Sandy Cheeks

Sandy is a close friend of SpongeBob SquarePants. She is a proud Texan and speaks in a stereotypical Southern drawl. In order to live underwater, Sandy resides in a bubble-like dome{{cite web|url=http://nickelodeon.se/nick/whats_on/characters/characterDetail.jhtml?articleId=30049880|title=Sandy - Nickelodeon Sweden|work=MTV Networks Europe|publisher=Viacom International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018105124/http://nickelodeon.se/nick/whats_on/characters/characterDetail.jhtml;jsessionid=W3MG1WGZDUDW3QFIAIISFE4AVABBEIV0?articleId=30049880|archive-date=October 18, 2005}} and wears an atmospheric diving suit when outside her house.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-oi8LiETHIC&q=Krusty+Krab&pg=PA85|title=Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Cartoons!|last=Brown|first=Arthur|publisher=Arthur Brown|year=2008|isbn=978-1435732483|location=USA|page=85}} Inside the treedome, her normal attire consists of a green and purple bikini. Conversely, as revealed in Tea at the Treedome, other characters must wear "water helmets" with opposite functionality when visiting her house. Sandy possesses extraordinary scientific skills such as the ability to construct complex inventions.{{cite episode|title=Chimps Ahoy|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=4|number=70b|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=May 5, 2006|credits=Writers: Luke Brookshier, Tom King, Steven Banks}} Sandy is shown to possess a number of tough, tomboyish character traits and interests; she is skilled at karate, engages in bodybuilding,{{cite episode|title=MuscleBob BuffPants|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=1|number=11a|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=September 25, 1999|credits=Writers: Ennio Torresan, Jr., Erik Wiese, Mr. Lawrence}} and is a rodeo champion.{{cite episode|title=Rodeo Daze|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=7|number=138b|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=February 6, 2010|credits=Writers: Luke Brookshier, Nate Cash, Richard Pursel}} She is also a close friend of Patrick Star, SpongeBob's best friend and neighbor, though she sometimes gets annoyed by him like Squidward.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/spongebob-squarepants-patrick-met-became-friends-how-when/|title=How SpongeBob & Patrick First Met (& How the Story Changes)|website=Screen Rant|date=July 11, 2021}}

Stephen Hillenburg first became fascinated with the ocean and began developing his artistic abilities as a child. During college, he majored in marine biology and minored in art. After graduating in 1984, he joined the Ocean Institute, an ocean education organization, where he had the idea to create a comic book titled The Intertidal Zone, which led to the creation of SpongeBob SquarePants.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocean-institute.org/|title=Welcome to the Ocean Institute|work=ocean-institute.org|access-date=December 24, 2013}}{{cite video |people=Wilson, Thomas F.(Interviewer); Hillenburg, Stephen (Interviewee) |date=May 29, 2012 |title=Big Pop Fun #28: Stephen Hillenburg, Artist and Animator–Interview |url=http://ec.libsyn.com/p/d/9/8/d98c6fd6cc81f188/BPF28_Stephen_Hillenburg_artist_and_animator.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01c08031d1c85f7cb2&c_id=4560686 |format=mp3 |medium=Podcast |publisher=Nerdist Industries |access-date=December 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6M1QBJ1BZ?url=http://ec.libsyn.com/p/d/9/8/d98c6fd6cc81f188/BPF28_Stephen_Hillenburg_artist_and_animator.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01c08031d1c85f7cb2&c_id=4560686 |archive-date=December 21, 2013 |url-status=dead }} In 1987, Hillenburg left the institute to pursue a career in animation.{{cite video | people=Hillenburg, Stephen|date=2003|title=The Origin of SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete First Season| medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}}{{Cite book|last=Banks|first=Steven|others= Gregg Schigiel (Illustrator)|title=SpongeBob Exposed! The Insider's Guide to SpongeBob SquarePants|publisher=Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon|location=New York City, New York|date=September 24, 2004|isbn=978-0-689-86870-2|page=9}}

A few years after studying experimental animation at the California Institute of the Arts, Hillenburg met Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life, at an animation festival. Murray offered Hillenburg a job as a director of the series.{{cite video | people=Murray, Joe|date=2003|title=The Origin of SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete First Season| medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}}{{cite book|title=Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies|publisher=Allworth Communications, Inc|author=Neuwirth, Allan|isbn=1-58115-269-8|year=2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw/page/50 50]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw/page/50}}"[http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/murray.html Lisa (Kiczuk) Trainor interviews Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life]," The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ Martin Olson, one of the writers for Rocko's Modern Life, read The Intertidal Zone and encouraged Hillenburg to create a television series with a similar concept. At that point, Hillenburg had not considered creating his own series, but soon realized that this was his chance.{{cite AV media|last1=Hillenburg|first1=Stephen|last2=Murray|first2=Joe|last3=Drymon|first3=Derek|last4=Coleman|first4=Eric|last5=Hecht|first5=Albie|date=2003|title=The Origin of SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete First Season| medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}}{{Cite book|last=Banks|first=Steven|others= Gregg Schigiel (Illustrator)|title=SpongeBob Exposed! The Insider's Guide to SpongeBob SquarePants|publisher=Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon|location=New York City, New York|date=September 24, 2004|isbn=978-0-689-86870-2|page=10}} Shortly after production on Rocko's Modern Life ended in 1996,{{cite web|url=http://joemurraystudio.com/television/rockos-modern-life/|title=Rocko's Modern Life|publisher=JoeMurrayStudio.com|access-date=May 21, 2013|archive-date=June 15, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615100743/http://joemurraystudio.com/television/rockos-modern-life/|url-status=dead}} Hillenburg began working on SpongeBob SquarePants. Sandy has been shown in the episodes about her being in the tree dome.{{cite web |url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/ |title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants | Hogan's Alley |website=cartoonician.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/ |archive-date=31 August 2015 |url-status=dead}} Whenever any aquatic creatures enter her home, they must wear helmets that are filled with water. Sandy works as a scientist, explorer, and inventor. She is also a rodeo champion with a number of athletic interests, such as "sand-boarding" and karate.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Meet the Gang!|url=http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/fullynick/tvshows/shows/spongebob-squarepants-show|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310224329/http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/fullynick/tvshows/shows/spongebob-squarepants-show|archive-date=March 10, 2008|work=Nickelodeon (Australia and New Zealand) Australia|publisher=Viacom International}} Originally, in the pitch bible written by Tim Hill and Hillenburg, SpongeBob originally was a romantic interest for her, but this was quickly put out of the show.{{Cite book |title=SpongeBoy |last1=Hill |first1=Tim |language=English |last2=Hillenburg |first2=Stephen |date=1997-01-17|pages=27|url=https://archive.org/details/520748698-sponge-bob-bible-1997/}}

File:Carolyn Lawrence (cropped).jpg provides the voice of Sandy Cheeks.]]

The voice of Sandy Cheeks is provided by Carolyn Lawrence.{{cite web|title=Carolyn Lawrence: Credits|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/carolyn-lawrence/credits/212823|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 22, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Basile|first=Nancy|title=Voice Behind Sandy Cheeks on SpongeBob|url=http://animatedtv.about.com/b/2006/03/29/voice-behind-sandy-cheeks-on-spongebob.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=June 14, 2013|date=March 29, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513034712/http://animatedtv.about.com/b/2006/03/29/voice-behind-sandy-cheeks-on-spongebob.htm|archive-date=May 13, 2013|df=mdy-all}} Lawrence got the role of Sandy when she was in Los Angeles at Los Feliz. She met Donna Grillo, a casting director, on a sidewalk. Lawrence was with a friend who knew Grillo, and she said Lawrence had an interesting voice. Grillo brought Lawrence in to audition and she got the part.{{cite web|title=Carolyn Lawrence Exclusive Interview|url=http://www.thestarscoop.com/interviews/carolyn-lawrence-exclusive-interview/|work=The Star Scoop|access-date=June 14, 2013|date=September 17, 2009|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629164232/http://www.thestarscoop.com/interviews/carolyn-lawrence-exclusive-interview/|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|title=REFANB Interview: Carolyn Lawrence, A.K.A. Ashley Graham|url=http://www.residentevilfan.com/articles/lawrence_interview.htm|work=Resident Evil Fan|access-date=June 14, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212032724/http://www.residentevilfan.com/articles/lawrence_interview.htm|url-status=dead}}

Before a recording, Lawrence prepares when the crew sends a storyboard. She explains, "I absolutely love that! Not only do I get to read the script, I can actually see what the artists have in mind. It is an amazing process and I feel so fortunate to be able to work that way! [...] I would prefer to let the script come alive in me before a taping."{{cite web|last=Basile|first=Nancy|title=Carolyn Lawrence Sandy Cheeks on 'SpongeBob SquarePants'|url=http://animatedtv.about.com/od/spongebobsquarepants/a/lawrence.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=June 14, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513033430/http://animatedtv.about.com/od/spongebobsquarepants/a/lawrence.htm|archive-date=May 13, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

Presley Williams voiced young Sandy in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.{{cite web|title=Sandy – Nickelodeon Sweden|url=http://nickelodeon.se/nick/whats_on/characters/characterDetail.jhtml?articleId=30049880|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018105124/http://nickelodeon.se/nick/whats_on/characters/characterDetail.jhtml;jsessionid=W3MG1WGZDUDW3QFIAIISFE4AVABBEIV0?articleId=30049880|archive-date=October 18, 2005|work=MTV Networks Europe|publisher=Viacom International}}

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Film critic A. O. Scott of The New York Times said, in his review of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, that Sandy is one of his favorite characters on the show, along with Squidward Tentacles and Mrs. Puff. He wrote, "I was sorry to see [them] pushed to the margins".{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=A. O.|title=Absorbency Plus Frivolity, a Blend the World Needs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/19/movies/19spon.html?pagewanted=print&position=|access-date=June 5, 2014|work=The New York Times|date=November 19, 2004}}

Sandy has been included in various SpongeBob SquarePants-related merchandise, including board games, books, plush toys, and trading cards. She is also a playable character in several SpongeBob games like Battle for Bikini Bottom.{{Cite web|last=Onyett|first=Charles|date=10 September 2008|title=The Game of Life - SpongeBob SquarePants Edition Review|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/10/the-game-of-life-spongebob-squarepants-edition-review}}{{Cite web|title=Sandy Cheeks Plush - ShopNickU|url=https://store.nickelodeonuniverse.com/sandy-cheeks-plush/p/7347895|access-date=2021-08-30|website=store.nickelodeonuniverse.com}}{{cite web|title=Spongebob Squarepants: Deep Sea Duel (2003)|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6473/spongebob-squarepants-deep-sea-duel|publisher=BoardGameGeek|access-date=August 30, 2021}} Sandy also appears as a playable character in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/nickelodeon-all-star-brawl-every-character-confirmed/|title = Every Character Confirmed for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl|website = Screen Rant|date = July 13, 2021}} The Sandy's Blasting Bronco rollercoaster opened alongside the American Dream Mall's Nickelodeon Universe theme park in 2019. This ride is the first attraction to be named and themed after the character. The ride-vehicle is themed to Sandy's rocketship, from the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Sandy's Rocket."{{Cite web |title=American Dream |url=https://www.americandream.com/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=American Dream}}

Sandy served as sideline reporter for Nickelodeon's alternate telecast of Super Bowl LVIII.

{{Main|Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie}}

A CGI/Live-action hybrid movie starring Sandy titled Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie was released on Netflix on August 2, 2024. This film is one of three character-centric SpongeBob movies in development for the streaming platform. The film was initially announced in May 2021, and its title was revealed on November 26, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Leston |first=Ryan |date=2022-02-15 |title=Three More SpongeBob SquarePants Movies Are In the Works For 2023 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/three-spongebob-squarepants-spin-offs-in-the-works-for-2023 |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title='SpongeBob' Exec. Producers Tease SpongeBob's 25th Anniversary Celebrations in 2024 |url=http://www.nickalive.net/2022/11/spongebob-exec-producers-tease.html |access-date=2022-11-27}}

{{reflist}}

{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}

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Category:Anthropomorphic squirrels

Category:Female characters in animated television series

Category:Fictional characters from Texas

Category:Television characters introduced in 1999

Category:Fictional characters with superhuman strength

Category:Fictional bodybuilders

Category:Fictional inventors

Category:Fictional karateka

Category:Fictional female scientists

Category:Fictional mechanics

Category:Comedy film characters

Category:SpongeBob SquarePants characters

Category:Female characters in animated films

Category:Fictional roboticists