A longtime writer and voice actor forSpongeBob SquarePantsconfirms a popular fan theory about Bikini Bottom’s origins as being correct. There are manydark fan theories aboutSpongeBob SquarePantsthat try to explain elements of the show, such as the Chum Bucket serving actual dead fish, which is what chum is made of in real life, to Pearl being adopted after her parents were killed by whalers. However, some fan theories have also tried to explain the origins of Bikini Bottom, making sense of why the sea creatures in the underwater city have human sentience.
During a conversation withEsquirefeaturing all the main cast members ofSpongeBob SquarePants, Mr. Lawrence, who portrays Plankton and has written multiple episodes of the show,confirmed the fan theory that Bikini Bottom was the result of nuclear testing. At about 4:16, he explained how the show represented theoretical results of the real-world atomic testing in Bikini Atoll, with the writer going further to claim the show takes place after a post-apocalyptic war. Check out what Lawrence had to say below:
Roger Bumpass:I always like the theory that the whole thing was related to the atomic testing in Bikini Atoll.
Mr. Lawrence:And that is true! That is absolutely true.
Roger Bumpass:It is true? I’ve been telling people it wasn’t true!
Mr. Lawrence:No, yeah, that’s absolutely true. That was part of the fun of it, was, how far are we taking that concept. I mean, right at the beginning when we were sort of developing it in the first season, it was like, “Are we going to play off of this apocalyptic thing?” Like, the whole world is dead except for Bikini Bottom.
Bill Fagerbakke:So the mufflers, were the mufflers a part of that? How everyone’s house is a muffler?
Mr. Lawrence:Yeah, it was all different. Just, the world upstairs is gone, and this is what’s left.
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Lawrence’s confirmation ofSpongeBob SquarePants' nuclear testing theoryfinally answers a major mystery surrounding why Bikini Bottom is the way it is. There’s also a darker implication to what the writer implies,saying the original plan was for the human world to be destroyed, or in a post-apocalyptic state. This doesn’t line up with how the show is presented now, however, with human society showing up in various forms across the series and movies. However, it still proves the theory about atomic testing as canon to the franchise.
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This also extends to other locations that contain various anthropomorphic fish, like New Kelp City and Bass Vegas.This indicates everything happening in the series is contained within the Bikini Atoll area, which has likely split into various factions since the first bombs dropped. While Lawrence’s confirmation opens the door for further exploration of the idea asSpongeBob SquarePantsseason 15continues, it could also just arrive in the form of future hints that emphasize these original ideas now that they’ve been confirmed.
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With Lawrence having confirmed the major fan theory, it appears many clues scattered throughoutSpongeBob SquarePantsreally were pointing to the idea being correct. It also opens the door for more theorization, especially now that it’s been revealed humanity was supposed to be in a post-apocalyptic state when the series began. Although his statement answers one question, there’s still plenty of ideas that fans can still analyze across the show’s hundreds of episodes.
In the same video, Lawrence confirmed the Seven Deadly Sins theory has merit to it, which claims each of the characters represents one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
SpongeBob SquarePants (TV Series 1999-Present)
Cast
Spongebob Squarepants is an animated comedy created by Stephen Hillenburg and starring voices from Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and Rodger Bumpass. The series revolves around a sea sponge that goes on many misadventures with his friends Patrick, Squidward, and Sandy Cheeks in the lands of Bikini Bottom and the surrounding sea.
