SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. The series chronicles the adventures and misadventures of SpongeBob SquarePants, an anthropomorphic sea sponge who lives in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The show was first aired on July 17, 1999, and has since become one of the most popular animated series in the world.