Was Spongebob Actually Made For Kids?
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- čas přidán 25. 10. 2022
- Spongebob Squarepants has been a mainstay in pop culture ever since it's debut in 1999. Though few would have predicted the lasting impact Spongebob would have on it's fanbase. It seems the fandom stretches from older millennials all the way to their kids. But going through the history of Spongebob, it's hard to tell who Spongebob was even made for. Kids, or the adults that would be watching alongside them?
#spongebob #nickelodeon #nerdstalgic
Written by Brian Long
Edited by Paul Ritchey - Zábava
![Eminem - Houdini [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/22tVWwmTie8/mqdefault.jpg)
I don't watch SpongeBob with my kids. They watch SpongeBob with me.
You must be really a cultured parents.
Facts
@@HafifSyukra indubitably.
@@713_Stackz 😁
How low yours and your kids IQ?
“You work here for 40 years, and then you die.”- the most real Squidward line
Definitely for kids
To me, squidward provides the most comedic relief to adults.
@@user-ov2fc5sd1e They gotta learn somehow.
*we
@@Da_doggo104 "What do you mean, 'we'?" -SpongeBob's ripped-off swim trunks
The first 3 seasons are some of the best cartoon all audience episodes ever.
I wish I could watch them right now
Hands down
@@t221000 and why can't You?
@@dgxkeyboards4535 It’s not on tv and I don’t have all the DVDs
@@t221000 you still could I see them on TV every know and then and you could record them
Spongebob represents the ultimate lightning-in-a-bottle cartoon success story. Stephen Hillenburg and the rest of the show's original team were all the right people who made just the right show at just the right time. They had created something truly special for people to still be talking about it for such a long time. They truly mastered the art of universal appeal, a show that was entertaining for all audiences.
I like your pfp
Spongebob is a timeless classic
Yep.
One of the best TV shows ever made.
@@chasehedges6775 animated or all time?
I agree, son of Roach Dog
fancy seeing you here, roachdogg jr
SpongeBob is made for all audiences as he's King of the Nicktoons
Yep. It was made for everyone.
Yep agreed.
Yes, I watched the video too.
Correction: *was
@@yuikol14 but honestly, did you really have to watch the video to know the answer?
This video hits the nail on the head. Spongebob is so beloved because each episode has something for everyone. There's jokes that little kids find funny, then there's stuff teenagers would laugh at, then there's stuff only adults would find funny, and it's all contained in one single episode so no matter what age you are, there's always something for you to enjoy.
I wouldn‘t say every episode has something special and is funny for everyone (for example the ep spongebob forgets his name) but yeah most of them ig
Spongebob forgets his name? I hope you’re not talking about Squilliam Returns
@@paulgilbert5278 noo, i like the episode you are talking about. I mean “Missing identity“.
Yeah
I find the first 3 seasons funnier and funnier as I get older and it’s hard for anything to capture that kind of magic, let alone a “kids” show
Gumball did imo
@@playathesaints9599 gravity falls, regular show. Heck I didn’t like adventure time but it was really good
@@StripedJacket Gravity Falls is a different kind of show. I don't think Regular Show is quite on the same level although it's good
“Once you understand POOP, you’ll understand your place at the Krusty Krab.”
Wow that sailed over my head as a kid
Stephen had a very unique vision for the cartoon. You can argue that now a days we have animation with all sort of over the tone gags but is CLEAR that shows like Archer or Rick & Morty are for adults only. Spongebob Magic relies on giving the kids the bright color and innocence of a child they can relate with the problems and social dynamics that an adult can relate. I was 13 when i started watching the cartoon, i'm 35 now and i still enjoy it.
The great thing about SpongeBob's humor was that kids and adults were usually laughing at the same thing. It didn't just sneak in occasional dirty jokes for the adults watching, like a lot of cartoons did.
It was genuinely just good irony and good comedy, without the need of raunchiness. It did a really good job with the material it created for itself
I’m 29 and I just started SpongeBob because my girlfriends 9 year old daughter loves it, it is definitely for all ages
Yep. It’s one of the best shows
Why do you have a girlfriend?
You never watched it before?
@@Chiledyz nope, didn’t have cable growing up
@@xshxr are you incapable of imagining a scenario where OP is dating someone who had a kid before meeting them? It’s really not that hard to consider
Back in my middle school days, my peers were spreading rumors that SpongeBob was initially going to be targeted towards an adult audience, before settling it down to kids. I always denied this fact, knowing the true origins of SpongeBob.
I remember hearing this rumor also back in middle school
I had a feeling spongebob was for older people before being for kids
It would be cool if spongebob was for adults once again because I'm now a 19 year old adult😪😭
Yeah I heard this too. Just a stupid playground rumor. Although I think some adult network approched Hillenberg to make an adult spinoff and he immidetley turned it down.
Yup! That one made it to my area as well. Crazy how such small rumors can spread to the ends of the Earth!
I'm almost certain it was originally pitched to Adult Swim
I’m 31 years old and I’ve loved Spongebob since it came out. It definitely holds a special place in the hearts of us Millennials. We all relate to Squidward now more than ever.
Gen-Z too! My older brother is a millennial and I'm Gen Z and we both quote the first 5 seasons all the time still! Even my Mom who is 60 quotes spongebob! It really is rare to find something that transcends generations like spongebob does!
@@rage8010 yes!! Same with my little Gen Z sister and our dad!
Same..I'm 30,love SpongeBob..I made sure to watch it with all my nephews/niece..glad they love SpongeBob
My older millennial sibs 37 and 40 don't know a thing about SB. Younger millennials are probably closer to gen z than to older millennials.
I'm 35 and remember walking home from high school singing the crusty crab pizza delivery song
I’m so glad I wasn’t one of those kids whose parents didn’t let them watch Spongebob. This show was my childhood and I only realized the genius of it as I’ve grown up.
Spongebob to me was for children .. It was normalizing the concept of being completely independent while loving and appreciating every little aspect of life. Spongebob in one word is GRATEFUL
8:42 "Its refusal to talk down to even its youngest audience members" that part is so true. As a kid I hated when adults spoke to me like I'm retarded and now that I am a teacher myself, I see how my own refusal to talk down to these kids as a result of my own experiences has been a very powerful thing to build a mutual sense of trust and appreciation. Kids are inexperienced, but smarter than people often give them credit for and the early seasons of Spongebob managed to capture that perfectly.
Same! I absolutely hate when people disrespect others’ youth. Youth doesn’t mean you’re stupid. You could be 100 and be a complete fool, meanwhile a 3 year old kid might run circles, both figuratively and literally, around you. Heck, I am 33, and I still have people talk down to me like I’m some dumb kid. They just make so many assumptions about me and where I’ve been and what I’ve done. So because I know firsthand about such condescending attitudes amongst older folks (boomers, I am looking right at you) I don’t do it to younger generations. I think of myself as an older sister and generally just try to listen to them wholeheartedly and give them the respect they deserve.
Dont use the r word its a slur
@@yin8079 well that's retarded...
SpongeBob’s target audience is clearly sentient sea creatures. Ended up being a huge crossover hit with land dwellers.
The biggest problem with modern SpongeBob is how everything feels like a toddler show, and not something all people can enjoy. The most they do to please their older audience is throw in a reference to an older episode.
That’s a very big issue
yeah, especially when you look at the spin offs. the patrick star show and kamp koral are both very much aimed towards younger children
It was like Tom and Jerry , for kids but the real meanings will be understood once you grow older
Damn I never realized now I need to rewatch Tom and jerry and see if I can catch anything
@@manufroster5851 cat represent me and mouse represent my life, idk Bro what's deep
I've actually been rewatching Rocko and I'm honestly surprised how nuanced it is for a 90s animated show. Showing sympathetic and diverse characters go through a satirized but pretty accurate version of modern day issues that hold up today. They show what it's like to have blended families, find out you're adopted, marital strife, and live in America as a legal immigrant. Rocko damn near almost got deported over a small error at the office of citizenship. At a different point he was fired due to him being late to work because he lacked reliable means of transportation. There's also the positive representation of the physically disabled Dr Hutchison whose hook hand isn't a joke by itself (unlike Family Guy which pretty much only uses Joe as a constant cripple joke) and she's part of a series wide romance arc with Filburt. Going from being associates, dating, marriage, and becoming parents together, which I don't think any cartoon before ever committed time and continuity to. The 2019 special also handled it's transgender plotline with the same authenticity and care as the original shows themes. Overall I think It's a shame how over looked it is compared to it's cousin shows.
Jesus Christ dude get a job
@@diamondproductions2 The only way you could comment this is if you were watching a video discussing Spongebob. Isn't that a bit hypocritical?
@@diamondproductions2 Jesus christ dude let people enjoy their interests lmao
That's super awesome you got all that I've never actually seen it besides snippets and the 2019 special, but I definitely want to check it out!
As Told By Ginger had an episode with appendicitis.
The cadence of SpongeBob saying 25 will forever be in my head
There will never be a cartoon quite like SpongeBob SquarePants
the glory of Spongebob is the fact that SpongeBob and Squidward both have the same exact lives but SpongeBob's optimism leads to him enjoying every second and Squidward's pessimism leads him to being miserable every second! it's a good lesson that life is all what you make it!
Right. It’s that dynamic between the 2 that really carried the show. At times seeing Squidward realize how he treated SpongeBob, when he stood up for him, the bubble bowl where SpongeBob rallied the band members to give an amazing performance and seeing Squidward HAPPY at the end. They strayed away from that awhile ago sadly.
💯💯💯💯
Having watched SpongeBobs first episode in 1999 when I was just 9 years old, I can say that it was for me. It was on its own level. Not cartoon network level but I watched it.
I had no idea the "Sailor Mouth" episode was so controversial! That was one of my favorites as a kid. The panty raid one makes sense though. I remember seeing that one as a teenager and being shocked that it was allowed to be on a kids' cartoon.
Panty raid episode is nothing compared to what Ren and Stimpy showed on TV
Panty raid was not that bad. It was funny. People are just too uptight. Sailor Mouth was a good lesson for children. It’s kind of ridiculous they’re banned. I had no idea!
Nerdstalgic asks "What is the secret formula-"
Stop right there, Plankton!
Okay, so you replaying some key jokes from SpongeBob in this video helped me realize something: the clever writing of this show had way more of an impact on my desire to get a degree in English than I realized. This is it. Those clever jokes that kept me endlessly entertained as a child inspired me to read more, think more, and just generally respect language more.
The subtlety and nuance of language. It's an important thing that isn't used just for a cheap laugh in the show.
Thanks to this video I wish I watching SpongeBob right now. As a kid I watched it on Saturday mornings and Friday nights. While there were a lot of jokes that went over my head as a little boy I loved SpongeBob’s childlike innocence and enthusiasm as he dealt with annoying adults like MR Krabs, and Squidward.
the first 6 seasons are free on amazon prime :)
Well said ! This video makes me want to rewatch the first few seasons so that I appreciate it more . Maybe I'll even get all the jokes that flew over my head as a kid . Its also heartbreaking to see a passion project turned into a soulless cashgrab against the creator's wishes though.
Until recently you were able to watch season 1-4 with your sub on prime video. But now you have to pay money for it.
@@you5o season 1-6 is on prime to watch😊
@@thatchannel5294 Thank you for informing me but it still isn‘t available
SpongeBob is one of my favorite shows ever made.
In this regard, Spongebob and the Simpsons are very much alike. They are about characters first. And the show loses its charme when the characters are not respected, when they are pushed into caricatures of themselves or go against what made the characters so lovable in the first place.
SpongeBob got better in 9b.
Spongebob is better.
Like GoT
My dad enjoyed watching spongebob alongside me while I was growing up. Watching this in retrospect i can totally understand why.
my favorite spongebob joke. A whole bunch of them are stuck in the krusty krabs and someone say "how ill we ever get out of here?"
Patrick " A high school diploma"
Omg that's so funny, what episode is it?
@@leonardo.diCATio Truth Of Square From Season 6
You know, being almost 32 now and having gone through several jobs, I really see how accurate Mr. Krabs is. When you're little, you think Mr. Krabs is just a funny, money-hungry character, and nothing more. Truth is, a lot of store owners are the same exact way. A lot of them are very wealthy and would rather see money burn than have it fall outside their wallet than go to someone else's. I've always loved SpongeBob though.
Yes, a lot of small business owners are definitely like Mr. Krabs!
Phineas and Ferb was another G.O.A.T cartoon for similar reasons. Although they are actually children in this case, they face adult situations with a level of whimsy and childlike optimism, while injecting some fairly intelligent humor.
Love that show! It was Disney’s last good show.
@@ntmn8444 gravity falls?
@@hello_ree the owl house is great too!
@@archbishopabiabi cant wait for the 2nd episode of season 3
Milo Murphy's Law and Hamster & Gretel
as kids we relate to spongebob. as adults we relate to squidward
When after years of hearing people shunning animation as just "Silly entertainment for kids" you find out that "Kids shows" like this have much more compelling writing and a better sense of humor than many "Mature" tv shows.
Not to mention this show just happens to have the same type of insanity that I particularly enjoy. Shit doesn't make sense, and that's exactly how I like it.
I was an adult without kids when it came out. I loved it from day 1. Spongebob is for kids and stoners alike
Love your videos! First time i catch a fresh release like this.
Thanks for being early today!
I think initially yes, but as the series has continued to this day, we find ourselves seeing it differently as adults. I’m sure a lot of us relate to Squidward so much now lol
Thank you for keeping it in original aspect ratio❤
"This is a show for children? It's surprisingly profound, for a narrative about a sponge." -Walter Bishop, _Fringe_ pilot episode
No one can know. Not even.. Squidward's house.
Stephen was actually aware of the spinoffs' development and was alive during the early stages of Kamp Koral
3:59 the fade out of the laugh was really nice
The driving school compromise is actually amazing and i think definitely added to the show giving the character something to work for. Plus i always reference the "FLOOR IT!" scene
We cannot forget the fact that they actually created a song for the show that would air in the Superbowl spoof episode only.
Backyardigans had an even more impressive music collection
It's crazy how far they went on a show meant for toddlers lol
I don't think that song was written for the episode
@Dustin James. Backyardigans was so ahead of its time. Some of the songs have no business being on a toddler show.
I'd come home from school to my dad watching SpongeBob all the time. It's the reason I love it so much
I remember watching this in my 20s. Great drunk / stoner stuff
One of the secrets to spongebob is that it embraces weirdness its a show that embraces the appeal of being weird which gives so much creative ideas the concept of spongebob is weird which give it an extra dimension of depth being weird is being different for anyone else being creatively different from other shows apeal of being creativity weird
I love this in depth analysis pointing out all the fantastic brilliance of Hillenburg that we just took for granted when fully absorbed in the production.
Here's a creepy message...
sponge bob has never been arrested for his driving
Im quaking from fear
It's funny because Mrs. Puff HAS been arrested for Spongebob's driving. Actually, she's been arrested multiple times for things Spongebob has done, now that I think about it.
It’s so unfortunate that none of this applies anymore to the new seasons
The fact that I actually probably enjoy Spongebob even more now at 22 years old than I did as a child shows that it was indeed made for all ages. The first 3 seasons will remain legendary for eternity.
EmpLemon has a fantastic video on what makes SpongeBob such a timeless show. Both that video and this video hit the nail right on the head. Great work!!!
Truly one of the shows of all time
I like the part where SpongeBob said "it's sponging time" and sponged all over everyone
@@battlesheep2552 Splooged his spunk juice
These jokes are kinda getting old...
@@chrisjohn1980 I agree
@@bengilhooly3616 they are becoming unoriginal
One thing I love about this show is it's rewatchabliity. You can watch it as a kid and love it, it was my favorite cartoon growing up, and then as an adult it honestly just got better. So many jokes I never understood made sense all of the sudden as an adult. You go from loving SpongeBob to feeling like Squidward, and that's kind of the hilarious part is that it's like one half of the show was made for kids, like SpongeBob and Patrick's stupidity running around and playing, and the other side was made for adults, the day job he works, Squidward, the money hungry boss, annoying customers, a dead end life, etc.
Another thing is that it isn't full of 'Kids Cartoon' things to the point where it's unbearable as an adult, like overdone sound effects, super loud high pitched voices, a ton of screaming, and it isn't overacted like a lot of kids cartoons are. I'd say a great example is something like Fairly Odd Parents; I can't sit through five minutes of that show nowadays but I loved it as a kid. It just feels so 'made for kids' the older you get, every second feels like chaos and sometimes it can be hilarious but ultimately it feels exhausting.
Another thing that made it stand out to me is growing up there was always a point in school where you'd get teased for watching certain cartoons, and praised for others. If you watched Barney by the 2nd grade you got teased but SpongeBob was cool to watch. If you watched Fairly Odd Parents in sixth grade you got teased yet SpongeBob was still fine. And in middle to high school cartoons like Family Guy or South Park where what everyone watched, and you'd get teased if you didn't/couldn't, but but everyone still watched SpongeBob.
I’m in between SpongeBob and Squidward honestly. I’m an adult, but I love how cool discovering things can be. I guess growing up with Spongebob rubbed off on me in that regard, but I also can appreciate what Squidward says. 😂
It was meant for both audiences. Kids can enjoy the slapstick and comedy while adults can laugh at the adult jokes that kids will just raise eyebrows at.
wake up babe new Nerdstalgic upload
When I was younger I wanted to become a marine biologist thanks to SpongeBob. I bet Stephen Hillenburg would've been thrilled that his show had such an effect on kids. Too bad I later discovered that I hate literally everything about being out on the open sea
I think SpongeBob is the only show I like now as much I liked as a kid decades ago
those rounded corners nearly gave me a heart attack
It was made for the regular kid that wanted to laugh. Season 1 and 2 are gold.
Then they started making spongebob all touchy feely with squidward, and it got really uh, weird to say the least lol.
You didn’t like Season 3
The first season especially of that show is total dynamite.
Epic tv
Everything before the first movie was gold. It went down hill after that
I liked the first film, but feel like it was full of memes for people my age, especially David Hasslehoff. He had a weird meme resurgence in the mid-Naughties. I was 18 when it came out and my friends and I watched it in theatre.
@@kyndramb7050 that’s fair. I can respect that movie. But after that it was all over for me
One of the best animated show for all age groups. It's not a kids show, it's just a great show
I just noticed this is was posted today, so I just wanted to take an opportunity to remind you all that the SpongeBob Movie is objectively the best piece of storytelling ever made. Have a nice day.
When Spongebob was initially released I was already 20 years old and I loved it! It's definitely for all ages.
Id love to see you look over David Lynch’s magnus opus “Twin Peaks” the original 90’s first 2 seasons its rise, fall?, and cult following and eventual return
In Overwatch League one of the commentators described one players performance and said he "firmly grasped" control. Immediately you could see the live chat lit up with "firmly grasp it" from a SpongeBob episode. I love how ubiquitous and instantly recognizable these memes have become. I laughed when I remembered that scene with Patrick and Squidward. 😂
I think SpongeBob is a great way to show children life is what you make it. Squidward plays his clarinet, SpongeBob flips his burgers, etc.
I think the best episodes are always with SpongeBob and Squidward. Their dynamic is entertaining at all ages because your perspective on it shifts from one character to the other. For me the biggest laughs are Squidwards comments
One of my favorite Squidward moments is when he has that determined look after the pizza customer yells at SpongeBob about the diet Dr. Kelp that wasn't even ordered.
Just that one look, with the music kicking in behind it, was enough to let us know that Squidward would use his anger to set things right and fix SpongeBob's crushed spirit. It's the most Squidward way to solve a problem, balancing heart and hate, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I think the first couple of seasons along with the movie were fun to watch it's meant for everyone
I can say I’m 22 years old and still find myself watching sometimes when I find it on tv even if I’ve already seen the episode i believe I can relate to the characters probably squidward the most him being sick and tired of his dead end job lol I feel the same way about my work
It was made for me. And I appreciate it.
Same here. It’s one of the show I would watch relentlessly as a child
I feel this. I loved SpongeBob and I recognize some episodes were not “meant” for me, but it’s one of the only shows that has made me lose my breath laughing.
The first three seasons are the stuff of legends
Just finished watching a video about Paddington and now one about my homie SpongeBob, man I love this channel
My brother refused to let this daughters watch the show during their impressional years because it was the only show on at the time that characters regularly called each other derogatory words like "stupid morons." The oldest watched it when she was older and gave the impression of, "Why would anyone watch this? UGH!"
Sigh...the older seasons feel like home to me. I have such respect for this show and the people who where involved in 1999 - 2004
Same
It amazes me how parents can be afraid that even acknowledging the fact that swear words exist is gonna make their children start swearing.
The key to any good kids' show is in that last part, never talk down to your audience. It's how they achieve that universality and enduring appeal. If you talk down, sooner or later the audience will grow out of it. Treat them with respect, write good stories, they'll stick with you forever.
💯🎯
RIP Hillenburge. The seasons you were involved in was what made it special.
This is the true meaning of a family cartoon. It really is enjoyable for everyone.
Been rewatching SpongeBob and still love it
A great example of an adult who didn’t lose his imagination is Stan Lee. Even though he was the head of a multibillion dollar company he never lost his imagination and wrote comics until the day he died.
feeling so much more things seeing this video about spongebob after grown up..
I saw SpongeBob pretty early on when I was a wee lad. I may have only been 6 or 7 when it started, and I saw it within the first year or two after it did. I kinda stopped caring or finding the new stuff entertaining by the time I reached my early teens, but the first 3-4 seasons of SpongeBob Squarepants are still comedy gold, and I'm saying that as a dude in my late 20s. My friends will still occasionally make early SpongeBob references.
They don't make em like they used to. And it hold true for cartoons as well. 90s + early 2000 cartoons are some of the best, timeless classics. Please make a video on Ren & Stimpy, Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the sheep.
Indeed, season 1-3 was pure gold, season 4-10 got their own memorable episodes.
After that, I just refused to watch.
Great video
I'm 30 years I still love sponge Bob
The first, hand drawn season, will forever be my most favorite one ♥️
You failed to mention one of the shows biggest influences. Ween’s album The Mollusk
My clue that some adult stuff was gonna happen was when I immediately recognized the scene transition music from Ren and Stimpy, the voice actors and art style from rockos modern life.
Had no idea about the spinoffs... what a shame,
Been rewatching the first few seasons and they get better with age
Watching the show as a kid and going back to it as an adult is an entirely different experience (first 3 seasons at least).
Jokes that flew over your head as a kid make more sense now.
I think it's for everyone, the adults love the jokes and the story, the kids love the animation
I got my brother a "people order our patties" shirt, one of the best gifts I've ever found
Great video.