The Spongebob Squarepants Movie is one of the best animated features to have ever graced the big screen. Every scene in that movie is iconic: SpongeBob getting drunk, Patrick flying a parachute naked with a flag stuck up his ass, David Hasselhoff’s pecs, the Goofy Goober song that shaped an entire generation… but the one scene that really gets me? When SpongeBob and Patrick finally arrive at Shell City only to be captured by the Cyclops and left out of water to dry up and die.

Seeing SpongeBob, the embodiment of innocence and naive optimism, accepting that he wasn’t able to complete his quest and prove everyone wrong, but still finding comfort in the fact that at least he tried his best and got closer to his goal than anyone could’ve expected and just… accepting his death… is so fucking powerful. Seeing him there, laying next to his best friend and mustering his the strength to sing their favorite song one last time… taking his last breath with a smile… I’m crying as I’m writing this.