The creator of the ultimate nostalgia-inducing cartoon Spongebob Squarepants, Stephen Hillenburg, died on November 26th of this year. As a Gen Z kid born at the cusp of the millenia, I discovered Spongebob, like many high schoolers, in the prime of my childhood and it has held a place in my heart ever since. For a lot of students, the death of someone so integral to their childhood is a continuation on the boulevard of broken dreams. It feels as if our childhood is dying along with the very people who created it.

Spongebob Squarepants is famous for its nautical nonsense and quotable content. It has been going strong since May 1, 1999 and it is difficult to imagine a world without the mastermind behind it. “Spongebob is one of the best shows of all time, especially as a kid,” said renowned Spongebob enthusiast, senior Andrew Friedman. “I can’t believe some kids won’t get to appreciate it the way we all did.”

Although some see this as an end of an era, for others, this timeless classic will live on in our hearts and– more importantly– through the memes. It is no secret that Spongebob is the pinnacle of meme culture and I have no doubt we will be seeing some of high quality in the future. “Stephen Hillenburg may be dead but art lives forever,” said senior Jake Connor.

There is no denying that our childhood has been characterized by the bright colors and slapstick humor Spongebob is notorious for. It taught a generation to laugh and highlighted the value of optimism and friendship. Without Stephen Hillenburg, the world will seem a little less bright but hopefully his memory will inspire future generations laugh a little harder and smile a little longer.