The 12 Best SpongeBob Squarepants Villains Ever, Ranked

2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Nickelodeon’s longest-running show, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” created by Stephen Hillenburg. This popular series revolves around the adventures (both mishaps and successes) of a sea sponge named SpongeBob, his best friend Patrick Star, their cranky colleague Squidward, the miserly crustacean boss Mr. Krabs, and the intelligent squirrel pal Sandy.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but acknowledge the notorious character that is Plankton, always scheming to nab the Krusty Krab’s famous Krabby Patty recipe, going to great lengths to outwit Mr. Krabs. He certainly stands tall among Nickelodeon’s roster of memorable antagonists, alongside characters like Angelica Pickles from “Rugrats” and Mr. Crocker from “The Fairly Odd Parents.” Yet, across the 15 seasons of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” there have been numerous adversaries who’ve given these villains a real run for their money.

Instead of just seeming light-hearted and humorous, the villainous characters in “SpongeBob SquarePants” can be surprisingly complex and even menacing, with backstories that give them a darker edge than one might initially assume. Whether they made a single appearance or are longstanding antagonists for SpongeBob and his companions, these 12 villains are both unforgettable and truly malicious in the underwater world of Bikini Bottom.

12. Madame Hagfish

For fans who only watch up to Season 3 of “SpongeBob SquarePants”, they might not recognize Madame Hagfish, a truly memorable antagonist featured in Season 7’s episode “The Curse of the Hex”. On a stormy night at the Krusty Krab, this enigmatic character, voiced by one of Saturday Night Live’s finest, Kristen Wiig, is refused entry due to lack of funds. As revenge, Madame Hagfish casts a spell on the Krusty Krab.

For the remainder of the episode, the Krusty Krab experiences several unfortunate events, ranging from a lack of patrons to an unexpected fire that consumes money. With Madame Hagfish’s curse apparently taking effect, Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob set out to locate her and plead for the removal of the curse. She responds by demanding they retrieve the gold doubloon from a treacherous eel, which she needs for her laundry machine.

After reaching an understanding to break the spell, Madame Hagfish casually takes down a “Closed” notice she had hung outside the Krusty Krab. This was the reason for the low number of customers. Contrary to what some might think, she wasn’t using magic to exploit the employees at Krusty Krab; instead, it was just a regular closure.

11. Bubble Bass

In the cartoon series “SpongeBob SquarePants,” the recurring antagonist, Bubble Bass, has been causing trouble since the very first season. He’s a regular at the Krusty Krab, and it’s in the episode “Pickles” where his longstanding feud with SpongeBob starts to unfold. The story kicks off when Bubble Bass places an overly complex order for food, intentionally making it difficult for SpongeBob to follow. Despite his best efforts, SpongeBob fails to include the pickles that Bubble Bass had requested in his Krabby Patty. This oversight sends SpongeBob into a frenzy as he struggles to remember the correct recipe for the rest of the episode.

It was discovered that Bubble Bass had been deceiving about not having pickles on his burger, keeping them hidden under his tongue during an episode. Later, in season 10, he appeared again in the episode “Moving Bubble Bass,” where he tricked SpongeBob and Patrick into doing all the work to move him out of his mother’s house by feigning an injury. Remarkably, even 18 years after his debut, Bubble Bass continues to try to deceive SpongeBob.

In the show, Bubble Bass frequently pops up, often portraying the annoying customer or stubborn fish character, yet seldom does he cause as much trouble for the Krusty Krab staff as he did in his initial appearance. Despite this, he is still considered one of the earliest and most detestable villains in the series.

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Throughout the series, Bubble Bass frequently makes appearances, usually playing the role of the difficult customer or the unmovable fish. In most cases, he doesn’t cause as much trouble for the Krusty Krab employees as he did during his first appearance. However, this doesn’t prevent him from being one of the original and most hated villains in the show.

10. Squilliam Fancyson

In the popular cartoon series “SpongeBob SquarePants”, there’s a recurring villain who frequently clashes with one of the main characters, Squidward: Squilliam Fancyson. Unlike Squidward, who works at a fast food joint and has failed in his musical pursuits, Squilliam is a highly successful, wealthy, and popular individual. This often spurs Squidward to make extra efforts to outdo him. In the episode “Band Geeks,” we see Squidward going head-to-head with Squilliam in a musical competition at the Bubble Bowl. As a result, Squidward gathers a group of residents from Bikini Bottom to form an orchestra.

Regardless of Squilliam’s persistent hostility towards Squidward, their band delivers an outstanding performance that leaves both characters in awe, elevating “Band Geeks” as one of the finest episodes in “SpongeBob SquarePants.” This victory was particularly satisfying for Squidward. Yet, Squilliam wasn’t done trying to embarrass Squidward. In “Squilliam Returns,” Squidward pretends to own a five-star restaurant, and almost convinces Squilliam of this deception until SpongeBob interferes.

Throughout the show’s run, the contest between Squidward and Squilliam is a constant back-and-forth. While there are instances where Squidward manages to outshine his rival, it’s usually Squilliam who maintains the wealth and success.

9. Kevin C. Cucumber

In essence, the lesson learned in the “I’m Your Biggest Fanatic,” episode from Season 2 of “SpongeBob SquarePants” is that it might not be wise to meet your idols because they may not live up to your expectations. This becomes evident when SpongeBob encounters Kevin C. Cucumber, a revered figure in the jellyfishing community and leader of the Jellyspotters club. Despite his admiration for Kevin, he turns out to be quite harsh and manipulative, using SpongeBob for his own amusement when SpongeBob asks to join the club.

In common and easy-to-understand language: It’s beyond excessive how Kevin torments SpongeBob, a level that would be considered unacceptable by most people. Unlike typical villains in children’s cartoons, Kevin stands out as truly detestable, not just evil. He demands SpongeBob to hit himself for no apparent reason and then leaves him stranded in the Jellyfish Fields, forcing him to blow a whistle that labels him as a “Loser.” Sadly for Kevin, his attempts to embarrass SpongeBob usually end up with him getting stung by jellyfish in various parts of his body.

Individuals such as Kevin are often noticeable figures within fandom communities, exploiting the affection and adoration of their followers for personal gratification. Yet, unlike other characters, Kevin doesn’t manage to irritate or bother SpongeBob in any significant way. In fact, it becomes evident that SpongeBob is a more skilled jellyfisher compared to Kevin’s wildest dreams. Furthermore, Kevin’s recurring appearances throughout subsequent seasons suggest that he has not absorbed even a single lesson from his initial encounter with SpongeBob.

8. Flats the Flounder

Hey there! Ever pondered about what Thomas F. Wilson, the guy from “Back to the Future,” has been up to lately? Well, let me tell you, he’s been making a splash in the “SpongeBob SquarePants” universe! You might not know it, but he’s lent his voice to an impressive 17 episodes of the series, plus a whopping 50 episodes of its spin-off, “The Patrick Star Show.” Remember Flats the Flounder from Season 3’s “The Bully”? Yep, that was him! The new student at Mrs. Puff’s boating school who gave SpongeBob a run for his money. Pretty cool, huh?

In a single episode, it’s not hard to provoke Flats’ anger towards SpongeBob. However, SpongeBob’s efforts to calm him down only seem to escalate Flats’ aggressive behavior, making the situation increasingly concerning. For instance, Flats attempts to run over SpongeBob with a garbage truck, which is puzzling given that he’s in boating school. Matters get worse when, upon seeking help from Flats, he threatens to physically assault his own father. Even after being hospitalized and rescued by SpongeBob performing CPR, Flats remains adamant about beating up his classmate.

Flats, a relentless brute, isn’t higher on the list due to an unusual resistance: once he keeps his word, SpongeBob remains unfazed by Flats’ blows. Over time, Flats exhausts himself because SpongeBob seems unaffected by the attacks. Fortunately for SpongeBob, he didn’t have to resort to wearing a protective vest.

7. The Flying Dutchman

If The Flying Dutchman were less unusually kind, he might be considered one of the top villains in “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Voiced by Brian Doyle-Murray, this spectral character debuted in the Season 1 episode “Scaredy Pants” and has since made multiple appearances with differing levels of villainous behavior. In “Your Shoe’s Untied,” for instance, he assists SpongeBob in learning to tie his shoes – a far friendlier act compared to many other characters on the list.

The pivotal moment that solidified the Flying Dutchman as a formidable adversary occurred in Season 2’s “Shanghaied.” In this episode, SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward are abducted by the Dutchman and compelled to become permanent members of his wicked pirate gang. When Squidward objects, the Dutchman casts him into the Abyss of Despair, transporting Squidward to a chilling, hallucinatory realm filled with disturbing, psychedelic visions. Despite SpongeBob and Patrick demonstrating their ineptitude as pirates, the Dutchman chooses to keep them for consumption instead of releasing them. After managing to escape from the Flying Dutchman, they are shocked to find themselves trapped within a department store’s perfume section.

The Flying Dutchman consistently shows malicious intentions in his actions throughout the cartoon series “SpongeBob SquarePants,” yet these actions seldom yield their intended results. In the episode titled “Born Again Krabs,” he attempts to reform Mr. Krabs by threatening him with confinement in Davy Jones’ locker, but as usual, Krabs fails to change his miserly and greedy ways.

6. E.V.I.L.

In the debut of “SpongeBob SquarePants” Season 1, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy made their initial appearance, following SpongeBob and Patrick’s quest to meet their favorite TV superheroes. However, they were discovered living in a retirement home instead. The characters continued to reappear throughout the series, but one of the most memorable episodes was Season 3’s “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V,” where Barnacle Boy grew tired of Mermaid Man and teamed up with their longtime foes, Man Ray and Dirty Bubble, to form a supervillain group called “E.V.I.L.” (an acronym for Every Villains Is Lemons).

In the third installment of “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy,” Man Ray, initially portrayed as a villain, is freed from his frozen state in tartar sauce by SpongeBob and Patrick. Their plan to transform him into a hero ends up falling flat. Contrastingly, Dirty Bubble is often associated with causing trouble in Bikini Bottom. E.V.I.L., despite its notoriety for scaring teenagers at Makeout Reef, commits their most significant crime as a group. Even Barnacle Boy doesn’t stay long with E.V.I.L., eventually returning to team up with Mermaid Man once more.

In Season 13’s episode “Captain Pipsqueak,” the nefarious group E.V.I.L. makes a comeback. During auditions, Plankton manages to outshine numerous other villains from SpongeBob’s history such as the Earworm, Madame Hagfish, DoodleBob, the Tattletale Strangler, Dennis, and even Nosferatu. However, his scheme to persuade E.V.I.L. to assist in stealing the Krabby Patty formula goes sour when they discover it’s merely a sandwich.

5. DoodleBob

In a rather unexpectedly frightening manner, no character compares to DoodleBob. During Season 2’s “Frankendoodle” episode, SpongeBob and Patrick stumble upon a magical pencil that causes them to draw DoodleBob without realizing its abilities. The sketch of DoodleBob springs to life, causing quite the chaos unforeseen. A mischief directed at Squidward escalates into DoodleBob wreaking havoc in Bikini Bottom, forcing SpongeBob and Patrick to pursue him and eliminate him. Unfortunately, they inadvertently leave one of DoodleBob’s arms alive.

In the “Spongebob SquarePants” episode, DoodleBob ultimately grasps the magic pencil, not just for holding it, but he also attempts to eliminate SpongeBob completely, which is undeniably one of the most sinister motives a villain in this series has ever had. However, SpongeBob manages to outsmart DoodleBob by trapping him within a book, ensuring his rough sketch remains imprisoned forever. The storyline is rife with DoodleBob causing chaos for SpongeBob and his companions; Patrick suffers several injuries during the mayhem.

In Season 11, DoodleBob reappeared in the episode titled “Doodle Dimension.” Here, SpongeBob and Patrick find themselves trapped in a different world where they encounter their old creation once more, this time scarier than before. While it may not be the scariest “SpongeBob SquarePants” episode for fans, DoodleBob’s rampage and the chilling “Mi-hoy-minoy” chant could haunt millennials’ dreams for years.

4. The Tattletale Strangler

In contrast to many Nickelodeon cartoons, “SpongeBob SquarePants” often included episodes with themes that adults could appreciate, such as Mrs. Puff’s arrest and the characters believing they had murdered a health inspector. One particularly notable episode from Season 3, titled “SpongeBob Meets The Strangler,” stood out due to its memorable plot. In this episode, Thomas F. Wilson reprised his role as an adversary of SpongeBob, the Tattletale Strangler, a notorious serial killer in Bikini Bottom who SpongeBob unintentionally informed on for littering.

As SpongeBob worries about his safety following the release of the Tattletale Strangler, this menacing character disguises himself with a phony mustache and offers to act as SpongeBob’s protector. However, each chance the Tattletale Strangler takes to isolate SpongeBob and end his life is foiled. Initially, these plans are derailed due to a string of tasks SpongeBob needs to complete, and then by an impromptu celebration held for SpongeBob within his pineapple dwelling.

Ultimately, the Tattletale Strangler, feeling cornered, decides to surrender rather than continue as SpongeBob’s bodyguard. Given his notorious and ruthless nature in Bikini Bottom, it’s unsurprising that he carries such a fearsome reputation. However, within the context of the episode, he never manages to gain the advantage over SpongeBob, despite his best efforts.

3. Dennis

The mysterious figure called “Dennis,” introduced in “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” is not someone you’d want to cross paths with. Hired by Plankton to obstruct SpongeBob and Patrick from recovering King Neptune’s crown, Dennis demonstrated his ruthlessness to ensure Mr. Krabs wouldn’t be saved. With Alec Baldwin providing the gravelly voice, Dennis swiftly established himself as one of the franchise’s most violent characters, earning him the nickname “a relentless, heartless killer” from Plankton in the movie.

In the initial scene, Dennis nonchalantly approaches Bikini Bottom on a motorbike and scares off two locals by tearing their mouths apart symbolically. He also swiftly handles the combative bubble bar patron at Thug Tug. Upon encountering SpongeBob and Patrick, he ruins the mustaches gifted to them by King Neptune’s daughter Mindy, claiming they needed to become men. To demonstrate what a genuine mustache looks like, he immediately sprouts one in their presence.

Despite appearing menacing and almost crushing SpongeBob and Patrick with his sharp-soled shoes, he is eventually flattened by “the Cyclops,” an underwater adventurer who abducts SpongeBob and Patrick for his surface souvenir store. Remarkably, he resurfaces when SpongeBob and Patrick are on a ride with David Hasselhoff, intent on completing his mission. However, he almost loses sight due to SpongeBob’s bubbles and gets entangled by a raft when SpongeBob uses them as a makeshift lasso.

2. Karen

In the world of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” it’s common to see that behind every notable villain, there stands a strong woman. While Karen might seem like just the supercomputer for the antagonist Sheldon J. Plankton, she also plays the role of his wife. Voiced by Jill Talley, who is married to Tom Kenny, the voice actor for SpongeBob, Karen often appears as the intelligent and rational counterpart to her small-statured husband. You might have seen both Jill Talley and Tom Kenny together in live-action on “Mr. Show.

In addition to being colleagues, Plankton and Karen run a business together – the Chum Bucket, which competes with the Krusty Krab. Throughout the series, it’s often joked about how Plankton continually attempts to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula, while Karen, his wife, frequently expresses her doubts about him being capable enough. However, despite this, Karen seems to appreciate Plankton’s villainous nature, as evidenced when she disapproves of his change in personality after growing a second eye in Season 8’s “Plankton’s Good Eye.” Moreover, Karen is the mastermind behind many of Plankton’s most successful schemes, such as informing him about the existence of Plan Z in “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

In summary, Karen doesn’t personally barge into the Krusty Krab to grab the Krabby Patty secret recipe; instead, she lets her self-assured and persistent husband handle all the underhanded work. However, similar to how sidekicks are essential to villains in films and television, Plankton would be powerless without Karen’s ruthlessness and straightforwardness.

1. Sheldon J. Plankton

It’s not shocking at all that Sheldon J. Plankton, Bikini Bottom’s resident genius, is seen as the biggest danger to its inhabitants. His traits make him a classic villain: he harnesses his exceptional intelligence for devising wicked devices, constantly concocting plans to swipe the Krabby Patty recipe but always falling short, and boasting an ominous voice thanks to actor and series co-writer Mr. Lawrence.

As a gamer, let me tell you about my experiences with the sneaky character named Plankton in the underwater world of Bikini Bottom. Most of his attempts to snatch the Krabby Patty recipe have ended up in disarray, but he’s come incredibly close on numerous occasions by pulling off some pretty shady moves.

In his debut episode, “Plankton!,” during Season 1, he managed to hijack SpongeBob’s brain right in the dead of night and made off with a Krabby Patty for himself. At other times, he’s posed as Mr. Krabs using a robotic duplicate, deceived SpongeBob, and even collaborated with past adversaries from this list, such as Man Ray.

In the movie “The SpongeBob SquarePants,” Plankton commits his most heinous acts by framing Mr. Krabs for stealing King Neptune’s crown, leading to Krabs being frozen in ice. Meanwhile, SpongeBob and Patrick must search for the missing crown. During their absence, Plankton manages to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula and uses Bikini Bottom’s love for the burgers to establish a dictatorship over them all. However, even with his despicable actions, there is still room for change in this beloved cartoon series. An unexpected plot twist that no one anticipated was the revelation that Plankton and Krabs were once best friends.

2025-01-27 20:33