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 | "Patchy's Playlist" (tr • ga) | November 30, 2019 | |
Patchy takes a fun-filled journey through the world of SpongeBob's best musical moments. | |||
2 | "The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!" (tr • ga) | December 7, 2019 | |
SpongeBob must stop an active undersea volcano from destroying Bikini Bottom. | |||
3 | "SpongeBob Appreciation Day: Patchy's Beach Bash!" | January 4, 2020 | |
Patchy and some of SpongeBob's biggest fans wash up on the island above Bikini Bottom to celebrate "SpongeBob Appreciation Day." | |||
4 | "The Stars of SpongeBob Fan Favorites Special" | June 5, 2020 | |
The voices behind SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and Plankton come together to re-create everybody's favorite scenes, as voted for by the fans. | |||
5 | "SpongeBob's Spookiest Scenes Countdown Special" (tr) | October 2, 2020 | |
A power outage won't stop Patchy the Pirate from counting down some of the spookiest SpongeBob scenes ever. | |||
6 | "The SpongeBob SportsPants Countdown Special" | January 10, 2021 | |
Nate Burleson hosts a compilation of SpongeBob's best sports moments. | |||
7 | "The Patrick Star Fan Favorites Special" | November 12, 2021 | |
YouTube star and Patrick Star superfan Unspeakable counts down the greatest Patrick Star scenes of all time voted for by the fans. | |||
8 | "Twas the Night Before Spongemas" (tr • ga) | December 22, 2022 | |
On Christmas Eve, SpongeBob and his friends look back on some of the fun and less-than-jolly Christmas moments. | |||
9 | "A Very Patchy Holiday Livestream" (tr • ga) | December 15, 2023 | |
Patchy the Pirate livestreams his favorite holiday memories to SpongeBob fans. | |||
10 | "SpongeBob's Super Bowl Party" (tr • ga) | February 5, 2024 | |
Patrick, SpongeBob, and Gary throw a Super Bowl party. |