SpongeBob’s been airing for over 20 years now.
And it’s gone through many ups and downs.
But have you ever wondered:
“What makes the new episodes so different from the older ones?”
Well, you’re not alone.
And you’ll be shocked at the leaps they’ve made in the past decade.
Continue reading to discover:
- The real reason why people prefer the earlier seasons.
- 5 biggest differences between Old SpongeBob and New SpongeBob.
- 3 songs you’ve probably never heard from recent episodes of the show.
- And so much more…
Old SpongeBob vs New SpongeBob: 5 biggest differences
#1: Character personalities
While it might sound hard to believe.
It’s actually true.
Everybody’s favorite yellow table sponge has gone through a lot of changes…
Most especially with his personality and attitude.
Some of them you can’t really tell.
And others that are plainly obvious and concerning.
Of course, he’s still the same kind-hearted title character.
There’s nothing you can do to get rid of that part.
But if we’re talking about everything else?
Well, let’s just say they vary from season to season.
For example, SpongeBob may not be the brightest in Bikini Bottom.
However, he does know trouble when he sees it.
Like in The Camping episode, the sea sponge knew his fair share about the outdoors.
He even went to great lengths to warn Squidward.
His octopus neighbor made fun of the starfish and sponge duo for pitching a tent on their front lawn.
But can you guess what happens next?
It turns out SpongeBob was right.
And apart from poor Squidward trying to survive an underwater bear attack.
We can see that the yellow table sponge knows his stuff.
However, things don’t flow the same way in more recent moments from the show.
For instance, in season 12, in The Nitwitting episode.
SpongeBob blindly trusted Patrick about joining a club.
And ended up removing his brain and wrecking Bikini Bottom.
What’s worse, apart from the lack of foresight from the sea sponge.
It also goes to show how destructive the starfish has become.
As a result, it’s one of the real reasons why SpongeBob is so annoying.
Luckily, it’s not all bad.
On the bright side of things, SpongeBob still has his good moments.
And he can also think for himself when the situation demands it.
For example, in season 12, in the Krusty Slammer episode.
Mr. Krabs tries to earn a quick buck by turning his restaurant into a part-time prison.
Of course, the situation ended up getting on his nerves.
He didn’t expect things to cost as much.
And the crimson sea crab kicked everyone out.
But what does SpongeBob do?
The quick-thinking sea sponge snuck everyone back inside.
So besides letting the prisoners back into their cozy cells.
He also taught his money-loving boss a lesson about responsibility.
#2: Animation and design
I’m no creative expert.
In fact, any knowledge I have about visuals can’t stack up to the SpongeBob animation team.
These guys are just on another level.
However, if there’s one thing I can guarantee.
It’s that the animation and design of the Nicktoon have changed.
And from the humble beginnings of seasons 1 to 3.
We now have a lot more extravagant scenes in more recent moments from the show.
You see, the first 20 episodes used cel animation.
It means everything was painted on clear celluloid sheets.
And every bit from the background to the storyboard…
All of them were hand-drawn as best as could be.
However, by the time season 2 came around.
SpongeBob Squarepants made the switch to digital.
And as technology got better…
You can notice that the colors got a lot more vibrant.
Plus, the animators could go crazy with more actions.
In fact, if you take a short trip down memory lane.
You can see in this video that the scenes from season 1 were significantly less vibrant and colorful:
“I actually preferred the original style over Modern SpongeBob.”
You’re not alone.
There’s a lot of people out there who love cel animation.
And when it comes to the tales of Bikini Bottom.
It feels a lot more natural seeing them hand-drawn.
However, there’s equally the same number of reasons against the style.
You end up with a lot of expenses trying to paint and animate large scenes.
Not to mention the amount of time that goes into making them.
Or the extra hours you’ll be burning trying to correct a few mistakes.
As a result, it’s no surprise why animation studios made the switch to digital.
It’s a lot more cost-effective in the long run.
Plus, with all the different tools and software available.
You could get a lot more done by using a computer.
So even if it’s not everybody’s cup of tea.
Digital animation is what makes new SpongeBob Squarepants episodes possible.
Fun Fact: Ed, Edd, n Eddy was the last cartoon to use cel animation from start to finish. Show director Danny Antonucci was a strong advocate of traditional animation. And the cartoon’s style remains fondly remembered to this day.
#3: Music doesn’t feel the same anymore
I like listening to songs.
It’s a great way to pass the time.
Plus, a study shows it’s pretty good for you too.
And that a fancy tune is great for boosting self-esteem.
But do you know what else has a great playlist?
That’s right, it’s SpongeBob Squarepants.
The gullible yellow table sponge is no stranger to good music taste.
And when the situation turns extreme…
You can bet that the Nicktoon will go all musical when possible.
For example, fan-favorite from season 2, the Band Geeks episode.
Right when it seemed out of the question for any performance at all.
The Bikini Bottom company pulls out Sweet Victory.
A rock song now famously associated with SpongeBob.
Sadly, in more recent seasons, you don’t get the same musical treatment.
And if you ask any fan out there.
Most will have trouble trying to name a song from season 4 onwards.
However, that’s not to say all hope’s lost.
There’s still some pretty memorable tunes from Modern SpongeBob.
And while they’re not on the level of Sweet Victory’s performance.
It’s pretty unfair not to give them a chance.
For example, back in season 6, in the Single Cell Anniversary episode.
I can definitely vouch for Plankton’s serenade, Oh, My Karen!
It’s a pretty catchy song with a fun jingle.
Plus, it shows a softer and more romantic side to the evil genius.
Also, in season 12, in the Plankton’s Old Chum episode.
SpongeBob breaks into a Christmas carol with the Chum Day song.
Unfortunately, we only get 18 seconds.
But seeing him skate around nasty chum is pretty funny.
Not to mention that the feeling of holiday spirit never gets old.
Lastly, who can forget Squidward’s Tiki Land from season 7?
Maybe it’s me being a sucker for the Hawaiian vibes.
Yet the melody hits just right.
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg of songs from Modern SpongeBob.
#4: Types of jokes
The gullible yellow table sponge loves making people laugh.
And whether it’s thinking of the dumbest idea ever.
Or trying to fix something that goes comically wrong.
These jokes just never get old.
Plus, research shows that laughing’s awesome for your health too.
And even a little chuckle can help reduce stress.
So the next time someone nags at you for watching cartoons.
It’s a pretty reasonable excuse to say:
“Hey, I’m trying to unwind here.”
However, the types of jokes have changed over time.
In fact, you can probably spot what kinds of gags Modern SpongeBob uses today.
Back in earlier seasons, what most people would call the Golden Era of the Nicktoon.
The SpongeBob Squarepants TV series loved to mix witty dialogue and visual gags.
For example, I love all the moments from the Sailor Mouth episode.
Especially when Mr. Krabs tells his fry cook to take out the trash.
Only for the sea sponge to reply:
“Mr. Krabs, you shouldn’t talk about Squidward like that!”
Meanwhile, in more recent seasons, you get over-the-top animation sequences.
Or, worse, very disgusting moments.
Like the Splinter episode from season 6.
When the camera zooms in on SpongeBob’s thumb.
Just to show everybody all the pus that’s coming out.
Of course, New SpongeBob episodes do have their own moments.
Sure, modern seasons are guilty of not-so-funny scenes.
However, everything deserves a fair shake.
And if you can get through some of the bad parts of a season.
You’ll find a lot of gems in New SpongeBob too.
For example, SpongeBob’s Birthday Blowout from season 12.
It was pretty cool seeing the cartoon break the 4th wall.
And for the sea sponge to enter our reality on land.
Only to find a Krusty Krab lookalike, the Trusty Slab.
Which just happens to have all the voice actors staging their characters…
#5: Stephen Hillenburg’s creative input
Show creators put a lot of love into their ideas.
Plus, it’s because of these great people we have such memorable cartoons.
And if there’s one that sticks out.
Stephen Hillenburg really was the man.
The one and only creative ever capable of making SpongeBob Squarepants.
In fact, he co-wrote a lot of the stories.
And it’s why you see his personality shine throughout the show.
However, Stephen never meant for SpongeBob to go past 3 seasons.
He didn’t want the series to go past its expected prime.
In his eyes, the first movie would be a fitting end to the Bikini Bottom adventures.
But Nickelodeon had other plans.
It was their most successful Nicktoon back then and even until today.
In fact, according to Guinness World Records, it’s still the most popular children’s TV show.
However, in 2004, Hillenburg didn’t renew his contract.
And a year after that the 4th season would air.
20 episodes without the creative input of the show’s original creator.
As a result, it’s no surprise why people feel it’s different.
And that’s because there’s someone missing.
But that’s not to say the show lost all creativity.
Although it was tough not having the original creator around.
It’s not like the new writers and animators just gave up.
Everybody still worked hard.
And while the series hit a few bumps.
You can find a lot of gems in New SpongeBob.
Plus, in 2015, Stephen Hillenburg came back.
He co-wrote the story for Sponge Out of Water.
And would also help around with the main series too.
Sadly, he passed away on November 26, 2018.
But I’m sure those 3 years marked an important moment.
And it gave SpongeBob the original flair and style it was meant to have.
Old SpongeBob vs New SpongeBob: Which one is better?
Old SpongeBob is better. Fans love the earlier seasons more because of their originality and nostalgic appeal. However, the New SpongeBob episodes are not bad. They continue to reach over 50 million viewers each month. These recent seasons appeal more to the new generation of kids.
Both have their ups and downs
It’s not a question of which one’s better.
You can enjoy Old and New SpongeBob without a problem.
In fact, most of the tally comes down to preference.
And that’s because both of them have their own good and bad sides.
For example, in earlier episodes, specifically seasons 1 to 3.
A lot of the animation is limited to the traditional style.
As a result, you don’t get any of the crazy scenes in modern SpongeBob.
Those are just extremely time-consuming to draw by hand.
Likewise, the same can be said for the jokes.
Some of the witty humor doesn’t apply to the current day.
And that’s because times change.
So what people found funny before…
Well, it might not sit well with current pop culture.
It’s a case of growing up and nostalgia.
You’ll find dozens of posts promoting the earlier seasons of SpongeBob.
And the very same ones looking down on newer episodes.
However, age is another factor people fail to consider.
A lot of the viewers just grew up alongside the series itself.
As a result, nostalgia kicks in a lot harder.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with any of that.
It’s only natural.
But it should never be a reason to dislike the New SpongeBob.
All the current animators and storyboard writers are great for the show.
They breathe new life into Nickelodeon’s most successful series.
And I, for one, love exploring new ideas with SpongeBob.
For example, in season 12, in the Squid’s on a Bus episode.
It takes a shot at the Squidward hates his job gag.
And puts him in a new work arrangement as a bus driver.
So can you guess what happened next?
Well, the grumpy octopus actually missed his job.
He couldn’t stand another second driving a bus.
Squidward found out that everybody’s good at something.
And comparing yourself with others gets you nowhere.
As a result, it’s a great way of teaching kids to be proud of what they’re doing.
I promise it’s worth a try!
I only have one last thing to share:
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”
A lot of people misjudge Modern SpongeBob Squarepants.
And all they’re doing is copying what other people say.
But do you know the real way of finding out?
You have to see it for yourself.
There are over 200 episodes beyond season 3 just waiting for you.
And I can guarantee you’ll find a lot of them entertaining.
In fact, it’s because of New SpongeBob that we get all these new clues for fan theories.
Just like finding out the real identity behind Mr. Krabs’ Wife.
So if you got a free weekend or two.
I’ll be the first to recommend that New SpongeBob’s worth a try.
Even the spinoffs, like Kamp Koral and The Patrick Star Show.