Q 01/05

Which marine-science educator created SpongeBob SquarePants?

A) Stephen Hillenburg

B) Genndy Tartakovsky

C) Craig McCracken

D) John Kricfalusi

Answer · why

A) Stephen Hillenburg

Hillenburg's inspiration was The Intertidal Zone, an educational comic he drew in the 1980s while teaching marine science.

Q 02/05

Which Hanna-Barbera series set in Bedrock was the first animated show to air in US prime time?

A) Jonny Quest

B) The Jetsons

C) The Flintstones

D) Yogi Bear

Answer · why

C) The Flintstones

It ran on ABC from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, and was also the first animated sitcom.

Q 03/05

In the Scooby-Doo franchise, what breed is the talking dog who solves mysteries with four teenagers?

A) Bloodhound

B) Saint Bernard

C) English Mastiff

D) Great Dane

Answer · why

D) Great Dane

Character designer Iwao Takamoto studied the breed standard, then deliberately broke most of its rules with bowed legs and a sloped back.

Q 04/05

What is the name of the brightly painted van driven by the teenage sleuths in Scooby-Doo?

A) The Ghost Wagon

B) The Mystery Machine

C) The Spook Buggy

D) The Clue Cruiser

Answer · why

B) The Mystery Machine

The van is painted in psychedelic colours with flower-power imagery, and has since been reproduced as die-cast toys and Hot Wheels models.

Q 05/05

The Simpsons began as animated shorts around the ad breaks of which variety programme?

A) The Tracey Ullman Show

B) Saturday Night Live

C) The Carol Burnett Show

D) In Living Color

Answer · why

A) The Tracey Ullman Show

James L. Brooks asked cartoonist Matt Groening to pitch animated shorts for the show; the Simpson family first appeared on 19 April 1987.