"The String" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 11. In this episode, SpongeBob pulls from Squidward's shirt a loose string that never seems to end.
Characters
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Squidward Tentacles
- Incidentals
- Rich patron (debut)
- Eugene H. Krabs
- Sandy Cheeks (cameo)
- Pearl Krabs (in picture)
- Bubble Bass
- Fisherman
- Taxi driver
- Patrick Star
Synopsis
The episode begins with SpongeBob cooking Krabby Patties, until he sees a loose thread on Squidward's shirt. He wants to pull it, and Squidward allows him to do so, but only if he lets him read his book in peace. SpongeBob unravels the string from the shirt until it's gone completely leaving Squidward naked; all of a sudden, instead of the string ending, it continues down past Squidward and splits the order station in half. This leads to SpongeBob unraveling many things at the Krusty Krab, including a very high-value dollar of Mr. Krabs', causing him to become poor.
SpongeBob continues unraveling things that annoy the citizens of Bikini Bottom, especially Squidward, who always has his clothes unraveled by the string. Eventually, SpongeBob unravels the entire universe, only to have him get unraveled by Patrick, who uses the string as dental floss, as the episode ends.
Production
The episode was confirmed by Vincent Waller on March 29, 2018.[3]
Art
Music
| ( ‣ ) Production music |
| ( • ) Original music |
| ( ◦ ) SpongeBob music |
• Stooges On Parade. - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Title card]
• Jolly Little Roger MB NC- with Tamborine - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Opening]
‣ Drama Link (F) - Hubert Clifford [SpongeBob's eyes melt]
• The String - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [SpongeBob notices a loose thread sticking out of Squidward's shirt / SpongeBob wants to pull the thread out of Squidward's shirt]
• Earls Revenge - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob pulling the thread in the Krusty Krab]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 7A - Jeremy Wakefield [Customer sees SpongeBob naked and walks out]
‣ Aphroditie Glamour - Bruno Pilloix, Alyse Pilloix [Krabs admiring his money at his office]
• Rip Tide - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob pulling the thread in Krabs' office]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 12D - Jeremy Wakefield [Krabs cries]
• Fooling Around 2 w e gtr - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Customer demands a refund because the thread is on his soup]
• Panic Attack - Nicolas Carr [Krabs screams]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 6A - Jeremy Wakefield [Krabs becomes poor]
• You're Nice - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob pulling the thread outside the Krusty Krab]
• Hello Blues - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Squidward gets off from a T-shirt shop]
• 12th St Rag w Bass - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Bubble Bass teasing sea monkeys at the zoo]
• Dunces & Dragons Fanfare - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Squidward gets off Swords & Such]
• Dunces & Dragons Cue 4B - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Squidward dressed with a suit of armor]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 35 - Jeremy Wakefield [Squidward naked again]
• Uku Bye Layly - Nicolas Carr, Fabian Fernandez, Jeremy Wakefield [Ending]
Release
- This episode is available on the SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 19, The Complete Eleventh Season, Another 100 Episodes, and The Best 300 Episodes Ever DVDs.
Trivia
General
- Luke Brookshier wrote the outline for this episode, but he went uncredited for unknown reasons.[2]
- This episode was originally produced for season 12, but it was moved ahead to season 11.
- Due to the push, the episode was given a new production code: originally it was 325-1215, but now it is 325-1159.
- This episode marks the last of two things
- The last segment to air in the United States during series creator Stephen Hillenburg's lifetime. He passed away from ALS just eight days later on November 26, 2018.
- The last segment to credit Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller as supervising producers.
- "My leg:" Fred screams this when SpongeBob unravels everyone's clothes with a loose thread. But he corrects himself by saying, "Of my pants!"
- Squidward is shown to have pecs in this episode, even though this is not shown when he has been shirtless in other episodes such as "Grandpappy the Pirate."
- It is revealed in this episode that SpongeBob is tanned.
- This is the second episode where SpongeBob removes the letters from the Krusty Krab sign. The first was in "Hide and Then What Happens?"
- The homeowner appears for the first time since "Scaredy Pants" in season 1.
- In the UK and Ireland, the scene where SpongeBob's eyes catch on fire and he used hot mustard as a fire extinguisher is cut, due to the dangerous action of the scene.[4] In Indonesia, the scene where SpongeBob pulls all of the Krusty Krab costumers' clothes string is cut due to nudity.
- SpongeBob breaks the fourth wall in the entire episode as the plot when he erases the entire cartoon universe by pulling on the titular string.
- Due to the heavy usage of original music throughout, this episode uses two APM tracks, "Drama Link (F)" and "Aphroditie Glamour."
- This episode is only six minutes long, due to its sister episode, "Squirrel Jelly," being 16 minutes long.
- This is currently the only episode Fred Osmond wrote.
- This was due to the episode being storyboard-driven.
- The title card is very similar to the title card of "Ink Lemonade," though it is animated instead of live-action and there is no ink.
- It also does indeed has light showing the text, much like the title cards for "Squirrel Jokes" and "Funny Pants."
Episode references
- The fisherman from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie makes an appearance at the end.
- Mike Bell reprises his role as the fisherman in this episode.
- This is also the first episode he worked on since "Good Neighbors."
- Mike Bell reprises his role as the fisherman in this episode.
Errors
- When SpongeBob unravels the sweater of an orange fish, the string ends, but in the next shot, the string is still going.
- When SpongeBob is shown to have unraveled all the customers clothes, including his own, he goes to Mr. Krabs office and his clothes are back.
- At the part where Mr. Krabs have a picture of Pearl, the "P" thing on her shirt is missing on the picture.
- When SpongeBob unravels Sandy's tail, and then the base of her treedome, as she is swimming up for air, her tail is suddenly back.
- In the Latin American dub, Fred only yells "My leg!".[citation needed]
- In the French opening credits, Vincent Waller's name is misspelled as Vincent Wailer.[5]
Videos
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| German | Der Faden | The Thread |
| Polish | Nitka | The Thread |
| Russian | Ниточка Nitochka |
The Little Thread |
| Spanish (American) | El hilo | The Thread |
| Spanish (European) | El hilo suelto | The Loose Thread |