| SPOILER WARNING! this article may contain major plot or ending details |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Hey. If you're ever feeling like you're at the bottom of the ocean, just look at this crab, because... That's where he lived.
- —Lightbulb to Paintbrush in "Alternate Reality Show".
Lightbrush is the non-binary ship between Paintbrush and Lightbulb from the Inanimate Insanity fandom.
Canon[]
Inanimate Insanity 2[]
"Breaking the Ice"[]
"Everyone knows mean characters get out first"
Promptly after the season 2 cast is decided, the original cast starts to get to know the newer competitors, when Trophy eagerly says that he'll 'cream the chumps and take the million'. Lightbulb looks over to Paintbrush and whispers "Why is he saying that? Everyone knows mean characters get out first", to which Paintbrush responds with "Mm-hmm girl."
When Paintbrush wants to learn about the new cast, they wave to Microphone and say "Hi there!" Eagerly. Lightbulb smacks Paintbrush in warning and yells "Stranger danger!". After Microphone introduces herself and guesses that their names are Paintbrush and Lightbulb, Lightbulb leans over to Paintbrush and asks "Woah, how did she know that?"
"Marsh on Mars"[]
When the Bright Lights are facing their team elimination and the prize for being safe is revealed to be Oatmeal Raisin cookies, many on the team show disgust. However, Lightbulb claims to like them, which earns a disgusted look from Paintbrush. Later, when she is safe and eating them, Paintbrush makes another disgusted face.
After the challenge is announced, Paintbrush and Lightbulb have a quarrel after Paintbrush made a remark on how Test Tube should build their rocket, since test tubes are known to be scientific. Lightbulb shows sarcastic anger by saying 'people like you make me sick'. Paintbrush storms off and says they'll get their own tools. Once retrieving the tools, Lightbulb caves in and asks Test Tube to build a ship, and much to her surprise, she does. Paintbrush seems rejoiced and yells "See? I was right!" To which Lightbulb responds with, "This time Paintbrush, this time."
"Tri Your best"[]
When the Bright Lights face their 2nd elimination and Mephone hands out the prizes of sticks to Lightbulb for being safe, she begins to scarf the stick down after claiming it wasn't as good as oatmeal raisin. Paintbrush is extremely worried about her behavior, saying "Okay, that's really concerning.."
Lightbulb accidently smacking Paintbrush
Paintbrush goes up to Lightbulb asking for help on who to pick for the challenge; the triathlon. Lightbulb picks Ying-Yang, Test tube, and Fan, who which she calls 'Paper' instead. Fan took great offense to that statement and claims that Lightbulb's simply dim-witted, to which Paintbrush backs Lightbulb up by stating that Fan is, indeed, made of paper. Lightbulb grins and says "Who was right? Me, that's who, oh snap!" And then proceeds to slap Paintbrush when she meant to give them a high-five.
"Cooking for the Grater Good"[]
Lightbulb and Paintbrush get into an argument during the challenge, with Lightbulb saying that Paintbrush it too judgmental and a hypocrite for judging people based on their looks, while Paintbrush says that Lightbulb never makes any sense and leads the team to disaster. Paintbrush elects themselves as the new leader and everyone in happy, but Lightbulb is rejected and sent to the Calm-Down Corner. However, she refuses and plans to make her own cookie pizza to blow the team away. She then comes back a few minutes later with a perfect chocolate cookie pizza for the team, which Paintbrush finds absolutely ridiculous.
"A Kick in the Right Direction"[]
After the Grand Slams' elimination, revealing Box had gotten out, Paintbrush claims that it's 'just a cardboard box'. Lightbulb wraps her arm around their shoulder and exclaims 'Painty, Tall Fella, Brush gal, don't be silly, box can be whatever it wants to be!'. Paintbrush was surprised at the sudden touch.
Paintbrush later, when they are deciding team formation on the soccer challenge, goes up to Lightbulb and apologizes and says they're thankful for her winning the last challenge. Paintbrush asks for Lightbulb to not do anything stupid this challenge, to which she replies happily and says 'they'll do it as a team.'
"Let Er' R.I.P."[]
Lightbulb grabbing onto Paintbrush
In the haunted mansion, Paintbrush and Lightbulb pair up and put their differences from previous episodes aside, despite Paintbrush's stubbornness. When Paintbrush claims it's too dark in the mansion, Lightbulb turns herself on to create a 'bright light' for them, to which Paintbrush compliments her for. When Bow possesses Paintbrush's bristles, Lightbulb grabs onto them and exclaims that they're 'flying buddies', and then immediately get sent out of the mansion.
"Everything's A-OJ"[]
When Paintbrush is furious that no one will help them out in the next challenge due to Fan's 'pattern', Lightbulb happily volunteers to be the only one that helps out. Paintbrush thanks Lightbulb for her support, but a second after, Lightbulb gets injured and has to sit out.
"Mazed and Confused"[]
Paintbrush smirking at Lightbulb's roast
Lightbulb attempts to roast Mephone when he's explaining the challenge, saying that all she can hear is the 'cookies in his pocket'. Paintbrush is shown smiling at it, liking the roast themselves.
When the challenge starts, Marshmallow takes Paintbrush as her partner to go through with her in the maze. Lightbulb is seen crying about this, since she wanted to go with Paintbrush herself.
"Kick the Bucket"[]
Paintbrush is shown concerned when Lightbulb is reaching to put a ball of yarn in her mouth.
During the challenge, Lightbulb is out to collect water for her team's reservoir. However, she ends up getting sidetracked and finds a crab instead. Paintbrush is outraged by this, yelling at her and saying she's reached a new low of nonsensicality.
"Alternate Reality Show"[]
At the beginning of the episode when Mephone announces the merge, Paintbrush walks over to Lightbulb and explains how they're better off working alone now, instead of in an alliance. Lightbulb, despite not understanding, chooses to support Paintbrush. However, she's shown to be quite upset about this when Paintbrush leaves her alone.
When Lightbulb is visiting an alternate reality with Test Tube, Paintbrush is quite conflicted on how to paint, and is even quite worried when they notice Lightbulb missing. However, they try to sweep that under the rug and prove that they can work just as fine without her. However, when Lightbulb comes back, Paintbrush seems relieved and works on the challenge properly.
"Baxter knows there's a C!"
After Paintbrush had gotten angry at Mephone and stormed away to the Calm-Down corner, Lightbulb appears to comfort them. They talk for a little and Paintbrush apologizes to Lightbulb for blowing her off earlier. They claim that their combined skills work, and that they have 'mad skills' together. Paintbrush appreciates Lightbulb for always looking out for them and that they're usually working things independently. Lightbulb understands and says 'I got you, gehhhhehh... guy...?', to which Paintbrush raises an eyebrow at. However, upon further thinking, Lightbulb realizes that their gender is 'none of the above', meaning non-binary. Lightbulb supports them for their identity and comforts them with her pet crab.
When Paintbrush is voted out at the challenge's elimination, they seem to be quite disappointed but accepting of it nonetheless. However, Lightbulb catches them before they leave and gives them her crab, Baxter, as a gift to always comfort them at the hotel. Paintbrush smiles and says 'I got you', before leaving.
"Truth or Flare"[]
During a challenge, Lightbulb uses the pen Test Tube gave her to call for someone, that person ends up being Paintbrush. Lightbulb is extremely happy to see Paintbrush, and says that 'This is the best news ever!'.
Lightbulb and Paintbrush as they are about to leave through the portal.
Lightbulb tells Paintbrush that she'll make sure to win for them, that way, Paintbrush won't be disappointed in her, but Paintbrush tells Lightbulb that they'll be proud of Lightbulb no matter what, and that they're just glad Lightbulb is okay. Lightbulb says that she's glad Paintbrush stopped by. The two smile at each other, before Paintbrush realizes they're distracting Lightbulb from the challenge and tells her they should get going, but Lightbulb stops them. Lightbulb gives up on the challenge and says that now that she got to see Paintbrush, she doesn't want them to go. As the two are about to leave, Paintbrush tells Lightbulb they really missed all her nonsense, and Lightbulb says that she missed Paintbrush's sense. The two laugh together as they are leaving through the portal.
- Paintbrush – “I've really missed all your nonsense.”
- Lightbulb – “And I missed all your sense.”
Back at the hotel, we see Lightbulb with Paintbrush, along with Test Tube and Fan, happily crying over Baxter.
"The Reality of the Situation"[]
When Hotel OJ begins to panic about the sudden situation with Pickle's erasure, Paintbrush, Fan, and Test Tube set out to find the mysterious wailing. Baseball objects, but Lightbulb interjects by calling Baseball dramatic. Paintbrush giggles and says "He really is. Alright, catch you later Lightbulb!", smiling and waving at her before leaving the Hotel. Lightbulb responds by snapping and doing a finger gun in their direction. Lightbulb smiles and says "See, that got a much better reaction!"
"Through No Choice of Your Own"[]
Lightbulb sets out to find Paintbrush and the rest of them, whilst also nervously fidgeting with her emergency signal pen, spam-clicking it along the way. When Lightbulb and Paintbrush finds each other, MephoneX catches up to Lightbulb and begins to attack her. Lightbulb calls out and tells Paintbrush to hurry and find Knife and Suitcase, but Paintbrush is all too focused on the fact that she's in danger, their bristles lighting on fire as they begin to swing aimlessly, in hopes of hurting MephoneX. Lightbulb smiles and says "Painty, I know you've obviously never wanted this before. But.. it's time for you to be the leader." Before being erased by MephoneX. Paintbrush falls to the ground and begins to sob, with Baxter scurrying up to them to comfort them. Paintbrush is shown holding both Fan and Lightbulb's bodies as they walk back into the mansion, with tired eyes.
Inanimate Insanity Invitational[]
"Home Is Where the Heart Is"[]
Competing in III, the new season, Cabby and Paintbrush are plotting out ideas to kick Floor out of the competition. Cabby brings up several ideas and claim that they're not as wacky as 'Lightbulb's nonsense.'. Paintbrush seems quite offended by this claim. When Paintbrush brings up her remark later, Cabby claims that all Lightbulb ever done for Paintbrush was give them a hard time with her 'leaps in logic'. Paintbrush rebuttals that claim by saying that she also gave them the courage to start taking those leaps.
When Paintbrush is eliminated once more, they are shown saying that they'll be back with Baxter soon, before being flung off the island.
Quotes[]
- Lightbulb – “Wow, why is he saying that? Everyone knows the mean characters get out first.”
- Paintbrush – “Mm-hm, girl.”
- — II S2 Episode 1, "Breaking the Ice"
- “Oh, wow, that's really handy of you!... Uh- I mean- good job, or, whatever.”
- — Paintbrush (Referring to Lightbulb) in II S2 Episode 8, "Let Er' R.I.P."
- Lightbulb – “Ehh, I think I get it. I got you guh.. uh.. "guy"? Wait, why are you doing that weird eyebrow thing...? Oh-! It's "C", isn't it? None of the above!”
- Paintbrush – “That's why I don't bring it up. I don't.. think they even know there is is a C.”
- Lightbulb – “...Well, Baxter here knows there's a C, he loves the C! Without it, he's just a rab.”
- — II S2 Episode 12, "Alternate Reality Show"
- “I got you.”
- — Paintbrush to Lightbulb before their elimination in II S2 Episode 12, "Alternate Reality Show"
Fanon[]
Lightbrush is the one of the most favorited ships in the Inanimate Insanity fandom, and is one of the most popular Lightbulb and Paintbrush ships. It is most commonly paired with ships such as Fantube, however many also prefer to ship Testbulb and Fanbrush.
On A03, Lightbrush has 50+ works of their ship, making it the 2nd most written ship in the Inanimate Insanity fandom and the most written ship for both Lightbulb and Paintbrush.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Lightbulb/Paintbrush tag on AO3
- Lightbulb & Paintbrush tag on AO3
- TUMBLR
- Lightbrush posts on Tumblr
- Lightbrush posts on Twitter
Trivia[]
- The fandom refers to Lightbrush with the emoji variant "💡🖌️" commonly.
- They are both LGBTQIA+.
- Lightbulb was the first person to find out that Paintbrush is non-binary.
- Paintbrush's official bio in 2013 mentioned Lightbulb, "...Being quite outspoken, but under the rank of Lightbulb, Paintbrush appears to be Lightbulb's right-hand man... or... woman... or... forget this."
- Paintbrush's VA, Jazzy Oliver, stated on their Twitter account that during the recording of III EP 12, she had believed that Paintbrush and Lightbulb were romantic partners and had portrayed Paintbrush that way.[3]
- Jazzy later confirmed that she ships Lightbrush.
- In the Hotel OJ Party Livestream, when Paintbrush is asked who their favorite friend is, they say it's Lightbulb.[4]
- Paintbrush seems to be very protective of Baxter, the crab Lightbulb gave them.
- In one of Brian's live streams, someone asks if Fantube or Lightbrush is canon to which he responds with "They pretty clearly are..."[5]
Gallery[]
