How Did Squidward Die and Was He a Squid or an Octopus?

“What happened to Squidward? How Did Squidward Die? and “Was Squidward a squid or an octopus?” are questions that have captured the curiosity of fans of SpongeBob SquarePants over the years. SpongeBob’s neighbor Squidward Tentacles is well known for his grumpy yet endearing demeanor. Has generated speculations regarding his destiny and specie. In this article we will explore the background surrounding Squidwards character by delving into fan theories the perspectives of the shows creators and what makes Squidward’s distinctive underwater identity so fascinating. Prepare yourself to explore the answers to some of the widely discussed questions in Bikini Bottom!

There are so many misconceptions around the character of Squidward in the Spongebob Squarepants series. It all begins with fans thinking he is a squid because his name is Squidward. Many wondered why his name was not coined from the octopus he is rather than from the squid that he is not. We are not sure why, but all we can say for sure is that Squidward is an octopus and not a squid.

Also, many seem to think he died, but there really is no question of how Squidward died because despite the general misconception that he passed away, he did not really die. The writers/producers of the show offered an explanation where they insisted that the name Octoward did not sound as good as Squidward did and that he has six tentacles just shy of the eight octopuses are known for.

Did Squidward Die in Spongebob Squarepants? 

The octopus who the producers of Spongebob Squarepants named Squidward was thought to have died after a fan theory hit the rumor mill alleging that he met a tragic end in an episode that was yet to air at the time but was titled “Squidward’s Suicide”. The theory which initially originated from a creepypasta story in 2019 told of how Squidward suffered from chronic depression that led to him taking his own life after he shot himself with a shotgun.

Given the name of the episode, it was a completely believable theory if you put aside the fact that a lot of times, what the title says might not be a direct representation of the chain of events in the episode. Going by the above, therefore, it is important to reiterate that there are no actual facts from the real events in the episode to support this theory. Even more importantly, the alleged episode “Squidward’s Suicide” is not on the actual list of the episodes of the show. The episode ended up becoming recognized as a made up fan creation that real fans of the series should be wary of.

How Old is Squidward?

Squidward’s age in the Spongebob Squarepants has never been explicitly stated, but it has been alluded to in certain different ways. From the hints we gathered, it looks like Squidward is in his late 40s or at most early 50s. One such hint happened in the “Squid’s Day Off,” episode when Squidward spoke about having put in 26 years of work at the Krusty Krab. Going on the assumption that he started working there from his early 20s would put his current age in the late 40s.

Squidward
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the second hint came from his driver’s license which when he flashed it, showed it was issued in 1980. Assuming he got the license at the legal driving age which is 16, he would currently be in his 50s. These hints notwithstanding, his actual age could be higher or even lower because the world of animation has rules very different from the human world.

Squidward Tentacles’ precise age remains a mystery to fans of Spongebob. Nevertheless, contextual clues from the show strongly suggest that he is likely in his late 40s or early 50s.

Is Squidward a Squid?

Despite what his name implies, Squidward Tentacles is not a squid, at least not in the biological sense of the makeup of a squid. The misconception about what kind of animal he is or is not, comes down to his name and the design of his physical features which incorporates the looks of both animals. Physically, Squidward has a head that is bulbous, a nose that is prominent like that of an octopus and a body that is elongated like that of a squid.

To make matters even more confusing, even though there is squid in his name, he has only six tentacles which is closer to the defining characteristics for octopuses that often have eight tentacles. Six tentacles are far from the ten tentacles that you will find on a squid.

By and large, we came to realise that the most likely reason why the creators of the show chose Squidward’s name is that they needed a name that matched his personality rather than his physical features. Squidward is present as always grumpy and cynical hence the word squid was a good derivative because it had a somewhat negative connotation.

Deciding to go for the name Squidward was a playful choice since it combines characteristics from both squids and octopuses. In the series as a whole, you will notice that other characters were also inspired by sea and water animals, and sometimes their features do not exactly match the biology of humans. So, while Squidward’s name may be misleading, he is certainly not a squid.

Is Squidward an Octopus?

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As we have earlier established, Squidward Tentacles is an octopus. Even though there is squid in his name and he has only six tentacles, the creator of Spongebob Squarepants recognizes him as an Octopus. The difference between his name and the species he is boils down to creative liberties on the side of the creators.

They initially toyed with the idea of giving him eight tentacles but decided against it because it might be too difficult to animate. Six tentacles were more manageable, and they gave Squidward a more unique appearance. So, while Squidward’s name may imply otherwise, he is definitely an octopus.

How Tall is Squidward? 

Information from Spongebob Squrepants’s bible indicates that Squidward tentacles is just 10 inches tall. The bible is an info document producers of a show use as as a character consistency guide. It covers aspects like physical traits and personality.

The bible notwithstanding, fans of the show still have debates about Squidward’s actual height because he appears taller in some places and shorter in some other scenes. This is attribute to the angle of the camera at the time of shooting scene. Look at the documented heights of some other major characters compared to Squidward.

SpongeBob Character Height
Squidward Tentacles 10 inches
Mr. Krabs 7 inches
Sandy Cheeks 6 inches
Patrick Star 6 inches
SpongeBob SquarePants 4 inches
Plankton 2 inch

 

From the table above, it is easy to see that Squidward is the tallest of the main characters on the show.

Who Played Squidward in Real Life?

Squidward
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The character of Squidward Tentacles was voiced by comedian and actor Rodger Bumpass. He took up the role since the show started airing in 1999 and has been on it to date. His uniquely grumpy and sardonic voice has become well-loved on the show.

Bumpass who is currently 73 years old, is skilled and versatile in his representation of diverse characters on several other shows. But he has long become a beloved voice on Spongebob. He often brings his signature wit and humor to his voice-acting roles. His other voice credits include Invader Zim and The Fairly OddParents, among other live-action films and television series.

FAQs

What Color is Squidward? 

The color Squidward Tentacles is identified with is a light turquoise or teal color that is tinted bluish-green. Same color goes for his bald head and bulbous nose.

What Instrument Does Squidward Play?

Even though he is not an expert at it, Squidward plays the clarinet. His musical abilities were not shown to have improved at anytime in the series.

Who Voices Squidward? 

the voicing for Squidward Tentacles was provided by the very skilled and versatile actor and comedian Rodger Bumpass since the series premiered in 1999.

How Many Legs does Squidward have?

Squidswards legs number six in total. This was a creative decision by the makers of the series to make his appearance closer to that of an octopus than an actual squid.

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