We are told that we live in an golden era for animation but the flag is mainly flown by Pixar, Dreamworks and our own Ardman.
Most TV animation is poorly drawn, badly executed, cheap, witless, ancient (the BBC - Batfink made in 1966 and looking like the film may melt at any moment) and often sadistically violent. Exempt from this, of course, is The Simpsons and, I would argue, Sponge Bob Square Pants.
Like the Simpsons it owes everything to its creator, Stephen Hellinburg a marine biologistturnedanimatorwho logically came up with the idea of a boy spongewho lives on the bottom of the sea.
Although very in your face with garish colours and loud sea shanty music the joy of Sponge Bob is in the writing. Their home has its own surreal logic, beaches at the bottom of the sea for instance and a squirrel who naturally has to wear an aqua-lung.
Bob is naive and childlike and his mate Patrick is lovably dim. They react to those who purport to act like adults, such as Mr Crab, Bob’s boss, with charming bewilderment - as real children do. There is lots of extreme slapstick but no pop culture references, satire or knowing winks to the adults as there is in the Simpsons. Nor does it try to be loved like the awful Scobby Doo. But above all this it is funny. Laugh out loud funny. For the whole family. The slapstick is always inventive and the verbal gags clever and witty. And you cant help liking them all including the tight-fisted Mr Crab and the miserable Squidward.
The lessons it delivers are simple - Bob loses his pet snail Gary, due to his selfishness, everyone deserves respect, etc - but never patronising or sickly.
And as you would expect, given its creator, there is a strong conservation and environmental message hidden inside.
Over a hour of back-to-back episodes might push your limits but otherwise treat yourself - and the kids!.
Sponge Bob Square Pants - Where's Gary costs £9.99
