AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The 'Imagination' meme predominantly features a range of fictional characters, either drawn or photographed, situated inside a cardboard box. These characters are depicted with arms uplifted, creating a rainbow with their hands that arcs from their left to right. The term 'Imagination' or another phrase typically overlays this rainbow, emphasizing the magical or imaginative act the characters are engaged in. This visual setup directly mimics a memorable scene from a popular television show.

OriginWho did it first?

The 'Imagination' meme has its roots in the animated television series 'SpongeBob SquarePants', specifically from an episode titled 'Idiot Box', which is part of the show's third season and aired on March 1st, 2002. In a notable scene from this episode, the character SpongeBob SquarePants dramatically spreads his hands apart, conjuring a rainbow between them while declaring the word 'Imagination'. This image became iconic and was the basis for the meme's format. The episode can be summarized by the antics of SpongeBob and his friend Patrick, who order a large TV solely to play in the cardboard box it came in, convincing their neighbor Squidward that all sounds and adventures they claim to be having are due to the power of 'Imagination'. Despite Squidward's skepticism and eventual curiosity leading him to experience the 'Imagination' himself, he ends up in a misadventure when the box, thought to be trash, is carted away with him inside. The episode emphasizes creativity and imagination over material entertainment, echoed in the meme's thematic use in various adaptations across the internet. The scene that ignited the meme craze can be viewed in detail in this YouTube clip. More information on the episode is also available on its Wikipedia page.^[1]

Origin: 2002

Also known as: imagination-spongebob, spongebob-rainbow, spongebob-magic