SpongeBob SquarePants first aired in 1999 and quickly became one of Nickelodeon's most recognisable animated series, with its title character's laugh becoming a signature part of the show's humour. Short clips of that laugh began circulating on meme pages and soundboards as creators reused cartoon audio for reactions and edits. Because the laugh is instantly associated with playful mischief and exaggerated cheerfulness, it works across pranks, fails and ironic endings, keeping it in regular use years after the original episodes aired.