And, just broadly speaking, there are worse characters to share a name with than a megalomaniac’s computer wife. The difference is that, just like The Simpsons, SpongeBob grounds its bizarre sight gags with witty one-liners and lead characters who were very dumb and very lovable. save. Austen: SpongeBob has always gotten praise for its clever jokes and the heart of its characters — and it deserves every bit of that praise — but the hold that the show has always had over me was its absurdity. The characters are so expressive, timeless in their struggles and silly moments. Yet, one stands out amongst the others as the magnum opus of children’s entertainment: SpongeBob SquarePants. Like the rest of the characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick has changed a lot since season 1, and while his dim-witted nature was funny at first, it's not so much anymore. Which is to say, SpongeBob, at its best, had none. I mean seriously,the first few years he passed off as a good toon and I understand why people liked him so much then but why do they still like him when he stinks now,he isn't really exciting and does stuff ANYONE can you,you might as well make a carton about a piece of paper doing spongebob's antics I had the opportunity to see it on the big screen again this summer as part of the School of Visual Arts’s alumni film festival (co-writer Derek Drymon is an SVA alumnus) and laughed just as hard as I did when I first saw it 14 years ago. Published September 12, 2011 Updated September 12, 2011 . WHAT DID HE SAY?” when SpongeBob goes door-to-door selling chocolate. Petrana: SpongeBob was a meme before we even had a word for memes. Joe Exotic – queer icon or misogynistic predator? It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Before I could get into shows like Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, SpongeBob SquarePants was there as a stepping stone, the training wheels I needed to appreciate absurdist humor. Here I ask why is spongebob squarepants so popular in media mainstream and why people love spongebob so much.....I will make a part two today! An actual adult teacher was telling me that SpongeBob was not only cool, it was smart. There’s no better example of this than the episode “Graveyard Shift” and its bizarre throwaway joke about Nosferatu. At a closer look perhaps that answer can be found. he chuckled. Is it Patrick? Today’s kids deserve better than this! Join our contributors’ group here or email us – click here for contact details, The Oxford Student - Oxford's biggest student newspaper, produced by and for members of the University of Oxford, since 1991. Rather than being a cold-hearted corporate cash grab, it’s a pure, song-filled distillation of the joy and absurdity that makes the series so special, combining the best gags from the show with an out-of-the-box aesthetic that puts all other such transferrals to shame. We whispered “Is mayonnaise an instrument?” during boring band concerts. SpongeBob let out his normal laugh. But the beauty of SpongeBob was how it never showed off how smart it was, and it never sacrificed a joke for the sake of being clever. Go to encyclopedia Through watching a bit of SpongeBob, we could all learn a thing or two about finding joy in the simple things of life and the humility of not taking ourselves so seriously. My middle school art teacher was really into SpongeBob, and though I originally assumed it was because he was a goofy guy trying to relate to his students, he ended up spending a week of class pointing out every reference to dada artwork (e.g. And I don't watch spongebob enough anymore to know about Plankton but I think he is not too bad. If you were lucky enough to grow up in the late 90s-early 2000s, you are part of the last generation that had genuinely good children’s T.V. There is equally the daftness of what unfolds, such as the duck ‘quack’ seemingly emanating from anything, which can be immensely refreshing for adults. Right now, we might be feeling more like Squidward than Spongebob, so a dose of Spongebob's sunny personality is just what the doctor ordered. On the other hand, SpongeBob is an acquired taste that relies on a refined sense of humour in order to be fully appreciated. But it happened woefully early on for SpongeBob, making it so that the show has been bad for longer than it’s been good. So yeah, what makes good spongebob so good and re-watchable? KUWTK: Kardashians’ Most Memorable Halloween Costumes Over The Years. SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon.The series chronicles the adventures and endeavors of the title character and his aquatic friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. An intense love and knowledge of SpongeBob has bound me to friends, instantly connected me with acquaintances and kept my own spirits up for most of my life. "The Two Faces of Squidward", aka the Handsome Squidward episode. Patrick's ability to be amused by the smallest things. 13 comments. The Reason James Gandolfini Was So Tight With SpongeBob. Oxford's biggest student newspaper, produced by and for members of the University of Oxford, since 1991. If someone asked us if we wanted some chocolate, we yelled “Chocolate?” back at them. And so, whilst I do not wish to rock the boat (pun intended), it is for the above reasons and countless more that I can safely commend SpongeBob Squarepants as the best cartoon ever! Which is to say, SpongeBob, at its best, had none. Then Patrick has a serious look on his face and in a stern voice he said: "It wasn't a joke." 998 . There’s a zany aesthetic present in SpongeBob and Hillenburg’s work on Rocko’s Modern Life that we don’t really see anymore in Nickelodeon cartoons. Also sandy is not TOO bad. Suddenly, this cartoon had legitimacy. Currently, children are subjected to saccharine drivel that teaches basic arithmetic or ‘getting your five-a-day’ at the expense of being even remotely entertaining. Are you left-wing or right-wing? You couldn’t spend a single recess without hearing someone make a SpongeBob joke, couldn’t go a single field trip without singing one of the songs. Joe Cartoon Is The Best Version Of The Story (& 5 Why It's The Comics) Except Squidward never found a job and quickly descended into an ungrateful bum who took advantage of SpongeBob's kindness and generosity. Mr. Krabs is now so selfish that he even breaks the law (Again, what are you trying to teach kids?) 0. SpongeBob SquarePants has become the most successful Nicktoon, but why is the show still so popular, despite its quality being in decline for years?Created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg, SpongeBob SquarePants made its debut on Nickelodeon in 1999, with its popularity booming by its second season. Myriad titles come to mind: Arthur, Lilo and Stitch, Teletubbies, Rugrats, Bob the Builder, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Powerpuff Girls, What’s New Scooby-Doo, and many more. Patrick comes through the door urgently with a very depressed face and said that Sandy died in a plane crash. Spongebob says and I quote: "I guess crying does solve your problems!" Why is spongebob so popular? Many of us at Polygon have a lot to thank Hillenburg for, and to remember him by: Through favorite episodes (“Chocolate With Nuts” and “Krusty Krab Training Video” are the best, for the record), unforgettable jokes and trope-defying characters, SpongeBob dug its heavy spatula into our collective consciousness. To be clear, we haven't even scratched the surface here. We’re grateful for it; the Nickelodeon show has informed so much about who we are, both when we and the cartoon were at our youthful peaks and now in our childish adulthoods. 10 Signs You’re Watching A Martin Scorsese Film | ScreenRant. Allegra: At its height, SpongeBob helped solidify my affection for absurdity, albeit a kind that does not sacrifice accessibility or heart. We all know that when SpongeBob is good, it is uproariously funny, but what makes it so rewatchable? You may know Squidward as the grumpy sea creature that’s always ready to complain on “SpongeBob Squarepants.” However, it’s possible that Squidward isn’t really depressed. STUDY: Internal Temperature of Senior University Figures unaffected by snowfall, The DPhil Diaries: exploring nature, dodgy haircuts and a long distance love story. (Every Disney musical except The Lion King, I’m looking at you.). Its appeal is broad, ageless, simple and smart, and it’s hardly matched by any other cartoons. Of course, there’s also the simple fact that SpongeBob is the opposite of Squidward: cheerful, loud, and always happy, and he’s not good at respecting Squidward’s personal space. This season is one of my personal favorites! Characters? As I grew up and found other (less age-appropriate) cartoons to further define my taste — Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist wasn’t really popular with the other middle schoolers in 2007 — my love and recall for SpongeBob goofs kept me from feeling isolated. There have been two Spongebob movies so far, Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie (2004) and The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), both of which achieved critical and box office success. 1. However, it is precisely the fact that it nurtures and cultivates this skill of comedic discernment that merits it being placed above even the precious Pingu . But what really stood out to me this time was the unconditional love between SpongeBob and Patrick. Relatively review: a heart-breaking and affirming podcast. Then, there is a LOUD knock on the door. Do you think it is just the comedy? Below, a group of us share moments from one of our favorite cartoons of all time that still strike a chord. Probably both. The explanation is even more heartwarming than the pictures . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. It would have been easy to just throw in another punchline, but instead the show commits to the bit and cuts to a black and white footage of a vampire from a 1922 German horror movie instead, because that’s the kind of show SpongeBob is. share. SpongeBob SquarePants has enjoyed a lot of success, not only on TV, but also film, video games, and more, but the quality of the show has declined a lot. Who would have thought lovable Patrick would teach us a thing or two? According to his driver's license in the 2000 episode \"Sleepy Time,\" SpongeBob SquarePants was born on July 14, 1986. So is the strangely compelling moment when SpongeBob blow-dries a droplet of paint, then says, smugly, "yeah." Seizing the opportunity afforded by the lockdown and by the fact that they are both available on the Amazon Prime FREE 6-month student trial, I decided to re-watch the first two seasons of SpongeBob. There goes my bit of respect for the new spongebob. In all honesty, we’re sick of him and so here’s our eight reasons why we think he could do with a bit of a telling off. Related: SpongeBob SquarePants: Gary & Patrick Are Secretly Related Surely, SpongeBob isn’t a genius either, but he at least shows a bit more intelligence and common sense than good old Patrick. Its ability to toss something completely random at the audience and smile like the joke made perfect sense. Note: Any SpongeBob SquarePants episodes are forbidden due to clogging up the wiki in the past. We all need a friend that we can be goofy with, that will support our dumb ideas but tell us when we’ve gone to far, that will celebrate our successes and eat too much ice cream with us when we lose a big promotion. And while Hillenburg’s legacy continues on proudly through his most famous animated creation — which turns 20 next year — we at Polygon found now as good a time as ever to share our fondest SpongeBob memories. Each number could function as a showstopper — SpongeBob sings while suspended upside down in midair! Season 9b's animation was slightly better than 9a, but Season 10's animation REALLY stepped it's game. No exceptions. The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma. SpongeBob and company are currently enjoying their … This dire state-of-affairs was the catalyst for righteous indignation that, coupled with a sense of nostalgic longing, compelled me to rediscover some of the masterpieces that I was blessed to watch as a young whippersnapper. Looking back at nearly 20 years of the classic cartoon. Why are there so many pics of the tough-guy ’Sopranos’ star with SpongeBob SquarePants? Julia: My extremely cursed brain thinks in images and memes, most of which come from SpongeBob. Why SpongeBob is a bad influence. The only potential rival that may be plausibly countenanced is Pingu; it is arguably even more universal in its hilarity because it doesn’t rely on a natural language. Luigi, Look! Why SpongeBob SquarePants Is Still So Popular (Despite Not Being As Good) ... Why SpongeBob SquarePants Is Still So Popular (Despite Not Being As Good) Powered by WPeMatico. The phrase, “I feel like I look like a SpongeBob close-up,” was frequently exchanged between friends and I in high school to note that we felt like we looked dirty and disgusting. It’s weird, disorienting and kind of terrifying and I absolutely loved it as a kid, even if I had no idea who or what Nosferatu was. I wouldn't say plot because honestly the typical episode plots are pretty simple. 25 Comments. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. shows (I’ll make an exception for BBC’s In The Night Garden which was a bit past my time but straight fire nonetheless). Why SpongeBob SquarePants Is Not Suitable For Your Children. Even Plankton, the sometimes-villain, comes home to his robot wife and sighs deeply before asking, “Holographic meatloaf AGAIN, Karen?” The electrical whoosh as he passes a fork through it and eats with disdain still speaks to me. We are introduced to our protagonist SpongeBob SquarePants who “of course” lives in a pineapple, and the absurdity of this place and its inhabitants only continues to mount as the episode progresses. Want to contribute? Is it SpongeBob? In 2018, 16 years after the episode originally came out, I know exactly who Nosferatu is and I still love the joke because it makes exactly the same amount of sense in the show that it did when I was a kid. How The Stand … I never noticed the extreme ways SpongeBob influenced my life until it was pointed out that I will say, “Correct!” using the same inflection that Plankton does in the episode “Band Geeks.” SpongeBob provided ways to connect with just about everyone I met in my life. Yet, one stands out amongst the others as the magnum opus of children’s entertainment: SpongeBob SquarePants. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. And you know what? However, it is precisely the fact that it nurtures and cultivates this skill of comedic discernment that merits it being placed above even the precious Pingu. It is the celebration of sheer innocent stupidity, perhaps best expressed in the friendship between SpongeBob and Patrick Star, that makes this show such a breath of fresh air (if you’ll pardon the pun) amidst the rampant pretentiousness of many 21st century social interactions. The decline didn’t happen out of nowhere. This article was published more than 9 years ago. Even my friends, who didn’t have cable or weren’t allowed to watch cartoons, could talk to me about the show and make silly references to it throughout our conversations. was really weird, but also kinda the best. — but the jewel in the musical’s crown is, of course, Squidward’s existential crisis of an 11 o’clock number, “I’m Not a Loser.” Written by They Might Be Giants (and honestly, who better to pen a nerd’s breakdown), the song is a perfect mélange of the nonsense and seemingly directly contradictory self-awareness that the show has always had, as well as, ultimately, the sweetness and hope that SpongeBob SquarePants has always dug out of the world’s sometimes oppressive insanity. But SpongeBob is very good at making some of them more scrutable for the masses, and vice versa. SpongeBob SquarePants was, and still is, perfect entertainment. So, what wasn’t about Spongebob that became so popular with kids and adults alike? SpongeBob's license is seen again with this birthdate in \"No Free Rides,\" but all further appearances of it remove the birthdate, as SpongeBob does not age. I thought it was the funniest thing I’d ever seen. 2nd May 2020 0. No! RELATED: 5 Reasons Why The Original G.I. SpongeBob and Patrick are soulmates — they just get each other in a way that we don’t often get to see from platonic male friendships on TV. Patrick has a religious revival number! This would make him 13 years old at the time of the episode's airing. I almost spilled my tea, so I muted the volume a little. When I watched that scene when I was a kid, I was SpongeBob. why spongebob square pants is so Good. In Latin class, we mocked our declension homework by quoting the “Wumbo” scene in SpongeBob. The late James Gandolfini, best remembered as mob boss Tony Soprano on The Sopranos, was also known as a sweetheart off-screen. 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