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SpongeBob SquarePants
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Heartwarming Moments in SpongeBob SquarePants
Gary came home...

Seasons with their own pages:

Other examples can be found here:

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    General 
  • SpongeBob's unconditional admiration and adoration of Squidward is either this or just really weird (or even a combination of both).
  • Pretty much any time we see SpongeBob and Patrick as babies or little kids. They're sooo cute!
  • It's a staple of kids' shows for the protagonist to be annoyed and/or embarrassed by their parents, but it's a totally different story with SpongeBob. His parents are as cute as a button and he's always excited to see them, and always calls them to tell them about his life and accomplishments.
    • In return, SpongeBob's parents adore him and even offer him a place to stay when he loses his home (even if SpongeBob seemed a little reluctant to move back in with his parents).
  • For as greedy as he can be (particularly in the later episodes), Mr. Krabs shows that he truly loves SpongeBob like he were his son. Also, he and Squidward, despite fighting and arguing, show that they have a sort of brotherly relationship.
  • SpongeBob is a terrible driver and fails his driving test every year, but he cares about his driving teacher Mrs. Puff, has nothing but admiration for her, and is always happy to see her. Even throughout the controversial episode, "Demolition Doofus."
  • SpongeBob and Patrick's friendship in general. They've been friends since they were babies, and it's clear that their friendship will always hold strong no matter what.
  • There's also something very wholesome about SpongeBob and Sandy's relationship. Despite being two different creatures from land and sea, they stick by each other's side through thick and thin and enjoy each other's company. Heck, when they first met, SpongeBob's first instinct was to try and help 'save' Sandy from a giant clam, and SpongeBob always tries to selflessly help Sandy feel more at home in Bikini Bottom. They even enjoy practicing karate together, defend each other when need be, and Sandy occasionally laughs at some of SpongeBob's jokes (except the time he used "squirrel jokes" that offended Sandy, until SpongeBob came to his senses and put her feelings before everyone else's).
  • Any episode that focuses on Mr. Krabs and Plankton cooperating is definitely wholesome to watch, as “Friend or Foe” reveals that they used to be best friends.

    Season 5 
  • A Fridge example, but in "Bucket Sweet Bucket" Plankton paints a log cabin after finding Squidward's mural bad. The log cabin makes a lot of sense considering his relatives are hillbillies, who typically live in log cabins. This paints the idea that Plankton was paying homage to his relatives with that log cabin mural.
    • Also, that episode ends on a Throw the Dog a Bone moment in Squidward's favor, with Mr. Krabs complimenting the new interior decor he made.
  • In "The Two Faces of Squidward," SpongeBob straight-up tells Squidward "I love you, no matter how many times we smash your face" and hugs him! D'aaaaaw!
    • Squidward doesn't even mind, either- he just smiles and says "I almost wish that made sense"
  • "A Flea in her Dome" opens with SpongeBob and Patrick throwing Sandy a welcome home party when she comes back from her convention in Texas.
  • Patrick expressing sincere guilt in "Donut of Shame". Over taking a donut that SpongeBob GAVE to him as a birthday present.
  • "Breath of Fresh Squidward"'; Just seeing how happy Squidward was can really warm the heart.
  • In "Pest of the West", it's quite heartwarming to see Patrick, Mr. Krabs, and Sandy talking about their ancestors and how proud they are.
  • In "Stanley SquarePants", the title character is SpongeBob's cousin who always screws up. Despite this, SpongeBob tries to look after and help him, even letting him help in the Krusty Krab and covering for him whenever he screws up. Well, that is until he breaks his spatula...
    • Speaking of which, Mr. Krabs gets annoyed and lectures SpongeBob for every mistake, but when he assumes SpongeBob broke his spatula, Mr. Krabs speaks more softly, showing sympathy and says he'll order another one for him tomorrow.
    • The last part of the episode, set in the Krusty Krab, starts with Mr. Krabs happily greeting SpongeBob, calling him his little moneymaker and showing affection towards him by repeatedly kissing him on the cheek. This is one of this moments that shows that Mr. Krabs, even in the post-movie seasons, still cares about his best fry cook.
  • At the end of the episode "Krabs à la Mode", Squidward was seen having fun with a group of swimmers in a newly formed swimming pool version of the Krusty Krab, showing that despite the mistreatment of the town people - they weren't that harsh to him that much. The smile on Squidward's face proves it.
  • "Banned in Bikini Bottom":

    Season 8 
  • Near the end of "Restraining SpongeBob", Patrick and Squidward are in a physical fight, and SpongeBob must choose between following the restraining order, or stopping his two best friends from beating them up. He chooses to pull them apart, and then Squidward asks for the restraining order. No, the episode does not take the route "A Pal For Gary" did. Instead, Squidward seems grateful that the yellow sponge followed through with the order and managed to get Patrick off his chest. As such, Squidward decides to do something he wouldn't normally do; take SpongeBob off the restraining order. The whole thing doubles as a Moment of Awesome.
  • The end of "Free Samples" with Mr. Krabs letting SpongeBob make money angels with him in the big pile of money. Made more nice when you consider how Mr. Krabs acted in the past few seasons.
  • Karen forgiving Plankton at the end of "Karen 2.0." After the fight, Karen loses all of her power and is deactivated - and Plankton, instead of going for the formula, removes the battery from Karen 2 and uses it to restore his wife. If that doesn't prove he loves his wife, nothing does.
  • In "Treats!" SpongeBob sleeps next to the pet store to get a can of Gary's beloved Snail Bites as soon as they open. Then, when it turns that they're all out, he goes on a world-wide search for the last few cans of Snail Bites just so Gary can be happy. After watching the infamous "A Pal for Gary," it's refreshing to see their loving relationship restored.
    • The second plot of the episode involves SpongeBob trying to overcome his Extreme Doormat ways by saying "no" to Gary. Because he loves Gary so much, he's having trouble telling Gary "No," so Patrick gives him some much-needed advice and tells him to just say it. SpongeBob sits down near Gary and has a little talk with him, and actually does say "no," gently but firmly. The scene plays out suspensefully, and we have no idea what Gary's reaction will be. But Gary just calmly meows, wanders off and goes back to bed, and SpongeBob is relieved.
    • Unlike season 1's "Walking Small," this is an episode where someone tells SpongeBob how to assert himself correctly while still being nice, and it works.
  • In the season finale, "Hello Bikini Bottom": the "Giving Up" duet between SpongeBob and Squidward, where SpongeBob tells Squidward that they can be successful on tour and Squidward seems to like him. The Bikini Bottomites who hear it end up loving it.
  • Everyone in "Bubble Troubles" going out of their way to help Sandy after her air supply runs out. Especially Mr. Krabs and Pearl, who let Sandy breathe through the air bubbles stored in their bodies.
  • "Are You Happy Now?"
    • In a bizarre way, Squidward finally finding a happy memory — chainsawing every Paper Mache SpongeBob in sight.
      SpongeBob: [dreamy sigh] He's so handsome.
    • SpongeBob's actual concern and (failed) attempts to help Squidward be happy. Especially when he states "At least we know [Squidward] is still alive".
  • In "Frozen Face-Off", SpongeBob decides to let everyone ride on his sled despite it being a race. Everyone (even Mr. Krabs and Sandy) also hugs Squidward when he gets un-frozen, and they go back to save him when he gets left behind.
    • When SpongeBob picks up his friends one-by-one after they're incapacitated, they all chant "And we race, race, race down the snow, snow, snow!" The sight of SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy happily singing this is adorable. It's not a race anymore. It's friends having fun together.
  • In "Patrick's Staycation", SpongeBob knocks himself out trying to provide Patrick with a meal and spa experience, only for things to go horribly wrong. What follows are Patrick and Squidward being jerks in various ways, ending with Patrick taking SpongeBob's bed, and the latter not being able to sleep in it. Cue a couple frames later, and Mr. Krabs comes in to find SpongeBob in his hammock. Without fussing about it, he first asks if SpongeBob has had "another one of them nasty dreams", and then if Patrick is in his bed "again". When SpongeBob responds to the affirmative, Mr. Krabs pats him nicely on the cheek and says, "Ah well, goodnight laddie," and allows the poor sponge to stay and sleep in his hammock.

    Season 10 
  • "Whirly Brains"
    • SpongeBob and Patrick give their Whirly Brain propellers to the Angry Old Timer, after he tearfully tells them how he was jealous and wanted to experience flight. The episode ends with him flying happily (the man has the propellers attached to his butt).
    • Mrs. Puff and Mr. Krabs are apparently still dating — even after SpongeBob and Patrick startle them with a prank, they're still happy and their date isn't ruined.
  • In "Mimic Madness", in addition to Sandy, Plankton, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, and Squidward helping SpongeBob overcome his inability to remember who he is, Patrick takes great exception to Plankton and Squidward submitting that they kill SpongeBob.
  • In "Snooze You Lose", Squidward collapses from exhaustion in SpongeBob's house. But SpongeBob quickly slides under him and shapes himself into a mattress. Patrick and Gary climb on top and fall asleep too. SpongeBob is perfectly fine with this.
  • In "Krusty Katering", the birthday kid threatens Mr. Krabs to use fireworks on him if he doesn't get his birthday cake. Krabs quickly swipes them away saying that they are dangerous to play with. The kid then says that no one has ever cared enough to explain something like that to him and begins to see Mr. Krabs as his own father. He then hugs him, which Krabs seems to be okay with.
    • Earlier in the episode, Krabs finds out SpongeBob inadvertently stole a box of precious gems to "fancy up the food." Surprisingly, instead of taking the jewels for himself, Krabs tells SpongeBob what he did was wrong and spends the rest of the episode trying to return the box. Glad to see that Mr. Krabs finally got his greed in check.
  • In "Sportz", Sandy's sports equipment is accidentally sent to SpongeBob and Squidward takes advantage of SpongeBob and Patrick's lack of knowledge of the games to mistreat them. When Sandy finds out Squidward has deliberately given the pair incorrect information about the sports, she angrily confronts and challenges him to a game of every sport as retribution. It's genuinely sweet to see Sandy stand up for her friends.
  • In "Lost and Found", when the lost aged kids reunite with their parents and they share a hug. SpongeBob then also embraces Mr. Krabs, who pats him while looking confused.
  • In "Patrick's Coupon" not only does Squidward (of all people) stop Mr Krabs from swindling Patrick out of his free ice cream coupon, he outright calls Mr. Krabs out on how dishonest and low it is to try, even for him.
  • In "Mermaid Pants", when SpongeBob and Patrick show up at the Krusty Krab dressed as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, Mr. Krabs, of all people, reveals himself to be a closet comic book geek and closes down for the day just so he and a reluctant Squidward can play with them.
  • In "Out of the Picture", SpongeBob assisting Squidward with his deliveries, helping him when Mr. Krabs tries to harm him, and him and Squidward having a good laugh after an off-screen party with SpongeBob's friends from Rock Bottom.
    Squidward: Oh, get off of me.
    SpongeBob: I'll never get off of you Squidward. Not until you're safe.
  • SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Mrs. Puff, Squidward, Pearl, and Larry throwing a birthday party for Sandy in "Feral Friends".

    Season 11 
  • In "The Legend of Boo-kini Bottom", when the Flying Dutchman makes a remark about SpongeBob being a lousy friend by leaving Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, Plankton, Gary, and Sandy to their fate, Patrick indignantly tells the Flying Dutchman that he can't talk about SpongeBob like that.
  • In "Teacher's Pests", when Mrs. Puff tells Mr. Krabs and Plankton to follow SpongeBob's example, SpongeBob is touched by Mrs. Puff using him as an example of good driving and even comes over to hug her.
  • In "Chatterbox Gary", when Gary can talk through a communicating device around his shell, he calls SpongeBob "PapaBob". Naturally SpongeBob is moved to tears.
  • In "Moving Bubble Bass", while a very funny scene altogether, what with the over-the-top animation and Patrick's hilariously frightening Nightmare Face, in the scene where Bubble Bass reveals he ate the food he promised them, Patrick just snaps, saying things will get crazy if "my friend SpongeBob doesn't get his free lunch". Not "I get my free lunch." It's if SpongeBob doesn't get his free lunch. It's a small moment, but it shows how much Patrick cares about SpongeBob, and that SpongeBob's happiness is more important than his own, especially since he spent the entire episode obsessing over said free lunch.
  • The end of "Squid Noir" has Squidward playing the clarinet at a jellyfish bar. He gets his happy ending here and all the jellyfish enjoy his music.
  • It's a mostly silly episode, but "My Leg!" has the reveal that Fred keeps hurting his leg on purpose because he has a crush on his nurse and getting injured is a convenient excuse to keep visiting her. Probably not the best idea, but it's kind of sweet in a weird sort of way.
    • The episode ends with Fred singing a heartwarming song about how he fell in love with the nurse, ending with the nurse carrying and kissing him. And do note that the nurse is a textbook example Lady Looks Like a Dude that SpongeBob and the others were all freaked out by her appearance. Fred just thinks she's an angel.
  • "Shopping List" has some genuinely sweet moments:
    • Mr. Krabs entrusts SpongeBob to collect some, let's say, ingredients you can't just buy from the grocery store. Without any prompting or promise of a reward, Sandy willingly agrees to help SpongeBob find them with her new submarine, Matilda. She even declares that the sub has taken a shine to SpongeBob when he pats it and it revs.
    • It turns out that the ingredients SpongeBob and Sandy gathered, and Plankton stole, were fake. The former is relieved that Plankton didn't steal the Krabby Patty formula after all, but the latter is furious at Mr. Krabs tricking him.
      Sandy: You mean YOU sent my best friend on a dangerous wild goose chase just so you could go shopping?!
    • The best part of Sandy beating up Mr. Krabs for endangering herself and SpongeBob, forcing her to sacrifice her tail fur, and ultimately losing her submarine, is that the way she stands up for SpongeBob can be interpreted in two ways. Is she being a Mama Bear or a Violently Protective Girlfriend? It doesn't matter. She's looking out for her porous pal either way.
  • In "Whale Watching", Squidward saving Pearl after she got beached and then bonding with her by getting back at the Jerkass Dylan (who convinced Pearl to sneak off to the beach party and abandoned her when she got beached).
    • It is more Played for Laughs, but Mr. Krabs being overprotective towards Pearl is a nice change of pace from his usually self-centered self.
  • In "Appointment TV", after SpongeBob is unable to see the lost Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy episode he's been so dying to see due to his friends using him for favors (causing his VCR to overload and his house to be set on fire) and becomes a depressed wreck, Sandy, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, Gary, Plankton, Mrs. Puff, and Larry feel guilty and band together to create a Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy play to cheer SpongeBob up, which SpongeBob loves. What makes it exceptionally sweet are Squidward and Plankton's involvement in the play, and they're also seen feeling bad for SpongeBob when he cries.
  • "Karen's Virus" is full of heartwarming moments as SpongeBob goes inside Karen to cure her of a computer virus and we get to see her inner world, all while Plankton tries to keep his wife (who the virus makes act loopy) safe in the real world.
    • Karen's circuits do indeed have a Love Center, and it's a tunnel of love full of Planktons. To be fair, her anger control center is also flanked by Plankton statues...
    • Karen's internal version of Plankton is muscular and heroic with a dashing grin. While it's implied to be how she wished he was, compared to how she sees everyone else (Krabs as a rich person only able to say "money", Squidward as a grumpy blob, and SpongeBob as an off-model loon) it's actually very flattering.
    • SpongeBob solving the problem by giving the virus a patty instead of Karen's memory banks to eat.
  • Despite their lack of interaction in previous episodes, the friendship between Sandy, Karen, and Mrs. Puff in "Girl's Night Out" is really sweet.
    • The Gal Pals play a harmless (at first) prank on SpongeBob, putting a VR headset on him while he sleeps to make him think he’s driving. When SpongeBob gets into very real danger, not only do the Gal Pals immediately try to rescue him, but Mrs. Puff reassures him that she'll save him. It’s a genuinely sweet reminder that, even after her Flanderization, Mrs Puff does care for SpongeBob.

    Season 12 
  • "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout" may very well be one of the sweetest episodes in the whole franchise:
    • Everyone, even Plankton, Bubble Bass, and Squidward, helping set up a surprise party for SpongeBob. Mr. Krabs, Mrs. Puff, and Bubble Bass want the party to be themed after what SpongeBob enjoys (fry cooking, driving, and Mermaid Man restively) and Sandy is very determined to make sure that everything comes together to throw a party SpongeBob loves.
      • Bubble Bass in particular stands out since unlike Plankton and Squidward, we have never seen him get along with SpongeBob before this episode. Further adding to this is that Bubble Bass wants the party to be Mermaid Man themed, showing he actually knows SpongeBob is a huge fan of the old superhero and they possibly may have bonded over similar interests.
    • Even when SpongeBob and Patrick become responsible for much of the problems they go through; Rube and the bus riders remain totally friendly and cordial to them, at worse groaning in annoyance a few times. They are all also more than happy to sing SpongeBob happy birthday (though they don't get a chance due to all the chaos).
    • Patrick saving SpongeBob at the Trusty Slab.
    • By the time SpongeBob gets home, everyone has been waiting so long for him to arrive that they've all fallen fast asleep on SpongeBob's living room floor. But SpongeBob doesn't care. He's overjoyed that they took the time and effort to throw a surprise party for him. Plus as exhausted as they are, every single person there still gets up to happily sing SpongeBob his birthday song.
    • Patchy the Pirate FINALLY meeting SpongeBob, including receiving a hug from the sea creature.
    • All the Happy Birthday messages from the characters and guest stars.
    • The last words on screen: Thank You Steve Hillenburg!
    • When Sandy tries to distract everyone with dancing, it's quite adorable to see Mr. Krabs and Pearl, Plankton and Karen, and SpongeBob's parents dancing with each other.
  • "Karen's Baby" is also an overall very heartwarming episode.
  • "Escape from Beneath Glove World" has plenty of moments during SpongeBob and Patrick's adventure:
    • In general, the sheer protective instinct SpongeBob and Patrick display for the lost toddler. They only met him that very day and yet they're willing to face any danger to protect him.
    • Upon seeing the Soggy Sock Flume, Patrick fondly remembers the Glove Flume as the first time SpongeBob ever called him his best friend. SpongeBob hugs Patrick in response.
    • After SpongeBob and Patrick defeat Animatronic Hieronymus Glove, the real Hieronymus Glove pardons the two, commends them for their bravery and sings a song in their honor.
  • In "Krusty Koncessionaires", Squidward not only manages to play the world's greatest clarinet and not suck at it despite the curse placed on him by Squidly, which would've blown away and wowed the crowd if they had actually stuck around to hear it instead of assuming the worst and bolting, but he actually gets recognized for his performance with Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob by the Low Tides, and the band's clarinet player, Claire St. Claire. After so long of having the worst damn luck with his favorite instrument, he's actually applauded for his impromptu performance by a professional.
    • Even better, he actually has fun playing with Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob.
  • In "Bubble Bass's Tab", SpongeBob and Squidward notably get along pretty well. SpongeBob actually understands when he's getting on Squidward's nerves quoting Bubble Bass and apologizes when Squidward shoots him a look; Squidward is touched when SpongeBob praises him for being so "masculine" after kicking down Bubble Bass's door. Squidward ultimately agrees to go through with Bubble Bass's challenge since SpongeBob wants to experience a real-time version of the game. Squidward also never tries to abandon SpongeBob at any point and they endure the adventure together, with SpongeBob helping pump up Squidward when he takes on Bubble Bass in the jousting challenge. Finally, the pair share a tango at the end of the episode and even Squidward is fond of the little sponge as they dance.
  • "Kooky Cooks" has SpongeBob and Squidward having a food fight, one where they both genuinely have fun doing. At least until Sponge falls into an oven.
    • There's also Mr. Krabs, Pearl, and Squidward (mostly) showing concern over SpongeBob's safety.

    Season 13 
  • The end of the episode "C.H.U.M.S." has SpongeBob saving Mr. Krabs from Plankton's chum monster (which had eaten him) without even realizing it. Mr. Krabs, who was crying out for him to help him earlier, holds him in his arms while calling him his little hero and kisses him on the nose.
  • "SpongeBob's Road to Christmas" stars SpongeBob wanting to give Santa a gift to thank him for all his hard work. When Santa accidentally misses it and SpongeBob sees the present again in July, he goes out of his way to go all the way up to the North Pole to give it to him. The present for him? A thank you message telling SpongeBob how happy he is Santa can give Christmas and joy to so many people.
  • In "Mandatory Music", Squidward is humiliated by being placed in a music class for young children. His attempts to rebel against the class wind up getting him handcuffed by the police. It's as he's crying that he realizes he genuinely does have musical talent at playing the nose flute, like SpongeBob does. His teacher declares him the most improved student, and the episode ends with Squidward playing a concert for SpongeBob, his classmates, his teacher, and the people who booed him at his first concert. They give him genuine applause, making Squidward cry Tears of Joy.
  • In "Hot Crossed Nuts", Sandy is hired by Mr Krabs to add her barbecued nuts to the Krusty Krab menu. SpongeBob excitedly sings “Someone’s in the Kitchen with Sandy”, replacing “someone” with himself. Not only is this an adorable way to welcome Sandy to the job, it almost feels like an apology for the episode of the same name where Sandy went through Hell.
    • As SpongeBob finishes his impromptu song with a silly little dance, he makes Sandy laugh. It’s a really cute callback to the earlier seasons in which his antics got a giggle out of her every time.
  • "Big Top Flop" once again gives Squidward a nice moment when his performance as a sad circus clown ends up being loved by the audience, earning him plenty of cheering and applause.

    Season 14 
  • "Tango Tangle" shows both Plankton and Karen, instead of their usual Awful Wedded Life, as Happily Married. Plankton signs the two of them up for tango lessons, without any sign of ulterior motives, and even undergoes a very painful operation to extend his legs in order to do it, which Karen clearly appreciates. The two just seem like their having a great time the entire episode.
  • In "Kreepaway Kamp", people starts a reunion at the Kamp Koral. Well, they're then stalked by a mysterious figure, as the campers begin to disappear one by one. Actually, the figure turns out to be nothing more than Elwood who wants to have a reunion with all of his friends for the party.

    Season 16 
  • "Bizarro Bottom": After SpongeBob getting stuck inside a place called Tankini Top and believing the fact that there were evil doppelgängers the whole episode, it's definitely nice to see the ShortPants family safely help him to put on a bus out of town. That's one big of a deal when SpongeBob wakes up and sees he's back in Bikini Bottom, he greets Patrick, Sandy, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs and tells him all about his experience in Tankini Top, though he was thinking it as a dream.
  • "Krusty Kafeteria" has the part in the end, that after being a very strict lunch lady, Lunch Lady Lenore actually tasted the Krabby Patty! All thanks to SpongeBob. And what does she do to her students next? A field trip to the Krusty Krab.

    Season 17 

    Comics 
  • "Calls in the Wild" ends with a clarinet duet between Squidward and the Mulligor.
  • In "Great Grandma", Squidward gets along remarkably well with SpongeBob's grandmother. She compliments his dancing and his art, and when he tries to visit her again, he notices in the window that she's painting a portrait of him.
  • SpongeBob sticking up for Sandy when her species is misrepresented in a "landquarium".
  • In "Squidward's Shell Phone", SpongeBob shows off his shell phone to Squidward, which drives the latter nuts and finally causes him to smash his phone in frustration. SpongeBob feels bad and offers his own. The feeling doesn't last long but Squidward appears to be genuinely grateful for the gesture.
  • In "Not-So Great Expectations", SpongeBob invites Squidward to a theme park called Blockville, and Squidward only agrees to go so he can secretly relish SpongeBob's disappointment. It is indeed an awful theme park. The staff are rude, all the rides are closed except for one that breaks, and they're all out of confectionary. But SpongeBob has the time of his life and at the end, he explains why: because he gets to spend the day with his friend. Squidward is so touched by this that he's moved to tears.
  • Squidward's apology to SpongeBob in "The Liar!" for not believing that he met a movie star.
    Squidward: You're an idiot, but you're an honest idiot.
  • The ending of "Peace 'N Quiet": A fish yells a question at an exhausted Squidward: How much is the blanket SpongeBob sold his stuff on? Squidward collapses, and SpongeBob uses it as a Comforting Comforter to put over the octopus.
    SpongeBob: I'm sorry, sir. It's not for sale.
  • One issue had SpongeBob really want to see a band called "Böbö" and no one wanted to take him to see it, nor did any forms of transportation went to where they were playing. He finally goes to Mrs. Puff, and although she was reluctant, she agrees to drive him to where they were playing. When they arrived too late, Mrs. Puff got him lunch at a diner. Later, they meet the band on the side of the road, and due to the fact that Mrs. Puff got sick due to the lunch they ate, SpongeBob had to drive the band to their next location. Mrs. Puff fully encourages him to do so, and he actually succeeds. Unfortunately, he ends up crashing when he was taking Mrs. Puff to the hospital, but for a moment, Mrs. Puff was glad that he succeeded in driving, if temporarily. The band got to play for him at the hospital as well.
  • SpongeBob squeeing over the adorable little krill who had found his way into his home. It's also very sweet when he agrees to re-unite the krill with his family... even if it happens to be a krill mound in the Krusty Krab.
  • "Untidaled" has plenty of heartwarming moments involving Pearl in the final part:
    • Pearl tells Mr. Krabs not to worry about her when the kraken tries to make an offer with him in exchange for Pearl's freedom.
      Pearl: Don't worry about me, daddy!
      Mr. Krabs: I won't, sweet baby!
      Plankton: WHHAAAT?
      Mr. Krabs: I mean, I will! I WILL!
    • Plankton reveals why he devised the plan that started the arc in the first place: He only planned the whole singing contest to distract Mr. Krabs so that he could steal the formula, because he thought Krabs cared about Pearl enough to leave the formula unguarded.
      Plankton: Don't you get it, you chitinous cretin?! You were supposed to go with her!! What kind of father doesn't want to hear the musical call of his own offspring? How could I know you'd be such a colossal jerk!?
    • SpongeBob gives Mr. Krabs a heartwarming speech on how he sees Mr. Krabs as a father figure.
      SpongeBob: I've already got a daddy, but if I could have more, I'd want the third or fourth one to be just like you, only more thoughtful!
      Mr. Krabs: Ahhh, Pearl don't want nothin' to do with an old hard-shell like me.
      SpongeBob: Then give her a reason to.
    • "A DADDY'S LOVE FER HIS DAUGHTER!"
    • Plankton of all people rescues Pearl. The reason? He needed the "redemption."
    • The ending is one big Heartwarming Moment. A few days after things are returned to normal, Mr. Krabs holds a concert starring Pearl. She ends up breaking the window behind her when she starts singing, leaving Krabs in tears.
      SpongeBob: Aww, don't worry about it, Mr. Krabs. It won't cost you anything! I've been saving my tips for some new windows.
      Mr. Krabs: (smiling) That ain't why I'm cryin', boy.
  • One comic had SpongeBob try to help Plankton get one customer so he wouldn't have to steal the secret formula, after initial failure, Plankton is suprised to get a customer who actually wants to have his chum. The customer comes by every day and things eventually lead to Krabs trying to steal Plankton's recipe. Eventually, the customer reveals that SpongeBob himself who revealed that he wasn't really eating the chum. When Plankton asks (in tears) why he had done it, SpongeBob states that he did it to give Plankton a reason not to steal the formula. Plankton is genuinely thankful for SpongeBob's actions and even thanks him.

    Not In The Show Itself 
  • The end of the song "Where's Gary" (on the Best Day Ever album) in which SpongeBob and Gary are reunited in the end.
  • Several evangelical Christian groups in America criticized the show for advocating homosexuality after a music video featuring SpongeBob was supported by the We Are Family Foundation (coincidence), an organization dedicated to mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity - which shares its name with a similar organization that supports gay rights. Although Stephen Hillenburg said SpongeBob was asexual, John H. Thomas, the United Church of Christ's general minister and president, said the United Church would welcome SpongeBob into their ministry:
    "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."
  • Ernest Borgnine, who has voiced Mermaid Man since season one, passed away in 2012. What did Nick do? They ran a completely un-advertised Mermaid Man marathon, with every episode from the original "Mermaid Man" to the final "Mermaid Man Begins," in his honor.
    • Additionally, the second SpongeBob movie, Sponge Out of Water had the superhero gimmick as a homage to Borgnine's work as Mermaid Man. The film is even dedicated to Borgnine at the end of the credits.
  • After David Bowie's death, Nickelodeon put up a clip of his guest appearance in "Atlantis Squarepantis" on the front of the SpongeBob homepage.
  • In the book "Camp SpongeBob," the little flashbacks of kid SpongeBob spending summer time with his grandma—she teaches him how to knit sweaters and they make cookies together. They both look so happy!
  • After the death of Squidward's German voice actor, Eberhard Prüter, the German Spongepedia briefly put a tribute to him on their website, that loosely translated to, "Thank you very much for making something good out of Squidward's bad mood."
    • Then, Nickelodeon posted Joachim Kaps and Tobias Lelle's auditions online so that the public decided who should be his new German voice (they chose Joachim Kaps). No other character whose original German voice actor had died recieved this treatment. That shows how beloved Squidward is by the fans.
  • One of the official German songs based on the show is titled Witzig, Witzig (engl. Funny, Funny)note . It's about Sandy expressing her appreciation of Patrick and how he can make her laugh and brighten up her day with his humorous antics.
  • In the iOS/Android game for Sponge Out of Water, if you get a Game Over SpongeBob has many different lines that he'll say in no particular order. One of these lines is him asking the player to tell Sandy that he loves her. It's just a really sweet thing to hear. Listen to it here.
  • In the online game Dancin' Tentacles, the goal of the game is to play as SpongeBob and protect Squidward from being hit by items in the crowd. It's oddly sweet, in a way, watching Squidward looking happy and dancing to his heart's content, without any idea that the crowd hates him or that SpongeBob is trying to save him from being humiliated.
  • This video by YouTube creator EmperorLemon, which explains why the series first three seasons are so popular: and reminding us all of how important it is to balance out our adult selves with our young, childish optimism without letting either one take over entirely.
  • Following Stephen Hillenburg's death, fans of the show came together to pay respects, even those who hadn't watched the show in ages. Other cartoon creators also paid respects, as well as Nickelodeon themselves. Even Cartoon Network paid respects.
    • Five months after his passing, a special memorial ceremony for Stephen Hillenburg was held at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California. During the ceremony, they brought out Tom Kenny (voice of Spongebob) to perform an emotional rendition of "The Best Day Ever" with The Hi-Seas. The tribute also doubles as a Tear Jerker since the keyboardist is crying while performing the song.
    • Nickelodeon's own tribute to Hillenburg consisted of various heartwarming clips from various episodes of the show; rather notably, all but two or three of these clips came from the show's first three seasons, the ones that Hillenburg was most personally involved in; even one of the post-2004 clips is taken from the tenth season, which was the first one to feature Hillenburg since season three. The fact that Nickelodeon's tribute focused almost entirely on Hillenburg's own contributions to the show speaks volumes.
    • Wendel Bezerra (SpongeBob's Brazilian voice actor) did his own tribute to Stephen.
    • Clancy Brown's tweet.
      My moment of silence had to be at least a whole day.
      Steve's passing is so very sad but ALS is brutal, unrelenting.
      He was a sweet, humble dude. Happy. Funny. In love with his family. A faithful friend. A pure heart
      He is also a legitimate genius.
      He never thought so, but I do.
    • In the wake of Hillenburg's passing, a petition was started to have Sweet Victory played at the Super Bowl's halftime show. It garnered major media attention and the stadium that hosted the 2019 Super Bowl began hinting at something SpongeBob-related during the halftime. While this unfortunately led to a Negated Moment of Awesome (a new animation was created for the event, but the song wasn't played in full), an NHL team, the Dallas Stars, got the hint to play a modified version of the original clip at the end of the second intermission the day after the Super Bowl, touting it as the halftime show fans deserved. Even NASCAR followed with their own tribute two weeks later.
    • Two years later in 2021, Paramount+'s Super Bowl campaign ended right before halftime, and when all of their star characters reached the summit they played snippets of SpongeBob's "Sweet Victory" performance. They even had the band in a to-scale dome!
    • Two years after his passing, fans of the show decided to reanimate the entirety of the The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie with over 300 people that begun in early 2020 as a tribute to Hillenburg. When it arrived during the Summer of 2022, a special stinger was added by fans which adapted the very first recording of Tom Kenny's performance as SpongeBob, and Stephen Hillenburg voicing Squidward from 1996. The audio was taken from a Season 1 DVD Boxset of the series under the special feature "The voices of SpongeBob SquarePants".

Alternative Title(s): Christmas Who

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