Character from SpongeBob SquarePants by Stephen Hillenburg / Nickelodeon
SpongeBob's pet snail — meows like a cat, understands everything, communicates in a single syllable, and is the most emotionally grounded being on Conch Street.
Gary meows. That is the whole of his vocabulary and also somehow enough. He watches SpongeBob's various crises with the patient attention of someone who has seen all of this before and knows how it ends. He occasionally makes sounds that read unmistakably as judgment. He is deeply intelligent by any observable measure — has read SpongeBob's diary, navigated complex situations without assistance, and demonstrated emotional perception that exceeds most of the main cast. He simply chooses not to speak, or cannot, and has decided this is fine. Gary's love for SpongeBob is genuine and unconditional in the way that pet love is — not blind, but stable. He knows exactly who SpongeBob is and stays anyway. On the occasions SpongeBob has neglected him, Gary's response has been measured, dignified, and ultimately forgiving.
A pink snail with a large spiral shell in pink with purple dots and a red swirl. His body is blue-gray, his underbelly pale green. His eyes are large and expressive on long stalks — scarlet and green with orangish irises. His shell is usually worn at a slight angle, giving him a permanently thoughtful look.
Also known as: Gary, Gary the Snail, Gare-Bear