Spongebob
SpongeBob's laugh, a distinctive staccato giggle that echoes through Bikini Bottom, represents joy distilled to its most concentrated form. He laughs at jellyfish, at Krabby Patties, at the sheer experience of existence. This laughter invites participation; audiences find themselves smiling despite the absurdity. The sound itself has become iconic, immediately recognisable across generations. His laughter builds rather than destroys, creating connection through shared amusement.
The Joker
The Joker's laugh operates as psychological warfare, a sound designed to unsettle rather than welcome. Each portrayal brings distinctive interpretation: the manic cackle, the theatrical guffaw, the hollow chuckle that suggests nothing is genuinely amusing. His laughter accompanies violence, punctuates philosophical pronouncements, and serves as the auditory signature of chaos itself. It does not invite joy but rather forces confrontation with the arbitrary nature of what society deems appropriate emotional response.