SpongeBob SquarePants has introduced all types of sea creatures, but there’s one character that doesn’t belong there: Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel that is able to survive underwater thanks to a special suit, but what brought her to Bikini Bottom? SpongeBob SquarePants was created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg and debuted on Nickelodeon in 1999. The show has since become one of the longest-running American animated series and has expanded to other media, most notably film and video-games, and it shows no signs of stopping soon.
SpongeBob SquarePants follows the daily adventures of the title character and his best friends (and a few enemies) in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom, among those Patrick Star, Sandy Cheeks, Squidward Tentacles, and Mr. Krabs. Each character has its own quirks and peculiar backstories, but one that stands out is Sandy, mainly because she’s the only character whose natural habitat isn’t the sea.
Sandy was one of the first characters to be introduced in the series, making her debut in season 1’s episode “Tea at the Treedome”, and has since become one of the main characters, but what brought her to the bottom of the ocean?
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Real Reason Why Sandy Moved To Bikini Bottom
Sandy Cheeks is a scientist from Texas and works primarily at her home, known as the Treedome, which is an air-filled glass dome with a tree, a picnic table, a hamster wheel, and a bird bath inside. Sandy is often seen creating a variety of objects and making all types of experiments, and it was initially said she came to Bikini Bottom to study sea creatures and their lifestyles. However, a different reason for Sandy’s move from Texas to Bikini Bottom was later revealed.
In season 4’s episode “Chimps Ahoy”, Sandy is visited by her employees at Treedome Enterprises: Professor Percy, Dr. Marmalade, and Lord Reginald. The reason for their visit is to see the progress she has made with her inventions, but Sandy isn’t confident any of her work will satisfy them, and if that’s the case, she would lose her funding and be forced to leave Bikini Bottom. After SpongeBob and Patrick fail to help her and the Treedome is closed down, Dr. Marmalade comes across with Sandy’s “nutcracker”, which peels a banana for him. The Chimps then reveal that’s an invention they have been waiting for for years, and decide Sandy can stay in Bikini Bottom for 20 more years and with a higher salary. This episode not only reveals who Sandy works for but also that she isn’t there to study sea life, but to come up with groundbreaking inventions. Perhaps the Chimps thought that a bit of isolation would inspire her more, but they definitely weren’t counting with SpongeBob’s existence and influence.