The Ugly Barnacle is a very short story that Patrick tells to SpongeBob in the episode "Something Smells," the short "The Ugly Barnacle IRL + More Crazy Recreations," and the special episode "The Patrick Star Fan Favorites Special." While meant to cheer up SpongeBob, it instead worsens his already weak self-esteem. Because of this, Patrick insists they scream on top of SpongeBob's house to get rid of his depression instead.
Story[]
"Once there was an ugly barnacle.
He was so ugly that everyone died.
The end."
Trivia[]
- This story has become popular on many social media platforms, listed in many "Funniest SpongeBob Moments" lists.
- This story is thought to be a parody of the fairy tale The Ugly Duckling.
- The Ugly Duckling would later get referenced again in "Roller Cowards" as "The Ugly Mollusk."
- In the German dub, the ugly barnacle is called "Der hässliche Blaubarsch," which translates to "the ugly bluefish." This is not the only instance in the series where barnacle is translated as Blaubarsch, the other being Barnacle Boy (ger. Blaubarschbube).
- A book titled "The Ugly Barnacle" appears on Patrick's bookshelf in "I Smell a Pat." This would seem to indicate that Patrick may have read it as a child, yet gotten it wrong when retelling it to SpongeBob.