Return to the Bottom | Reviewing "Atlantis Squarepantis"

The time's finally come to finish off that old Top 20 list. "Triton" is coming up next week!
-- Song Credits (in order of appearance) --
"Discovery Hit" by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)
"Title and Pause" from "The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (videogame)"
"Jellyfish Fields" from "SpongeBob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom"
"SpongeBob's Dream" from "Battle for Bikini Bottom"
"Tile Puzzle" from "SpongeBob Squarepants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman"

[@rainbowstreak9615]

Can we talk about how this is a musical episode guest-starring David Bowie...and he DOESN'T SING? What's the point?

[@carlosalmonacid8958]

That was against his contract (supposedly). He did do some songs for the Spongebob Broadway musical for what its worth

[@gamesincharacter5106]

Carlos Almonacid maby but still he’s the only sing in the film sooo it make sense for him to show them around and sing like a willy wonk and the chocolate factory sorta vibe

[@casualvanilla]

@@carlosalmonacid8958 How was that against his contract though? Who could possibly benefit from not having him sing in a TV show?

[@carlosalmonacid8958]

@@casualvanilla I said supposedly. It might just be an urban legend.

[@kylemorello4787]

TBT, I don't mind it when a professional singer is hired for a musical specifically to act, like Idina Menzel in Enchanted, but they have to play an interesting character for that to work, IMO. LRH isn't that interesting, similar to Taylor Swift's character in The Lorax.

[@oystersoup3434]

What I find weird is that it's a musical, yet Bowie doesn't get one song.

[@quinngoodlive2014]

Sub Par no control?

[@carlottarobbins7005]

Can you picture him singing ANYTHING in that goofy "LRH" voice? No? Then it's just as well.

[@harshines828]

Sub Par but he’s dead

[@carlosalmonacid8958]

I've heard that for Legal reasons, he couldn't sing in the episode. Anyone using it as point against the episode is either unaware or ignoring that.

[@teacupglitterinfested1525]

Mortilum they should have given him a song

[@CaptainFishEye]

would it be interesting if the ruler was an actual villain trapping every one into a cycle of "paradise".

[@SR.PlayAlot64]

Yes

[@JoCoBrony]

RIP David Bowie You didn't deserve to be in this movie.

[@gamesincharacter5106]

I agree with all main comments and side comments David Bowie should have had a song why... He's the only person who didn't get a song AND HES THE ONLY REAL SINGER In THE FILM!

[@americangermanmapper3636]

David bowie doesn't sing in this episode >:(

[@vivaldireal1741]

American/German Mapper Ikr? Fucking depressing

[@smashblaster1-up190]

Back when I was a kid I originally thought that 1. The special wouldn't be a musical and 2. Spongebob, Patrick and friends would go to Atlantis and look for the bubble like what happened in the special but half way though they accidentally set the Bubble free and the team would have to go on a quest find the bubble thoughout the sea or throughout Atlantis and return it before they were captured or killed

[@keeganstormblade5456]

That actually sounds really cool

[@SolEmeralds18]

Better plot than we got.

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

SmashBlaster 1-Up That's what I thought when I played through the Atlantis SquarePantis DS game... Which is only slightly better than the special.

[@aidenbar511]

That actually would’ve been pretty good.

[@spongefan155]

That's A Better Version

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

This was a pretty good, unbiased and fair review Anim8Ball. Honestly, this 1-hour Spongebob special and Truth or Square are more disappointing than anger inducing.

[@kylemorello4787]

Same. That's honestly how I'd describe FoodFight.

[@EntityofDarkness696]

One thing I do like about LRH's design is that his eyes are different colours, which, even if it isn't a subtle nod to David Bowie, I always found interesting for characters to have two eyes of differing colours.

[@millerkarageanes1562]

It is a nod to him

[@EntityofDarkness696]

@@millerkarageanes1562 I figured that

[@millerkarageanes1562]

@@EntityofDarkness696 which is cool but still you get David Bowie in a musical episode and not have him sing. How do you screw that up

[@robbiewalker2831]

@@millerkarageanes1562 And David Bowie’s Goblin King getup was used as an inspiration for the design of the Emperor from Final Fantasy 2; what’s your point?

[@Ekraelum]

A Spongebob musical David Bowie voicing a character Everybody gets a song except for the character voiced by David Bowie They had an opoortunity. And they just--lost it--They can't even exploit the guest's talent.

[@olserknam]

08:05 - I don't think the humour in that one comes from the joke itself, but from Squidward thinking he's funny and explaining the "clever" joke.

[@kylemorello4787]

Yeah. He does that all the time. Admitingly though, I think those jokes work better when his anti-audience is him, funny enough. Usually it's the other way around.

[@hyperpowerfulform5132]

It just hit me: Atlantis Squarepantisis a Whole Plot Reference to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

[@Amishmediagroup]

Sub Par You watch Nostalgia Critic?

[@Karmy.]

Sub Par the Nostalgia Critic is great, been watching since late 2013

[@quinngoodlive2014]

Y4123 Nostalgia Critic is, dare I say it, better than seasons 1-5

[@papershadow]

I know it's a common question against this episode, but I want to ask again: why did they get David Bowie in such a picotal role and not have him participate in any of the musical numbers? Heck, cut out the Plankton subplot (and maybe the Patchy segment to allow more run time to the cartoon) and instead of the characters restating their favorite things in the transit song, have his character sing a song giving an overview of Atlantis before the characters head off to see the things they want. Something a little bit like how Willy Wonka introduces the nature of the factory with "Pure Imagination". The missed opportunity is always mentioned, but I also think given his role it was a chance to incorporate a more meaningful song and compress some exposition.

[@EXTREMEKIWI115]

papershadow69 As ridiculous as it is to have Bowie be the only main character who doesn't sing in a musical, I would have to guess that it probably costed more to get him to sing.

[@DoctorMinjinx]

It's great to see how calm, unbiased and professional you've become.

[@spongeintheshoe]

Honestly, trying to scam people isn't really out of character for Mr. Krabs, at least not in the later seasons, and I could buy Sandy's presence if it were a museum of science as well as art.

[@Transmission_Rory]

Another problem with the specials plot that is brought up alot is that the plot rips off "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" considering it deals with an entourage going through a tour of Atlantis with each character getting their own song about the room they're currently in.

[@quinngoodlive2014]

Transmission Rory David Bowie as Willy Wonka

[@CTOACN]

Willy wanka square pants

[@Flamestar320]

I had this special on DVD when I was little and watched it many times. How naive I was. I think because of watching it so many times, the special has a little nostalgic value to me. Even though it was bad, at least it introduced me to David Bowie.

[@theSato]

Thanks for making this sort of content, if for nothing else, it's really nostalgic for me of the MoBros days, and it provides me with some closure on it.

[@PiePivotmontierO]

I miss David Bowie :(

[@deadchannel332]

Pie Pivotmontier-O me too.

[@TsukiCondor]

Pie Pivotmontier-O Same here

[@voltingmaster5458]

Pie Pivotmontier-O the fact that he's dead makes the episode even worse.

[@pierrejacksontheplaylist79]

Rip David Bowie 😭😭

[@youtubesfavoriteidot7714]

Pierre Jackson the playlist wait THAT WAS DAVID BOIE sorry I don't know how to spell right

[@jaylentrammell4815]

Basically this special is like an episode of spongebob: house sittin for sandy with its pacing issues and with the climax about to happen, the episode is almost over

[@ShnobbsReal]

You did this review better than Mr. Enter.

[@butterhindi5568]

This is one of the better reviews of this special. So much so, this is better than Mr. Enter’s review on this

[@ToadySP]

Dude I just want to say I love your videos, I love your voice, and that you've been an inspiration to me as a human being. Because of you I feel like I can be creative, and I can share my ideas and my personality with the world. Honestly, I remember watching some of your old stuff and dude... you opened my eyes to just how beautiful art can be, and how much of it there is.

[@msprouctions8175]

Can't wait for the clash of triton review

[@trentc2392]

What I love about you, anim8ball, is that his video are always just so pleasant, it truly is a treat when I see one of your videos for the first time!

[@TheGreatestCommenter]

It's great to wake up to this on Friday! 💖

[@mathewricafrente5984]

I regret begging my parents to buy this on DVD, much like a lot of things I regret.

[@StevenJones851]

That's cool

[@Megatron-xs2qe]

Even to this day, I still have all of your old spongbobe reviews.

[@AlexThe1Menace]

The wait is finally over.

[@BigBossMan538]

I would've gone over the plot at least briefly in the beginning. That felt off to me.

[@jbdbibbaerman8071]

There's hardly any plot. He pretty much did summarize it.

[@ccateni28]

JBDBIB Baerman what about patchy?

[@ChillstoneBlakeBlast]

ccateni 28 He reviews animations, not live action skits. Besides, patchy is just the world shrinks and he is alone crying until aliens

[@jbdbibbaerman8071]

ccateni Pretty much the same thing. Then again, most Patchy segments really didn't have MUCH story to them. They were usually there to introduce an episode/be funny.

[@koimonsterkhaos6329]

Even its tie in game I had growing up had more life to it.

[@Amishmediagroup]

Koimonster 22 The PS2/Wii version or the DS version.

[@koimonsterkhaos6329]

PS2 version, love that console ;w;

[@carson5090]

I had the wii version me and my friend had loads of fun playing it.

[@danielbrito1678]

0:48 3:38 that's the DEUGHHHH fish in the painting, but in different color

[@DarkstarArchangel]

I cannot wait to see your full review of Clash of Triton.

[@Bluzo]

First thing I said when I saw this upload was "Fucking finally."

[@ConnorTheUndying]

Oh. We've come full circle now.

[@PuffyOne1898]

You're more active now yay! Imma sub

[@ethantrimble958]

However I do think there’s some questions that need answering. How did plankton get on the van , how did he know about the van, why did he go to Atlantis shouldn’t he be after the Krabby Patty formula, how did he know that Atlantis had weapons?

[@Antasma1]

Oddest thing is, Atlantis is supposed to be the kingdom of Neptune, who exists in this universe

[@DeadlyAlienInvader]

Antasma1 this is why I don’t consider this episode to be canon

[@vinbingames]

i miss the old morse bros color swap mario and ytp

[@imrustyokay]

I don't.

[@Airshots22]

Can you make Frying Dory? Oh wait, wrong channel.

[@hesnotquitedead]

CAN YOU UNSUBSCRIBE

[@MishKoz]

_D O W N W A R D S P I R A L_

[@weegee_hates_the_blind]

I miss Jon

[@gamesincharacter5106]

Rip David Bowie you’ll be misses

[@toasteddice]

I remember watching this and I only remember it for one or two songs but it was really nostalgic even seeing a few characters. Also the Wii game was also insane back in the day even though no one had it i got it for christmas one year, so nostalgic yet i dont remember anything from the actual movie lmao

[@StevenJones851]

i played The Nintendo DS game

[@jackbailey9920]

Thanks for the episode!

[@leonienuhn4571]

yeah it's kinda cheezy but that's why i love it, one of my favorites beside the crash dummy driver episode and the first movie

[@ZackTheLightningNinja]

OMG YES I need this.

[@supermariof0521]

If you want a more creative animated version of Atlantis, check out Disney's "Atlantis The Lost Empire".

[@Princess_-gp3ep]

That Disney animated movie is very underrated.

[@supermariof0521]

@@Princess_-gp3ep Agreed. I mean its not one of my favorite Disney movies, but its entertaining for what it is.

[@Princess_-gp3ep]

@@supermariof0521 Yeah. It’s a shame that it bombed at the box office.

[@supermariof0521]

@@Princess_-gp3ep Well it was released just a couple weeks after "Shrek". What did Disney think was gonna happen? :(

[@Princess_-gp3ep]

@@supermariof0521 That’s True. Walt Disney feature animation was not having any box office and/or critical successes in the early 2000’s except for lilo and stitch.

[@arielfangirlmendez]

This is a musical themed episode

[@TurtwigChampion]

Part of me kinda hopes there's a chance they might revisit this idea of Atlantis someday, maybe even retconing the original and pretending it didn't happen in favor of giving it another shot. That or maybe a sort of "Return to Atlantis" type story to try to address some of the problems with the original. Just something to give the idea of seeing Atlantis another shot. Though I feel like at this point if they do it might just come out a quick pushed out idea anyway so that makes me unsure if it'd be a smart idea at all.

[@fghdkjlfkghfc]

You know, when I try to think of an avatar for yourself, I think of a guy, in a well-pressed black and white suit, with an 8 ball for a head.

[@javariyearwood6792]

Did anyone catch something particularly odd at 3:44 in the video?

[@erdemkara4143]

LOL

[@Awsome2464]

I don't get it

[@erdemkara4143]

Look at Spongebob's shirt.

[@ChillstoneBlakeBlast]

LOL, they animated spongebob's torso before animating patrick, showing that there could have been a possibility of no patrick

[@thekittenplays4663]

javari yearwood Patrick broke the episode

[@ccateni28]

Do a review of on truth or square!

[@chrisscott9688]

Do you think you'll ever do something on the Yellow Submarine Movie?

[@trainboy7]

And to think I almost got a DVD copy of this special when it came out.

[@Samuel-b]

If you want to see a movie where David Bowie's musical talent isn't wasted, watch 'Labyrinth' or 'Absolute beginners' instead.

[@imrustyokay]

You know what's a better version of this episode? Sandy's Vacation in Ruins. It's too the point, focuses on two characters (which is the magic number for these type of episodes), and it has an interesting setting.

[@WillieManga]

1:52 Another example is in Treasure Planet. It made the film too expensive for its own good in hindsight, but since it combines Treasure Island with a sci-fi movie, putting said pirates and sailors in a sci-fi environment with medieval elements is pretty much a requirement. And it was spectacular for its time. In my opinion, anyway. They really went out of their way to make the ships look like literal space pirate ships with things like solar sails and laser cannons. Just as well, taking the fake-limbed pirate trope and making him into a cyborg was really cool. As underrated movies go, that's one of my favorites. So I get what they were going for. It's just that stellar sci-fi environments was not in Spongebob's budget. And apparently not enough to write a song for David Bowie to sing. Like, what the hell? You got a singer in your musical and you don't just have him sing Pure Imagination? It's already a Willy Wonka ripoff with the kids messing with the factory/kingdom on account of their hubris. And I know Mr. Enter already used that joke, but it's a good point. Oh well... at least we still got Labyrinth.

[@WeegeeSlayer123]

I'm really looking forward to that ten best Spongebob episodes

[@mrcervaszeffer5272]

Great reveiw

[@Spiderman-wt8hb]

I am wondering if you have seen the more recent episodes of the show. It's gotten a lot better for the most part in the humor, animation, and consistency with the characters personalities. It's not close to the original run in quality, but it is interesting to see a show that has been run into the ground improve at such an old age.

[@mainstreamerchannel9919]

And speaking of Nick Jr, they made a TV Movie Special of The Backyardigans called International Super Spy which came out two months before this overhyped atrocity back in the Fall of 2007. When I saw it, I really liked it even for today because the pacing was well done, the characters they portrayed were really well introduced and developed, the songs were good as they got singer Cyndi Lauper to do The Lady in Pink song, the stakes were high & of course high nostalgia after seeing the promotions. But for Spongebob Squarepants Atlantis Squarepantis, It didn't live up to the hype, but as a kid I was nostalgized for seeing the premiere after seeing tons of advertising and when I saw it, it turned out to be a musical which we never knew that could be in the special and the tour there being taken in was a homage to Willy Wonka. As of today, it got mixed to negative reviews from several KZbinr's and they were right. The concept was wasted, it had a bit of filler, the singing is mediocre, poor pacing, there's barely any story to this, and of course the late David Bowie who doesn't even sing in this so called musical. So yeah, that's now my opinion for these specials.

[@steelvenom330]

Holy crap he's alive

[@Ih8kone]

R.I.P David Bowie and Stephen Hillenberg :(

[@MaxTheSwagMasterC]

I'm not a patron, but I'm just going to put this here. You don't really need to review "Cats Don't Dance", at least in haste. Nostalgia Critic did it well not so long ago, and it might become a bit redundant. Then after that I guess they are voting for a Pixar movie and a knockoff, so what do I know?

[@MaxTheSwagMasterC]

The Sci-Fi Dragon I do agree, honestly. For me, however, I would rather him do it a bit more after NC on the shear fact of redundancy. I mean I would still watch and enjoy the review tho.

[@CM_6969]

We meanies only take no for an answer!

[@yellowpig1026]

my mom and dad legitimately likes this film, like actually still quotes lines from the film

[@jackyboi1235]

What season and episode is this

[@riverbay6482]

The songs in this special are my guilty pleasures

[@LizardOfOz69]

I never actually watched the patchy segements from this and I also never watched the earlier patchy segments from truth or square. it never aired in my country.

[@Demvare]

So if you wouldn't say it's your number one least favorite, what _would_ be, then?

[@dandydoodle4456]

I think Sandys appearance could be natural if she was observing the amulet and she was the one to notice the fact Patrick And spongebob had found the 2nd side of the amulet

[@grandgojira8182]

Honestly I think the reason I enjoy this episode is because david bowie and I saw it back in the day so I'm pretty nostalgic for it, but I has not aged well except for david Bowie's performance i still think his performance is still top notch, R.I.P David bowie

[@kfc_head_chef3791]

What's your new worst spongebob episode then? And could you do a review on it?

[@hatstick312]

For all we know, The Clash of Triton could be it..

[@Blorp52]

I actually didn't even know Bowie even voiced LRH. Rest In Peace ziggy stardust

[@worthplayingfor2197]

My favorite joke is the omelette joke.

[@voltingmaster5458]

The fact that David Bowie was in it makes the episode even more painful due to the fact that David Bowie is dead.

[@PiePivotmontierO]

anim8ball, will you review the Emoji Movie, or do I have to pledge?

[@anim8ball]

Pledges on the Request tier guarantee reviews of your choosing, though the spots on that tier are currently sold out. However, regarding "The Emoji Movie," I'm one step ahead of you!

[@PiePivotmontierO]

k

[@Bufosmixes]

Say you think you could give us dropbox or google drive links to those YTPs you made? Those were phenomenal.

[@armadillogamerful]

Look up mobrosstudios on KZbin

[@Bufosmixes]

Oh specifically the atlantis ones.

[@armadillogamerful]

Bufosmixes he didn't make a ytp of Atlantis SquarePantis, but he reviewed it. I can link it for you

[@Bufosmixes]

armadillogamerful oh I'm confused. I thought they did. I'd be able to find it on this channel I reckon.

[@armadillogamerful]

Bufosmixes no he only ever reviewed Atlantis SquarePantis, but never did a YTP of it. Here is a link to the mobrosstudios review of it vimeo.com/151961547 It's not on KZbin anymore because of copyright issues

[@teacupglitterinfested1525]

So what’s your number one if it isn’t Atlantis Squarepantis?

[@ethantrimble958]

I personally love this episode but I think plankton interdiction could have been better. And I don’t like The fact that David Bowie does not get a song of his own.

[@violetjohann6971]

SpongeBob: There, now it's art. Captions: There now it died That is hilarious.

[@ZoanBlade90]

5:24 Is that music from Spongebob's Dream? =D

[@shiningjustice4147]

yep

[@paulr2607]

I'm guessing the reason he's named Lord Royal Highness is so he has the same initials as L. Ron Hubbard. Edit: 8:04 I'll defend this joke. Squidward sometimes explained some of his jokes. For example: "I gotta drum up a marching band fast! Drum... haha... band humor." Overall, great review, Anim8ball. But I wish you had addressed the advertising again here. One of the reasons so many people hated this episode was that the commercials neglected to mention that it was a musical, so it was an unpleasant surprise to anyone who didn't want to hear singing throughout. Makes you wonder why Nick had to lie to its viewers. I suppose they knew some people wouldn't watch it if they knew it was a musical.

[@Karmy.]

Another great video by MoBros/Anim8ball

[@HarryThomasPictures]

The Bubble song is the only good part of Atlantis SquarePantis LOL😊!

[@lordhareraiser3569]

The ds tie in game actually had the heroes fight out of atlantis and spongebob and patrick actually fight plankton in the tank

[@kameronking4321]

I love this episode

[@doctorgamer100]

Am I the only one that loves the Special?

[@joemancini327]

Why do you call this a weak episode I loved this episode :(

[@Ih8kone]

R.I.P David Bowie and Stephen Hillenberg.

[@shockedofficial8458]

ALL HAIL LORD ROYAL HIGHNESS

[@mathieuleader8601]

if I redid the plot I would of had a conference to increase relations across the sea and Atlantis comes to the table wanting to join the OU Oceanic Union and the vote comes down to Bikini Bottom to make the deciding vote but they don't have ambassadors and Neptune calls on the services on Plankton to be the chief diplomat but Plankton needs to some muscle so hires Krabs as his bodyguard as Manray decides to kill HRH as he's his half-brother so he can claim the throne.

[@numbskull4899]

hires david bowie, only character that doesn't sing why?

[@BUTTERRECRUIT]

I just subbed

[@andykishore]

It took you a whole year to get to this review.

[@missmoonie7447]

AAAAAAAAGH, all these spongebob game songs make me have an nostalgia boner i fucking grew up with the spongebob movie game, creature from the krusty krab and battle for bikini bottom

[@TheSupercodybros]

2:38 SpongeBob actually was on nick Jr. at one point

[@starrsmith3810]

Even David Bowie couldnt save it for me

[@bombs2848]

7:59-8:05 I relate to Mr. Krabs in this scene

[@TheHellInspector]

I actually like this episode I don't know why everyone hates it

[@hatstick312]

You.. watched the video right?

[@silenceofthehills7610]

I bet everyone called Aaron Springer a "Queen Bitch" for not making David Bowie sing in this special.

[@august2771]

6:38 the video game adaptation did a way better job with it's climax I'm serious too.

[@p.e.k.i5471]

R.I.P stephrn hillenburg :(