SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. It is broadcasted on the American cable network Nickelodeon. Since its debut on May 1, 1999, the series has aired over 300 half-hour episodes and is currently in its fourteenth season, which premiered on November 2, 2023. The series follows the adventures of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom.
The series' first feature film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, was released in theaters in the United States on November 19, 2004. The series' first television movie, "Atlantis SquarePantis," premiered on November 12, 2007, as part of season 5, after a 12-hour television marathon. The series' second television movie, "Truth or Square," premiered on November 6, 2009, as part of season 6, to celebrate the show's 10-year anniversary. A second feature film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, was released in theaters in the United States on February 6, 2015. The series' third television movie, "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout," premiered on July 12, 2019 as part of season 12, to celebrate the show's 20-year anniversary. The series' third feature film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, was released digitally on Paramount+ in the United States on March 4, 2021.
The first eight seasons are available on DVD for Regions 1, 2 and 4 as of October 2017. Seasons 9-13 are available on DVD for Region 1 as of December 5, 2023. The series is officially available for streaming on Paramount+.
SpongeBob SquarePants has received two spin-offs: Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, which premiered on Paramount+ on March 4, 2021; and The Patrick Star Show, which premiered on Nickelodeon on July 9, 2021.
Hillenburg initially began to work on creating the show shortly after the cancellation of Rocko's Modern Life in 1996. To voice the character of SpongeBob, Hillenburg approached Tom Kenny, who had worked with him on Rocko's Modern Life as a voice actor. SpongeBob was originally to be named "SpongeBoy," but the name was already in use for a pencil product. Upon finding it out, Hillenburg decided to use the name "SpongeBob." He chose "SquarePants" as a family name, as it referred to the character's square shape and it had a "nice ring to it."
Title card | # | Title | Airdate |
1 | SpongeBob's Boatmobiles | March 29, 2003 | |
Even though SpongeBob is still having trouble passing Mrs. Puff's Boating School, kids (and willing parents) can dive in and take a watery whirl in a SpongeBob speedboat. | |||
2 | Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast | April 11, 2003 | |
Jimmy and Carl go on a wild tour of Nicktoon Studios and also go to Bikini Bottom. | |||
3 | SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: Ride | May 10, 2003 | |
SpongeBob retrieves a pickle stolen by a high tech robotic version of Patrick. | |||
4 | SpongeBob's Splash Bash | April 2007 | |
Blast the hovering jellyfish and other guests with on-board water cannons. | |||
5 | Ghost Chasers | 2008 | |
Bikini Bottom is haunted by ghosts through narrow curves and fast-paced descents. | |||
6 | Rock Bottom Plunge | March 15, 2008 | |
A roller coaster that simulates the experience that SpongeBob and Patrick had while entering Rock Bottom. | |||
7 | Dutchman's Deck Adventure Course | 2010 | |
The Ghostly Gangplank rope course, the Anchor Drop slide, and the Barnacle Blast zip line make the three parts of this adventure course. | |||
8 | Bikini Bottom Bus Tour | May 4, 2011 | |
A flying carpet ride that simulates riding a bus through Bikini Bottom. | |||
9 | Krusty Krab Order Up! | May 4, 2011 | |
Climb on up to the roof of the Krusty Krab and soar toward the sky, then drop back down in a stomach-lurching plunge. | |||
10 | SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: The Great Jelly Rescue! | April 19, 2013 | |
SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy rescue the jellyfish of Jellyfish Fields from Plankton's evil clutches. | |||
11 | SpongeBob SubPants Adventure | May 23, 2015 | |
Dive into adventure on a submarine voyage along with SpongeBob and all your Bikini Bottom friends! | |||
12 | Bikini Bottom Crosstown Express | September 24, 2015 | |
Board the Crosstown Express Bus to go spinning and reeling through the streets of Bikini Bottom. | |||
13 | SpongeBob's Boating School Blast! | September 24, 2015 | |
Zoom, zip, and zigzag on a madcap ride through Mrs. Puff's Boating School, cutting a path of destruction to rival SpongeBob's! | |||
14 | SpongeBob's Jellyfish Jam | October 25, 2019 | |
Whirl and swirl through Jellyfish Fields in this thrilling family swing ride. | |||
15 | Sandy's Blasting Bronco | October 1, 2020 | |
Sandy and Patrick (working as her mechanic) build an out-of-control rollercoaster contraption. | |||
16 | SpongeBob's Crazy Carnival Ride | March 1, 2024[1] | |
Mr. Krabs invites guests to play his ride-through carnival midway games, prompting his enemy Plankton to devise an evil plan to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. |