Dragon Ball fans call SpongeBob SquarePants' reference the "best fight in anime history"
Dragon Ball fans are no strangers to seeing their favorite series referenced across the world of media but, it is very unlikely they see it coming from the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise. In particular, this reference came in the form of a battle between Mr. Krabs and Plankton in episode 15 of the third season of The Patrick Star Show, which is a spinoff.
While a short moment in the episode, these two iconic characters were facing off in combat in a way that was a clear reference to the Dragon Ball franchise. Not only do they have the classic choreography of author Akira Toriyama's series, but they are also very likely to reference some iconic moments of the series, such as the battle Goku and Frieza had in Namek.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and the people quoted and not Sportskeeda as a publication.
Dragon Ball reference in SpongeBob Squarepants spinoff amazes the fandom
Episode 15 of the third season of the SpongeBob Squarepants spinoff, The Star Patrick Show, had Mr. Krabs and Plankton going all out in an anime-inspired battle sequence. The iconic moves and the choreography similar to the anime were more than enough to make it go viral on X.
Some moments are clear references to Akira Toriyama's series, such as when Mr. Krabs is charging up his powers, a typical move of this franchise. There is also the fact that Mr. Krabs and Plankton go into a stalemate when clashing, with a pose, very similar to the one Goku and Frieza had during their final fight in Namek.
This anime is no stranger to being referenced across the world of media but this one took a lot of inspiration for this scene. It even has Mr. Krabs and Plankton delivering a barrage of punches, which has become a staple of this series, especially when it comes to the Toei Animation anime adaptations.
More reactions online
As mentioned earlier, Dragon Ball is a cultural icon that has taken the anime and manga industry to a new level. While other franchises also played a major role in this discussion, this was the series that turned anime into a worldwide phenomenon, to the point that it was this series that reached North America, Europe, and Latin America on a whole new level.
The likes of Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Frieza, and many more have become some of the most iconic characters across the world of media, which is further emphasized by the passing of author Akira Toriyama on March 1 of this year. The honors, tributes, and comments he received all over the world, to the point even presidents paid their respects, highlight the influence of this franchise.
"DB has so much influence on western media now and people still won’t try it," someone said.
"Did Mr. Krabs just go super?" another person said.
"SpongeBob Dragonballpants," someone else said.
Mr. Krabs powering up is also a major reference to the Super Saiyan transformation, arguably the most iconic form in the history of anime. It has been referenced time and time again, to the point that many people who don't watch anime are familiar with this transformation.
"Man I wanted Super Saiyan Krabs," someone said.
"yo mr krabs finally got ultra instinct," another person said.
It is a testament to the legacy and worldwide influence of the Dragon Ball franchise, which has a degree of popularity that could be considered timeless.
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