As one of the oldest and most-watched cartoons, SpongeBob SquarePants is loved by all age groups. From Patrick Star to Gary to SpongeBob and Squidward, each character had their own quirk.
The show revolved around the eponymous character, SpongeBob SquarePants, an anthropomorphic sponge who lived inside a pineapple under the sea in a town called Bikini Bottom. The show consisted of 12-minute minisodes, each centering around the daily adventures of Spongebob and his eccentric gang, including his next-door neighbor Patrick, co-worker Squidward, and Krusty Krab's owner Mr. Krabs, among others.
However, lately, social media users have started a trend where they are revealing the “hidden meaning” behind the show. All of this started after a TikTok user, @asheleyspam, created a 16-second video claiming that each character on the show represents a certain “disorder.” She captioned her video with the following:
“It took me 10 years to realize that SpongeBob characters represents disorders.”
As soon as @asheleyspam released the video, it went viral as people started realizing and pointing out how SpongeBob represents ADHD, while his friend Squidward may have suffered from depression. The TikToker also revealed that she thinks Patrick Star had Down Syndrome and Mr. Krabs suffered from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Furthermore, she talks about Plankton having Bipolar Disorder.
While the claims made by the social media user might or might not be true, it is surely blowing the minds of netizens as people never realized that this could be the case. Calling herself a "conspiracy theorist," the TikToker received almost 30 million views on the video.
“I really don't know how to act with this new information I’ve received”: Netizens in shock after TikToker related the SpongeBob Squarepants characters with disorders
After the TikToker posted the video, where she talked about the SpongeBob characters having mental disorders, the internet went gaga as many users expressed being in denial and shock at how they did not notice such a big thing in the cartoon.
Talking about how difficult it was to “process” the new information, several social media users took to Twitter and shared their experiences on how "IT MADE SENSE."
Furthermore, @asheleyspam's TikTok video was flooded with comments from people who were shocked after the revelation. One user exhilaratingly said:
“Omg this is soo fascinating!"
As a follow-up to the viral clip, @asheleyspam also shared another video where she talked about characters such as Ms. Puff having PTSD, Sandy with anxiety, Pearl having bipolar, and Gary being "just fine." Having more than 35,000 comments on this video as well, the TikToker captioned the video as:
“How did we not notice these things sooner?”
While the makers have never officially announced or revealed any such information about the SpongeBob characters, a comment from the makers of the show is still awaited as nobody knows whether or not the TikToker’s guess was true.
SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated comedy TV series created by Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It started airing in July 1999, and the fourteenth season began in March 2022. Additionally, there have been three films made for the franchise with the same characters.
The show has been a favorite among audiences and has won many several awards, including the Annie Awards, Golden Reel Awards, Emmy Awards, Kids' Choice Awards, and BAFTA Children's Awards, among many others.
Quick Links
More from Sportskeeda
Edited by Priya Majumdar
Feedback Thank You!
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
"modalText += "
Please select an option.
Please provide your feedback.
"modalText += "
"modalPopup.closeOnEsc = false;modalPopup.setHeader("Why did you not like this content?");modalPopup.setContentText(modalText);modalPopup.addCancelOkButton("Submit", resetRatingAndFeedbackForm, sendRating);modalPopup.removeCloseModalIcon();modalPopup.disableDismissPopup();modalPopup.open();} else {sendRating(index);}}function sendRating() {var requestPayload = {"post_id": 1370462,"rating_value": ratingValue}if (ratingValue > 3) {requestPayload.rating_feedback_type = null;requestPayload.rating_feedback = null;} else {if (!$('input[name="drone"]:checked') || !$('input[name="drone"]:checked').value) {showErrorMessage('option');return;}if (!$(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea") || !$(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea").value) {showErrorMessage('note');return;}var selectedOption = $('input[name="drone"]:checked').value;var feedbackNote = $(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea").value;requestPayload.rating_feedback_type = selectedOption;requestPayload.rating_feedback = feedbackNote;}pureJSAjaxPost(addratingAPI, requestPayload, onsaveRatingSuccess, onsaveRatingFail, function() {}, true);}function resetRatingAndFeedbackForm() {var activeStars = Array.from($all('.rating span.rating-star.active'));for (var i=0; i < activeStars.length; i++) {activeStars[i].classList.remove("active");}if ($('input[name="drone"]:checked')) {$('input[name="drone"]:checked').checked = false;}var userNote = document.querySelector(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea");userNote.value = '';modalPopup.close();}function onsaveRatingSuccess() {modalPopup.close();savePostIdInUserRatedPostsCookie();$("#post-rating-layout").classList.add("hidden");$("#post-rating-message").classList.remove("hidden");window.setInterval(function showMessage() {$("#post-rating-widget").classList.add("hidden");}, 3000);}function onsaveRatingFail() {console.error('Saving post rating failed!');modalPopup.close();}function savePostIdInUserRatedPostsCookie() {userRatedPostIds.push(1370462);var expiryTime = new Date();expiryTime.setMonth(expiryTime.getMonth() + 12); // Expiry after 1 yearsetCookie("user_rated_post_ids", JSON.stringify(userRatedPostIds), expiryTime);}function isPostRatedByUser() {var userRatedPostIds = getCookie('user_rated_post_ids');if (userRatedPostIds) {try {userRatedPostIds = JSON.parse(userRatedPostIds);} catch (err) {console.error(err);return false;}} else {return false;}if(userRatedPostIds.indexOf(1370462) >= 0) {return true;} else {return false;}}function getRatingCountByPostId(postId) {return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {pureJSAjaxGet(getRatingCountBaseURL + postId + '/rating/count',function(data) {try {data = JSON.parse(data);if (data.meta_value) {resolve(data.meta_value);}reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId);} catch (err) {reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId);}},function(err) {reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId);}, true);});}function showErrorMessage(messageType) {var messageContainerId = '#' + messageType + '-error';$(messageContainerId).classList.remove('hidden');window.setInterval(function () {$(messageContainerId).classList.add("hidden");}, 5000);}(function() {var callFired = false;function lazyLoadPostRating() {if (callFired) return;callFired = true;if (!isPostRatedByUser()) {getRatingCountByPostId(1370462).then(function(ratingCount) {if (ratingCount < 10) {$("#post-rating-widget").classList.remove("hidden");}}).catch(function(err){console.error(err);});}}document.addEventListener("scroll", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true });document.addEventListener("mousemove", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true });document.addEventListener("touchmove", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true });})();
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of pop culture and media analysis, particularly in the realm of animated television shows. Having closely followed trends and discussions around iconic cartoons, I can provide valuable insights into the topic at hand.
Now, let's delve into the article discussing the hidden meanings behind SpongeBob SquarePants characters. The article mentions a TikTok user, @asheleyspam, who created a viral video claiming that each character in the show represents a certain mental disorder. While the claims made by the TikTok user are not officially confirmed by the show's makers, the article explores the reactions and discussions sparked by this revelation.
Here are the key concepts discussed in the article:
-
SpongeBob SquarePants Overview:
- SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated comedy TV series created by Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon.
- It premiered in July 1999, and the fourteenth season began in March 2022.
- The show is set in a town called Bikini Bottom, where the eponymous character, SpongeBob SquarePants, an anthropomorphic sponge, lives in a pineapple under the sea.
-
Characters and Quirks:
- The show features characters like SpongeBob, Patrick Star, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs, each with their own unique quirks and personalities.
- The narrative revolves around the daily adventures of SpongeBob and his eccentric gang, including his next-door neighbor Patrick, co-worker Squidward, and Krusty Krab's owner Mr. Krabs.
-
TikTok Trend:
- @asheleyspam's TikTok video went viral, claiming that each character represents a specific mental disorder.
- Examples given include SpongeBob representing ADHD, Squidward possibly suffering from depression, Patrick Star having Down Syndrome, and Mr. Krabs with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
- Plankton is also mentioned to have Bipolar Disorder.
-
Social Media Reactions:
- The article describes the internet's reaction to the TikTok video, with many expressing shock and denial at not having noticed these potential hidden meanings earlier.
- Social media users shared their experiences and how the revelations made sense to them.
-
Follow-Up Video:
- @asheleyspam posted a follow-up video suggesting that other characters like Ms. Puff may have PTSD, Sandy could have anxiety, Pearl might have bipolar disorder, and Gary is considered "just fine."
- The follow-up video received significant engagement with over 35,000 comments.
-
Awaiting Official Confirmation:
- The article mentions that the show's makers have not officially announced or confirmed any information regarding the mental disorders associated with the characters.
- The article notes that the internet is awaiting a comment from the makers to verify or debunk the TikToker's claims.
-
SpongeBob SquarePants Popularity and Awards:
- SpongeBob SquarePants has been a favorite among audiences and has won numerous awards, including Annie Awards, Golden Reel Awards, Emmy Awards, Kids' Choice Awards, and BAFTA Children's Awards.
In summary, the article explores the viral trend on social media regarding the alleged hidden meanings behind SpongeBob SquarePants characters and the ensuing discussions and reactions among netizens.
