The Cursed Plankton meme stems from the long-running animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, specifically featuring various edited or low-quality captures of the antagonist Sheldon J. Plankton looking visibly distressed. These images, often characterized by dilated pupils, heavy sweating, or a 'thousand-yard stare,' gained traction on platforms like Twitter and Reddit as a way to represent existential dread, social anxiety, or the realization of a catastrophic mistake. Unlike standard reaction images, the 'cursed' nature of the edit adds a layer of surrealism and intensity, making it the perfect template for high-stakes relatability or dark humor.