Even though SpongeBob SquarePantswas first released in 1999, the show is still hotter than ever. In addition to several movies and three new spinoff showscoming out this year,SpongeBob is one of the longest-running animated shows in history. To top it all off,Madden NFL 21even added a SpongeBob themed arena and gear. It looks like 2021 is SpongeBob's year.
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Despite all the love for the happy sponge and his underwater friends, it turns out there's no shortage of creepy, horrifying SpongeBob fan art waiting to be unleashed upon the masses. While you wait for the newest additions to the SpongeBob universe, check out these genuinely spine-chilling works of SpongeBob fan art. (Warning for dark and mature content.)
Old SpongeBob
Instead of his child-like shorts and happy-go-lucky smile, Old SpongBob is wearing full-length square pants and a hardened look of disapproval.Created by Roger Cruz, most adultfans will undoubtedly relate to the terrifying way that life can transform someone from an idealistic youngster into a jaded grown-up.
We'll always have to wonder what exactly SpongeBob has been through, but it's clear that he is no longer naively lost in his imagination.
SpongeBob Portraits
To make things even more frightening, check out these portraits by Issac Montoya, a digital artist from Chile.The artist initially drew these portraits using pen and pencil before fine-tuning the images in Adobe Photoshop.
Patriciois perhaps the most nightmarish, withsweet Patrick reimagined as a bloodthirsty monster. Meanwhile, Calamardoand Plankton depict both Squidward and Plankton in uncomfortably surreal detail.
Best Friends Forever
SpongeBob and Patrick in the human flesh are not for the faint of heart. Artist Miguel Vasquezused 3-D animation to create his unsettling version of SpongeBob and the internet responded to his work with a collective "nope."
Best Friends Forever is actually a whole series of horrifying images that can be viewed on the artist's website, as well as bonus 3-D stylizations of Homer Simpson, Arnold fromHey Arnold, and more.
Cursed Patrick and Creepy Patrick
Although they are just black and white pencil drawings, Cursed Patrick and Creepy Patrickstill send a shiver down one's spine. Artist Jerry Taylor, who said on Instagram that he is into design and architecture, used a mix of pens and colored pencils to create his hyper-realistic fan art.
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Even though the artist only has a handful of posts so far, fans of SpongeBob will appreciate Taylor's creepystylization of Mr. Krabstoo.
Secret Formula
Secret Formulais a short film by Hunter Hanco*ck, also known as Meat Canyon, and it is truly an existential nightmare. Some believe the video is asatire on late-stage capitalism, as it features a weathered-looking SpongeBob who still works at the Krusty Krab after so many years. Although SpongeBob can never satisfy the world's insatiable demand for the secret formula (which also happens to be SpongeBob himself), he is still happy to give up his life for theKrusty Krab.
Even without the social commentary, Meat Canyon's grotesque illustrations are enough to give someone feverish sweats. Fans can check outMeat Canyon on Instagramto see even more of his disturbing pop culture monstrosities.
Zombie SpongeBob
If this isn't a nightmare, it's impossible to say what is. With glowing eyes and a sharp tooth smile, it's a no brainer that Zombie SpongeBob has risen from the depths of hell.
To make things even spookier, artist Eilyn-Chanfrom Venezuela created awhole series of zombie characters, including characters from other kid's shows likeDora the Explorer (pictured) andTeletubbies.
SpongeRobert Military-IndustrialPants & SpongeBob Killpants
Mike Winklemann, aka Beeple, made headlines recently when he sold hiscrypto art for hundreds of thousands of dollarsat auction. Buyers were mainly vying for Winklemann's digital prints, which are embedded with a blockchain-based signature, although they were likely delighted toreceive a cool framed collectiblecopy as well.
Fans of Winklemann can follow his "everydays"on Instagram, which involve elaborate, often apocalyptic scenes that reflect on some aspect of American politics and pop culture.As such a cultural phenomenon, it's no surprise that SpongeBob has made multiple appearances in Winklemann's daily musings. Whether SpongeBob is really a highly sophisticated military weapon or a monster unleashed upon society, Winklemann's imagination and energy just might be able to go toe to toe with the sea sponge himself.
Squidward Devours SpongeBob
This is a tragic ending to such a long and complex relationship. Even though SpongeBob is generally oblivious to his frenemy's grumblings, in this universe Squidward finally got to have his sponge cake and eat it too.
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Matthew J Willis, artist and game developer from New Zealand, stated that he drew this piece on the same day he met the voice actor of Squidward. It's not clear if that actually implies anything about the actor himself, but the result is certainly upsetting.
SpongeBob is Trash
There's no doubt that this piece is meant to skewer SpongeBob and Patrick's effusive personalities. Artist WEREsandrock created this SpongeBob whose brains are completely sappedby a jellyfish, snot running down his nose. Meanwhile, Patrick doesn't look much better, drooping and sedated by some mysterious syringe.
Technically this piece is actuallyanti-fan art. WEREsandrock, who said on Tumblr that he "rants a lot," made it clear with both his art and his words that he does not find SpongeBob funny, smart, or of any value to society at large.
Revealed: Donald Trump Is Plankton
Fans of SpongeBob know all about Plankton'smaniacal drive to steal Krusty Krab's secret formula. Now imagine a universe where a world leader such asDonald Trumpis actually just another pawn in Plankton's scheming and plotting. Horrifying!
Southern California artist Jeff Delgado,reshared the 2016 illustrationon Twitter following the 2020 election. "I humbly apologize to Plankton," he said.
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