SpongeBob SquarePants: What Happened To Bubble Buddy

SpongeBob SquarePants has introduced a variety of characters both from the sea and land, but none can compare to Bubble Buddy – but what happened to him after his debut episode? Created by Stephen Hillenburg, SpongeBob SquarePants premiered on Nickelodeon in 1999 and has since become not only one of the longest-running animated series but also the most successful Nicktoon, even surpassing fan-favorite shows like Rugrats and Hey Arnold!.

Over the course of more than 10 seasons, SpongeBob SquarePants has taken viewers to different adventures in Bikini Bottom and more, and through its main characters, they have also met various colorful characters that live under the sea. The series follows the title character and his closest friends (Patrick Star, Sandy Cheeks, Squidward Tentacles, and Mr. Krabs) who get involved in all types of trouble and adventures, but they always manage to come out on top. However, there have been times when SpongeBob has been left alone for different reasons, and he once ended up creating his own friend: Bubble Buddy.

In season 2’s episode appropriately titled “Bubble Buddy”, SpongeBob was ready to celebrate Leif Erikson Day, but he quickly found out that his friends were busy: Patrick “went to get more giant paper”, Sandy went south for the winter, and Squidward simply didn’t feel like playing with SpongeBob (nor that he ever does anyway). SpongeBob then decided to make his own friend. Stick buddy, rock buddy, and sink buddy didn’t really work (though sink buddy almost did), so SpongeBob used his skills to make bubble figures and created his own new friend who he simply called Bubble Buddy. As expected, Bubble Buddy didn’t do much (or anything, really), except getting SpongeBob into a lot of trouble, prompting various citizens to demand that Bubble Buddy be popped. As Squidward prepared to do so with a needle, Bubble Buddy came to life and stopped him, told SpongeBob that things were getting weird, called a bubble taxi, wished SpongeBob a happy Leif Erikson Day, and left.

Luckily for SpongeBob, this wasn’t the last time he saw his good friend Bubble Buddy, and it was revealed that when he left Bikini Bottom at the end of his debut episode, he successfully relocated and started a family. Bubble Buddy returned in season 8’s episode “Bubble Buddy Returns” (of course), where he asked SpongeBob to babysit his chaotic son, Shiny, who caused a lot of trouble all over Bikini Bottom. His next appearance was a cameo one in season 9’s episode “Mall Girl Pearl”, where he can be seen at Bikini Bottom Mall when Pearl is eating a hotdog on a string and later when Nocturna asks if Pearl got a job. Bubble Buddy’s most recent appearance in SpongeBob SquarePants was in season 11’s episode “Bubbletown”, where SpongeBob was taking a tour of the title town and came across his old friend. After an incident that sent him to Bubble Prison, SpongeBob was freed by Mr. Krabs, who ended up destroying the whole town. However, Bubble Buddy had the perfect solution: a giant bottle of bubble soap, with which SpongeBob rebuilt the town.

Bubble Buddy has also shown up in video games, as are Battle for Bikini Bottom, where he’s a major secondary character and a tutorial character; Dutchman’s Dash, where multiple Bubble Buddy balloons appear as collectible items; SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePantis SquareOff, where he only shows up but isn’t playable; and Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition, where he’s one of the templates. Bubble Buddy’s best decision was leaving Bikini Bottom as he was able to live peacefully with his family far from trouble, but that doesn’t mean he has gotten rid of his creator and friend.

About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
(3268 Articles Published)

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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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