Spongebob - "The" historic cartoons of our generation?

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I put this here, because it deals with the entire animation landscape, rather than specifically Nickelodeon...

Do you think in decades from now, people will look back at Spongebob as "THE" defining, soon to be historic cartoon of our decade/generation? Some cartoons transcend time in that they are popular for ever and a day...Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, the list goes on. Is Spongebob the equivalent of that to our generation?
 
Spongebob has made much more of an impact on the world than Family Guy could ever dream of.

Spongebob is the Mickey Mouse of this generation. He will be around for a long, long time.
 
Hard to say, really. I think likening Spongebob to the Mouse is going a little far, but he's more iconic then almost any other television character.
 
It's hard to say. I can see it happening, but his status as a cartoon icon has already weakened a little. He's still popular, but not as popular as he was earlier in the 2000s. I mean, you certainly don't see him in the news or see his face on everything anymore. However the fact that he's been around for a decade and will continue to be around does bring up the idea that he'll define this generation and maybe even the next one. SpongeBob's peak certainly was a phenomenon that will leave a impression on the pop culture of this generation.
 
Agreed. And Family Guy hasn't really 'inspired' anyone. Spongebob can AT LEAST take partial credit for influencing "The Mighty B".

Spongebob really is a big icon of this generation and I think will even be put into mention in animation history years from now. Regardless of whether or not you like the show, it's hard to deny that Spongebob STILL IS a very large animated pop culture icon of this day and age.
 
That's ridiculous. Family Guy will never reach the level of influence Spongebob has had on the world. Family Guy's popularity doesn't extend that far outside of the United States and England from what I've read. Spongebob is a huge force around the world. Spongebob has also managed to top cable ratings frequently for the past 10 years.

Just celebrating his 10th anni, the sponge has gotten several TV specials dedicated to him not only on Nick but on channels like VH1.

Family Guy will be remembered, but it will most likely be remembered the same way a show like Beavis & Butt-head is remembered, a very popular series while it was on and a huge cash cow, but not anything the level of something The Simpsons or Sponge has seen.

Another thing FG has going against it that Sponge has. Spongebob appeals to people of all different ages, children, adults, seniors, teens. Family Guy can't be enjoyed by young children or the elderly really.
 
Probably, seeing how the last hour special got a 12 in the ratings.
Fairly Odd Parents may come in close, it's been on for a while.
 
A big part of why is that both channels are Viacom owned. Still it was deserved because SpongeBob sure made an impact.

FOP may have done as well as SpongeBob occasionally in its prime, but I don't think it has recently. And it certainly didn't have as big of a cultural impact.
 
I know some may disagree but I think Rugrats are probably #1. They were around a long time and were the 1st ever to have a big-time movie that had an impact. Rugrats and Simpsons would probably be our generation's big cartoons.
 
Yes, but can you imagine a guy in college (your stereotypical frat boy, let's say) saying in public that he enjoys the Rugrats? Now imagine the same dude declaring eternal devotion to Spongebob. I don't know about you, but Spongebob seems to come a lot easier there for me.
 
It did kind of fade out a little in its later years,
but it's still rerun a good amount on Nick.
Never said it'll be as memorable as Spongebob,
but I can definitely see it as a more popular 'remember that?' cartoon many years from now.
 
Not really, can anyone here honestly say with a straight face that Family Guy has made more of an impact than Spongebob Squarepants. I'm a fan of Family Guy but to think that series is more popular than the Sponge is a tad foolish. It is very popular, but nowhere near the amount Spongebob is. EVERYONE knows Spongebob. A lot of people know what Family Guy is, but not to the amount of the Sponge.
 
Several things that certainly would indicate that Spongebob has a chance at being an icon:

1. Unlike Rugrats, the show didn't come to an end. Rugrats infact didn't become popular until it went into syndication.

2. From my understanding, out of most kid cartoons of the 90s up to today, SB has a significant amount of adult fans (not just the animation fans). And unlike Family Guy or Adult Swim, it does so without having any TV-14 content. Not something that's easy for a cartoon to accomplish.
 
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