Spongebob Squarepants: 10 Times The Hilarious Cartoon Actually Got Emotional

If you’ve ever seen an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants, you know that one of the show’s most endearing qualities is its signature mix of humor and joy. Watching the series, you can sometimes forget about all of the unpleasantness in the world.

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There are times, however, when the often-hilarious series dives into more emotional territory. The fact that it can do so without losing sight of the funnier side of life is a further testament to the show’s enduring brilliance.

10 That Time SpongeBob Bought Squidward A Christmas Present

The constant tension between SpongeBob’s relentless cheerfulness and Squidward’s equally relentless misanthropy is one of the most enduringly amusing parts of the show. However, there are instances where this actually becomes emotional, as when SpongeBob gives Squidward a present, even though his friend has been a total jerk to him.

It’s one of those beautiful moments where the two of them actually come together in the end to share a moment of genuine warmth and friendship.

9 When SpongeBob Left Patrick To Live A Different Life

As important as Squidward and SpongeBob are to each other, there’s no question that it’s Patrick and SpongeBob who have the most enduring and strong friendship. It’s all the more jarring, then, when SpongeBob decides to go off and live a new life, leaving Patrick behind.

Seeing Patrick’s absolute devastation at the thought that his best friend would leave him behind is one of those moments in the show that will move you to tears.

8 When Squidward Thought SpongeBob Was Going To Die

As funny as Squidward often unintentionally is, there are genuinely times when he takes things a bit too far, such as that time he thought he gave SpongeBob a pie that was going to explode. Obviously, it didn’t, but there’s a particular moment when Squidward muses that at least he could make SpongeBob’s last moments happy ones.

It’s a remarkably open admission on his part that, deep down, he really does care about SpongeBob, even though he doesn’t like to show it.

7 Have You Seen This Snail?

If SpongeBob loves anyone nearly as much as he does Squidward and Patrick, it would have to be his pet snail, Gary. When they get separated, therefore, it causes SpongeBob all sorts of emotional anguish.

And who can blame him? After all, many of us have known the pain that comes from even temporarily losing a pet, and the brilliance of SpongeBob is that it manages to capture the emotional turmoil that this moment creates.

6 When SpongeBob Got Jealous About Patrick and Gary

Given how much SpongeBob cares about both Patrick and Gary, it’s not really surprising that he gets incredibly jealous when the two of them start to share a bond. Once again, this is one of those moments when the show really captures something fundamental about the human emotional experience.

So many of us know what it’s like to be on the outside of a new friendship looking in, and it is definitely not something anyone would enjoy.

5 The Pain Of Growing Up

Even though growing up is something that most of us at least somewhat look forward to, it’s also true that it requires some element of sacrifice. In order to become an adult and to move into a new sort of life, there’s always something that we have to leave behind.

SpongeBob seems to realize this, and when he bemoans all of the things that he has to leave behind, you can’t help but feel sympathy for him.

4 When Mr. Krabs Has A Mid-life Crisis

Given his rather boisterous demeanor, it’s sometimes hard to remember that Mr. Krabs has his own inner life, too. At one point, we even get to see him experience that most dreaded thing: a midlife crisis. We see all of the ways that he grows increasingly aware of his own increasing age.

It’s an admittedly rather somber moment, but it’s an important reflection on the fact that all of us, even cartoon characters, experience the pain of aging and have to learn to deal with its challenges.

3 That Time that SpongeBob Tried To Make Squidward’s Happiest Memory

One of SpongeBob’s missions in life is to try to make Squidward happy, whether Squidward likes it or not. Admittedly, most of these missions are played for laughs, and you can’t help but laugh at the antics that emerge between the two of them.

There are times, however, when things take a turn to the emotional, as when SpongeBob takes it upon himself to try to create Squidward’s happiest memories. There are some genuinely tear-jerking moments in this episode, even though it, thankfully, ends on a happy note.

2 When SpongeBob First Goes To Work For Mr. Krabs

From the very beginning, SpongeBob made it clear that it wasn’t going to be afraid of actually getting emotional. For example, when SpongeBob first goes to work for Mr. Krabs, he has something of a crisis of conscience, convinced that he isn’t good enough to pursue his dream job.

It’s such a piercing moment of vulnerability for SpongeBob, a reminder that, beneath his bubbly exterior, he really is a very sensitive soul.

1 That Time That Squidward Pulled A Nasty Prank On SpongeBob

Just as SpongeBob tries to make Squidward happy, Squidward often goes out of his way to torment SpongeBob. In one particularly nasty April Fool’s joke, he actually goes too far, and he seems to genuinely hurt SpongeBob’s feelings.

After being condemned by everyone for being such a jerk, Squidward actually sets about making amends, and thankfully, SpongeBob welcomes him with open arms. It’s an emotional episode, reminding us of the importance of being sensitive to other people’s feelings.

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