There is a new trend floating around TikTok, and now is the time to jump in on it. Dubbed the Bikini Bottom Houses Trend, participating is as simple as creating an image on ChatGPT and adding an animation.

Specifically, you'll use the ChatGPT image generator to create an image reminiscent of SpongeBob SquarePants' neighborhood, but with personal items replacing the houses.

In this article, we’ll go through the process step by step so you know exactly how to create and share your version of the Bikini Bottom Houses Trend on TikTok.

What is the Bikini Bottom TikTok Trend?

Similar to the recently trending ChatGPT Starter Pack trend, the Bikini Bottom Houses Trend is designed to showcase your personality by using personally significant items instead of Patrick, Squidward, and SpongeBob's houses.

Taking the trend a step further, you can then create an animated video using your generated image with only a few extra steps. The final result is much more engaging than a still image alone, as you'll see below.

Step 1: Generate Your Bikini Bottom Image with ChatGPT

This TikTok challenge starts by generating an image on ChatGPT. For the most accurate results, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when writing your image prompt:

• Provide a Bikini Bottom reference image: While some image styles are fairly well-known, niche formats like this one can cause confusion during generation. To improve accuracy, consider uploading a reference image so ChatGPT understands the visual style you're aiming for. I used the following image in my own generation.

• Specify all important details: Don’t leave your prompt open to interpretation. If you want your Bikini Bottom neighborhood to feature a tall Starbucks cup, make sure to specify "Starbucks cup" rather than just "coffee cup."
• Make a clear generation request: Along with describing your desired image, be sure to explicitly ask ChatGPT to generate an image. This may sound obvious, but many users get frustrated when ChatGPT responds with only text because the prompt didn’t directly request an image.

With those tips in mind, the process is simple. Start by uploading your reference image into the ChatGPT prompt box.

To do this, click the + icon.

Then, add your image generation request in the textbox. For mine, I used the following prompt:

Generate an image of a chipotle burrito, bicycle, pair of skis, and a Nalgene water bottle in the style of SpongeBob's neighborhood. For reference, I want those items arranged as houses, just like in this image.

This prompt successfully resulted in a quality-generated image on the first try.

As you can see, it follows the three points above by first specifically requesting an image output, second by specifying details like a 'Nalgene' water bottle instead of just a water bottle, and third by mentioning the uploaded reference image.

If you choose to copy this prompt for your own version, just be sure to swap out the items for ones that reflect your ,personality and interests.

Optional: Generating Without a Reference Image

You can also generate your Bikini Bottom image without uploading a reference. To try this method, I asked ChatGPT what the best prompt would be based on my example, and it provided the following:

Generate a 2D cartoon illustration in the style of SpongeBob SquarePants’ neighborhood, showing four whimsical house-like objects arranged side by side on a sandy underwater landscape with blue sky and sea flower patterns. From left to right: a burrito-shaped house with a round window and wooden door; a bright orange bicycle standing upright like a home with its wheels as windows; a pair of tall pink skis with circular blue windows and a rounded purple front door between them, surrounded by colorful sea plants; and a tall blue Nalgene water bottle with a black lid and a porthole-style window, with a small wooden door at the bottom. All houses sit on sandy paths with stone walkways and underwater background elements like coral and ocean plants.

As before, be sure to replace the listed objects with items that feel personal to you. This is an effective way to participate in the trend without needing to upload a reference image.

Using the prompt above, here is the generated image I received for comparison:

As you can see, it closely matches the animated version shown earlier and works well for anyone looking to generate from a text prompt alone, eliminating the need to download a reference beforehand.

Animating Your Bikini Bottom Image

While participating in a trend is a good way to gain exposure for your social media page, iterating on trends and going beyond the standard content style is a great way to stand out from the crowd. In this section, we’ll enhance the Bikini Bottom trend by adding animated elements like graphics and text to your image to personalize it further and increase its production value.

To get started, upload your image to the Kapwing editor.

From there, I began by adding animated bubbles to my scene. These not only introduce eye-catching motion but also match the SpongeBob aesthetic we’re aiming for.

To add bubbles or other animated elements:

1. Open the Visuals tab from the bottom toolbar.
2. Browse through the available assets or use the search bar to find specific ones.

Once you’ve added bubbles, you can continue customizing your scene. One great way to personalize your post is by adding text. While text isn't commonly featured in existing Bikini Bottom trend videos, it’s a creative way to make your version stand out.

Here’s how I added text to mine:

1. Open the Text menu in the bottom toolbar and select the Kyoto preset style.
2. Adjust the text color and outline using the Border menu to improve visibility.
3. Apply the Vibrate animation from the Animations menu to add movement.

Optionally, you can also add sound effects or music from the same bottom toolbar. One thing to keep in mind: if you add music before exporting your video, it will be embedded directly into the content.

If you wait to add it after uploading to a platform like TikTok or Instagram, the song will be linked to the platform’s audio library and appear as a tagged track — often a good way to gain exposure when participating in a trend.

Note: There is no specific audio linked with this trend, so feel free to add your own preferred song or soundtrack to personalize your post.

Exporting to TikTok

Once your Bikini Bottom project is complete, it’s time to export and share it on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

To start, you’ll want to resize your project so it displays properly on mobile. This means converting it from a horizontal layout to a vertical one.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Project menu from the bottom toolbar.
2. Select the Resize Project button.
3. Choose a size preset from the Size dropdown, then select Fit to Center and Canvas Blur under the layout settings.

When you're ready to publish, select the Export button in the top-right corner. After the project has been processed, click Share and choose the social platform where you'd like to post your final video.

Once completed, you’ll have created a fully animated version of the Bikini Bottom trend and successfully shared it to the platform of your choice.

If you’re planning to post across multiple platforms, don’t hesitate to get creative. Small edits or adjustments for each site can help tailor your content to different audiences. Experimenting during the editing process not only builds your skills but also opens up new ways to make your videos stand out.