in animation in California. "SpongeBob Squarepants" appeared in the United States in 1999. The series takes place in the city of Bikini Bottom, at the bottom of the ocean, where live SpongeBob, Starfish Patrick, Squid Squidward and other sponges of marine life. In addition to children, young people and young adults also enjoyed the series.

According to "Variety", nearly 250 episodes of the series have been broadcast and translated into more than 60 languages. The German version was initially seen from 2002 to 2009 on Super RTL. Hillenburg also wrote and produced the "SpongeBob" films released in 2004 and 2015. A third film was planned for the death of Hillenburg in 2020.

(DPA / af)