Spongebob Squarepants: The Art of the Gross-Up | Video Essay

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Spongebob Squarepants is one of the best cartoons of the 90s and a cornerstone of Nickelodeon's golden period. One of its hallmarks was the use of gross-ups and other alternative forms of animation to look into the heads of Spongebob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr Krabs, Squidward and the rest of the gang. Join us for this week's video essay as we look in-depth at this pioneering cartoon and analyse the effects of these gross-ups - before the show declined.
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All footage used in this video is for educational purposes only.

[@miguelcapetillo7160]

Well...I definitely didn´t see that coming. But we do needed more video-essays on the actual brilliance and uniqueness of Classic Spongebob´s style of comedy. Specially if it comes from the milkiest of KZbin´s video-essay channels. I think that a way to summarize why the gross-up in the earlier seasons works, whereas the later seasons fail: its beacause there was a point to it, emphazise a thought, feeling or idea. Not just gross details or close-ups just for the sake of it and with no restraints to it. But, apperantly the last 2 or 3 seasons are good again, so maybe I´ll check them out. Bottom line: Great video!!

[@EggyBoi]

*wE dO nEeDeD*

[@miguelcapetillo7160]

@Geoffery The Immortal Skunk well...great! That's really something...considering that at no point in my comment I claimed otherwise or even brought up that idea.

[@miguelcapetillo7160]

@Spike Skeleton maybe because it really wasn't important to the point I was trying to make(?) Despite it being a fairly interesting thing to bring up....

[@dannypalin9583]

This show convinced me that real life fish were just the corpses of cartoon ones.

[@onyinyechukwumazi4070]

Danny Palin this show gave me a phobia of butterflies

[@amit1111ism]

God damn

[@maethefae]

@@onyinyechukwumazi4070 Same omg

[@harrylane4]

SpongeBob is both the best example of how to do this gag well and how to do it very poorly

[@ClicheOriginals]

The gross ups weren’t meant to be gross, they were used for emphasis. The later season just used them for gross shock. Shame

[@sunnymane]

Thank you! There was nothing really off putting about the close ups I the early seasons. It got so bad in later season I couldn’t even watch the show for fear of seeing something too gross. That’s what truly ruined SpongeBob for me

[@captainradio5894]

the gross-out style existed before SpongeBob (and before Ren & Stimpy) and while emphasis was the fundamental intent all along, being downright nasty was a staple trend of 90’s art/shows/games. Don’t forget the prominence of “slime” and “ooze” on YTV. My perspective is that we were lucky as children to get spillover of the gross-out trends from more adult oriented tv shows. The fact we got to see it at all was a blessing from cool cartoonists who wanted to get away with the most modern/trending art styles they could within the boundaries of kids tv.

[@fuffoon]

Yeah, I'm sure they were meant to be gross too.

[@coolieolulu]

I always saw the pattern of using real life photos/animation was that the sea was animated & the land was filmed. It’s like in both spongebob movies, once they arrive at the surface they dont have an animated environment

[@mineturtleanimations2988]

That gorilla episodes terrified me as a kid

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Nah! Considering Mr. Lawrence, portrayed as a sketch artist, snapped his pencil and screams literally terrified me as a kid.

[@omikron6218]

Just remembering the episode makes me scared. I haven't watched this video yet but I kind of don't want to anymore.

[@aagh8714]

@@poweroffriendship2.0 least he kept the body, if it stayed in the ocean he couldn't have a funeral n sjit

[@krdjmtc]

That episode confused me as a kid. I liked how it ended though, with a confused family turning off the tv.

[@laserman5008]

For me it's the wormy episode, and I'm still terrified of it.

[@urphakeandgey6308]

Another thing I love in SpongeBob is the sea themed insults and interjections like "Dear Neptune" or "barnacle head." So much world building through such simple means.

[@guineapig0983]

Tarter sauce What the barnacles What the scallop Fish paste

[@thabanentshangase]

Full Fat Videos: Spongebob has the best gross ups. The Marvellous Misadventures of Flapjack: Am I a joke to you?

[@sungiant2000]

I haven't seen that show in years, but from what little I saw of it it really made an impression lol

[@maximillianlylat1589]

Ren and stimpy

[@mr._2994]

I miss Flapjack

[@CarbyGuuGuu]

Ren & Stimpy: Am I a bigger joke to you?

[@rebeccagibbs4128]

@@CarbyGuuGuu i came here to say this too

[@MapleMilk]

You remember when SpongeBob said Wesnaw? That was craaazy

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

_It reached the point where I felt I'd contributed a lot and what I wanted to say._ _At that point, the show needs a new blood. And as a writer, you have to move on._ *~ Stephen Hillenburg*

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

Do you post this quote on every SpongeBob video?

[@user-yw2qz4fp9f]

Hi hi hi there my little droogie

[@JosephDutra]

Stephen Hillenburg created something for what I consider to be the Blazing Saddles of animation. It was hilarious, self-aware, and had enough social commentary for kids to enjoy and adults to laugh hysterically at. For the the first three seasons and first film, it was a show that had jokes that not only kids could understand but also take a jab at the culture at the time that made adults appreciate it as well. It was a cultural phenomenon for animation and television.

[@punkmal]

so glad you mentioned ren and stimpy, the best show ever

[@christinataylor1380]

Why is your pfp so thicc?

[@punkmal]

Christina Husky wdym it’s just normal luigi, he always looks like this haha

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

[@FullFatVideos]

Horseradish isn't an instrument either.

[@mahojohodge5395]

Yes

[@deadfr0g]

**uncomfortable closeup shot of mayonnaise**

[@InfamousJJ420]

This honestly was one of the best aspects of the show at the time. Spongebob has had some good episodes here and there recently, but it won’t be like this again.

[@decades5125]

4:18 when I was a kid the entire time I thought those red bolts was blood

[@originalbestdadofgaming]

Wow, a week ago I literally searched for "spongebob squarepants gore violence compilation" and magically this video came out

[@spyjonsachurin2101]

That toenail scene was horrifying to me as a kid, and now. Like cringe

[@pixelplayer140]

Well it made me laugh so hard cus of the way squidward screams XD

[@jonasbolden]

Yeah, that was just too far

[@e-scorts7485]

It was always cringe tho

[@totallynotsummermorrison33]

God, and that episode were he gets a splinter, you're right I think it did go a little too far just because of the shows main demographic.

[@spyjonsachurin2101]

Summer Morrison The splinter never bothered me much, surprisingly. It was the toenail. 😖

[@0akes]

“Spongebob quote”

[@olserknam]

3:29 - the same trick was used to great dramatic effect in the first SpongeBob movie.

[@jayfolk]

like powerpuff girls being the only round characters in a world of edges, unlike the ppg reboot...

[@MCLegoboy]

Look, I'm going to level with you here. I wasn't paying attention to a thing you were saying, I was too busy laughing at all the gross-ups.

[@HandintheBoxInc]

I didn't realize how Lynchian, surreal, and psychological thriller-like Spongebob was until now. No wonder I like it

[@MasterAlpha1000]

There's a gross-up that gave me nightmares to this day. It was from a Duck Dodgers episode, where Daffy applies comestics on a lady and then *BAM* a horrific nightmarish gross-up jumpscare. It was even listed on 'Nightmare Fuel' section on TV Tropes, and the guy who wrote it even states that this gross-up put those on Ren & Stimpy's to shame. Do you even know what it is to surpass Ren & Stimpy on *that* level to someone?

[@jdjdjdjd5591]

What's the name of the episode?

[@MasterAlpha1000]

@@jdjdjdjd5591 Deconstructing Dodgers

[@_simon.s_]

I fear no man but that thing... *The Splinter* ...it scares me.

[@gh0s1wav]

I remember so many people hated spongebob when it was airing. There were literally people trying to convince others it made children dumber.

[@YoursTrulyMrsMoores]

I had a coworker who forbid his son to watch it for that reason

[@princessthyemis]

Whoa, really? That's funny. I wonder how many said that because all they knew about it was his high pitched voice and assumed the whole thing was stupid.

[@princessthyemis]

@@YoursTrulyMrsMoores wow.

[@manicpepsicola3431]

I remember this i had friends who couldnt watch it I was glad that my family liked it they just hated when it was the same reruns over and over which is understandable

[@Pixiesfairiedust]

Not dumber, I heard its because of how fast pace the show is it might lower the attention span of kids. But lets be real many other cartoons were fast pace as well, they kinda had to be because of kids already low attention span.

[@mathieuleader8601]

it has a fresh style

[@Savemyfeels]

I’ll be over the revulsion I felt when Squid ward lost his toenail

[@schwaar]

The artist he mentions at 1:11 is Basil Wolverton.

[@omniscientomnipresent5500]

The gross ups really seem to be what drove the show to its popularity. I never could put my finger on it

[@NPGLAMB]

great video I'm watching this at lunch in college and laughing out loud

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

This totally adds a new dimension to my nostalgia for spongebob. I started to think of the gross ups as some sort of device crucial to the joke and never a trait of the genius creators who I never appreciated. I now miss gross ups like I miss enjoying spongebob and not feeling embarrassed because of the decline of quality.

[@vegetafan9922]

I still hear 'DRAA DRAA DRA DDRRRRAAAAA' whenever something bad happens

[@snowy2619]

0:50 Plankton: _OOOOoooh YEAAAAH!!!!_

[@bringyourownsnake980]

Early Simpsons & SB are great examples of how maintaining brilliance is darned near impossible.

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

I disagree with your opinion on Shell of a Man. That episode didn't focus that much on Mr. Krabs, and more on SpongeBob posing as Mr. Krabs. The comedy regarding that aspect was pretty humorous to me and it's one of my favorite episodes of the season. Besides, fleshy Mr. Krabs doesn't look anywhere near as disgusting as some... other things in the show.

[@bathroomshy]

^^^ And same with Fear of a Krabby Patty, I like it more than a lot of the pre movie episodes

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

@@bathroomshy Post-movie SpongeBob still has some gems, and post-sequel SpongeBob is generally pretty good. Season 12 has had some slips but most of the episodes have been pretty good.

[@bathroomshy]

With post-sequel episodes the exaggerated animation turns me off and I don't like the humor as much. I generally prefer post-movie though some pretty terrible stuff has come out of that era

[@esperanza3594]

Yeah, like that Squidward toe nail scene

[@Amandi_Pirate]

Uhhh, there is 2 minutes more of the video, I'm so excited. *turns out to be an advertisement* Ahhh yes. Moder society...

[@aagh8714]

modem society 101010101.1.1.1.1

[@chideratori3663]

The butterfly close up was terrifying! It scared me so much when I was little 😂

[@jaxsonbonham2244]

Mmhm

[@alvarkarnar1750]

X2

[@princessthyemis]

It blows my mind, enrages, and disappoints me that even though people on the internet can easily deconstruct what made something good and why should return, the very people who now run the show can't figure simple stuff out like HOW and WHY their show was good in the first place.

[@austinreed7343]

Some errors: Fear of a Krabby Patty, Shell of a Man, and House Worming are Hillenberg’s works.

[@austinreed7343]

George Skinner Yeah. But they’re still more in the era of Hillenberg than the Dork Age shots he used. But I agree the late Golden Era and even the modern ones aren’t as genius as the originals.

[@meatyofficial]

The wormy closeup face wasn't actually a butterfly, it was a horsefly.

[@jaxsonbonham2244]

God That Scared Me

[@CB-qg3yh]

In new episodes every frame is as insane and wacky as possible

[@sliceOcheese]

We know

[@cyatram]

i was starting to remember the episode with the butterfly and then i realised was was about to happen so i quickly covered my eyes but it was too late. and then it happened again twice. yay

[@jaxsonbonham2244]

That Episode Scares Me

[@jaxsonbonham2244]

When It Comes On I Just Change The Channel

[@killswitchlee123]

Ren & Stimpy started it all and did it best.

[@longjohns7087]

I never realized how surreal spongebob was lol. I still think later episodes were more than just a grossathon though

[@mm3k224]

7:16 friggin' got me spilling my coke all over the room lol

[@originaluseername]

>friggn'

[@rex3782]

I remember how freaking scared I was of splinters after I saw the splinter episode

[@pixelplayer140]

I never get grossed out

[@Char10tti3]

This is what I need. This is something I think about too much

[@Qvmmy]

that what ı call quality content.

[@lavaguava2648]

This needs more views.

[@miauscavern6920]

Teen Titans Go also has some "gross ups" in its episodes

[@ericamaya2467]

Bags have bags is an excellent joke and you know it!

[@qrtrx4]

nah man it's okay at best

[@zxGHOSTr]

Season 1 - 4 are the best Spongebob seasons. Change my mind!

[@emilyjones9787]

4:46 *NOOO*

[@nathanericschwabenland88888]

Wormy is the best episode ever

[@MrIcenice44]

FINALLY, SOMEONE MADE THIS VIDEO

[@CarbyGuuGuu]

Ren & Stimpy: Am I a joke to you?

[@princessthyemis]

I had no idea the episodes were so short!

[@AngusStewart01]

Video on my childhood show thank you my man 👊🏻 ahhh memory’s

[@cooljackster7390]

The gross close ups were first used by Ren & Stimpy

[@jisuskitty]

R.I.P Stephen Hillenburg 💔😭

[@Alexandra-iz1dt]

spongebob episodes b silly as hell then have one shot like this

[@raforsomething]

His voice reminds me of a Minecraft youtuber Grian. Idk why

[@graceanderson8731]

Same accent

[@happyhappystimpy6017]

BTW, Bob Camp was the one who retconned the term "Gross-Up" btw. Just thought I had to make that clear for some reason.

[@moonshiremonopoly6286]

does anyone know that episode of the gross up of Spongebob when he has dark circles and hair coming out of his head?

[@StepBaum]

awesome video :)

[@nightsummer6467]

You could’ve fucking said sponge bob square space as a transition and you goddam blew it

[@nightingalestar7800]

I usually watch every video of yours but will have to miss out on this one. The animation of SpongeBob always creeped and - well, grossed me out. At least comforting to know that you call it "gross-up" haha. Still really great that you do videos on so many different topics, looking forward to the next one!

[@MariieGyllero]

You should do one about Courage the cowardly dog 😂

[@angelfuentes7299]

The ren and Stimpy gross ups were worse

[@gorurmangsho]

Do an episode on Tom and Jerry. The Hannah - Barbera stuff, from 1940 - 1958.

[@josephmyerdawsoncellist806]

Fear of a krabby patty I feel was a bad example

[@FullFatVideos]

Out of interest, how so?

[@josephmyerdawsoncellist806]

@@FullFatVideos Firstly the episode was storyboarded by C.H.Greenblatt, and as his last episode (I think this episode was produced in the same block as season 3), he went all out on ridiculous faces and expressions, which kinda justifies the lack of a need for a clever perspective joke. For me the storyboarding in that episode is definitely up to par with season 1-3 and while the eyebags joke is not as clever as say the 'you look great Mr Krabs' joke, it does let you see just how dreadful the condition squidward is in is by that point. Then it sort of plays into to that joke where SpongeBob shouts 'I want to live!' and squidward just stands there looking completely broken. More importantly, it doesn't really feel gross to me- when compared with some gross outs of the latter seasons- like the close ups in the splinter say or the rotten patty in 'to love a patty'. Tbh it was a great video. I just felt that was an odd moment to pick up- I always liked storyboarding in that episode. 😝

[@FullFatVideos]

I could agree with that. I think of the decline of Spongebob as something of a sliding scale rather than an immediate plummet after Hillenburg. I think the main issue is, is that the show almost instantly ceased to be a show for kids and adults and became something of a 'lol so random' factory for kids - the gross-ups only being there to make the show not seem 'too kiddy.' The plots also became noticeably more contrived. Like, one of the all time best episodes is literally just squidward getting annoyed over a piece of paper.

[@josephmyerdawsoncellist806]

@@FullFatVideos The plots do seem more contrived, it's quite hard to pin down how so. For me its not the concepts of the episodes that go downhill as much as it is the flow of the episodes- largely dependent on joke execution- and the way jokes go from having incredible smoothness in their conception and payoff to being stilted and not contributing to an overall episodic atmosphere is the real problem. The flanderisation of the main cast- particularly affected the ability to make those timeless character based jokes too... it's a shame but the first three seasons stand as a sort of collective masterpiece that no amount of duds can tarnish. Season 4 and 5 have a lot of good episodes too.

[@alfa01spotivo]

@@FullFatVideos that was one of the more boring episodes though. Shell of a Man is much better

[@pastorcodymitchell1456]

can you please do the relationship between marge and bart?

[@uK8cvPAq]

Lovers.

[@gabrielduarteabreudossantos]

Gross ups is not a simple nightmare fuel Is nightmare fuel with a message of characters fellings Say hi to Brazil

[@itsmejeff9357]

Does this look unsure to you?

[@bigchez2855]

Happy Birthday Captain.

[@drsipp407]

I think that the “gross ups” were first used as a form of humorous exaggeration

[@Callum-gz8jt]

Saw one where Gary’s food had a literal human finger and eat in it

[@DreamscapeSYN]

Where hyper-realism goes (not) too far.

[@natdowding5520]

Now this is epic

[@Whatevertoonz]

Season 4 is fine in my opinion, later Seasons no they have no excuse

[@supernigro1]

@1:55 does anybody know where i can find a background like this ? or what they're called ? thanks

[@epg96]

Hi admin, are you considering to make video about Weathering with You?

[@ron4202]

FUCKING STARVING!

[@vinylvannah]

live action animation... hmmmm 🤔

[@corod-1]

One name is responsible for Gross-Ups in Spongebob and Ren & Stimpy, it's Bob Camp, do more research...

[@arto3780]

So, I did the research, and apparently, Bob Camp didn't start working on SpongeBob until 2015. This video focuses on the effectiveness of the gross-ups loooooooong before then.

[@corod-1]

@@arto3780 I guess I will have to tell him lol...

[@juliaa365]

i’m convinced that i hate insects (especially butterflies) because of that one episode:(

[@mahojohodge5395]

Thanks for a cool video

[@eeveegaming4798]

Gross ups got bad in the lastest seasons

[@PagaKnight]

At 1.14 in what is the name that he says? I have tried searching bazel warbaton and names similar but nothing shows..any help?

[@johnjacobjingleheimerschmi6655]

I NEED IT!!!!!!!!!!

[@patbuttramssuperfan]

I always found the close ups just like in Ren and Stimpy very funny.

[@zombiekiller225]

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh wormy giving me ptsd

[@bongozum]

squarespace

[@Exploshi]

interesting video but the ad seemed forced lol

[@williewinkles9288]

The Wormy close-up, the toenail, and the splinter never really bothered me. But Patrick's live action mouth deeply unsettled me to the point that I just flat out stopped watching Spongebob altogether

[@jaxsonbonham2244]

I Remember Watching The Wormy Episode

[@simmonedavis98]

I always and foreber hate the episode Wormy.

[@leolim1333]

i hated the butterfly episode

[@Mitch-Alex]

I literally had to put this video on speed .75 bc he talks too fast and I want to catch every important detail. Slow down

[@crowbarcat8339]

4:05 which episode is this?

[@FullFatVideos]

Just One Bite :)

[@crowbarcat8339]

Full Fat Videos why thank you good job on the video