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Encyclopedia SpongeBobia
Encyclopedia SpongeBobia
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in: Episodes, Season 1 episodes
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Neptune's Spatula

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"Neptune's Spatula" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 1. In this episode, SpongeBob must prove to King Neptune that he is royal fry cook material.

Characters[]

Synopsis[]

SpongeBob and Patrick visit the Fry Cook Museum, where they see a greasy griddle with a golden spatula embedded in the grease. On it is a plaque, which reads "Many have tried to pull this spatula out of this ancient grease, but all have failed." Larry the Lobster attempts to pull it out but fails. SpongeBob then reads "Only a fry cook who's worthy of King Neptune himself can wield the golden spatula." SpongeBob, while posing for a photo, accidentally and effortlessly pulls it out while pointing out the menu section to a woman. Suddenly, smoke appears in the museum, revealing King Neptune himself.

Neptune asks who pulled out the spatula, and SpongeBob tells him that he did. King Neptune refuses to believe this and asks around the museum if SpongeBob really pulled out the spatula, and everyone confirms that he did. King Neptune then asks for proof, and Patrick shows him the photo he took, He challenges SpongeBob to a patty-making competition, The Ultimate Cookoff. If SpongeBob wins, he will stay at Atlantis forever and become a god. If he loses, he has to give up fry cooking forever. Patrick continually jeers to Neptune about SpongeBob's skills and says that he could complete up to 500 challenges. He is repeatedly zapped by Neptune three times until all that is left of him is a burnt mark on the floor. SpongeBob asks Neptune to restore Patrick, and he does so, though Patrick's face is now on his rear end.

Neptune's Spatula 198

"Perfect patties are made with love, not magic."

In the Poseidome, King Neptune makes 1,000 Krabby Patties, in the time it takes SpongeBob to make just one, winning the challenge. However, when Neptune shares his patties with the audience, they express that they taste awful. Neptune is angered by this and asks why they would think that SpongeBob's would be any better. He tastes SpongeBob's Krabby Patty and finds it delicious. Neptune, saying that he wants to "try it a second time," regurgitates the patty to eat it again, disgusting the audience.

SpongeBob is declared the winner, but when he finds out that his friends cannot come with him to Atlantis, he tearfully refuses to go to Atlantis, and instead arranges for King Neptune to be a trainee under SpongeBob at the Krusty Krab, teaching him that "perfect Patties are made with love, not magic."

Production[]

Art[]

Model sheets[]

Early sketches[]

Storyboards[]

Deleted scene[]

According to Jay Lender's Twitter account, there was a scene for King Neptune flexing his mustache, and Patrick and Gary being in the audience for SpongeBob during Mr. Krabs' announcement were cut because of time constraints.[1]

Music[]

( ‣ ) Production music
( • ) Original music
( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 ‣ The Tale of Ben Hur 1 [#41.02] - Gregor F. Narholz [title card]
 ‣ Hawaiian Link (A) - Richard Myhill [opening]
 ‣ Honolulu Lula - Terry Day [SpongeBob and Patrick at the Fry Cook Museum]
 ‣ Roman Legion - David Farnon [the golden spatula]
 ‣ Heavenly Voices (A) - David Farnon [choir]
 • Tension Build - Nicolas Carr [SpongeBob pulls out the spatula]
 ‣ Gates of Troy - David Farnon [Neptune appears]
 ‣ A Dangerous Affair [#30] - Richard Myhill ["A fine jest, boy."]
 ‣ The Black Death - David Farnon [hot dog vendor]
 ‣ A Dangerous Affair [#30] - Richard Myhill ["It is even funnier a second time!"]
 ‣ The Black Death - David Farnon [Neptune compliments Larry]
 ‣ Sunset Strip - Reg Owen [Neptune and Larry making poses]
 ‣ Brave and Bold - Chris Payne, Paul Rogers ["This joke has gone far enough!"]
 ‣ In the Taverna - Dick Stephen Walter [photo of SpongeBob holding spatula]
 ‣ Wargames Linking Section (h) - Keith Mansfield [Patrick zapped.]
 ‣ Wargames Linking Section (g) - Keith Mansfield [Neptune issues a challenge.]
 ‣ Battle March Link (f) - Keith Mansfield ["Your friend's arrogance will cost you dearly."/"Three challenges!"/"There will be but one challenge."]
 ‣ Salute to Caesar 1 [#18.02] - Gregor F. Narholz ["You will face me in... the ultimate cook-off!"]
 ‣ Hawaiian Link (A) - Richard Myhill [Patrick's face is on his butt]
 ‣ Timpani - Rolls (h) - Gary Kettel [Neptune summons the clouds]
 ‣ Timpani - Rolls (i) - Gary Kettel ["Now, behold!"]
 ‣ Happy Jose - Ulrich Hans Wenzel ["My beloved home of Atlantis."]
 ‣ Wargames Link (d) - Keith Mansfield [SpongeBob has to give up fry cooking if he loses]
 ‣ Timpani Signal 1 [#44] - Sammy Burdson ["Very well, then. To the Poseidome!"]
 ‣ Timpani Signal 1 [#44.2] - Sammy Burdson ["Very well, then. To the Poseidome!"]
 ‣ Roman Legion - David Farnon [the ultimate cook-off]
 ‣ The Tip Top Polka/The Cliff Polka - Chelmsford Folk Band ["Don't worry, lad."]
 ‣ Whisper from the Past [#64] - Gregor F. Narholz ["Don't give up your dream, SpongeBob."]
 ‣ Entry of the Heroes E - Gregor F. Narholz [played during the challenge]
 ‣ Entry of the Heroes A - Gregor F. Narholz [played during the challenge]
 ‣ Time for Bed [#35.02] - Mark Emney ["Once upon a time..."]
 ‣ Entry of the Heroes B - Gregor F. Narholz [King Neptune laughs]
 ‣ Caesar's Entry [#7.4] - Gregor F. Narholz [Neptune wins]
 ‣ Short Fanfare [#29] - Alfred Kluten ["Free patties for everyone!"]
 ‣ The Oracle - David Farnon [Neptune eats SpongeBob's patty]
 ‣ Historical Fanfare [#32.07] - Gerhard Narholz [audience cheers]
 ‣ Vibe Link (b) - Richard Myhill ["You mean Patrick can't come?"]
 ‣ Hawaiian Cocktail - Richard Myhill ["It was nice knowing you, buddy."]
 ‣ Short Fanfare [#29.03] - Alfred Kluten [bicycle appears]
 ‣ Hawaiian Cocktail - Richard Myhill [SpongeBob cries]
 ‣ Power and Glory - Gregor F. Narholz [Neptune turns SpongeBob into a god]
 ‣ The Twin Sisters - Chelmsford Folk Band [the ending]

Release[]

Reception[]

  • "Neptune's Spatula" was ranked #42 during the Best Day Ever event from November 9–10, 2006.
  • "Neptune's Spatula" was ranked #38 during the SpongeBob's Top 100 event in the UK and Ireland from June 4-8, 2012.

Trivia[]

General[]

  • This is the first episode for two things:
    • The first appearance of King Neptune.
    • The first episode where Atlantis is shown. The second is "Atlantis SquarePantis," where SpongeBob actually goes to Atlantis. This particular Atlantis looks completely different, with no sign of Neptune.
  • A completely different King Neptune appears in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, and yet another different Neptune appears in the live-action segment of "Party Pooper Pants." However, the Neptune from this episode makes a brief reappearance in "SpongeBob vs. The Patty Gadget." In "Krusty Towers," Squidward mentions King Neptune XIV, which would explain that there are several kings who go by the name Neptune. Also, the same Neptune from this episode appears in "The Clash of Triton," "Hello Bikini Bottom!," "Trident Trouble," and "High Sea Diving."
  • The man taking a shower in the live-action sequence is Tom Kenny, the voice actor of SpongeBob.
    • The scene where Tom Kenny taking a shower was cut in Italy due to nudity. [2]
    • This is Tom Kenny's third live-action cameo after "Karate Choppers" and "Suds."
    • The scene also became an internet meme.
  • This is one of a few episodes where SpongeBob is shown having two left hands. This was done to further emphasize Neptune's claim of the royal fry cook being left-handed.
    • This is also shown in Gary's Got Legs, which aired 19 years later, where SpongeBob gives Gary two left hands, to which he changes one of them to a right hand.
  • Neptune has a real-life human hand when SpongeBob asks him to fix Patrick, except that the human hand skin color is changed to green for Neptune.
  • This is the last episode for two things:
    • The last episode to have Fred Miller as an animation director.
    • The last episode to use the 1999-2000 Nickelodeon Productions Logo at the end of the episode.
  • Miss Shell's eyes are seen in this episode, whereas in other episodes they are hidden by her sunglasses.
  • In this episode, Larry has white stripes on his back, though in other episodes he does not.
  • On the old Nickelodeon website, this episode is alternatively known as "The Spatula and the Stove," which was most likely the episode's original title.
    • This title references the Disney film The Sword in the Stone, which is about the Arthurian legend that this episode is based on.
    • This title also appears in some early production art for the episode.
  • This episode was paired with different episodes in different airings:
  • Neptune's Krabby Patty pyramid is 23 Krabby Patties tall. Based on this, it should have 4,324 burgers.

Dub facts[]

  • In Bahasa Indonesia, Patrick's lines during the conversation with King Neptune are harsher and more profane than in the original version, and include:
    • "He is the new royal fry cook and you..." is changed to "He is the damn royal chef and you know that!"
    • "Bring it on! SpongeBob can handle any! " is changed to "Just bring the hell it on! SpongeBob can handle every single damn thing!"

Cultural references[]

  • The spatula in the grease is a parody of the Arthurian legend of Excalibur or the sword in the stone, in which whoever pulls the sword from the stone would become the King of England.
  • The Poseidome is named after Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, Neptune being a Roman god who came to be identified with Poseidon through syncretism.

Errors[]

Neptune's Spatula 200

The incorrectly-colored kitchen walls.

  • When Patrick takes the picture of SpongeBob holding the spatula, he has his mouth wide open and there are clouds above him. However, when Patrick shows Neptune the picture, SpongeBob is smiling with his mouth shut and there are no clouds, just light. Also, the photo appears to be printed and developed, despite the camera not being a polaroid.
  • Several fish members of the audience at the challenge change colors between shots.
  • When SpongeBob shows Neptune his blue and red underwear, he lets go of the golden spatula. It should have fallen on the ground, but it stays suspended in mid-air instead.
  • When SpongeBob speaks to Neptune in the kitchen at the end, the walls are light blue instead of teal in the long shots.
  • When SpongeBob is standing on the grease, the spatula is as tall as him, but when he is cooking in the challenge, it is as long as SpongeBob's normal spatula.
  • When Incidental 7 catches one of Neptune's patties, the collar on her shirt disappears. After she takes a bite on the patty, her collar reappears again.
Neptune's Spatula 057

His right hand is brighter.

Neptune's Spatula 059

Now his whole arm is brighter.

  • During some scenes, King Neptune's arm is slightly brighter than his body.
    • There is also a scene where his right hand is brighter.


Videos[]

SpongeBob_SquarePants_-_"Neptune's_Spatula"_Animatic

SpongeBob SquarePants - "Neptune's Spatula" Animatic

SpongeBob_v._King_Neptune_for_the_Best_Fry_Cook_🍔_-_SpongeBob_IRL

SpongeBob v. King Neptune for the Best Fry Cook 🍔 - SpongeBob IRL

Names in other languages[]

Language Name Meaning
Russian Лопатка Нептуна
Lopatka Neptuna		 Neptune's Spatula
Spanish La espátula de Neptuno Neptune's Spatula

References[]

  1. ^ https://twitter.com/JayLender1/status/1389971059277848584
  2. ^ https://youtu.be/6KR1BzDD1xQ
  3. ^ https://nickstory.fandom.com/wiki/October_11,_2004
  4. ^ https://nickstory.fandom.com/wiki/November_10,_2006
Wikipedia logo This page uses content from Wikipedia (original • authors). Both Encyclopedia SpongeBobia and Wikipedia are licensed under the CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported license.


Awards and nominations for SpongeBob SquarePants V • E

Golden Reel Awards StatueStraight

Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Music

Nominees: Stephen Hillenburg, Donna Castricone, Nicholas R. Jennings, Alan Smart, Peter Burns, Doug Lawrence, Derek Drymon, Alex Gordon, Donna Grillo, Jennie Monica, Krandal Crews, Jim Leber, Justin Brinsfield, Tony Ostyn, Nicolas Carr (for "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"/"Pickles;" 2000) • Nicolas Carr (for "Fools in April"/"Neptune's Spatula" in 2001; for "Jellyfish Hunter"/"The Fry Cook Games" in 2002; for "Wet Painters"/"Krusty Krab Training Video" in 2003; for "The Great Snail Race"/"Mid-Life Crustacean" in 2004) • Jimmy Lifton, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Paulette Lifton (for "Mid-Life Crustacean;" 2004)

Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Sound

Nominees: Nicolas Carr (for "Karate Choppers;" 2000) • Andrea Anderson, Jimmy Lifton, Monette Holderer, D.J. Lynch, Vincent Gutisetti, Jeff Hutchins and Gabriel Rosas (for "Rock Bottom"/"Arrgh!;" 2001)

Best Sound Editing in Television – Animation

Nominees: Timothy J. Borquez, Jeff Hutchins and Daisuke Sawa (for "The Secret Box"/"Band Geeks;" 2002)

Best Sound Editing in Television Animation

Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Chris Gresham (for "Nasty Patty"/"Idiot Box;" 2003)

Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated

Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn, Chris Gresham and Paulette Lifton (for "Pranks a Lot"/"SpongeBob Meets the Strangler;" 2005) • Vincent Gutisetti, Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, Monique Reymond, D.J. Lynch, Mark Howlett, Jeff Hutchins, Aran Tanchum, Mishelle Smith and Paulette Lifton (for "Have You Seen This Snail?;" 2006) • Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeHenge;" 2008)

Best Sound Editing: Television Animation

Nominees: : Chiho Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Daisuke Sawa, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Dan Cubert, Lawrence Reyes, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "Suction Cup Symphony;" 2009) • Chino Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Eric Freeman, Tom Syslo, Keith Dickens, Jason Stiff, Sergio Silva, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One;" 2010)

Best Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR Animation in Television

Nominees: Devon Bowman, Justin Brinsfield, Nicolas Carr, Andrea Anderson, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Eric Freeman, Tony Orozco and Danny Tchibinda (for "Gary's New Toy;" 2013) • Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Bobby Crew, Keith Dickens, Gabriel Rossas and Tony Orozco (for "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!;" 2013)

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