:SpongeBob SquarePants#Music 2

{{Main|List of SpongeBob SquarePants characters|l1=List of SpongeBob SquarePants characters}}

File:SpongeBob SquarePants main characters.png, Plankton, and Karen. Bottom row: Sandy, Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob, Squidward, Gary, Patrick, and Mrs. Puff.]]

The series follows SpongeBob SquarePants, an energetic and optimistic sea sponge who lives in a submerged pineapple, and his aquatic friends. SpongeBob has a childlike enthusiasm for life, which carries over to his job as a fry cook at a fast food restaurant, the Krusty Krab. One of his goals is to obtain a boat-driving license from Mrs. Puff's Boating School, but he never succeeds. His favorite pastimes include "jellyfishing", which involves catching jellyfish with a net in a manner similar to butterfly catching, and blowing soap bubbles into elaborate shapes. He has a pet sea snail with a pink shell and a blue body named Gary, who meows like a cat.

Living two houses away from SpongeBob is his best friend Patrick Star, a dimwitted yet friendly pink starfish who resides under a rock. Patrick considers himself to be intelligent, with his ignorance of his stupidity being a key trait of his.{{cite episode|title=Squidtastic Voyage|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=4|number=75a|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=October 6, 2006|credits=Writers: Luke Brookshier, Tom King, Dani Michaeli}} Squidward Tentacles, SpongeBob's next-door neighbor and co-worker at the Krusty Krab, is a grumpy and bitter octopus who lives in an Easter Island moai. He despises his job as a cashier and enjoys playing the clarinet and painting self-portraits. He is constantly annoyed by SpongeBob and Patrick's antics, who are unaware of Squidward's animosity towards them, though they get along well when the situation calls for it. Mr. Krabs, a greedy red crab, is the owner of the Krusty Krab. He serves as a father figure to SpongeBob. He is a single parent with a teenage daughter, a grey sperm whale named Pearl, who has no interest in taking over the family business.{{cite web|url=http://www.nicksplat.com/Tvshows/Characters/Nicktoons/Spongebob_squarepants/pearl.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812015604/http://www.nicksplat.com/Tvshows/Characters/Nicktoons/Spongebob_squarepants/pearl.html|archive-date=August 12, 2004|title=SpongeBob SquarePants at NickSplat|work=Nickelodeon Asia|publisher=Viacom International}} Another of SpongeBob's friends is Sandy Cheeks, a thrill-seeking and athletic squirrel from Texas, who wears an air-filled diving suit to breathe underwater.{{cite web|url=http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/fullynick/tvshows/shows/spongebob-squarepants-show|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Meet the Gang!|work=Nickelodeon Australia|publisher=Viacom International|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310224329/http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/fullynick/tvshows/shows/spongebob-squarepants-show|archive-date=March 10, 2008}} She lives in a tree enclosed in a clear glass dome locked by an airtight, hand-turned seal and is an expert in karate.

Located across the street from the Krusty Krab is an unsuccessful rival restaurant called the Chum Bucket.{{cite episode|title=Komputer Overload|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=6|number=118b|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=March 19, 2009|credits=Writers: Aaron Springer, Richard Pursel}} It rarely has any customers due to its sale of chum-based food constituting as cannibalism by the majority of the fish population. It is run by a small, green, one-eyed copepod named Plankton and his computer wife, Karen.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Character Guide Refresh|url=https://issuu.com/dhosford/docs/sb_character_guide|date=July 22, 2016|page=3|work=Nickelodeon Consumer Products|publisher=Viacom International|quote=Nowhere else could you expect to find a cast that includes a scuba-diving squirrel, Sandy Cheeks, and a waterproof supercomputer, Karen.|access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807141336/https://issuu.com/dhosford/docs/sb_character_guide|url-status=live}} Plankton, being a childhood friend and eventual rival of Mr. Krabs, constantly tries to steal the secret recipe for Mr. Krabs's popular Krabby Patty burgers, hoping to gain the upper hand and put the Krusty Krab out of business.{{cite episode|title=Krusty Krab Training Video|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=3|number=50b|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=May 10, 2002|credits=Writers: Aaron Springer, C. H. Greenblatt, Kent Osborne}} Karen supplies him with evil schemes to obtain the formula, but their efforts always fail and their restaurant rarely has any customers.{{cite web|url=http://www.nicknz.co.nz/shows/SpongeBob%20SquarePants/show.html|title=Characters of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Nickelodeon New Zealand|publisher=Viacom International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010072941/http://www.nicknz.co.nz/shows/SpongeBob%20SquarePants/show.html|archive-date=October 10, 2007}} When SpongeBob is not working at the Krusty Krab, he is often taking boating lessons from Mrs. Puff, a paranoid but patient pufferfish. SpongeBob is Mrs. Puff's most diligent student and knows every answer to the oral exams he takes, but he panics and crashes when he tries to drive a real boat, hence failing the course multiple times.{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/medien/spongebob-das-kind-im-schwamme/1209130.html|title=SpongeBob: Das Kind im Schwamme|work=Der Tagesspiegel|publisher=Dieter von Holtzbrinck|date=December 4, 2008|last=Sichtermann|first=Barbara|access-date=November 6, 2016|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220095452/http://www.tagesspiegel.de/medien/spongebob-das-kind-im-schwamme/1209130.html|url-status=live}} When Mrs. Puff endures one of SpongeBob's crashes or is otherwise frightened, she puffs up into a ball.{{cite web|url=http://nickelodeonuniverse.com/character/mrs-puff/|title=Mrs. Puff at Nickelodeon Universe|work=Mall of America|publisher=Triple Five Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606214926/http://nickelodeonuniverse.com/character/mrs-puff/|archive-date=June 6, 2017}}

The French Narrator, often nicknamed Frenchy, is an unseen figure who often introduces episodes and narrates the intertitles as if the series were a nature documentary about the ocean. His role and distinctive manner of speaking are references to the oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT7VzFW0acE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/lT7VzFW0acE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants|date=July 14, 2009|time=9:29}}{{cbignore}} Ever since season 10, the narrator began to appear infrequently in live-action appearances, being portrayed as a diver in a heavy deep sea diving suit.

Recurring guest characters appear throughout the series including: the retired superheroes Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, who are idolized by SpongeBob and Patrick; a pirate specter known as the Flying Dutchman; the muscular lifeguard of Goo Lagoon, Larry the Lobster; and the merman god of the sea, King Neptune. There is also a large variety of characters who serve as the main background characters for the show and are featured in almost every episode. They are each referred as "Incidental" followed by their given model number. Their names, jobs, personalities, relationships, voices, ages, and sometimes gender are inconsistent and tend to differ from each episode. There are 222 of these characters.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Special (generally half-hour or hour-long) episodes of the show are hosted by a live-action pirate named Patchy and his pet parrot Potty, whose segments are presented in a dual narrative with the animated stories.{{cite news|author=Bianco, Robert|date=March 21, 2003|title=Critic's corner|page=12E|newspaper=USA Today}} Patchy is portrayed as the president of a fictional SpongeBob fan club, and his greatest aspiration is to meet SpongeBob himself. He gets into absurd escapades in a similar matter to the actual show, with Potty constantly making fun of Patchy's nonsensical aspirations and causes trouble for him while he tries to host the show.

{{Redirect|Bikini Bottom}}

File:Bikini Atoll.png, a coral reef in the Pacific Ocean. Tom Kenny confirmed the fictitious city of Bikini Bottom is named after Bikini Atoll.]]

The series takes place primarily in the benthic underwater city of Bikini Bottom located in the Pacific Ocean beneath the real-life coral reef known as Bikini Atoll.{{cite web|url=http://www.vimn.com/press/nicktoons/series/spongebob-squarepants-0|title=Nickelodeon UK & Ireland Press Centre: SpongeBob SquarePants Programme Information|work=Nickelodeon|author=Viacom International|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=March 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315035655/http://www.vimn.com/press/nicktoons/series/spongebob-squarepants-0|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/news/story.phtml?id=3354|title=Burger King SpongeBob SquarePants|work=QSR Magazine|date=June 7, 2001|author=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021075539/http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/news/story.phtml?id=3354|archive-date=October 21, 2007}}{{efn|In 2015, Tom Kenny confirmed the fictitious city is named after Bikini Atoll. He denied an Internet fan theory, however, that connected the series' characters to nuclear testing that occurred on the atoll.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/07/spongebob-squarepants-theory_n_6627556.html|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Answers 7 Big Questions And Debunks 1 Popular Theory|work=The Huffington Post|last=Bradley|first=Bill|date=February 7, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2016|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907053320/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/07/spongebob-squarepants-theory_n_6627556.html|url-status=live}} In 2024, Mr. Lawrence said the theory was "absolutely true."{{cite AV media |people=Esquire |date=27 November 2024 |title=SpongeBob Cast Reunites To Talk 25 Years of Krabby Patties and F-U-N |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlE75E4Yz8 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=14 January 2025}}}} Its citizens are mostly multicolored fish who live in buildings made from ship funnels and use "boatmobiles", amalgamations of cars and boats, as a mode of transportation. Recurring locations within Bikini Bottom include the neighboring houses of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward; two competing restaurants, the Krusty Krab and the Chum Bucket; Mrs. Puff's Boating School, which includes a driving course and a sunken lighthouse; the Treedome, an oxygenated glass enclosure where Sandy lives; Shady Shoals Rest Home; a seagrass meadow called Jellyfish Fields; and Goo Lagoon, a subaqueous brine pool that is a popular beach hangout.{{cite web|url=https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2013AM/webprogram/Paper223766.html|title=The Geology of SpongeBob SquarePants: Potential of a Cartoon to Enhance Student Learning in the Geosciences|publisher=Geological Society of America|last1=Grandy|first1=Trevor|access-date=September 5, 2019|archive-date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606214926/http://nickelodeonuniverse.com/character/mrs-puff/|url-status=live}}

When the SpongeBob crew began production of the series' pilot episode, they were tasked with designing stock locations, to be used repeatedly, where most scenes would take place like the Krusty Krab and SpongeBob's pineapple house.{{cite news|author=Pittenger, Kenny|title = The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} The idea was "to keep everything nautical", so the crew used plenty of rope, wooden planks, ships' wheels, netting, anchors, boilerplates, and rivets to create the show's setting. Transitions between scenes are marked by bubbles filling the screen, accompanied by the sound of rushing water.

The series features "sky flowers" as a main setting material. When series background designer Kenny Pittenger was asked what they were, he answered, "They function as clouds in a way, but since the show takes place underwater, they aren't really clouds. Because of the Tiki influence on the show, the background painters use a lot of pattern." Pittenger said the sky flowers were meant to "evoke the look of a flower-print Hawaiian shirt".

File:Ocean Institute, aerial shot, cropped.png (located in Dana Point, California).]]

Series creator Stephen Hillenburg first became fascinated with the ocean as a child and began developing his artistic abilities at a young age. Although these interests would not overlap for some time—the idea of drawing fish seemed boring to him—Hillenburg pursued both during college, majoring in marine biology and minoring in art. After graduating in 1984, he joined the Ocean Institute, an organization in Dana Point, California, dedicated to educating the public about marine science and maritime history.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocean-institute.org/|title=Welcome to the Ocean Institute|work=ocean-institute.org|access-date=December 24, 2013|archive-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131116022048/http://www.ocean-institute.org/|url-status=live}}{{cite interview|interviewer=Thomas F. Wilson |last=Hillenburg |first=Stephen |subject-link=Stephen Hillenburg |title=Big Pop Fun #28: Stephen Hillenburg, Artist and Animator–Interview|url=http://ec.libsyn.com/p/d/9/8/d98c6fd6cc81f188/BPF28_Stephen_Hillenburg_artist_and_animator.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01c08031d1c85f7cb2&c_id=4560686|work=Nerdist Industries|date=May 29, 2012|format=mp3|medium=Podcast|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6M1QBJ1BZ?url=http://ec.libsyn.com/p/d/9/8/d98c6fd6cc81f188/BPF28_Stephen_Hillenburg_artist_and_animator.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01c08031d1c85f7cb2&c_id=4560686|archive-date=2013-12-21|url-status=dead}}

While Hillenburg was there, his love of the ocean began to influence his artistry. He created a precursor to SpongeBob SquarePants: a comic book titled The Intertidal Zone used by the institute to teach visiting students about the animal life of tide pools. The comic starred various anthropomorphic sea lifeforms, many of which would evolve into SpongeBob SquarePants characters.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=9}} Hillenburg tried to get the comic professionally published, but none of the companies he sent it to were interested.

A large inspiration to Hillenburg was Ween's 1997 album The Mollusk, which had a nautical and underwater theme. Hillenburg contacted the band shortly after the album's release, explaining the baseline ideas for SpongeBob SquarePants, and also requested a song from the band, which they sent on Christmas Eve. This song was "Loop de Loop", which was used in the episode "Your Shoe's Untied".{{cite web|title=Did You Know: Ween's 'The Mollusk' Helped Inspire The Creation Of SpongeBob Squarepants|url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/ween-spongebob-squarepants-mollusk/|date=March 7, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204024238/https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/ween-spongebob-squarepants-mollusk/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Ween – Tribute to Stephen Hillenburg|website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj2d3ZpumBM|access-date=December 4, 2019}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}{{cite news|title=A Deep Dive Into Ween, the Band that Birthed Bikini Bottom|newspaper=KCPR |date=March 7, 2019|url=http://kcpr.org/2019/03/07/a-deep-dive-into-ween-the-band-that-birthed-bikini-bottom/|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-date=March 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307144216/http://kcpr.org/2019/03/07/a-deep-dive-into-ween-the-band-that-birthed-bikini-bottom/|url-status=live |last1=McQuade |first1=Jakob }}

While working as a staff artist at the Ocean Institute, Hillenburg entertained plans to return eventually to college for a master's degree in art. Before this could materialize, he attended an animation festival, which inspired him to make a slight change in course. Instead of continuing his education with a traditional art program, Hillenburg chose to study experimental animation at the California Institute of the Arts. His thesis film, Wormholes, is about the theory of relativity.{{cite AV media|last1=Hillenburg|first1=Stephen|last2=Murray|first2=Joe|last3=Drymon|first3=Derek|last4=Coleman|first4=Eric|last5=Hecht|first5=Albie |date=2003|title=The Origin of SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete First Season| medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}} It was screened at festivals, and at one of these, Hillenburg met Joe Murray, creator of the popular Nickelodeon animated series, Rocko's Modern Life. Murray was impressed by the style of the film and offered Hillenburg a job.{{Harvard citation|Neuwirth|2003|page=50–51}} Hillenburg joined the series as a director, and later, during the fourth season, he took on the roles of producer and creative director.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=9}}{{cite interview|subject=Joe Murray|interviewer=Lisa Kiczuk Trainor|title=Lisa (Kiczuk) Trainor interviews Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life|url=http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/murray.html|work=The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ|access-date=November 5, 2009|archive-date=April 20, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150420193919/http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/murray.html|url-status=live}}

Martin Olson, one of the writers for Rocko's Modern Life, read The Intertidal Zone and encouraged Hillenburg to create a television series with a similar concept. At that point, Hillenburg had not even considered creating his own series. However, he realized that if he ever did, this would be the best approach.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=10}} He began to develop some of the characters from The Intertidal Zone, including the comic's "announcer", Bob the Sponge. He wanted his series to stand out from most popular cartoons of the time, which he felt were exemplified by buddy comedies like The Ren & Stimpy Show. As a result, Hillenburg decided to focus on a single main character: the "weirdest" sea creature he could think of. This led him to the sponge. The Intertidal Zone{{'}}s Bob the Sponge resembles an actual sea sponge, and at first, Hillenburg continued to use this design.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=31}} In determining the new character's behavior, Hillenburg drew inspiration from innocent, childlike figures that he enjoyed, such as Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Jerry Lewis, and Pee-wee Herman.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=30}}{{cite news|author=Drymon, Derek|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|author=Kenny, Tom|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} He then considered modeling the character after a kitchen sponge and realized this idea would match the character's square personality perfectly. Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Pearl, and Squidward were the next characters Hillenburg created for the show.{{cite magazine|title=From Boy to Bob|magazine=Nick Mag Presents: SpongeBob SquarePants|publisher=Viacom International|date=June 2003}}

To voice the series' central character, Hillenburg turned to Tom Kenny, whose career in animation had started alongside Hillenburg's on Rocko's Modern Life. Elements of Kenny's own personality were employed to develop the character further.{{cite video|people=Farhat, Basima (Interviewer)|date=December 5, 2006|title=Tom Kenny: Voice of SpongeBob SquarePants – Interview|url=http://www.thepeoplespeakradio.net/archives/mp3/tps-2006-12-05-kenny.mp3|format=mp3|medium=Radio production|publisher=The People Speak Radio|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724101824/http://www.thepeoplespeakradio.net/archives/mp3/tps-2006-12-05-kenny.mp3|archive-date=July 24, 2011}} Initially, Hillenburg wanted to use the name SpongeBoy—the character had no last name—and the series was to have been named SpongeBoy Ahoy!{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=31}} However, the Nickelodeon legal department discovered—after voice acting had been completed for the original seven-minute pilot episode—that the name "SpongeBoy" was already in use by a brand of pencils.{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Meaghan |date=2025-02-24 |title=The Surprising Origins of SpongeBob SquarePants' Name, Explained |url=https://www.cbr.com/spongebob-squarepants-name-origin-explained/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=CBR |language=en}} In choosing a replacement name, Hillenburg felt he still had to use the word "Sponge", so that viewers would not mistake the character for a "Cheese Man". He settled on the name "SpongeBob". "SquarePants" was chosen as a family name after Kenny saw a picture of the character and remarked, "Boy, look at this sponge in square pants, thinking he can get a job in a fast food place."{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=30}} When he heard Kenny say it, Hillenburg loved the phrase and felt it would reinforce the character's nerdiness.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=30}}{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|page=51}}

Derek Drymon, who served as creative director for the first three seasons, has said that Hillenburg wanted to surround himself with a "team of young and hungry people." Many of the major contributors to SpongeBob SquarePants had worked before with Hillenburg on Rocko's Modern Life, including: Drymon, art director Nick Jennings, supervising director Alan Smart, writer/voice actor Doug Lawrence (often credited as Mr. Lawrence), and Tim Hill, who helped develop the series bible.

Although Drymon would go on to have a significant influence on SpongeBob SquarePants, he was not offered a role on the series initially. As a late recruit to Rocko's Modern Life, he had not established much of a relationship with Hillenburg before SpongeBob{{'}}s conception. Hillenburg first sought out Drymon's storyboard partner, Mark O'Hare—but he had just created the soon-to-be syndicated comic strip, Citizen Dog. While he would later join SpongeBob as a writer,{{cite news|author=O'Hare, Mark|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} he lacked the time to get involved with both projects from the outset. Drymon has said, "I remember Hillenburg's bringing it up to Mark in our office and asking him if he'd be interested in working on it ... I was all ready to say yes to the offer, but Steve didn't ask; he just left the room. I was pretty desperate ... so I ran into the hall after him and basically begged him for the job. He didn't jump at the chance." Once Hillenburg had given it some thought and decided to bring Drymon on as creative director, the two began meeting at Hillenburg's house several times a week to develop the series. Drymon has identified this period as having begun in 1996, shortly after the end of Rocko's Modern Life.

Jennings was also instrumental in SpongeBob{{'}}s genesis.{{cite news|author=Coleman, Eric|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants | work = Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} Kenny has called him "one of SpongeBob's early graphics mentors". On weekends, Kenny joined Hillenburg, Jennings, and Drymon for creative sessions where they recorded ideas on a tape recorder. Kenny performed audio tests as SpongeBob during these sessions, while Hillenburg voice acted the other characters.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=31}}

Hill contributed scripts for several first-season episodes (including the pilot){{cite episode|title=Help Wanted|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=1|number=1a|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=May 1, 1999|credits=Writers: Stephen Hillenburg, Derek Drymon, Tim Hill}}{{cite episode|title=Reef Blower|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=1|number=1b|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=May 1, 1999|credits=Writers: Stephen Hillenburg, Derek Drymon, Tim Hill}}{{cite episode|title=Bubble Stand|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=1|number=2a|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=July 17, 1999|credits=Writers: Ennio Torresan, Erik Wiese, Stephen Hillenburg, Derek Drymon, and Tim Hill}}{{cite episode|title=Jellyfishing|series=SpongeBob SquarePants|season=1|number=3a|network=Nickelodeon|airdate=July 31, 1999|credits=Writers: Steve Fonti, Chris Mitchell, Peter Burns, and Tim Hill}} and was offered the role of story editor, but turned it down—he would go on to pursue a career as a family film director.{{cite web|url=https://www.tribute.ca/people/tim-hill/3103/|title=Tim Hill biography|work=tribute.ca|publisher=Tribute|access-date=July 2, 2017|archive-date=April 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412101523/https://www.tribute.ca/people/tim-hill/3103/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://skylighttheatrecompany.com/about-us/our-artists/536-tim-hill-the-owners-closet.html|title=About – Our Artists – Tim Hill|work=Skylight Theatre Company|access-date=July 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731015838/http://skylighttheatrecompany.com/about-us/our-artists/536-tim-hill-the-owners-closet.html|url-status=dead}} In his stead, Pete Burns was brought in for the job. Burns hailed from Chicago and had never met any of the principal players on SpongeBob before joining the team.

{{quote box|align=right|width=34em|style=max-width:40%

|quote=The execs from Nickelodeon flew out to Burbank, and we pitched it to them from the storyboards. We had squeezy toys, wore Hawaiian shirts, and used a boom box to play the Tiny Tim song ['Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight'] that comes on in the third act. We really went all out in that pitch because we knew the pilot lived or died by if the execs laughed. When it was over, they walked out of the room to discuss it. We figured they would fly back to New York and we'd hear in a few weeks. We were surprised when they came back in what seemed like minutes and said they wanted to make it.

|source=—Derek Drymon

}}

While pitching the cartoon to Nickelodeon executives, Hillenburg donned a Hawaiian shirt, brought along an "underwater terrarium with models of the characters", and played Hawaiian music to set the theme. The setup was described by Nickelodeon executive Eric Coleman as "pretty amazing". They were given money and two weeks to write the pilot episode "Help Wanted". Drymon, Hillenburg, and Jennings returned with what was described by Nickelodeon official Albie Hecht as, "a performance [he] wished [he] had on tape". Although executive producer Derek Drymon described the pitch as stressful, he said it went "very well". Kevin Kay and Hecht had to step outside because they were "exhausted from laughing", which worried the cartoonists.

In an interview, Cyma Zarghami, then-president of Nickelodeon, said, "their [Nickelodeon executives'] immediate reaction was to see it again, both because they liked it and it was unlike anything they'd ever seen before". Zarghami was one of four executives in the room when SpongeBob SquarePants was screened for the first time.

Before commissioning the full series, Nickelodeon executives insisted that it would not be popular unless SpongeBob was a child who went to school, with his teacher as a main character.{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=October 27, 2009 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants' creator Steve Hillenburg |url=https://tbivision.com/2009/10/27/spongebob-squarepants-creator-steve-hillenburg/7414/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511213743/https://tbivision.com/2009/10/27/spongebob-squarepants-creator-steve-hillenburg/7414/ |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Television Business International |publisher=Informa Telecoms & Media}} Hillenburg recalled in 2012 that Nickelodeon told him, "Our winning formula is animation about kids in school... We want you to put SpongeBob in school." Hillenburg was ready to "walk out" on Nickelodeon and abandon the series, since he wanted SpongeBob to be an adult character. He eventually compromised by adding a new character to the main cast, Mrs. Puff, who is a boat-driving teacher. Hillenburg was happy with the compromise and said, "A positive thing for me that came out of it was [how it brought] in a new character, Mrs. Puff, who I love."

File:Stephen Hillenburg by Carlos Cazurro.jpg

Until his death in 2018, Hillenburg had served as the executive producer over the course of the series' entire history and functioned as its showrunner from its debut in 1999 until 2004. The series went on hiatus in 2002, after Hillenburg halted production on the show itself to work on the feature film The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.{{cite web|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|date=September 21, 2012|work=Hogan's Alley|author=Heintjes, Tom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} Once the film was finalized and the third season finished, Hillenburg resigned as the series' showrunner. Although he no longer had a direct role in the series' production, he maintained an advisory role and reviewed each episode.{{cite news|last=Bauder|first=David|title=SpongeBob Turns 10 Valued At $8 Billion|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/14/spongebob-turns-10-valued_n_231304.html|work=Huffington Post|date=July 13, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208163834/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/14/spongebob-turns-10-valued_n_231304.html|archive-date=February 8, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Nickelodeon's 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Reaches A Milestone: 10 Years|url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/nickelodeons-spongebob-squarepants-reaches-a-milestone-10-years_article_20514|work=Access Hollywood|access-date=May 25, 2013|date=July 13, 2009|archive-date=October 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030154235/http://www.accesshollywood.com/nickelodeons-spongebob-squarepants-reaches-a-milestone-10-years_article_20514|url-status=live}}

{{quote box|align=left|width=24em|style=max-width:40%

|quote=It reached a point where I felt I'd contributed a lot and said what I wanted to say. At that point, the show needed new blood, and so I selected Paul [Tibbitt] to produce. I totally trusted him. I always enjoyed the way he captured the SpongeBob character's sense of humor. And as a writer, you have to move on—I'm developing new projects.

|source=—Stephen Hillenburg, The Washington Post

}}

When the film was completed, Hillenburg intended it to be the series finale, "so [the show] wouldn't jump the shark." However, the show's massive financial success led to its continuation.{{cite news|author=Henderson, Sam|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} Hillenburg appointed Paul Tibbitt, who had previously served on the show as a writer, director, and storyboard artist, to take over his role as showrunner to produce additional seasons.{{cite web|last=Fletcher|first=Alex|title=Paul Tibbitt ('SpongeBob SquarePants')|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/interviews/a312387/paul-tibbitt-spongebob-squarepants.html|work=Digital Spy|access-date=May 25, 2013|date=April 3, 2011|archive-date=October 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031235346/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/interviews/a312387/paul-tibbitt-spongebob-squarepants.html|url-status=live}} Hillenburg considered Tibbitt one of his favorite members of the show's crew,{{cite video | people=Hillenburg, Stephen|date=2009|title=The First 100 Episodes — Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants|medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}} and "totally trusted him".

On December 13, 2014, it was announced that Hillenburg would return to the series in an unspecified position.{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/spongebob-creator-stephen-hillenburg-returning-to-his-show-106935.html|first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi|last=Amidi|title='SpongeBob' Creator Stephen Hillenburg Returning to His Show|work=Cartoon Brew|date=December 13, 2014|access-date=December 17, 2014|archive-date=December 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214083136/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/spongebob-creator-stephen-hillenburg-returning-to-his-show-106935.html|url-status=live}} On November 26, 2018, at the age of 57, Hillenburg died from complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with which he had been diagnosed in March 2017.{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-creator-dead-dies-stephen-hillenburg-1203037362/ | title = 'SpongeBob Squarepants' Creator Stephen Hillenburg Dies at 57 | first = Joe | last = Otterson | date = November 27, 2018 | access-date = November 26, 2018 | work = Variety | archive-date = December 1, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181201084613/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-creator-dead-dies-stephen-hillenburg-1203037362/ | url-status = live }}{{Cite magazine|last=Wallenstein|first=Andrew|date=March 13, 2017|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' Creator Stephen Hillenburg Reveals ALS Diagnosis|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-creator-stephen-hillenburg-reveals-als-diagnosis-1202007865/|magazine=Variety|access-date=November 27, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314030811/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-creator-stephen-hillenburg-reveals-als-diagnosis-1202007865/|archive-date=March 14, 2017}} Nickelodeon confirmed via Twitter the series would continue after his death.{{cite tweet|author=Nickelodeon|author-link=Nickelodeon|user=Nickelodeon|number=1067913022822334464|title=The show isn't cancelled. Steve Hillenburg's creations will continue to bring joy to kids and families everywhere 💛|date=November 28, 2018|access-date=July 21, 2019|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/X8mWt|archive-date=October 31, 2023|url-status=live}} In February 2019, incoming president Brian Robbins vowed Nickelodeon would keep the show in production for as long as the network exists.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/nickelodeon-brian-robbins-spongebob-lego-paddington-john-cena-1203139534/|title='SpongeBob' Spinoffs Planned as Nickelodeon Chief Brian Robbins Tries to Win Back Young Viewers (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Brian|last=Steinberg|date=February 14, 2019|work=Variety|access-date=February 20, 2019|archive-date=February 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214214303/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/nickelodeon-brian-robbins-spongebob-lego-paddington-john-cena-1203139534/|url-status=live}}

As of the ninth season, former writers and storyboard directors Vincent Waller and Marc Ceccarelli act as showrunners. Hillenburg is still posthumously credited as executive producer in episodes as of 2024.

According to writer and storyboard artist Luke Brookshier, "SpongeBob is written differently to many television shows."{{cite web|title=Interview with Luke Brookshier, SpongeBob SquarePants Storyboard Director|url=http://www.4mations.tv/2009/09/interview-with-luke-brookshier-spongebob-squarepants-storyboard-director/|publisher=4Mations|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=September 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323112314/http://www.4mations.tv/2009/09/interview-with-luke-brookshier-spongebob-squarepants-storyboard-director/|archive-date=March 23, 2012}} Unlike most of its contemporaries, SpongeBob SquarePants does not use written scripts.{{cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|title=Bikini Bottom Confessions|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/bikini-bottom-confessions/|work=Animation Magazine|access-date=May 28, 2013|date=July 24, 2009|archive-date=March 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315064118/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/bikini-bottom-confessions/|url-status=live}} Instead, storylines are developed by a team of five outline and premise writers. A two-page outline is then assigned to a team of storyboard directors, who produce a complete rough draft of the storyboard. One of the methods used to assemble storyboards was to use Post-it notes. Most of the dialogue and jokes are added during this stage. Brookshier has likened this process to how cartoons were made "in the early days of animation".

The decision to eschew scripts for storyboards is one that Hillenburg made early in the series' development. Rocko's Modern Life had also used storyboarding derived from short outlines, and having worked on that series, Hillenburg felt strongly about adopting the process for SpongeBob SquarePants—even though Nickelodeon was beginning to show a greater preference for script-driven cartoons.{{cite news|author=Wiese, Erik|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} Another series' writer, Merriwether Williams, explained in an interview that she and Mr. Lawrence would write a draft for an episode in an afternoon and be done at 4:00 pm.

The writing staff often used their personal experiences as inspiration for the storylines of the series' episodes.{{cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|title=The Interview: 'SpongeBob' Creator Stephen Hillenburg|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2009/07/_tom_kenny_who_voices.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 25, 2013|date=July 14, 2009|archive-date=October 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006111645/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2009/07/_tom_kenny_who_voices.html|url-status=dead}} For example, the episode "Sailor Mouth", where SpongeBob and Patrick learn profanity, was inspired by creative director Derek Drymon's experience as a child of getting into trouble for using the f-word in front of his mother. Drymon said, "The scene where Patrick is running to Mr. Krabs to tattle, with SpongeBob chasing him, is pretty much how it happened in real life". The end of the episode when Mr. Krabs uses even more profanity than SpongeBob and Patrick was inspired "by the fact that my [Drymon's] mother has a sailor mouth herself". The idea for the episode "The Secret Box" also came from one of Drymon's childhood experiences.{{cite news|author=Williams, Merriwether|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley#17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} Hillenburg explained, "Drymon had a secret box [as a kid] and started telling us about it. We wanted to make fun of him and use it."

Almost every episode is divided into two 11-minute segments. Hillenburg explained: "[I] never really wanted to deliberately try to write a half-hour show". He added, "I wrote the shows to where they felt right".

{{further|List of SpongeBob SquarePants cast members|l1=List of SpongeBob SquarePants cast members|List of SpongeBob SquarePants guest stars|l2=List of SpongeBob SquarePants guest stars}}

TomKenny.jpg|Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants, Gary, French Narrator, Patchy the Pirate, additional voices

Bill Fagerbakke by Gage Skidmore.jpg|Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star, additional voices

Rodger Bumpass by Gage Skidmore.jpg|Rodger Bumpass as Squidward Tentacles, additional voices

Clancy Brown by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, additional voices

Mr. Lawrence by Gage Skidmore.jpg|Mr. Lawrence as Plankton, Potty the Parrot (since season 10), Larry the Lobster, Realistic Fish Head, Fred, additional voices

JillTalley.jpg|Jill Talley as Karen, additional voices

Carolyn Lawrence by Gage Skidmore.jpg|Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks, additional voices

Mary Jo Catlett with Mrs Puff (2).jpg|Mary Jo Catlett as Mrs. Puff

Lori Alan 2016.jpg|Lori Alan as Pearl Krabs, additional voices

SpongeBob SquarePants features the voices of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, Carolyn Lawrence, Mary Jo Catlett, and Lori Alan. Most one-off and background characters are voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, Sirena Irwin, Bob Joles, Mark Fite and Thomas F. Wilson.

{{quote box|align=right|width=30em|style=max-width:40%

|quote=Steve described SpongeBob to me as childlike and naïve. He's not quite an adult, he's not quite a kid. Think a Stan Laurel, Jerry Lewis kind of child-man. Kind of like a Munchkin but not quite, kind of like a kid, but not in a Charlie Brown child's voice on the TV shows.

|source=—Tom Kenny

}}

Kenny voices SpongeBob and a number of other characters, including SpongeBob's pet snail Gary and the French narrator. He also physically portrays Patchy the Pirate in live-action segments of most special episodes. Kenny previously worked with Stephen Hillenburg on Rocko's Modern Life. When Hillenburg created SpongeBob SquarePants, he approached Kenny to voice the main character.{{cite web |last1=Orlando |first1=Dana |title=SpongeBob: the excitable, absorbent star of Bikini Bottom |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/17/Xpress/SpongeBob__the_excita.shtml |website=sptimes.com |access-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320075638/http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/17/Xpress/SpongeBob__the_excita.shtml |archive-date=March 20, 2017 |date=March 17, 2003}} Kenny originally used the voice of SpongeBob for a minor character on Rocko. He forgot how to perform the voice initially and did not intend to use it afterward. Hillenburg, however, used a video clip of the episode to remind Kenny of the voice. When Hillenburg heard Kenny perform the voice, he knew immediately he wanted it for his character. He said to Nickelodeon executives, "That's it—I don't want to hear anybody else do the voice. We've got SpongeBob." The network insisted on auditioning more actors, but Hillenburg turned them down; in the words of Tom Kenny, "one of the advantages of having a strong creator is that the creator can say, 'No, I like that—I don't care about celebrities.'" While Kenny was developing SpongeBob's voice, the show's casting crew wanted him to have a unique, high-pitched laugh in the tradition of Popeye and Woody Woodpecker.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spongebobs-alter-ego/|title=SpongeBob's Alter Ego|date=December 30, 2002|work=CBS News|access-date=November 8, 2008|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921223746/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/27/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main534521.shtml?source=search_story|url-status=live}}

Fagerbakke voices Patrick Star{{cite web|last=Crump|first=Steve|title=COLUMN: Do you remember Bill Fagerbakke? He's a star|url=http://magicvalley.com/news/local/article_77dc5ce6-783d-5532-baf1-b09328b232db.html|work=Magic Valley|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=March 19, 2009|archive-date=January 3, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103191106/http://magicvalley.com/news/local/article_77dc5ce6-783d-5532-baf1-b09328b232db.html|url-status=live}} and other miscellaneous characters. At the same time when Hillenburg, Derek Drymon and Tim Hill were writing the pilot "Help Wanted", Hillenburg was also conducting auditions to find voices for the characters. Fagerbakke auditioned for the role of Patrick after Kenny had been cast.{{cite web|last=Liu|first=Ed|title=Being Patrick Star: Toonzone Interviews Bill Fagerbakke on SpongeBob SquarePants|url=http://www.toonzone.net/2013/11/patrick-star-toonzone-interviews-bill-fagerbakke-spongebob-squarepants/|work=Toon Zone|access-date=March 28, 2014|date=November 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219000346/http://www.toonzone.net/2013/11/patrick-star-toonzone-interviews-bill-fagerbakke-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=December 19, 2013}} Fagerbakke recalled that during this audition, "Hillenburg actually played for me a portion of Tom [Kenny]'s performance [as SpongeBob], and they were looking for a counterpoint." In an interview, Fagerbakke compared himself to the character and said, "It's extremely gratifying".{{cite web|last=Douglas|first=Patrick|title="Transformers:Animated"/"Spongebob Squarepants"/"Coach" – Bill Fagerbakke (2008)|url=http://www.thecultureshock.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=802&Itemid=44|work=The Culture Shock|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=January 14, 2008|archive-date=July 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716231329/http://www.thecultureshock.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=802&Itemid=44|url-status=live}} Whenever Patrick is angry Fagerbakke models his performance after American actress Shelley Winters.{{sfn|Banks|2004|page=33}}

Squidward Tentacles is voiced by Rodger Bumpass, who describes him as "a very nasally, monotone kind of guy." He said the character "became a very interesting character to do" because of "his sarcasm, and then his frustration, and then his apoplexy, and so he became a wide spectrum of emotions".{{cite web|last=Reardon|first=Samantha|title=Rodger Bumpass is Squidward Tentacles|url=http://georgiastatesignal.com/rodger-bumpass-is-squidward-tentacles/|work=The Signal|access-date=March 28, 2014|date=September 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328111302/http://georgiastatesignal.com/rodger-bumpass-is-squidward-tentacles/|archive-date=March 28, 2014}} Arthur Brown, author of Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Cartoons!, has compared Squidward's voice to that of Jack Benny's,{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Arthur|title=Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Cartoons!|year=2008|publisher=Callaloo Press|location=USA|isbn=978-1-4357-3248-3|page=85|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-oi8LiETHIC&q=Krusty+Krab&pg=PA85|access-date=November 7, 2020|archive-date=February 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229145058/https://books.google.com/books?id=X-oi8LiETHIC&q=Krusty+Krab&pg=PA85#v=snippet&q=Krusty%20Krab&f=false|url-status=live}} a similarity Bumpass says is mostly unintentional.

Voice acting veteran Clancy Brown voices Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob's boss at the Krusty Krab. Hillenburg modeled Mr. Krabs after his former manager at a seafood restaurant, whose strong Maine accent reminded Hillenburg of a pirate.{{cite web|url=http://nieonline.com/coloradonie/downloads/minipage/minipage7.15.15.pdf|title=What a Sponge!|work=The Mini Page|publisher=Andrews McMeel Universal|date=July 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415104043/http://nieonline.com/coloradonie/downloads/minipage/minipage7.15.15.pdf|archive-date=April 15, 2017|url-status=live}} Brown decided to use a "piratey" voice for the character with "a little Scottish brogue" after hearing Hillenburg's description of his boss.{{sfn|Beck|2013|pp=86–88}} According to Brown, his Mr. Krabs voice was mostly improvised during his audition and it was not challenging for him to find the correct voice.{{sfn|Beck|2013|pp=86–88}}

Mr. Lawrence had met Hillenburg before on Rocko's Modern Life. While working on the pilot episode of SpongeBob, Hillenburg invited him to audition for all the characters.{{cite interview|last=Lawrence|first=Doug|subject-link=Mr. Lawrence|interviewer=Thomas F. Wilson|date=April 2012|title=Big Pop Fun #22: Mr. Lawrence|url=http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/8/0/b/80ba5601f7d09e93/BPF22_Mr._Lawrence.mp3?c_id=4442198&expiration=1396087344&hwt=77616525493ac25efba1ba04f5cd6efc|format=mp3|medium=Podcast|publisher=Nerdist Industries|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227221747/http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/8/0/b/80ba5601f7d09e93/BPF22_Mr._Lawrence.mp3?c_id=4442198&expiration=1396087344&hwt=77616525493ac25efba1ba04f5cd6efc|archive-date=December 27, 2019|url-status=dead}} Since other voices had been found for the main cast already, Lawrence began by voicing a variety of minor characters. This included Plankton, who was initially only set to appear in one episode. Mr. Lawrence recalls that Nickelodeon executives told Hillenburg, "'we could stunt-cast this. You know, we could have Bruce Willis do this voice.' And Steve was just like, 'it's Doug [Lawrence], don't you hear it? This is the character! This is the guy!'" Jill Talley, Tom Kenny's wife, voices Karen Plankton.{{cite web|title=Jill Talley: Credits|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jill-talley/credits/208596|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=March 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312074248/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jill-talley/credits/208596|url-status=live}} Being a Chicago native, she uses a Midwestern accent for the character.{{cite web|url=http://animatedtv.about.com/od/spongebobsquarepants/tp/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Cast.htm|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' Cast: Who Does What Voice?|work=About.com|last=Basile|first=Nancy|date=January 30, 2016|access-date=March 30, 2014|archive-date=April 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412230115/http://animatedtv.about.com/od/spongebobsquarepants/tp/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Cast.htm|url-status=dead}} Electronic sound effects are underlaid by the series' audio engineers to create a robotic sound when she speaks.{{cite video|people=Lawrence, Doug|date=2002|title=F.U.N. backstage featurette, Nautical Nonsense|medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}} Talley and Mr. Lawrence often improvise Plankton and Karen's dialogue. Lawrence called improvisation his "favorite part of the voice over" in 2009.{{cite interview|url=http://www.nicknz.co.nz/SpongeBob/Backstage/Blog/ |title=Andy interviews Mr Lawrence aka "the Slasher"|last=Lawrence|first=Doug|subject-link=Mr. Lawrence|interviewer=Andy Goodman|work=Nick NZ|date=2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611022322/http://www.nicknz.co.nz/SpongeBob/Backstage/Blog/|archive-date=June 11, 2010}} He elaborated in a 2012 interview, saying, "I always enjoy the back-and-forth. [Talley and I] start to actually overlap so much talking to each other that [the voice directors] have to tell us, 'hey, stop doing that, separate what you're saying!'"

Carolyn Lawrence voices Sandy Cheeks. She was in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, with a friend who knew SpongeBob SquarePants casting director Donna Grillo. Her friend said to Grillo that Lawrence had "an interesting voice". Grillo invited her to audition and she got the role.{{cite web|title=Carolyn Lawrence Exclusive Interview|url=http://www.thestarscoop.com/interviews/carolyn-lawrence-exclusive-interview/|work=The Star Scoop|access-date=June 14, 2013|date=September 17, 2009|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629164232/http://www.thestarscoop.com/interviews/carolyn-lawrence-exclusive-interview/|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|title=REFANB Interview: Carolyn Lawrence, A.K.A. Ashley Graham|url=http://www.residentevilfan.com/articles/lawrence_interview.htm|work=Resident Evil Fan|access-date=June 14, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212032724/http://www.residentevilfan.com/articles/lawrence_interview.htm|url-status=dead}} American actress Mary Jo Catlett,{{cite web|title=Mary Jo Catlett: Credits|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mary-jo-catlett/credits/190527|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101044229/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mary-jo-catlett/credits/190527|url-status=live}} who is known for her live-action roles on television programs from the 1970s such as Diff'rent Strokes and M*A*S*H provides Mrs. Puff's voice. As of 2017, voicing Mrs. Puff has become her only regular television role; Catlett described herself as "basically retired" in 2013, since she feels that voicing Mrs. Puff requires less preparation than her performances in person.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/remember-the-time-when-washington-saved-hello-dolly/2013/03/08/7061ad28-85c1-11e2-a80b-3edc779b676f_story.html|title=Remember the time when Washington saved 'Hello, Dolly!'?|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=Pressley|first=Nelson|date=March 8, 2013|access-date=June 20, 2017|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102025051/https://www.washingtonpost.com/remember-the-time-when-washington-saved-hello-dolly/2013/03/08/7061ad28-85c1-11e2-a80b-3edc779b676f_story.html|url-status=live}} Lori Alan voices Pearl Krabs.{{cite web|title=Lori Alan: Credits|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lori-alan/credits/216395|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=October 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014175456/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lori-alan/credits/216395|url-status=live}} During her audition for the role, Alan was shown an early drawing of the characters and noted that Pearl was much larger than the rest of the cast. She decided to reflect the character's size in her voice by making it deep and full in tone. She aimed to make it invoke the sound of whales' low vocalizations while also sounding "spoiled and lovable."{{citation|title=SpongeBob panel discussion at Dragon Con 2016, part 2: Rodger Bumpass and Lori Alan|last1=Alan|first1=Lori|last2=Bumpass|first2=Rodger|author-link1=Lori Alan|author-link2=Rodger Bumpass|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i83abE9W7k|date=September 3, 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}} In an interview with AfterBuzz TV, Alan said she knew Pearl "had to sound somewhat like a child," but needed "an abnormally large voice."{{cite interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1xqehTUUZw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/v1xqehTUUZw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Lori Alan Interview|last=Alan|first=Lori|subject-link=Lori Alan|interviewer=Kaori Takee|work=AfterBuzz TV|date=November 2015}}{{cbignore}}

In addition to the regular cast, episodes feature guest voices from many professions, including actors, athletes, authors, musicians, and artists. Recurring guest voices include: Ernest Borgnine, who voiced Mermaid Man from 1999 until his death in 2012;{{cite news|last=Lloyd|first=Robert|title=Ernest Borgnine: From Marty to McHale to Mermaid Man|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-jul-09-la-et-st-ernest-borgnine-from-marty-to-mchale-to-mermaid-man-20120709-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 2, 2013|date=July 9, 2012|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024025247/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/09/entertainment/la-et-st-ernest-borgnine-from-marty-to-mchale-to-mermaid-man-20120709|url-status=live}} Tim Conway as the voice of Barnacle Boy from 1999 until his death in 2019;{{cite web|title=Tim Conway: Credits|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tim-conway/credits/176843|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=July 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726180604/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tim-conway/credits/176843|url-status=live}} Brian Doyle-Murray as the Flying Dutchman;{{cite web|title=Brian Doyle-Murray: Credits|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-doyle-murray/credits/142746|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=March 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327064020/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-doyle-murray/credits/142746|url-status=live}} and Marion Ross as Grandma SquarePants.{{cite web|title=Marion Ross: Credits|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/marion-ross/credits/164469|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304103316/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/marion-ross/credits/164469|url-status=live}} Notable guests who have provided vocal cameo appearances include: David Bowie as Lord Royal Highness in the television film Atlantis SquarePantis;{{cite news|title=David Bowie goes out to sea for 'SpongeBob'|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-10-11-bowie-spongebob_x.htm?csp=27|work=USA Today|access-date=May 27, 2013|date=October 11, 2006|archive-date=November 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130003017/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-10-11-bowie-spongebob_x.htm?csp=27|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Bowie voices SpongeBob character|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6040098.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=May 27, 2013|date=October 11, 2006|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916103057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6040098.stm|url-status=live}} John Goodman as the voice of Santa in the episode "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!"; Johnny Depp as the voice of the surf guru, Jack Kahuna Laguna, in the episode "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One";{{cite web|last=Moody|first=Annemarie|title=Johnny Depp Teaches SpongeBob to Hang Ten in New TV Special|url=http://www.awn.com/news/television/johnny-depp-teaches-spongebob-hang-ten-new-tv-special|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=May 28, 2013|date=April 1, 2009|archive-date=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110234542/http://www.awn.com/news/television/johnny-depp-teaches-spongebob-hang-ten-new-tv-special|url-status=live}} and Victoria Beckham as the voice of Queen Amphitrite in the episode "The Clash of Triton".{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Devon|title=Victoria Beckham Lends Her Voice to "SpongeBob"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/victoria-beckham-lends-her-voice-to-spongebob/|work=CBS News|date=June 17, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112081319/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20008078-10391698.html|archive-date=November 12, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Victoria Beckham to star in a new episode of SpongeBob SquarePants|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/victoria-beckham-to-star-in-a-new-episode-228859|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=May 29, 2013|date=July 15, 2010|archive-date=June 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620145930/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/victoria-beckham-to-star-in-a-new-episode-228859|url-status=live}}

Voice recording sessions always include a full cast of actors, which Kenny describes as "getting more unusual". Kenny said, "That's another thing that's given SpongeBob its special feel. Everybody's in the same room, doing it old radio-show style. It's how the stuff we like was recorded". Series writer Jay Lender said, "The recording sessions were always fun ..."{{cite news|author=Lender, Jay|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} For the first three seasons, Hillenburg and Drymon sat in the recording studio and directed the actors.{{cite news|author=Hammond, Jennie Monica|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} Andrea Romano became the voice director in the fourth season, and Tom Kenny took over the role during the ninth. Wednesday is recording day, the same schedule followed by the crew since 1999. Casting supervisor Jennie Monica Hammond said, "I loved Wednesdays".

Approximately 50 people work together to animate and produce an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. Throughout its run, the series' production has been handled domestically at Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California. The finished animations are handled overseas at Rough Draft Studios Korea, Ltd. in South Korea.{{cite web|last=Richmond|first=Ray|title=Special Report: Animation|url=http://www.roughdraftstudios.com/press/press_20040115.html|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 15, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310222309/http://www.roughdraftstudios.com/press/press_20040115.html|archive-date=March 10, 2008}} The California crew storyboard each episode, which are then used as templates by the crew at Rough Draft, who animate each scene by hand, color each cel on computers, and paint backgrounds. Episodes are finished in California, where they are edited and have music added.

During the first season, the series used cel animation. A shift was made the following year to digital ink and paint animation. In 2009, executive producer Paul Tibbitt said: "The first season of SpongeBob was done the old-fashioned way on cells [sic], and every cell sic had to be part-painted, left to dry, paint some other colors. It's still a time-consuming aspect of the process now, but the digital way of doing things means it doesn't take long to correct".

In 2008, the crew began using Wacom Cintiqs for the drawings instead of pencils. The fifth season episode "Pest of the West", one of the half-hour specials, was the first episode where the crew applied this method. Series' background designer Kenny Pittenger said, "The only real difference between the way we draw now and the way we drew then is that we abandoned pencil and paper during the fifth season". The shift to Wacom Cintiqs let the designers and animators draw on computer screens and make immediate changes or undo mistakes. Pittenger said, "Many neo-Luddites—er... I mean, many of my cohorts—don't like working on them, but I find them useful. There's no substitute for the immediacy of drawing on a piece of paper, of course, but digital nautical nonsense is still pretty fun".

File:SpongeBob SquarePants characters by Screen Novelties.jpg created character models based on the works of Rankin/Bass for the show's stop-motion episodes.]]

Since 2004, the SpongeBob crew has periodically collaborated with the LA-based animation studio Screen Novelties to create stop-motion sequences for special episodes. The studio produced a brief claymation scene for the climax of the first theatrical film.{{cite news|title=New SpongeBob SquarePants Song Urges Shoppers Not to Be Jerks This Holiday Season|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-hill/spongebob-christmas-album_b_2175828.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=April 13, 2017|date=November 23, 2012|first=Jim|last=Hill|archive-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414081203/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-hill/spongebob-christmas-album_b_2175828.html|url-status=live}} It was re-enlisted in 2009 to create an exclusive opening for the series' tenth anniversary special.{{cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|title=Stop Motion Casts a Spell on SpongeBob|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/stop-motion-casts-a-spell-on-spongebob/|work=Animation Magazine|access-date=January 17, 2013|date=November 21, 2012|archive-date=December 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212164211/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/stop-motion-casts-a-spell-on-spongebob/|url-status=live}}{{sfn|Priebe|2011|pages=61–66}} The abominable snow mollusk, an octopus-like creature made of clay who acts as the antagonist of the double-length episode "Frozen Face-Off", was also animated by the company.{{cite web|last=Sarto|first=Dan|title=A Stop-Motion SpongeBob Special Means Christmas Comes Early This Year|url=http://www.awn.com/animationworld/stop-motion-spongebob-special-means-christmas-comes-early-year|work=Animation World Network|access-date=April 13, 2017|date=December 5, 2012|archive-date=November 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102111308/http://www.awn.com/animationworld/stop-motion-spongebob-special-means-christmas-comes-early-year|url-status=live}} Animation World Network reported that "within the SpongeBob creative team, there was always talk of doing a more involved project together" with Screen Novelties. As a result, the group was asked to create an episode animated entirely in stop motion in 2011. This project became "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!",{{cite news|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' Christmas Special: Stop-Motion 'It's A SpongeBob Christmas' With John Goodman|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/14/spongebob-squarepants-christmas-special_n_1597975.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=December 14, 2012|date=June 14, 2012|first=Jaimie|last=Etkin|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024023057/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/14/spongebob-squarepants-christmas-special_n_1597975.html|url-status=live}} which reimagined the show's characters as if they were part of a Rankin/Bass holiday film.{{cite web|title=Nickelodeon Debuts First Full-Length Stop-Motion Special, It's A SpongeBob Christmas!, Dec. 9, At 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT)|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-debuts-first-full-length-stop-motion-special-its-a-spongebob-christmas-dec-9-at-730-pm-etpt-176667241.html|publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=May 8, 2013|date=October 31, 2012|archive-date=November 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103175526/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-debuts-first-full-length-stop-motion-special-its-a-spongebob-christmas-dec-9-at-730-pm-etpt-176667241.html|url-status=live}} Tom Kenny, who is normally uninvolved in the writing process, contributed to the episode's plot; he said in 2012 that he and Nickelodeon "wanted to do something just like those old school, stop-motion Rankin-Bass holiday specials ... which I watched over and over again when I was a kid growing up in Syracuse".

Unconventional materials such as baking soda, glitter, wood chips and breakfast cereal were used in mass quantities to create the special's sets.{{cite web|last=Beck|first=Jerry|title=It's A SpongeBob Stop-Mo Christmas|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/stop-motion/its-a-spongebob-stop-mo-christmas-72872.html|work=Cartoon Brew|access-date=January 17, 2013|date=November 6, 2012|archive-date=November 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113114929/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/stop-motion/its-a-spongebob-stop-mo-christmas-72872.html|url-status=live}} Members of the Screen Novelties crew received one win and two nominations at the 30th Annie Awards,{{cite web|title=40th Annual Annie Awards Winners|url=http://annieawards.org/40thannieawards/|work=Annie Award|publisher=ASIFA-Hollywood|year=2013|author=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218133344/http://www.annieawards.org/40thannieawards|archive-date=February 18, 2014|url-status=dead}} a nomination at the 2013 Golden Reel Awards,{{cite web|last=Giardina|first=Carolyn|title=Sound Editors Announce Golden Reel Nominees|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-reel-nominees-413536|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 15, 2013|date=January 17, 2013|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116035440/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-reel-nominees-413536|url-status=live}} and a nomination at the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival for animating the episode.{{cite web|title=TV series Official Selection|url=http://www.annecy.org/annecy-2013/festival/official-selection:c8|publisher=Annecy International Animated Film Festival|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401141556/http://www.annecy.org/annecy-2013/festival/official-selection%3Ac8|archive-date=April 1, 2013|url-status=dead}} The team built a dolphin puppet named Bubbles, voiced by Matt Berry, for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/02/review-off-the-wall-and-trippy-sequel-the-spongebob-movie-sponge-out-of-water-267418/|title=Review: Off-The-Wall And Trippy Sequel 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water'|work=IndieWire|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|last=Taylor|first=Drew|date=February 5, 2015|access-date=April 13, 2017|archive-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128162242/https://www.indiewire.com/2015/02/review-off-the-wall-and-trippy-sequel-the-spongebob-movie-sponge-out-of-water-267418/|url-status=live}} Sequences involving Bubbles included a blend of stop motion and traditional animation. A second special animated in stop motion, themed around Halloween and using the same Rankin/Bass-inspired character models, was produced for season 11.{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com.pl/sitemap.xml.gz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413154646/http://www.nick.com.pl/sitemap.xml.gz|archive-date=April 13, 2017|title=Nickelodeon Poland Sitemap|work=Nickelodeon Poland|publisher=Viacom International, Inc.}}:{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BSkU8kLgjOG/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BSkU8kLgjOG |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=Kaz Prapuolenis on Instagram|last=Prapuolenis|first=Kaz|author-link=Kaz Prapuolenis|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017}}{{cbignore}}

{{quote box|align=right|width=27em|style=max-width:40%

|quote=[The music has gone] from mostly sea shanties and Hawaiian music à la Roy Smeck meets Pee-wee Herman—still the main style for the show—in the early episodes, but it now includes film noir, West Side Story to [Henry] Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith and [Steven] Spielberg. There's Broadway-type scores and plain old goofy, loopy, weird stuff. I try to push the envelope on this show without getting in the way of the story, and I try to push it up and way over the top when I can get away with it, all the time keeping it as funny and ridiculous as possible.

|source=—Music editor Nicolas Carr{{cite news|author=Carr, Nicolas|title=The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants|work=Hogan's Alley #17|year=2010|url=http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bull Moose Publishing Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831044034/http://cartoonician.com/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=August 31, 2015|url-status=dead}}

}}

Mark Harrison and Blaise Smith composed the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/spongebob-squarepants-theme-mt0033331163|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Theme|website=AllMusic|access-date=October 30, 2014|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905001320/https://www.allmusic.com/song/spongebob-squarepants-theme-mt0033331163|url-status=live}} Its lyrics were written by Stephen Hillenburg and the series' original creative director Derek Drymon. The melody was inspired by the sea shanty "Blow the Man Down". An old oil painting of a pirate is used in the opening sequence. Dubbed "Painty the Pirate", according to Tom Kenny, Hillenburg found it in a thrift shop "years ago". Patrick Pinney voices Painty the Pirate, singing the theme song as the character. Hillenburg's lips were imposed onto the painting and move along with the lyrics. Kenny joked this is "about as close of a glimpse as most SpongeBob fans are ever going to get of Steve Hillenburg", because of his private nature.

A cover of the song by Avril Lavigne can be found on The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie soundtrack.{{cite magazine|last=Mar|first=Alex|title=Avril Sings "SpongeBob"|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/avril-sings-spongebob-20041001|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=October 1, 2004|archive-date=September 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923091020/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/avril-sings-spongebob-20041001|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Avril Lavigne on SpongeBob SquarePants|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/avril_lavigne_on_spongebob_squarepants.html|publisher=Ultimate-Guitar|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=October 1, 2004|archive-date=January 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104005123/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/avril_lavigne_on_spongebob_squarepants.html|url-status=live}} Another cover by the Violent Femmes aired on Nickelodeon as a promotion when the series moved to prime time.{{cite web|last=Barker|first=Rayanna|title=A Conversation With Brian Ritchie|url=http://www.rockzone.com/interviews/femmes.shtml|work=Rock Zone|date=June 22, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815213049/http://www.rockzone.com/interviews/femmes.shtml|archive-date=August 15, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Steve Belfer, one of Hillenburg's friends from CalArts, wrote and performed the music heard over the end credits. This theme includes ukulele music at Hillenburg's request. Drymon said, "It's so long ago, it's hard to be sure, but I remember Hillenburg having the Belfer music early on, maybe before the pilot".

The series' music editor and main composer is Nicolas Carr. After working with Hillenburg on Rocko's Modern Life, he struggled to find a new job in his field. He had considered a career change before Hillenburg offered him the job. The first season's score primarily featured selections from the Associated Production Music Library, which Carr has said includes "lots of great old corny Hawaiian music and big, full, dramatic orchestral scores." Rocko's Modern Life also used music from this library. It was Hillenburg's decision to adopt this approach. Carr has described the selections for SpongeBob SquarePants as being "more over-the-top" than those for Rocko's Modern Life.

Hillenburg felt it was important for the series to develop its own music library, consisting of scores that could be reused and re-edited throughout the years. He wanted these scores to be composed by unknowns, and a group of twelve was assembled. They formed "The Sponge Divers Orchestra", which includes Carr and Belfer. The group went on to provide most of the music for later seasons, although Carr still draws from the Associated Production Music Library, as well as another library that he founded himself—Animation Music Inc.

{{Main|List of SpongeBob SquarePants episodes|l1=List of SpongeBob SquarePants episodes}}

{{:List of SpongeBob SquarePants episodes}}

SpongeBob SquarePants was able to be streamed on Netflix until its deal with Viacom ended in 2013. The series continues to stream on Netflix in various regions outside of the United States.{{Cite web |title=Is SpongeBob SquarePants (1999) on Netflix? |url=https://ca.flixboss.com/series/spongebob-squarepants-70155547 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219090848/https://ca.flixboss.com/series/spongebob-squarepants-70155547 |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2020 |website=Flixboss}} The series was also available on Hulu from 2012 until 2016.{{cite magazine |last=Rome |first=Emily |date=October 9, 2012 |title=Nickelodeon shows now available to watch on Hulu Plus |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/09/nickelodeon-hulu-plus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215154106/https://ew.com/article/2012/10/09/nickelodeon-hulu-plus/ |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |access-date=July 31, 2020 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} The series was available on Amazon Prime Video in 2013 after the Netflix deal ended.{{cite web |last=Poggi |first=Jeanine |date=June 4, 2013 |title=Netflix Deal Over, Viacom Takes Dora and SpongeBob to Amazon Prime |url=https://adage.com/article/media/amazon-signs-exclusive-deal-stream-viacom-shows/241846 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610182358/https://adage.com/article/media/amazon-signs-exclusive-deal-stream-viacom-shows/241846 |archive-date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=July 31, 2020 |work=Ad Age}} As part of the rebranding plan of Paramount+, the series joined along with other ViacomCBS shows on July 30, 2020.

Currently, the first 15 seasons are available to be streamed on Prime Video and the first 13 seasons through Paramount+.{{cite web |title=SpongeBob SquarePants – Where to Stream and Watch |url=https://decider.com/show/spongebob-squarepants/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013042936/https://decider.com/show/spongebob-squarepants/ |archive-date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=July 31, 2020 |work=Decider}}

{{Further|List of SpongeBob SquarePants home video releases}}

SpongeBob SquarePants DVD releases are distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment under the Nickelodeon label.

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| quote = Ten years. I never imagined working on the show to this date and this long...I really figured we might get a season and a cult following, and that might be it.

| source = —Stephen Hillenburg{{cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|title=Absorbent And Yellow And Beloved At 10 Is He|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/13/AR2009071303240.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 14, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112073445/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-07-14/news/36923802_1_stephen-hillenburg-sponge-character-squidward-tentacles|archive-date=November 12, 2013}}

}}

Nickelodeon began celebrating the series' 10th anniversary on January 18, 2009, with a live cast reading of the episode "SpongeBob vs. The Big One". The reading—a first for the series—was held at that year's Sundance Film Festival.{{cite news |date=January 19, 2009 |title=Nickelodeon Taps Patrick Creadon and Christine O'Malley to Produce First-Ever SpongeBob... |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/01/19/idUS145869+19-Jan-2009+PRN20090119 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825100641/https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/01/19/idUS145869%2B19-Jan-2009%2BPRN20090119 |archive-date=August 25, 2014 |work=Reuters}}{{cite web |last=Goldman |first=Eric |date=January 9, 2009 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants Meets Johnny Depp – TV News at IGN |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/943/943426p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217111940/http://tv.ign.com/articles/943/943426p1.html |archive-date=February 17, 2009 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |publisher=Tv.ign.com}} The episode, which premiered on TV on April 17, 2009, features Johnny Depp as a guest star.{{cite web |last=Moody |first=Annemarie |date=April 1, 2009 |title=Johnny Depp Teaches SpongeBob to Hang Ten in New TV Special |url=http://www.awn.com/news/johnny-depp-teaches-spongebob-hang-ten-new-tv-special |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027160859/http://www.awn.com/news/johnny-depp-teaches-spongebob-hang-ten-new-tv-special |archive-date=October 27, 2014 |access-date=November 2, 2014 |work=Animation World Network}} Other celebratory actions taken by the network included the launching of a new website for the series (spongebob.com) and the introduction of new merchandise. A "SpongeBob and water conservation-themed element" was also added to Nickelodeon's pro-social campaign The Big Green Help. In an interview, Tom Kenny said, "What I'm most proud of is that kids still really like [SpongeBob SquarePants] and care about it ... They eagerly await new episodes. People who were young children when it started 10 years ago are still watching it and digging it and think it's funny. That's the loving cup for me."{{cite magazine |last=Bubbeo |first=Daniel |date=July 13, 2009 |title='SpongeBob SquarePants' celebrates 10 years of nautical nonsense |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/108120-spongebob-squarepants-celebrates-10-years-of-nautical-nonsense/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717003015/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/108120-spongebob-squarepants-celebrates-10-years-of-nautical-nonsense/ |archive-date=July 17, 2009 |magazine=PopMatters}}

Three nights before the official anniversary date, an hour-long documentary on the series, Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants, premiered on VH1.{{cite web |date=January 19, 2009 |title='SpongeBob' documentary on its way |url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/01/19/SpongeBob-documentary-on-its-way/UPI-79001232406610/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215111057/http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/01/19/SpongeBob-documentary-on-its-way/UPI-79001232406610/ |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |access-date=December 15, 2013 |publisher=United Press International}} Critically acclaimed duo Patrick Creadon and Christine O'Malley created the film as a followup to I.O.U.S.A.—a documentary on America's financial situation. Creadon remarked, "After spending two years examining the financial health of the United States, Christine and I were ready to tackle something a little more upbeat. Telling the SpongeBob story feels like the perfect fit." On July 17, Nickelodeon marked the official anniversary of the series, with a 50-hour television marathon titled "The Ultimate SpongeBob SpongeBash Weekend". It began with a new episode, "To SquarePants or Not to SquarePants". Saturday saw a countdown of the top ten episodes as picked by fans, as well as an airing of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. The marathon finished on Sunday, with a countdown of episodes picked by celebrities and the premiere of ten new episodes.{{cite web |date=June 24, 2009 |title=Nickelodeon Celebrates 10 Years of Pop Culture Icon SpongeBob SquarePants |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-celebrates-10-years-of-pop-culture-icon-spongebob-squarepants-61867637.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112073723/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-celebrates-10-years-of-pop-culture-icon-spongebob-squarepants-61867637.html |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |access-date=May 19, 2013 |publisher=PR Newswire}}{{cite web |date=June 24, 2009 |title=Ultimate SpongeBob SpongeBash Weekend – Raving Toy Maniac – The Latest News and Pictures from the World of Toys |url=http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/11311.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219214234/http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/11311.shtml |archive-date=December 19, 2009 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |publisher=Toymania.com}}

Nickelodeon continued celebrating the anniversary through the rest of the year. An eight-episode DVD set featuring To SquarePants or Not to SquarePants was released shortly after the marathon on July 21.{{cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=April 21, 2009 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants — To SquarePants or Not to SquarePants Debuts in July's 100-ep Marathon, Then on DVD |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-To-SP-or-Not-to-SP/11747 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427162005/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-To-SP-or-Not-to-SP/11747 |archive-date=April 27, 2015 |work=tvshowsondvd.com}}{{cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=April 28, 2009 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants – 'First 100 Episodes' 5-Season DVD Set Arrives with New Extras this Autumn |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-The-First-100-Episodes/11781 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206075924/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-The-First-100-Episodes/11781 |archive-date=December 6, 2013 |publisher=TV Shows on DVD}} Next a 2,200 minute, 14-disc DVD set titled The First 100 Episodes was released on September 22.{{cite web |title=SpongeBob SquarePants — The First 100 Episodes (Seasons 1–5) |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/SpongeBob-SquarePants-100-Episodes-Seasons-1-5/9154 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101100209/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/SpongeBob-SquarePants-100-Episodes-Seasons-1-5/9154 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |publisher=TV Shows on DVD}}{{cite web |last=Shaffer |first=R.L. |date=September 21, 2009 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes DVD Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/21/spongebob-squarepants-the-first-100-episodes-dvd-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921152827/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/21/spongebob-squarepants-the-first-100-episodes-dvd-review |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2013 |website=IGN}} Finally, on November 6, an hour-long television film, titled Truth or Square, debuted on Nickelodeon. The film is narrated by Ricky Gervais and features live action cameo appearances by: Rosario Dawson, Craig Ferguson, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, LeBron James, P!nk, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and Robin Williams.{{cite web |last=Zahed |first=Ramid |date=July 24, 2009 |title=Soaking in Festivities |url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/soaking-in-the-festivities/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328160647/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/soaking-in-the-festivities/ |archive-date=March 28, 2016 |access-date=May 19, 2013 |work=Animation Magazine}}{{cite web |date=July 1, 2009 |title=Ricky Gervais, Will Ferrell and Robin Williams pay tribute to SpongeBob SquarePants |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ricky-gervais-will-ferrell-and-robin-williams-403690 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024021016/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ricky-gervais-will-ferrell-and-robin-williams-403690 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2013 |work=Daily Mirror}}{{cite web |last=Maclntyre |first=April |date=October 14, 2009 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants Truth or Square, Friday Nov. 6 |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506939.php/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square-Friday-Nov-6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112073718/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506939.php/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square-Friday-Nov-6 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |work=Monsters and Critics}} It was released as part of a five-episode DVD set on November 10, 2009.{{cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=August 11, 2009 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants — Truth or Square Officially Announced: Package Art, Extras & More! |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square/12462 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105133819/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square/12462 |archive-date=January 5, 2015 |work=tvshowsondvd.com}}

On February 11, 2019, Nickelodeon announced it would recognize the twentieth anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants with a series of celebrations known as the "Best Year Ever".{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Tracy |date=February 11, 2019 |title='SpongeBob Squarepants' to celebrate 20 years with the 'Best Year Ever' and a new movie |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-spongebob-20th-best-year-ever-20190211-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212121031/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-spongebob-20th-best-year-ever-20190211-story.html |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |last=Zachary |first=Brandon |date=February 14, 2019 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants Spinoffs in the Works From Nickelodeon |url=https://www.cbr.com/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-nickelodeon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215102741/https://www.cbr.com/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-nickelodeon/ |archive-date=February 15, 2019 |access-date=February 14, 2019 |work=Comic Book Resources}} In honor of the anniversary, Pantone created color shades known as "SpongeBob SquarePants Yellow" and "Patrick Star Pink" to be used by Nickelodeon's licensing partners.{{cite web |last=Foster |first=Elizabeth |date=May 30, 2019 |title=SpongeBob gets artsy for 20th anniversary |url=http://kidscreen.com/2019/05/30/spongebob-gets-artsy-for-20th-anniversary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531103943/http://kidscreen.com/2019/05/30/spongebob-gets-artsy-for-20th-anniversary/ |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=Kidscreen}}{{cite web |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Nickelodeon and The Pantone Color Institute Launch SpongeBob Yellow and Patrick Star Pink in Commemoration of SpongeBob's 20th Anniversary |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190530005850/en/Nickelodeon-Pantone-Color-Institute-Launch-SpongeBob-Yellow |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605050947/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190530005850/en/Nickelodeon-Pantone-Color-Institute-Launch-SpongeBob-Yellow |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=Business Wire}}{{cite web |last=Owen |first=Rob |date=July 10, 2019 |title=Behind the Business of 'SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout' |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/spongebob-squarepants-big-birthday-bash-20-festivities-nickelodeon-slime-sdcc-live-action-1203260059/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714064146/https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/spongebob-squarepants-big-birthday-bash-20-festivities-nickelodeon-slime-sdcc-live-action-1203260059/ |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=Variety}} Romero Britto, Jon Burgerman, and the Filipino art collective Secret Fresh were commissioned by Nickelodeon to create art pieces devoted to SpongeBob SquarePants. Some of these pieces were to be adapted into commercial products. On February 12, in conjunction with Nickelodeon's announcement of the "Best Year Ever", Cynthia Rowley presented a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed wetsuit during New York Fashion Week.{{cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=February 12, 2019 |title=Nickelodeon Celebrates 20 Years of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' with "Best Year Ever" |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/nickelodeon-celebrates-20-years-of-spongebob-squarepants-with-best-year-ever/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213052454/https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/nickelodeon-celebrates-20-years-of-spongebob-squarepants-with-best-year-ever/ |archive-date=February 13, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |work=Animation Magazine}}{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Anna |date=February 15, 2019 |title=Cynthia Rowley Creates SpongeBob SquarePants Birthday Wetsuit |url=https://www.danspapers.com/2019/02/cynthia-rowley-spongebob-squarepants/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216064205/https://www.danspapers.com/2019/02/cynthia-rowley-spongebob-squarepants/ |archive-date=February 16, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=Dan's Papers}}{{cite web |date=August 10, 2019 |title=How Kanye West changed sneaker culture: Nike, Adidas don't need athletes to sell sports shoes now they've got celebrities |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3021142/nike-vans-moschino-how-spongebob-squarepants-became |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803211300/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3021142/nike-vans-moschino-how-spongebob-squarepants-became |archive-date=August 3, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=South China Morning Post}} A month later, Marlou Breuls presented the SpongeBob SquarePants-themed "Icon Collection" during Amsterdam Fashion Week.{{cite web |last=Stubblebine |first=Allison |date=March 12, 2019 |title=SpongeBob Got A Haute Couture Makeover At Amsterdam Fashion Week |url=https://nylon.com/marlou-breuls-spongebob-squarepants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403041014/https://nylon.com/marlou-breuls-spongebob-squarepants |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=Nylon}}{{cite web |last=Crenshaw |first=Madeleine |date=March 14, 2019 |title=This Edgy Fashion Collection Is Inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants |url=https://footwearnews.com/2019/runway/womens/spongebob-squarepants-marlou-breuls-amsterdam-fashion-week-1202760501/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821180302/https://footwearnews.com/2019/runway/womens/spongebob-squarepants-marlou-breuls-amsterdam-fashion-week-1202760501/ |archive-date=August 21, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=footwearnews.com}} That summer, Nike, in collaboration with Kyrie Irving, released a SpongeBob SquarePants series of shoes, accessories, and apparel.{{cite web |date=July 24, 2019 |title=Kyrie Irving, Nike Go Under the Sea with SpongeBob |url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/apparel-accessories/kyrie-irving-nike-go-under-sea-spongebob |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726121730/https://www.licenseglobal.com/apparel-accessories/kyrie-irving-nike-go-under-sea-spongebob |archive-date=July 26, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=licenseglobal.com}} In July, for the first time ever, SpongeBob SquarePants became the theme of a cosmetics line, which was released as a limited time offering by HipDot Studios.{{cite web |author=Jacqueline Laurean Yates |date=July 18, 2019 |title=HipDot launches 'SpongeBob Squarepants' cosmetics collection |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Style/hipdot-launches-spongebob-squarepants-cosmetics-collection/story?id=64413092 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719031807/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Style/hipdot-launches-spongebob-squarepants-cosmetics-collection/story?id=64413092 |archive-date=July 19, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |work=ABC News}}{{cite web |last=Fasanella |first=Kaleigh |date=July 17, 2019 |title=A SpongeBob SquarePants Makeup Collection Is Here – and It's Surprisingly Wearable |url=https://www.allure.com/story/spongebob-squarepants-makeup-collection-hipdot-studios-eye-shadow-palettes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614170716/https://www.allure.com/story/spongebob-squarepants-makeup-collection-hipdot-studios-eye-shadow-palettes |archive-date=June 14, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |work=Allure}} The "Best Year Ever" also introduced an official SpongeBob SquarePants YouTube channel and a new mobile game based on the series, along with new toy lines.

The "Best Year Ever" formally began on July 12, 2019, with the premiere of the one-hour, live-action/animated TV special SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout.{{cite web |last=Keveney |first=Bill |date=February 11, 2019 |title='SpongeBob' goes live-action to celebrate 'Best Year Ever' 20th anniversary |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/02/11/spongebob-squarepants-adds-live-action-20th-anniversary/2843374002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212033527/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/02/11/spongebob-squarepants-adds-live-action-20th-anniversary/2843374002/ |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |work=USA Today}} It continued that month at San Diego Comic-Con, with two panels, a booth, and various activities devoted to the series.{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=June 18, 2019 |title='SpongeBob SquarePants' 20th Anniversary To Pop Confetti At San Diego Comic-Con |url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/spongebob-squarepants-san-diego-comic-con-20th-anniversary-1202634218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630092536/https://deadline.com/2019/06/spongebob-squarepants-san-diego-comic-con-20th-anniversary-1202634218/ |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} The "Best Year Ever" was recognized on Amazon Prime Day with an exclusive early release of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best 200 Episodes Ever!, a 30-disc DVD compilation of two box sets, SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Next 100 Episodes. The collections received a standard nationwide release on August 27.{{cite web |last=Millgan |first=Mercedes |date=July 10, 2019 |title=Celebrate SpongeBob with Nick's 'Best 200 Episodes Ever' 30-Disc Set |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/celebrate-spongebob-with-nicks-best-200-episodes-ever-30-disc-set/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711143102/https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/celebrate-spongebob-with-nicks-best-200-episodes-ever-30-disc-set/ |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |work=Animation Magazine}} The "Best Year Ever" continued into 2020 culminating with the August 14 release of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=April 14, 2020 |title=The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On the Run Takes Over Infinites Early August Slot |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-spongebob-movie-sponge-on-the-run-new-release-date-1202908177/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424193113/https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-spongebob-movie-sponge-on-the-run-new-release-date-1202908177/ |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |access-date=April 14, 2020 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}

On May 22, 2024, Nickelodeon announced it would celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants with a worldwide event known as "SpongeBob 25".{{cite web |date=May 22, 2024 |title=SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS AND PATRICK STAR TO HOST NICKELODEON KIDS' CHOICE AWARDS 2024, KICKING OFF LANDMARK 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spongebob-squarepants-and-patrick-star-to-host-nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-2024-kicking-off-landmark-25th-anniversary-celebration-of-spongebob-squarepants-302153124.html |access-date=July 14, 2024 |work=PR Newswire}}

"SpongeBob 25" formally began on July 13, 2024, with the 2024 Kids' Choice Awards hosted by SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star. The following week, Nickelodeon rolled out a series of SpongeBob SquarePants episodes with Easter eggs and nods to previous episodes of the series.

The Krabby Patty Kollab collaboration began on October 8, 2024, in which Wendy's and several local restaurants collaborated to bring their own interpretations of real-life Krabby Patties.{{Cite web |last=Buenahora |first=Andrés |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Krabby Patties Enter the Real World: 'SpongeBob SquarePants'-Themed Dishes Coming to Wendy's and Over 250 Other Restaurants |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-themed-burgers-wendys-restaurants-collaboration-1236162353/ |access-date=October 10, 2024 |website=Variety}}

A one-hour television special, Kreepaway Kamp, premiered on October 10, 2024 on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best 300 Episodes Ever, a 44-disc DVD compilation of three box sets, SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Next 100 Episodes and SpongeBob SquarePants: Another 100 Episodes, released on October 15, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Alexa |first=Laurén |date=October 11, 2024 |title=2 New 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Collections Coming to DVD |url=https://www.awn.com/news/2-new-spongebob-squarepants-collections-coming-dvd |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=Animation World Network}}

Within its first month on air, SpongeBob SquarePants overtook Pokémon as the highest rated Saturday-morning children's series on television. It held an average national Nielsen rating of 4.9 among children aged two through eleven, denoting 1.9 million viewers.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55581463.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081516/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55581463.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=Nickelodeon.(rating of Nickelodeon's cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)|work=Multichannel News|date=August 23, 1999}}{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/demystifying-the-s/|title=Number 101|work=TV by the Numbers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329031934/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/demystifying-the-s/|archive-date=March 29, 2015}} Two years later, the series had firmly established itself as Nickelodeon's second highest-rated children's program, after Rugrats. SpongeBob SquarePants was credited with helping Nickelodeon take the "Saturday-morning ratings crown" for the third straight season in 2001.{{cite web|title=Nick Retains Saturday Crown|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-75761403.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106075359/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-75761403.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2013|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=June 18, 2001}} The series had gained a significant adult audience by that point—nearly 40 percent of its 2.2 million viewers were aged 18 to 34.{{cite web|title=The Stretch|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-78370194.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106075355/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-78370194.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2013|work=Rocky Mountain News|date=September 15, 2001|location=Denver, CO}} In response to its weekend success, Nickelodeon gave SpongeBob SquarePants time slots at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, to increase the series' exposure.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-76426074.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924163424/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-76426074.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|first=Frazier|last=Moore|title=Sponge Soaks Up Laughs On TV.(Living)|work=The Cincinnati Post|date=July 9, 2001}} By the end of 2001, SpongeBob SquarePants had the highest ratings for any children's series, on all of television.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Amy |title=Stephen Hillenburg created the undersea world of SpongeBob |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122463401/stephen-hillenburg-created-the-undersea/ |access-date=April 7, 2023 |work=The Herald-Sun |date=February 17, 2002 |pages=58 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407211647/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122463401/stephen-hillenburg-created-the-undersea/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Stauffer|first=Cindy|title=Grown-ups embrace a wacky, square sponge; There's just something about this sweet kids' cartoon that's attracting an adult audience. Local fans can't get enough of SpongeBob|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9138807.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108172353/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9138807.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2013|work=Lancaster New Era|date=May 17, 2002}}{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Frazier|title='SpongeBob' rises from sea to peak of ratings: Nickelodeon show top-rated among kids aged 2 to 11|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9876189.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081521/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9876189.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|work=Charleston Daily Mail|date=October 21, 2002}} Weekly viewership of the series had reached around fifteen million, at least five million of whom were adults.

In October 2002, another Nickelodeon series, The Fairly OddParents, ranked as the number two program for children between two and eleven years old.{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Suzanne C.|title='Oddparents is Soaking Up Popularity of 'Spongebob'|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7796026.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081527/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7796026.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|work=The Boston Globe|date=August 14, 2003}} Its ratings at that time were almost equal to SpongeBob SquarePants{{'}} then-average of 2.2 million viewers per episode. The Fairly OddParents even briefly surpassed SpongeBob SquarePants, causing it to drop into second place. At this time, The Fairly OddParents had a 6.2 rating and nearly 2.5 million child viewers, while SpongeBob SquarePants had a 6.0 rating and 2.4 million child viewers aged two to eleven.{{cite web|last=Oei|first=Lily|title='Fairly Odd' number puts 'SpongeBob' in second|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94666940.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081525/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94666940.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|work=Daily Variety|date=October 28, 2002}} Nickelodeon "recognized" The Fairly OddParents for its climbing ratings and installed it in a new 8:00 PM time slot, previously occupied by SpongeBob SquarePants. In an interview, Cyma Zarghami, then-general manager and executive vice president of Nickelodeon, said, "Are we banking on the fact that Fairly OddParents will be the next SpongeBob? ... We are hoping. But SpongeBob is so unique, it's hard to say if it will ever be repeated."

In 2012, the series' ratings were declining;{{cite web|title=Sorry, SpongeBob: Disney Channel Knocks Nick From Top Ratings Perch|url=https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/nickelodeon-ratings-disney-tops-kids-rival-key-category-first-time-36612|work=The Wrap|access-date=May 26, 2013|date=March 28, 2012|archive-date=March 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330001652/https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/nickelodeon-ratings-disney-tops-kids-rival-key-category-first-time-36612|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last=Lieberman|first=David|title=Nickelodeon's Ratings Decline Is No "Blip"; Is Viacom Or Nielsen To Blame?|url=https://deadline.com/2011/11/nickelodeons-ratings-decline-is-no-blip-is-viacom-or-nielsen-to-blame-199006/|magazine=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 26, 2013|date=November 29, 2011|archive-date=November 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109032437/http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/nickelodeons-ratings-decline-is-no-blip-is-viacom-or-nielsen-to-blame/|url-status=live}} Nielsen reported that the average number of viewers aged two to eleven watching SpongeBob at any given time dropped 29% in the first quarter from the previous year. Wall Street Journal business writer John Jannarone suggested that the decline may be in part due to the series' age and oversaturation affecting the channel's ratings entirely,{{cite news|last=Jannarone|first=John|title=Viacom's SpongeBob Crisis|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303990604577370510139597158|access-date=May 26, 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 2, 2012|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009014533/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303990604577370510139597158|url-status=live}} while media analyst Todd Juenger attributed the decline directly to the availability of Nickelodeon's content on streaming video services like Netflix.{{cite news|last=Gardner|first=Eriq|title=Analyst: Nickelodeon Might Be in Danger of Being Dropped by Some TV Distributors|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nickelodeon-viacom-336290|work=HollywoodReporter.com|access-date=December 5, 2013|date=June 12, 2012|archive-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007085444/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nickelodeon-viacom-336290|url-status=live}} Viacom's then-president and CEO Philippe Dauman contradicted the latter notion, claiming that the media company was getting "nice revenues" from their video on-demand deals and that the service only had select content from the channel's library.{{cite news|last=Szalai|first=Georg|title=Viacom CEO Defends Nickelodeon's Netflix Deal Again|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-philippe-dauman-defends-nickelodeons-netflix-ratings-319904|access-date=May 26, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 3, 2013|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008160308/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-philippe-dauman-defends-nickelodeons-netflix-ratings-319904|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Szalai|first=Georg|title=Viacom CEO: Netflix Content Is Not Hurting Nickelodeon Ratings|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-netflix-content-not-hurting-nickelodeon-ratings-philippe-dauman-286605|access-date=May 26, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 2, 2013|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828192726/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-ceo-netflix-content-not-hurting-nickelodeon-ratings-philippe-dauman-286605|url-status=live}} A Nickelodeon spokesman similarly denied that the show was in any way a problem with the channel's ratings. Dauman blamed the drop on "some ratings systemic issues" at Nielsen, citing extensive set-top-box data that "does in no way reflect" the Nielsen data. Juenger noted SpongeBob could affect the ratings of other Nickelodeon programming because children often change channels to find their favorite programs, then stay tuned to that network.

On April 22, 2013, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced their intentions not to renew their existing deal with Viacom.{{cite news|last=Wallenstein|first=Andrew|title=Viacom and Netflix to Scale Down SVOD Deal|url=https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/viacom-and-netflix-to-scale-down-svod-deal-1200407086/|newspaper=Variety|access-date=May 26, 2013|date=April 22, 2013|archive-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007110309/https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/viacom-and-netflix-to-scale-down-svod-deal-1200407086/|url-status=live}} Viacom's deal with Netflix expired, and shows such as SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer were removed in the United States.{{cite web|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|title=Adios, Dora: Netflix is starting to take Viacom shows offline|url=http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/23/no-more-dora-spongebob-on-netflix/|publisher=paidContent|access-date=May 26, 2013|date=May 23, 2013|archive-date=June 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607183520/http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/23/no-more-dora-spongebob-on-netflix/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://ca.flixboss.com/series/spongebob-squarepants-70155547|title=SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)|website=ca.flixboss.com|access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219090848/https://ca.flixboss.com/series/spongebob-squarepants-70155547|url-status=live}} On June 4, 2013, Viacom announced a $200 million multi-year licensing agreement which would move its programs, such as SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer, to Amazon.com.{{cite news|title=Dora, SpongeBob Swap Sides in Fickle Web-Video World|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324423904578525044270830934|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=June 5, 2013|date=June 4, 2013|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008171408/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324423904578525044270830934|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Moscariloto|first=Angela|title=Amazon Inks Streaming Deal for Viacom Shows Like Dora, SpongeBob|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2419901,00.asp|magazine=PCMag.com|access-date=June 5, 2013|date=June 4, 2013|archive-date=December 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219090858/https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2419901,00.asp|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Barr|first=Alistair|title=Amazon writes biggest streaming video check for Dora, SpongeBob|url=http://www.denverpost.com/technology/ci_23385278/amazon-writes-biggest-streaming-video-check-dora-spongebob|work=Denver Post|access-date=June 5, 2013|date=June 4, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082026/http://www.denverpost.com/technology/ci_23385278/amazon-writes-biggest-streaming-video-check-dora-spongebob|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Amazon swipes SpongeBob from Netflix in most expensive deal yet|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23385964/amazon-swipes-spongebob-from-netflix-most-expensive-deal|work=The Mercury News|access-date=June 5, 2013|date=June 4, 2013|archive-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606165437/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23385964/amazon-swipes-spongebob-from-netflix-most-expensive-deal|url-status=live}}

SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the longest-running series on Nickelodeon, and one of the longest-running American animated series on television.{{cite news|last=Huff|first=Richard|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' one of Nickelodeon's longest-running shows after nearly a decade|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/spongebob-squarepants-nickelodeon-longest-running-shows-decade-article-1.435311|work=New York Daily News|date=December 14, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121072606/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/spongebob-squarepants-nickelodeon-longest-running-shows-decade-article-1.435311|archive-date=January 21, 2013}} It became the network's series with the most episodes during its eighth season, surpassing the 172 episodes of Rugrats,{{cite web|title=5 of the best|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-277305615.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610050540/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-277305615.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|work=Sunday Tribune|date=January 15, 2011}} and in 2025 became the longest-running American children's animated series. Many children of the 2000s grew up with the series, leading to the series possessing an extensive influence on Generation Z and millennials and greater internet culture.{{Cite web |last=Trammell |first=Kendall |date=2019-05-05 |title=SpongeBob and the 7 life lessons he taught a generation |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/05/entertainment/spongebob-anniversary-trnd/index.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508223836/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/05/entertainment/spongebob-anniversary-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}

SpongeBob SquarePants has been widely praised, particularly for its appeal to different age groups, and the show has earned numerous awards and accolades throughout its run. James Poniewozik of Time magazine described the title character as "the anti-Bart Simpson, temperamentally and physically: his head is as squared-off and neat as Bart's is unruly, and he has a personality to match—conscientious, optimistic and blind to the faults in the world and those around him."{{cite magazine|last=Poniewozik|first=James|title=Soaking Up Attention|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,187600,00.html|magazine=Time|access-date=December 27, 2013|date=December 9, 2011|archive-date=December 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229004630/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C187600%2C00.html|url-status=live}} According to Laura Fries of Variety magazine, the series is "a thoughtful and inventive cartoon about a hopelessly optimistic and resilient sea sponge ... Devoid of the double entendres rife in today's animated TV shows, this is purely kid's stuff. ... However, that's not to say that SpongeBob is simplistic or even juvenile. It's charming and whimsical, but clever enough to appeal to teens and college-aged kids as well."{{cite news|last=Fries|first=Laura|title=Review: 'SpongeBob SquarePants'|url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/reviews/spongebob-squarepants-1200458428/|work=Variety|access-date=December 27, 2013|date=July 14, 1999|archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012043436/https://variety.com/1999/tv/reviews/spongebob-squarepants-1200458428/|url-status=live}} The New York Times{{'}} critic Joyce Millman said SpongeBob "is clever without being impenetrable to young viewers and goofy without boring grown-ups to tears. It's the most charming toon on television, and one of the weirdest. And it's also good, clean fun, which makes sense because it is, after all, about a sponge." Millman wrote, "His relentless good cheer would be irritating if he weren't so darned lovable and his world so excellently strange. ... Like Pee-wee's Playhouse, SpongeBob joyfully dances on the fine line between childhood and adulthood, guilelessness and camp, the warped and the sweet."{{cite news|last=Millman|first=Joyce|title=Television/Radio; The Gentle World Of a Joyful Sponge|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/08/arts/television-radio-the-gentle-world-of-a-joyful-sponge.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 27, 2013|date=July 8, 2001|archive-date=January 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115064047/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/08/arts/television-radio-the-gentle-world-of-a-joyful-sponge.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|url-status=live}}

Robert Thompson, a professor of communications and director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University, told The New York Times

There is something kind of unique about [SpongeBob]. It seems to be a refreshing breath from the pre-irony era. There's no sense of the elbow-in-rib, tongue-in-cheek aesthetic that so permeates the rest of American culture—including kids' shows like the Rugrats. I think what's subversive about it is it's so incredibly naive—deliberately. Because there's nothing in it that's trying to be hip or cool or anything else, hipness can be grafted onto it.{{cite news|title=How to Succeed Without Attitude|url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/pop/20020722snapmonday.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 27, 2013|date=July 21, 2002|author=Zeller, Tom Jr.|author-link=Tom Zeller Jr.|archive-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831024626/http://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/pop/20020722snapmonday.html|url-status=live}}

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by SpongeBob SquarePants|l1 = List of awards and nominations received by SpongeBob SquarePants}}

SpongeBob SquarePants has received many awards and nominations; among these are four Emmy Awards (Outstanding Special Class Animated Program in 2010;{{cite web |title=The 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations |url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0910_nominations_v03.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112073407/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0910_nominations_v03.pdf |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}} Outstanding Sound Editing—Animation" in 2014;{{cite web|title=Winners of the 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy® Awards|url=http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_41st_creative_arts_winners.pdf|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705034232/http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_41st_creative_arts_winners.pdf|archive-date=July 5, 2014}} Outstanding Children's Animated Series in 2018; and Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program in 2018 for Kenny);{{cite web|title=2018 Daytime Emmy winners: Full list of Creative Arts Awards winners and nominees|url=http://www.goldderby.com/article/2018/2018-daytime-emmy-winners-full-list-creative-arts-awards-news-264817359/|work=GoldDerby|first=Daniel|last=Montgomery|date=April 28, 2018|access-date=April 28, 2018|archive-date=April 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428234904/http://www.goldderby.com/article/2018/2018-daytime-emmy-winners-full-list-creative-arts-awards-news-264817359/|url-status=live}} six Annie Awards;{{cite web|title=32nd Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2004)|url=http://annieawards.org/32ndwinners.html|publisher=Annie Award|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509064634/http://annieawards.org/32ndwinners.html|archive-date=May 9, 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=37th Annual Annie Nominations |url=http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html#20|publisher=Annie Award|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124032256/http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html|archive-date=January 24, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=38th Annual Annie Nominations |url=http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html |publisher=Annie Award |access-date=May 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906082547/http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html |archive-date=September 6, 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Annie Award Nominations — A Real Race For Once|url=http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2012/12/4/annie-award-nominations-a-real-race-for-once.html|publisher=TheFilmExperience.net|access-date=April 13, 2013|date=December 4, 2012|archive-date=March 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323062852/http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2012/12/4/annie-award-nominations-a-real-race-for-once.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=40th Annie Award nominees and winners list|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2013-feb-02-la-et-mn-40th-annie-award-nominations-winners-list-20130202-story.html|access-date=May 23, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 2, 2013|archive-date=January 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115171020/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/02/entertainment/la-et-mn-40th-annie-award-nominations-winners-list-20130202|url-status=live}} and two BAFTA Children's Awards.{{cite web|title=Children's in 2007|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2007/childrens|work=British Academy Children's Awards|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|access-date=April 1, 2014|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305074253/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2007/childrens|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Children's in 2012|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2012/childrens|work=British Academy Children's Awards|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|access-date=April 1, 2014|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082901/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2012/childrens/|url-status=live}} In 2006, IGN ranked SpongeBob SquarePants 15th on its list of the Top 25 Animated Series of All Time,{{cite web|title=15. SpongeBob SquarePants|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/29/top-25-primetime-animated-series-of-all-time?page=3|website=IGN|access-date=December 31, 2013|date=September 28, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923030609/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/29/top-25-primetime-animated-series-of-all-time?page=3|archive-date=September 23, 2012}} and in 2013, it ranked the series 12th on its list of the Top 25 Animated Series for Adults.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/15/top-25-animated-shows-for-adults?page=3|title=The Top 25 Animated Shows for Adults|website=IGN|date=July 15, 2013|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-date=July 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723190001/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/15/top-25-animated-shows-for-adults?page=3|url-status=live}} In addition, the website's UK division ran a Top 100 Animated Series list and like its US counterpart, ranked SpongeBob SquarePants 15th.{{cite web|url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/15.html |title=Nickelodeon: SpongeBob SquarePants |website=IGN|access-date=December 29, 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620010829/http://uk.tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/15.html|archive-date=June 20, 2012}}

TV Guide listed SpongeBob SquarePants himself at number nine on its list of the 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time in 2002.{{cite news|title=TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404044955/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/|archive-date=April 4, 2005|work=TV Guide|date=July 30, 2002}} In June 2010, Entertainment Weekly named SpongeBob one of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years.{{cite magazine|title=The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years: Here's our full list!|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 7, 2012|first=Adam B.|last=Vary|date=June 1, 2010|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921234113/http://www.ew.com/article/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list|url-status=live}} Viewers of UK television network Channel 4 voted SpongeBob SquarePants the 28th Greatest Cartoon in a 2004 poll.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/results.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520014452/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/results.html|archive-date=May 20, 2009|title=The 100 Greatest Cartoons – Results|publisher=Channel 4.com|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/index.html|title=The 100 Greatest Cartoons – The Show|publisher=Channel 4.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422100525/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/index.html|archive-date=April 22, 2009}} The series is among the All-TIME 100 TV Shows, as chosen by Time television critic James Poniewozik in 2007. He said, "It's the most funny, surreal, inventive example of the explosion in creative kids' (and adult) entertainment that Nick, Cartoon Network and their ilk made possible."{{cite magazine|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/spongebob-squarepants-2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022130006/http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/spongebob-squarepants-2/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2011|title=All-TIME 100 TV shows: SpongeBob SquarePants|magazine=Time|author=Poniewozik, James|access-date=May 11, 2013|date=August 14, 2007}} In 2013, the publication ranked SpongeBob SquarePants the eighth Greatest TV Cartoon of All Time.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Greatest-Cartoons-TV-Guide-Magazine-1071203.aspx|title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Greatest Cartoons of All Time|work=TV Guide|date=September 24, 2013|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-date=July 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710095501/https://www.tvguide.com/news/greatest-cartoons-tv-guide-magazine-1071203/|url-status=live}} Television critic Matt Zoller Seitz included the series in his 2016 book with Alan Sepinwall titled TV (The Book) as the 22nd greatest American television series of all time, saying that "SpongeBob SquarePants is an absurdist masterpiece that Salvador Dalí and Groucho Marx would have watched together in their smoking jackets".{{cite web|author-link=Matt Zoller Seitz|last1=Seitz|first1=Matt Zoller|title=Why 'Deadwood' Is a Top-10 TV Show of All Time|url=https://theringer.com/deadwood-hbo-tv-the-book-dadb4007790e#.5f7cc3yte|website=The Ringer|publisher=Perfect Privacy, LLC|access-date=September 2, 2016|date=September 1, 2016|last2=Sepinwall|first2=Alan|author2-link=Alan Sepinwall|archive-date=September 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902021203/https://theringer.com/deadwood-hbo-tv-the-book-dadb4007790e#.5f7cc3yte|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Ashbrook|first1=Tom|title=The Greatest American Television Shows, Ranked|url=http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2016/09/09/the-greatest-american-television-shows-ranked|website=WBUR|publisher=WBUR|access-date=September 10, 2016|date=September 9, 2016|archive-date=September 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910141154/http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2016/09/09/the-greatest-american-television-shows-ranked|url-status=live}}

File:Leon hot air balloon festival 2010.jpg in León, Guanajuato, Mexico in November 2010]]

File:Wax Museum Plus (6344827249).jpg, in Dublin, Ireland]]

In July 2009, Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York launched a wax sculpture of SpongeBob in celebration of the series' 10th anniversary. SpongeBob became the first animated character sculpted entirely out of wax.{{cite web|last=Snook|first=Raven|title=Yellow fever: SpongeBob figure to debut at Madame Tussauds|url=https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/tony-kids-blog/yellow-fever-spongebob-figure-to-debut-at-madame-tussauds|work=Timeout|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=July 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020651/http://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/tony-kids-blog/yellow-fever-spongebob-figure-to-debut-at-madame-tussauds|archive-date=December 3, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Singer|first=Bret|title=SpongeBob Debuts at Madame Tussauds|url=http://www.parentdish.com/2009/07/15/see-spongebob-at-madame-tussauds-for-free/|work=Parent Dish|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=July 15, 2009|archive-date=July 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719054354/http://www.parentdish.com/2009/07/15/see-spongebob-at-madame-tussauds-for-free/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Madame Tussauds is Bonkers for SpongeBob|url=http://www.momtrends.com/2009/07/madame-tussauds-is-bonkers-for-spongebob/|work=Mom Trends|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=July 11, 2009|archive-date=July 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728231350/http://www.momtrends.com/2009/07/madame-tussauds-is-bonkers-for-spongebob/|url-status=live}}

The character has also become a trend in Egypt at Cairo's Tahrir Square.{{cite news|last=Kingsley|first=Patrick|title=How SpongeBob SquarePants became massive in Egypt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2013/may/27/spongebob-squarepants-egypt-cartoon-fame|work=The Guardian|access-date=June 11, 2013|date=May 27, 2013|location=London|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807125447/https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2013/may/27/spongebob-squarepants-egypt-cartoon-fame|url-status=live}} After the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, SpongeBob became a fashion phenomenon, appearing on various merchandise items from hijabs to boxer shorts.{{cite web|last=Malsin|first=Jared|title=Is SpongeBob SquarePants the New Che Guevara?|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/spongebob-squarepants-egypts-new-revolutionary-symbol/|work=Vice|access-date=June 11, 2013|date=January 15, 2013|archive-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116151008/https://www.vice.com/read/spongebob-squarepants-egypts-new-revolutionary-symbol|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Meet Egypt's unusual Tahrir icon: SpongeBob SquarePants|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/variety/2013/05/28/Meet-Egypt-s-latest-Tahrir-icon-SpongeBob-SquarePants.html|work=Al Arabiya|access-date=June 11, 2013|date=May 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528173047/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/variety/2013/05/28/Meet-Egypt-s-latest-Tahrir-icon-SpongeBob-SquarePants.html|archive-date=May 28, 2013}} The phenomenon led to the creation of the Tumblr project called "SpongeBob on the Nile". The project was founded by American students Andrew Leber and Elisabeth Jaquette and attempts to document every appearance of SpongeBob in Egypt.{{cite web|last=Cormack|first=Raphael|title=SpongeBob SquarePants takes over the Middle East|url=http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/blog/spongebob-squarepants-middle-east-egypt/#.Ubbv5ucwe5I|work=Prospect|access-date=June 11, 2013|date=March 26, 2013|archive-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606164927/http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/blog/spongebob-squarepants-middle-east-egypt/#.Ubbv5ucwe5I|url-status=dead}} Sherief Elkeshta cited the phenomenon in an essay about the incoherent state of politics in Egypt in an independent monthly paper titled Midan Masr. He wrote, "Why isn't he [SpongeBob] at least holding a Molotov cocktail? Or raising a fist?"{{cite web|title=Brooklyn, Egypt, And SpongeBob|url=http://www.midanmasr.com/en/article.aspx?ArticleID=208|work=Midan Masr|access-date=June 11, 2013|archive-date=January 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121172006/http://www.midanmasr.com/en/article.aspx?ArticleID=208|url-status=dead}} The phenomenon has even spread to Libya, where a Libyan rebel in SpongeBob dress was photographed celebrating the revolution.{{cite web|title=The New Mascot of Egypt: SpongeBob SquarePants|url=http://tavernkeepers.com/the-new-mascot-of-egypt-spongebob-squarepants/|work=Tavern Keepers|date=May 28, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615083050/http://tavernkeepers.com/the-new-mascot-of-egypt-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=June 15, 2013}} Although The Guardian and Vice have asserted that the trend has little to no political significance, "joke" presidential campaigns have been undertaken for SpongeBob in Egypt and Syria.

A clip was posted to YouTube in February 2013 that features soldiers in the Russian army and navy singing the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song as they march.{{cite web|title=Russian soldiers march to SpongeBob SquarePants theme song|url=http://metro.co.uk/2013/02/19/russian-soldiers-march-to-spongebob-squarepants-theme-song-3503968/|work=Metro|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=February 19, 2013|archive-date=February 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221125442/http://metro.co.uk/2013/02/19/russian-soldiers-march-to-spongebob-squarepants-theme-song-3503968/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Russian soldiers sing SpongeBob SquarePants theme tune as they march|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/9878416/Russian-soldiers-sing-SpongeBob-SquarePants-theme-tune-as-they-march.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219150621/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/9878416/Russian-soldiers-sing-SpongeBob-SquarePants-theme-tune-as-they-march.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 19, 2013|work=The Telegraph|access-date=May 23, 2013|location=London|date=February 18, 2013}} According to the website that uploaded the video, this is one of the "most popular marching songs" in the Russian military. The video garnered nearly 50,000 views within its first week.

In 2014, a SpongeBob-themed eatery opened in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine. The restaurant is modeled after the Krusty Krab and serves Krabby Patties.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=ToI |title=Spongebob-themed eatery hits Ramallah |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ramallahs-spongebob-themed-eatery/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Soraya Nadia |date=2014-07-22 |title=‘SpongeBob’s’ Krusty Krab is opening — in the West Bank |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/22/spongebobs-krusty-krab-is-opening-in-palestine/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |date=2014-09-11 |title=Ramallah’s own ‘Krabby patty’ |url=https://www.jpost.com/metro/ramallahs-own-krabby-patty-375066 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}

Following Hillenburg's death in November 2018, more than 1.2 million fans signed a petition for the National Football League to have the song "Sweet Victory" from the season 2 episode "Band Geeks" performed in his honor at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show. Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium's Twitter account, the venue of the show, tweeted a GIF of SpongeBob dancing in "Band Geeks" in December. Maroon 5 who were performing at the game, included a brief clip of SpongeBob in a preview video, leading fans to believe the song would be performed. While the song's opening was ultimately included, it served as a transition into artist Travis Scott's set, which was negatively received by fans.{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/sweet-victory-brief-spongebob-squarepants-appearance-super-bowl-halftime-show-disappoints-015346882.html|title=Where was 'Sweet Victory?' Brief SpongeBob SquarePants appearance at Super Bowl halftime show disappoints|author=Baer, Jack|date=February 4, 2019|work=Yahoo Sports|access-date=February 5, 2019|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808201225/https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/sweet-victory-brief-spongebob-squarepants-appearance-super-bowl-halftime-show-disappoints-015346882.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/3/18209868/spongebob-squarepants-sweet-victory-super-bowl-2019-marron-5-halftime-show|title=Spongebob Squarepants' 'Sweet Victory' finally gets a Super Bowl tribute|first=Julia|last=Alexander|date=February 3, 2019|access-date=February 3, 2019|work=The Verge|archive-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204012129/https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/3/18209868/spongebob-squarepants-sweet-victory-super-bowl-2019-marron-5-halftime-show|url-status=live}} In response to fans' disappointment at not hearing the complete "Sweet Victory" song during the halftime show at Super Bowl LIII, the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League showed a clip of the full "Sweet Victory" song during a game at the American Airlines Center. In the clip, the characters' band uniforms are recolored green after the Stars.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/watch-dallas-stars-give-fans-the-sweet-victory-spongebob-halftime-show-we-all-deserve-020419?amp=true|title=WATCH: Dallas Stars give fans the 'Sweet Victory' SpongeBob halftime show we all deserve|date=February 4, 2019|work=Fox Sports|access-date=February 5, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015252/https://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/watch-dallas-stars-give-fans-the-sweet-victory-spongebob-halftime-show-we-all-deserve-020419?amp=true|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2019/2/5/18212310/dallas-stars-sweet-victory-spongebob-video|title=The Dallas Stars gave us the 'Sweet Victory' Spongebob halftime we missed at the Super Bowl|author=Dator, James|date=February 5, 2019|publisher=SB Nation|access-date=February 5, 2019|archive-date=February 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206185600/https://www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/lookit/2019/2/5/18212310/dallas-stars-sweet-victory-spongebob-video|url-status=live}} A recreation of Sweet Victory was what opened Nickelodeon's broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, while implementing clips of the 2023 San Francisco 49ers and 2023 Kansas City Chiefs.{{Cite web |last=Nivison |first=Austin |date=2024-02-11 |title=Super Bowl 2024: SpongeBob SquarePants will recreate 'Sweet Victory' performance on Nickelodeon before game |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/super-bowl-2024-spongebob-squarepants-will-recreate-sweet-victory-performance-on-nickelodeon-before-game/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Moreau |first=Jordan |date=2024-02-12 |title='SpongeBob' Opens Super Bowl With Rousing 'Sweet Victory' Performance |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/spongebob-super-bowl-sweet-victory-performance-1235902649/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Several species of organism have been named in reference to SpongeBob. In May 2011, a new species of mushroom, Spongiforma squarepantsii, was described and named after the series' title character.{{cite journal|vauthors=Desjardin DE, Peay KB, Bruns TD|date=May 10, 2011|title=Spongiforma squarepantsii, a new species of gasteroid bolete from Borneo|journal=Mycologia|volume=103|issue=5|pages=1119–23|doi=10.3852/10-433|pmid=21558499|s2cid=15849227| issn=0027-5514}} In 2019, a species of sea sponge, Clathria hillenburgi, was named in honor of Hillenburg, also referencing his creation of SpongeBob SquarePants.{{Cite journal|last1=ANNUNZIATA|first1=BRUNO B.|last2=CAVALCANTI|first2=THAYNÃ|last3=SANTOS|first3=GEORGE GARCIA|last4=PINHEIRO|first4=ULISSES|date=2019-09-19|title=Two new Clathria (Axosuberites) Topsent, 1893 (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida) from Northeastern Brazil|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4671.4.2|journal=Zootaxa|volume=4671|issue=4|pages=500–510|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4671.4.2|issn=1175-5334|pmid=31716030|s2cid=203882016|access-date=January 19, 2022|archive-date=February 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229145020/https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4671.4.2|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} In 2020, a species of abyssal sea star, Astrolirus patricki, was described and named after Patrick Star; individuals of this species were found to be closely associated with hexactinellid sponges, and it was thus named after Patrick as a reference to the character's friendship with SpongeBob.{{Cite journal|last1=Zhang|first1=Ruiyan|last2=Zhou|first2=Yadong|last3=Xiao|first3=Ning|last4=Wang|first4=Chunsheng|date=2020-05-27|title=A new sponge-associated starfish, Astrolirus patricki sp. nov. (Asteroidea: Brisingida: Brisingidae), from the northwestern Pacific seamounts|journal=PeerJ|language=en|volume=8|pages=e9071|doi=10.7717/peerj.9071|issn=2167-8359|pmc=7261123|pmid=32518717 |doi-access=free }}

In honor of Stephen Hillenburg, a nonprofit fan project titled The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Rehydrated was released online on May 1, 2022. It consists of a re-creation of the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie reanimated by 300 people with re-recorded music and dialogue. Amid the YouTube premiere, the video was taken down by Paramount Global due to copyright laws. As a result, the hashtag #JusticeForSpongeBob became trending on Twitter against Paramount's action. The video was restored the following day.{{Cite web |last=Jaworski |first=Michelle |date=May 2, 2022 |title='It was a love letter to the franchise and what did Paramount do? They blocked it': Outrage as 'SpongeBob' fan film removed on YouTube |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/spongebob-squarepants-rehydrated/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503003928/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/spongebob-squarepants-rehydrated/ |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2022 |website=The Daily Dot}}{{Cite web |last=Coulson |first=Josh |date=May 3, 2022 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants Fan Movie Rehydrated! Goes Live, Gets Copyright Takedown During Premiere |url=https://www.thegamer.com/spongebob-squarepants-rehydrate-copyright-takedown/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503080136/https://www.thegamer.com/spongebob-squarepants-rehydrate-copyright-takedown/ |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2022 |website=TheGamer}}

Online memes relating to SpongeBob SquarePants have achieved widespread popularity on the Internet, so much so that Vox's Aja Romano declared in 2019 that "Spongebob memes came to rule internet culture".{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Aja |date=1 May 2019 |title=20 years into Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob memes rule internet culture. |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/5/1/18525337/spongebob-memes-mocking-caveman-history |website=Vox |language=en}} A subreddit devoted to memes based on the animated series has, as of May 2019, accumulated over 1.7 million subscribers, a figure exponentially higher than subreddits devoted to the series itself.

Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor for Know Your Meme, told Time that a combination of factors make SpongeBob memes so popular. He speculated that nostalgia for the past, alongside the cartoon's young audience, contributed to the SpongeBob SquarePants' outsized presence in Internet meme culture. Schimkowitz further added that memes derived from the series are exceptionally good at expressing emotions.{{cite magazine |last1=Greenspan |first1=Rachel E. |date=September 19, 2019 |title=Your Guide to the Best Spongebob Memes Across the Internet's Sea |url=https://time.com/5647509/best-spongebob-memes/ |access-date=February 24, 2022 |magazine=Time |language=en}}

Michael Gold of The New York Times opined that because of the show's "high episode count" and that it was "so ubiquitous at the beginning of the 21st century", SpongeBob SquarePants became "easy meme fodder".{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Michael |date=2 May 2018 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants Is 20 Now, and a Favorite Meme |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/arts/spongebob-squarepants-stephen-hillenburg.html |website=The New York Times}}

Nickelodeon and members of the SpongeBob cast have expressed approval for the trend. Tom Kenny told Time that he found SpongeBob memes relatable and good-natured. Kenny said that while the show's characters can be considered complex, they are also simple, creating a wealth of content for meme creators to work with. Nickelodeon has manufactured a line of toys based on some of the show's most recognizable meme formats, and has even included references to well-known memes in video games.{{cite web |last1=Diaz |first1=Ana |date=9 September 2021 |title=A SpongeBob SquarePants meme made it into Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl |url=https://www.polygon.com/22665321/meme-spongebob-squarepants-nickelodeon-all-star-brawl-fighting-game |website=Polygon}}

Among the show's most popular memes are the mocking SpongeBob meme, referring to an image macro from the episode "Little Yellow Book",{{cite web |author=Madison Malone Kircher |date=May 17, 2017 |title=WhAt Is Up WiTh ThAt WeIrD, NeW SpOnGeBoB MeMe? |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/05/what-is-the-mocking-spongebob-capitalized-letters-chicken-meme.html |access-date=October 30, 2023 |work=Intelligencer}} an image of Spongebob appearing exhausted in the episode "Nature Pants",{{cite web |last1=Wheeler |first1=André-Naquian |date=27 April 2018 |title=The 'Tired Spongebob' Meme Captures Our Cultural Exhaustion |url=https://i-d.co/article/the-tired-spongebob-meme-captures-our-cultural-exhaustion/ |website=i-D |publisher=Vice |language=en}} and a particularly disheveled illustration of Squidward from "Squid's Day Off".{{cite web |last1=Bryan |first1=Chloe |date=8 April 2018 |title=Why is SpongeBob so damn meme-able? |url=https://mashable.com/article/spongebob-memes-explained |website=Mashable |language=en}}

In 2024, an Internet meme surfaced consisting of Richard Myhill's "Woe Is Me!", taken from the episode "Squilliam Returns", paired with a hamster staring up in despair.{{Cite web |last=Glaze |first=Virginia |date=2024-03-13 |title=What is the sad hamster meme on TikTok? Viral video explained |url=https://www.dexerto.com/tiktok/what-is-the-sad-hamster-meme-on-tiktok-viral-video-explained-2552821/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Dexerto |language=en}} Dubbed the "sad hamster meme", the trend found rapid popularity on social media platforms as a way for users to express a reflection to sadness and unfortunate situations.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Allie |date=2024-02-28 |title='This is me if you even care': The 'Sad Hamster Meme' is TikTok's adorable new way of expressing their inner feelings |url=https://www.dailydot.com/pop-culture/sad-hamster-meme-tiktok-explained/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}

Fans of the show have created various pages replicating Bikini Bottom News, a news show within the SpongeBob universe, with versions of the anchors Realistic Fish Head and Perch Perkins generated with artificial intelligence.{{Cite news |title=The rise of the TikTok news anchor |url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/01/25/the-rise-of-the-tiktok-news-anchor |access-date=2024-10-24 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}} Some of these pages are criticized for how they handle topics and potentially spread fear mongering as a result.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Another Spongebob meme that surfaced in 2024 is the 'Freakbob' meme. Associated with Gen Z humor, Freakbob (or sometimes Freaky Bob) is typically shown on the dialing end of a phone call. The vast rise in popularity has sparked many variations of the meme on social media.{{Cite news |title=FreakBob is calling…I ain't answering |url=https://www.dailydot.com/memes/freakbob-is-calling-meme/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |work=Daily Dot}}

{{Criticism section|date=March 2025}}

In 2005, an online video that showed clips from SpongeBob SquarePants and other children's shows set to the Sister Sledge song "We Are Family" to promote diversity and tolerance was attacked by an evangelical group in the United States. They saw SpongeBob being used to "advocate homosexuality".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4190699.stm|title=US right attacks SpongeBob video|date=January 20, 2005|access-date=June 11, 2007|author=|work=BBC News|archive-date=March 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315035331/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4190699.stm|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2005-01-22-kids-video_x.htm|title=SpongeBob, Muppets and the Sister Sledge writer suffer criticism|date=January 22, 2005|access-date=June 11, 2007|agency=Associated Press|work=USA Today|archive-date=February 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204112303/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2005-01-22-kids-video_x.htm|url-status=live}} James Dobson of Focus on the Family accused the video of promoting homosexuality because it was sponsored by a pro-tolerance group. The incident prompted the question of whether SpongeBob is gay. Although the character has enjoyed popularity with gay viewers, series creator Stephen Hillenburg had already denied SpongeBob was gay three years earlier, clarifying at the time that he considered the character to be "somewhat asexual".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2313221.stm|title=Camp cartoon star 'is not gay'|date=October 9, 2002|access-date=June 11, 2007|author=|work=BBC News|archive-date=November 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107044940/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2313221.stm|url-status=live}} After Dobson's comments, Hillenburg reasserted his position, stating that sexual preference does not play a part in what they are "trying to do" with the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1021976,00.html|title=SpongeBob Asexual, Not Gay: Creator|date=January 28, 2005|access-date=August 26, 2009|first=Stephen M.|last=Silverman|work=People|archive-date=March 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320034827/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1021976,00.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/spongebob-isnt-gay-or-straight-creator-says-232667|title=SpongeBob isn't gay or straight, creator says|date=January 29, 2005|agency=Reuters|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308151628/https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/spongebob-isnt-gay-or-straight-creator-says-232667|url-status=live}} Tom Kenny and other production members were distraught that the issue had arisen. Dobson later said his comments were taken out of context, and his original complaints were not with SpongeBob, the video, or any of the characters in the video, but rather with the organization that sponsored the video, the We Are Family Foundation. Dobson said they posted pro-gay material on their website, but later removed it.{{cite news|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20050128/20875.htm|title=Dobson clarifies Pro-Gay SpongeBob Video Controversy|last=Chang|first=Pauline J.|date=January 28, 2005|newspaper=The Christian Post|access-date=June 11, 2007|archive-date=August 31, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831200610/http://www.christianpost.com/article/20050128/20875.htm|url-status=dead}} After the controversy, John H. Thomas, the United Church of Christ's general minister and president, said they would welcome SpongeBob into their ministry. He said: "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."{{cite web|title=Ministry celebrates SpongeBob: Gay, happy, yellow, orange, whatever, he's welcome|url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=11260&cid=1&cname=Media|date=February 4, 2005|last=Till|first=Francis|work=National Business Review|access-date=June 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627121737/http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=11260&cid=1&cname=Media|archive-date=June 27, 2007}}

Queer theorist Jeffery P. Dennis, author of the journal article "Queertoons", argued that SpongeBob and Sandy are not romantically in love, but added that he believed SpongeBob and Patrick "are paired with arguably erotic intensity".{{cite journal|last=Dennis|first=Jeffery P.|date=June 2003|title=Queertoons|url=http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME06/Queertoons.shtml|journal=Soundscapes|volume=6|access-date=December 17, 2014|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925124217/http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME06/Queertoons.shtml|url-status=dead}} Martin Goodman of Animation World Magazine called Dennis' comments regarding SpongeBob and Patrick "interesting".{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/deconstruction-zone-part-2|last=Goodman|first=Martin|title=Deconstruction Zone – Part 2|work=Animation World Network|date=March 10, 2004|access-date=October 28, 2009|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222053656/https://www.awn.com/animationworld/deconstruction-zone-part-2|url-status=live}}{{efn|Jeffery's comments were also published by the Journal of Popular Film & Television in an article called "The Same Thing We Do Every Night: Signifying Same-Sex Desire in Television Cartoons".{{cite journal|last=Dennis|first=Jeffery P.|date=Fall 2003|title=The Same Thing We Do Every Night: Signifying Same-Sex Desire in Television Cartoons|volume=31|issue=3|pages=132–140|doi=10.1080/01956050309603674|journal=Journal of Popular Film & Television|s2cid=192238843}} This is the article that is referred to by Goodman.}} The Ukrainian website Family Under the Protection of the Holy Virgin, which has been described as a "fringe Catholic" group by The Wall Street Journal, criticized SpongeBob SquarePants for its alleged "promotion of homosexuality".{{cite news|last=Marson|first=James|title=Ukraine's Morality Police Probe 'Gay' SpongeBob|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2012/08/15/gay-spongebob-offends-ukraine-morality-commission/|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=August 15, 2012|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823165928/https://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2012/08/15/gay-spongebob-offends-ukraine-morality-commission/|url-status=live}} The group sought to have the series banned, along with several other popular children's properties. The National Expert Commission of Ukraine on the Protection of Public Morality took up the matter for review in August 2012. Questions about SpongeBob's sexuality resurfaced in 2020 after Nickelodeon's official Twitter account posted an image of the character, in rainbow colors with text celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and its allies during Pride Month. Although the post did not make any assertions about SpongeBob's sexual orientation, numerous users responded on social media, claiming they already had their suspicions that he might be gay or reasserting Hillenburg's description of asexuality.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/06/13/nickelodeons-pride-tweet-reignites-debate-spongebobs-sexuality/3184582001/|title=Nickelodeon's Pride Tweet Reignites Debate On SpongeBob's Sexual Orientation|work=USA Today|last=Ali|first=Rasha|date=June 13, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2020|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614000523/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/06/13/nickelodeons-pride-tweet-reignites-debate-spongebobs-sexuality/3184582001/|url-status=live}}

In April 2009, Burger King released a SpongeBob-themed advertisement featuring a parody of Sir Mix-a-Lot's song "Baby Got Back". The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood protested the ad for being sexist and inappropriately sexual, especially considering SpongeBob's fan base includes young children.{{cite web|title=CCFC to Nickelodeon: Did You Approve the SpongeBob SquareButt Burger King Commercial?|url=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/04/09-15|publisher=Common Dreams|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=April 9, 2009|archive-date=April 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419205831/http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/04/09-15|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Kelleher|first=Katy|title=SpongeBob Meets Sir Mix-A-Lot In New Burger King Ads|url=http://jezebel.com/5203677/spongebob-meets-sir-mix+a+lot-in-new-burger-king-ads|website=Jezebel|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=April 8, 2009|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022518/http://jezebel.com/5203677/spongebob-meets-sir-mix+a+lot-in-new-burger-king-ads|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Craig|title=Burger King pushes flat butts and SpongeBob to kids, hires buttheads to do it|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/2009/04/burger-king-pushes-flat-butts-and-spongebob-to-kids-hires-buttheads-to-do-it.html|work=Suntimes|date=April 13, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111003615/http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/2009/04/burger-king-pushes-flat-butts-and-spongebob-to-kids-hires-buttheads-to-do-it.html|archive-date=November 11, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Douglas|first=Joanna|title=Is the Sir Mix-a-Lot Burger King commercial too much for kids?|url=http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/is-the-sir-mix-a-lot-burger-king-commercial-too-much-for-kids-444044.html|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=April 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416202924/https://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/is-the-sir-mix-a-lot-burger-king-commercial-too-much-for-kids-444044.html|archive-date=April 16, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Ekberg|first=Aida|title=SpongeBob + Sir Mix-A-Lot + Burger King = Offensive Commercial?|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/spongebob-sir-mix-lot-burger-king-offensive-commercial-3094448.html|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209042535/http://voices.yahoo.com/spongebob-sir-mix-lot-burger-king-offensive-commercial-3094448.html?cat=33|archive-date=December 9, 2013}} In official statements released by Burger King and Nickelodeon, both companies claimed the campaign was aimed at parents.

{{quote box|align=right|width=30em|style=max-width:40%

|quote="The children who watched the cartoon were operating at half the capacity compared to other children."

|source=—Angeline S. Lillard, University of Virginia{{cite news|last=Rabin|first=Roni Caryn|title=Is SpongeBob SquarePants Bad for Children?|url=http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/is-spongebob-squarepants-bad-for-children/|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=September 12, 2011|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003752/https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/is-spongebob-squarepants-bad-for-children/|url-status=live}}}}

A 2011 study conducted at the University of Virginia, published in the journal Pediatrics, suggested that allowing preschool-aged audiences to watch the series caused short-term disruptions in mental function and attention span because of frequent shot changes, compared to control groups watching Caillou and drawing pictures.{{cite journal|title=The Immediate Impact of Different Types of Television on Young Children's Executive Function|last1=Lillard|first1=Angeline|last2=Peterson|first2=Jennifer|date=2011|journal=Pediatrics|volume=128|issue=4|pages=644–649|doi=10.1542/peds.2010-1919|pmid=21911349|pmc=9923845 |doi-access=free}}{{cite magazine|url=https://healthland.time.com/2011/09/12/do-your-kids-find-it-hard-to-focus-after-watching-spongebob-research-bears-that-out/|title=Study: Fast-Moving Cartoons Like SpongeBob May Impair Kids' Focus|last=Rochman|first=Bonnie|magazine=Time|date=September 12, 2011|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420202450/http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/12/do-your-kids-find-it-hard-to-focus-after-watching-spongebob-research-bears-that-out/|url-status=live}} A Nickelodeon executive responded in an interview the series was not intended for an audience of that age and that the study used "questionable methodology and could not possibly provide the basis for any valid findings that parents could trust."{{cite news|title=Study: Some cartoons are bad for children's brains|url=http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/12/study-some-cartoons-are-bad-for-childrens-brains/|publisher=CNN|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=September 12, 2011|archive-date=May 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525053636/http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/12/study-some-cartoons-are-bad-for-childrens-brains/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Eryn|title=SpongeBob impairs little kids' thinking, study finds|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-sep-12-la-heb-spongebob-squarepants-children-brain-20110912-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=September 12, 2011|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024030053/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/12/news/la-heb-spongebob-squarepants-children-brain-20110912|url-status=live}}

Several of the series' episodes have also been the subject of controversy. In a report titled "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing", which documents the increase in potentially violent, profane, and sexual content in children's programming, the Parents Television Council, a watchdog media group, claimed the season 2 SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Sailor Mouth" was an implicit attempt to promote and satirize the use of profanity among children.{{cite report|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/childrensstudy/childrensstudy.pdf|title=Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: A Content Analysis of Children's Television|last=Fyfe|first=Kristen|date=March 2, 2006|publisher=Parents Television Council|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809080108/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/childrensstudy/childrensstudy.pdf|archive-date=August 9, 2007|access-date=August 5, 2007}} "SpongeBob's Last Stand" (season 7) and "Selling Out" (season 4) have been accused of promoting environmentalism and left-wing politics because of their negative portrayal of big business, earning criticism from some on the political right.{{cite web|last=Bond|first=Paul|title=SpongeBob's Firing Sparks Political Debate (Exclusive Video)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/spongebobs-firing-sparks-political-debate-652727|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 4, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2017|quote=It's not the first time SpongeBob has waded into social commentary, though usually when it does, it bugs the right and supports the left. In episodes dubbed "SpongeBob's Last Stand" and "Selling Out," for example, environmentalism is glorified and large businesses are demonized.|archive-date=April 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423113122/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/spongebobs-firing-sparks-political-debate-652727|url-status=live}} "SpongeBob, You're Fired" (season 9) caused widespread controversy and sparked a political debate over its portrayal of unemployment. After Fox News and the New York Post commented on the episode, Media Matters for America accused the two organizations of using the episode to "attack the social safety net".{{cite web|last=Weisman|first=Aly|title=SpongeBob Gets Fired From His Job Amid 'Harsh Underwater Economy' And Sparks A Real-Life Political Debate|url=https://www.chron.com/technology/businessinsider/article/SpongeBob-Gets-Fired-From-His-Job-Amid-Harsh-4954779.php|website=Chron|access-date=May 1, 2017|archive-date=December 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209023651/https://www.chron.com/technology/businessinsider/article/SpongeBob-Gets-Fired-From-His-Job-Amid-Harsh-4954779.php|url-status=dead}} This statement was echoed by Al Sharpton, who claimed conservatives' "new hero" to be "a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea".{{cite web|title=PoliticsNation: SpongeBob and the poor?|url=https://www.msnbc.com/politicsnation|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=November 6, 2013|date=October 31, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203072138/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/45755884/vp/53429223/#53429223|url-status=live}} In 2014, Zabira Orazalieva, chairwoman of the Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights in Kazakhstan, deemed the show too violent for children, labeling SpongeBob a "self-absorbed hooligan"{{cite news|last=Hartley-Parkinson|first=Richard|title=SpongeBob SquarePants is a 'self-absorbed, violent hooligan', says Kazakhstan|url=https://metro.co.uk/2014/09/28/spongebob-squarepants-is-a-self-absorbed-violent-hooligan-says-kazakhstan-4884788/|work=Metro|access-date=May 26, 2019|date=September 28, 2014|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807113011/https://metro.co.uk/2014/09/28/spongebob-squarepants-is-a-self-absorbed-violent-hooligan-says-kazakhstan-4884788/|url-status=live}} who "regularly inflicts violence on others in his community and seems to enjoy what he does".{{cite news|last=Chasmar|first=Jessica|title=SpongeBob Squarepants promotes hooligan behavior, says Kazakhstan|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/28/spongebob-squarepants-promotes-hooligan-behavior-s/|work=The Washington Times|access-date=May 26, 2019|date=September 28, 2014|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918152458/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/28/spongebob-squarepants-promotes-hooligan-behavior-s/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Harding|first=David|title=SpongeBob: Children's character is a bully, corrupts minds, warns Kazakhstan|url=https://metro.co.uk/2014/09/28/spongebob-squarepants-is-a-self-absorbed-violent-hooligan-says-kazakhstan-4884788/|work=New York Daily News|access-date=May 26, 2019|date=September 27, 2014|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807113011/https://metro.co.uk/2014/09/28/spongebob-squarepants-is-a-self-absorbed-violent-hooligan-says-kazakhstan-4884788/|url-status=live}}

In 2019, University of Washington professor Holly M. Barker stated that the show promotes "violent and racist" colonialism, as Bikini Bottom is named after Bikini Atoll, a place where natives were displaced by the US government for nuclear testing. Barker also pointed out the alleged cultural appropriation of Pacific culture in the show. Because of such content, children have "become acculturated to an ideology that includes the U.S. character SpongeBob residing on another people's homeland", according to Barker.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-violent-racist-colonialism-professor-holly-m-barker-a9153976.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-violent-racist-colonialism-professor-holly-m-barker-a9153976.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Spongebob Squarepants promotes 'violent and racist' colonialism, university professor claims|date=October 13, 2019|access-date=December 25, 2021|author=Roisin O'Connor |work=The Independent }} Barker's claims sparked controversy online for a number of American journalism outlets, including Spiked magazine and CBS Austin.{{Cite web |title=No, SpongeBob SquarePants is not a violent colonialist |url=https://www.spiked-online.com/2019/10/30/no-spongebob-squarepants-is-not-a-violent-colonialist/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.spiked-online.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Brandon |date=2019-10-12 |title=College professor says 'SpongeBob SquarePants' is violent and racist |url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/offbeat/college-professor-says-spongebob-squarepants-is-violent-and-racist |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=KEYE |language=en}}

ViacomCBS pulled the episode "Mid-Life Crustacean" (season 3), first aired in 2003, out of circulation in March 2021, presumably due to its ending in which SpongeBob, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs partake in a panty raid. "We determined some story elements were not kid-appropriate", a Nickelodeon representative stated. The release of a later episode, "Kwarantined Krab" (season 12), would be delayed by two years over its similarities to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/spongebob-squarepants-episodes-pulled-over-storyline-concerns|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Episodes Pulled Over Storyline Concerns|work=IGN|first=Petey|last=Oneto|date=March 26, 2021|access-date=March 26, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929132839/https://www.ign.com/articles/spongebob-squarepants-episodes-pulled-over-storyline-concerns|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.memorabletv.com/episodes/spongebob-squarepants-kwarantined-krab-s13ep12-nickelodeon-fri-april-29-2022/|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Kwarantined Krab (S13EP12 Nickelodeon Fri April 29, 2022)|date=April 27, 2022|access-date=January 8, 2023|archive-date=October 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025095100/https://www.memorabletv.com/episodes/spongebob-squarepants-kwarantined-krab-s13ep12-nickelodeon-fri-april-29-2022/|url-status=live}}

{{clear}}

Various media outlets including MSN, The A.V. Club, and Vulture have reported that SpongeBob{{'}}s popularity declined following the release of the 2004 film and Hillenburg's departure as showrunner.{{cite web|url=http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=942b02c6-e5b2-405d-bba8-277797fa7839|last=Berr|first=Jonathan|title=Viacom should pull the plug on SpongeBob|work=MSN|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=February 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505002658/http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=942b02c6-e5b2-405d-bba8-277797fa7839|archive-date=May 5, 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/lets-trace-the-rise-fall-and-much-later-rebirth-of-sp-1822156489|last=Nellan|first=Dan|title=Let's trace the rise, fall, and much later rebirth of Spongebob Squarepants|work=The A.V. Club|date=January 17, 2018|access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-date=May 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523095341/https://www.avclub.com/lets-trace-the-rise-fall-and-much-later-rebirth-of-sp-1822156489|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/spongebob-squarepants-is-the-most-meme-able-tv-show.html|last=Jackson|first=Laurel Michelle|title=How Did SpongeBob SquarePants Become the Most Meme-able TV Show?|work=Vulture|date=May 11, 2018|access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511174238/https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/spongebob-squarepants-is-the-most-meme-able-tv-show.html|url-status=live}} In 2012, MSN cited a post on Encyclopedia SpongeBobia, a Fandom-hosted wiki, which said that many fans felt the series had "jumped the shark" following the release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and that online fansites were becoming "deserted".

As of 2011, episodes produced since the first film have been variously categorized by DVD Talk and DVD Verdict as "tedious",{{cite web|last=Hrab|first=Roy|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Who Bob What Pants?|url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/spongebobwhatpants.php|publisher=DVD Verdict|date=November 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017060955/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/spongebobwhatpants.php|archive-date=October 17, 2013}} "boring" "dreck",{{cite web|last=Hrab|first=Roy|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: The Great Patty Caper|url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/printer/spongebobpattycaper.php|publisher=DVD Verdict|access-date=August 20, 2013|date=March 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203033808/http://www.dvdverdict.com/printer/spongebobpattycaper.php|archive-date=December 3, 2013}} a "depressing plateau of mediocrity",{{cite web|last=Rhodes|first=Mina|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: To Love A Patty|url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/spongebobpatty.php|publisher=DVD Verdict|access-date=August 20, 2013|date=February 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208074215/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/spongebobpatty.php|archive-date=February 8, 2008}} and "laugh-skimpy".{{cite web|last=Mavis|first=Paul|title=SpongeBob SquarePants — WhoBob WhatPants?|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/35047/spongebob-squarepants-who-bob-what-pants/|publisher=DVD Talk|access-date=May 30, 2013|date=October 13, 2008|archive-date=January 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123121353/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/35047/spongebob-squarepants-who-bob-what-pants/|url-status=live}} In 2018, Vulture noted the most popular online memes of the series usually focused on episodes from the first three seasons. That same year, The A.V. Club wrote that as the series went on, "[it] leaned hard into kid-friendly physical humor and gross-out moments that appealed to no one in particular".

Nickelodeon faced criticism from fans and former staff like Paul Tibbitt when the network greenlit spinoffs (see below) after the death of Hillenburg, who had previously expressed hesitation in deriving from the parent series. "The show is about SpongeBob, he's the core element, and it's about how he relates to the other characters," Hillenburg told Television Business International. "Patrick by himself might be a bit too much. So I don't see any spin-offs."{{cite web|url=https://www.thethings.com/spongebob-fans-are-not-excited-for-patrick-star-spinoff-feel-it-dishonors-creators-memory/|last=McKay|first=Karelle|title='SpongeBob' Fans Are Not Excited For Patrick Star Spinoff, Feel It Dishonors Creator's Memory|work=The Things|date=March 7, 2021|access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417212526/https://www.thethings.com/spongebob-fans-are-not-excited-for-patrick-star-spinoff-feel-it-dishonors-creators-memory/|url-status=live}} Responding to a fan query, Vincent Waller said Hillenburg "was aware [Kamp Koral] was being developed" and that, while Hillenburg "did not get to see it completed," Waller believed "it would have made him smile."{{Cite tweet |last=Waller |first=Vincent |author-link=Vincent Waller |user=VincentWaller72 |number=1357485237148684288 |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Steve was aware it was being developed. Sadly he did not get to see it completed, I think it would have made him smile. |access-date=January 22, 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822225653/https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1357485237148684288 |archive-date=August 22, 2021}} However he later amended the statement, saying "I was feeling it was right, but full disclosure... [Stephen and another friend's passing turned] my chronological memories of events into a bit of a slippery jumble for that entire block of time."{{Cite web |date=2021-02-05 |title=Vincent Waller auf Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1357688505388859394 |access-date=2025-01-31 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210205135425/https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1357688505388859394 |archive-date=2021-02-05}}{{Cite web |date=2021-02-05 |title=Vincent Waller auf Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1357689641005056000 |access-date=2025-01-31 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210205135710/https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1357689641005056000 |archive-date=2021-02-05}}

{{main|SpongeBob SquarePants (franchise)|l1=SpongeBob SquarePants (franchise)}}

{{Main|Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years|l1=Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years}}

On February 14, 2019, it was announced that a SpongeBob SquarePants spin-off was in development, and on June 4 the title Kamp Koral was revealed. The plot focuses on a 10-year-old SpongeBob and his friends at a camp in the Kelp Forest, where they spend the summer catching jellyfish, building campfires, and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck.{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/06/04/nickelodeon-greenlights-kamp-koral-original-animated-spinoff-of-hit-series-spongebob-squarepants-104415/20190604nickelodeon02/|title=Nickelodeon Greenlights Kamp Koral, Original Animated Spinoff of Hit Series SpongeBob SquarePants|publisher=Nickelodeon|via=The Futon Critic|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/spongebob-squarepants-cg-animated-prequel-series-kamp-koral-greenlighted-nickelodeon-1202626441/|title=SpongeBob SquarePants CG-Animated Prequel Series Kamp Koral Greenlighted by Nickelodeon|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927065041/https://deadline.com/2019/06/spongebob-squarepants-cg-animated-prequel-series-kamp-koral-greenlighted-nickelodeon-1202626441/|url-status=live}} It serves as a tie-in to the animated film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Production of the series began in June 2019.

Nickelodeon animation head Ramsey Naito said of the series, "SpongeBob has an incredible universe to expand upon and the greenlight for Kamp Koral is a testament to the strength and longevity of these characters known and loved by generations of fans around the world." Like SpongeBob SquarePants, the series is co-executive produced by Marc Ceccarelli, Jennie Monica, and Vincent Waller. Kamp Koral is produced using computer animation rather than the digital ink and paint animation used for SpongeBob SquarePants.

On February 19, 2020, it was announced that the series would be premiering in July 2020, with the official title Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years.{{cite press release|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/02/19/nickelodeon-announces-voice-cast-for-kamp-koral-spongebobs-under-years-first-ever-spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-575101/20200219nickelodeon06/|title=Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for Kamp Koral: Spongebob's Under Years, First-Ever Spongebob Squarepants Spinoff|publisher=Nickelodeon|via=The Futon Critic|date=February 19, 2020|access-date=July 31, 2020}} The series was also scheduled for a release on CBS All Access (now Paramount+), the ViacomCBS streaming service, in early 2021.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-kamp-koral-shifts-to-cbs-all-access-as-nickelodeon-library-shows-arrive-1202998734/|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Spinoff Kamp Koral Shifts To CBS All Access As Nickelodeon Library Shows Arrive|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=July 30, 2020|access-date=July 30, 2020|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730191630/https://deadline.com/2020/07/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-kamp-koral-shifts-to-cbs-all-access-as-nickelodeon-library-shows-arrive-1202998734/|url-status=live}}{{cite press release|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/07/30/viacomcbs-debuts-expanded-and-enhanced-cbs-all-access-370101/20200730cbs01/|title=ViacomCBS Debuts Expanded and Enhanced CBS All Access|publisher=CBS|via=The Futon Critic|date=July 30, 2020|access-date=July 31, 2020}} The series officially premiered on March 4, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/spongebob-movie-sponge-on-the-run-release-paramount-plus-march-launch/|title=SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run to Debut on Paramount+ at March Launch|work=TheWrap|first=Brian|last=Welk|date=January 28, 2021|access-date=January 30, 2021|archive-date=July 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712184829/https://www.thewrap.com/spongebob-movie-sponge-on-the-run-release-paramount-plus-march-launch/|url-status=live}} A second season was released on July 10, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Danoff |first=Owen |date=2024-06-20 |title=Kamp Koral: Spongebob's Under Years Season 2 Gets A Premiere Date & Series Art [EXCLUSIVE] |url=https://screenrant.com/kamp-koral-spongebobs-under-years-season-2-premiere-date-poster/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}

{{Main|The Patrick Star Show|l1=The Patrick Star Show}}

On August 10, 2020, it was reported that a Patrick Star talk show titled The Patrick Star Show was in development with a 13-episode order. Additionally, it was reported that the show would be similar to other talk shows such as The Larry Sanders Show and Comedy Bang! Bang!{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-series-the-patrick-star-show-set-nickelodeon-bill-fagerbakke-1203006633/|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Spinoff Series The Patrick Star Show Set At Nickelodeon|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Nellie Andreeva|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2020|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811013253/https://deadline.com/2020/08/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-series-the-patrick-star-show-set-nickelodeon-bill-fagerbakke-1203006633/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-the-patrick-star-show-in-the-works-nickelodeon-1234730755/|title=SpongeBob Squarepants Spinoff The Patrick Star Show in the Works to Nickelodeon|work=Variety|author=Will Thorne|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2020|archive-date=August 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821053629/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-the-patrick-star-show-in-the-works-nickelodeon-1234730755/|url-status=live}} The series premiered on Nickelodeon on July 9, 2021,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/nickelodeon-trailers-spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-the-patrick-star-show-middleman-post-premiere-date/|title=Nickelodeon Unveils Trailers For SpongeBob SquarePants Spinoff The Patrick Star Show & Middlemost Post, Sets Premiere Date|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Denise Petski|date=June 17, 2021|access-date=July 9, 2021|archive-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815234606/https://deadline.com/video/nickelodeon-trailers-spongebob-squarepants-spinoff-the-patrick-star-show-middleman-post-premiere-date/|url-status=live}} with the series set to be available on Paramount+ later on.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-patrick-star-nickelodeon-paramount-plus-1234921485/|title=Nickelodeon Set to Expand SpongeBob SquarePants With Patrick Star Series|work=Variety|author=Brian Steinberg|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304153703/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-patrick-star-nickelodeon-paramount-plus-1234921485/|url-status=live}}

After the death of Hillenburg, an online petition emerged requesting that David Glen Eisley's song "Sweet Victory"—featured in the episode "Band Geeks", which followed Squidward Tentacles as he organized an ensemble to perform the halftime show at the "Bubble Bowl"—be performed at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show. By December 24, 2018, the petition on Change.org had over one million signatures, and the Twitter account of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the event's venue, also acknowledged the campaign.{{cite news|last=Dill|first=Jason|title=This is how a SpongeBob song would sound at this year's Super Bowl|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/article223421025.html|newspaper=The Miami Herald|date=December 21, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2024|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211001657/https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/article223421025.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Donaghey|first1=River|last2=Schwartz|first2=Drew|title=Over 50,000 Fans Want the Super Bowl to Play This 'SpongeBob' Song at Halftime|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/petition-spongebob-song-superbowl-halftime-50000-signatures-sweet-victory-vgtrn/|magazine=Vice|date=November 30, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2024|archive-date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805194855/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/nepddk/petition-spongebob-song-superbowl-halftime-50000-signatures-sweet-victory-vgtrn|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Hughes|first=William|title=100,000 fans demand SpongeBob be allowed to play the half-time show at next year's Super Bowl|url=https://www.avclub.com/100-000-fans-demand-spongebob-be-allowed-to-play-the-ha-1830786621|website=TheAVClub.com|date=November 30, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2024|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423090614/https://news.avclub.com/100-000-fans-demand-spongebob-be-allowed-to-play-the-ha-1830786621|url-status=live}} During the halftime show, a short animation featuring Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Mrs. Puff, SpongeBob, and Patrick Star, as well as footage of the Bikini Bottom band from the episode, was used to introduce Travis Scott for his performance of "Sicko Mode".{{Cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/2/3/18200897/spongebob-tribute-super-bowl-2019|title=The Super Bowl halftime show just made tribute to Spongebob's creator|last=Radulovic|first=Petrana|date=February 3, 2019|website=Polygon|access-date=February 13, 2024|archive-date=February 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202133016/https://www.polygon.com/2019/2/3/18200897/spongebob-tribute-super-bowl-2019|url-status=live}} This led to fan outrage due to the bait and switch nature of the introduction and marketing leading up to the show implying Sweet Victory would be played during it.{{Cite web |last=Garrand |first=Danielle |date=2019-02-04 |title=SpongeBob Squarepants: Fans have mixed reactions to Super Bowl 2019 halftime show appearance Sunday in Atlanta - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spongebob-squarepants-fans-have-mixed-reactions-to-super-bowl-halftime-show-appearance-2019-02-03-atlanta/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} According to animator Nico Colaleo, the animation was completed in a few days.{{cite tweet|number=1092577409113632769|title=Also in the short clip itself, the animation is different cuz this was literally done a week ago with only a few days to create …|first=Nico|last=Colaleo|user=NicoColaleo|date=February 4, 2019|access-date=February 13, 2024}}

On August{{nbsp}}1, 2023, CBS Sports announced that it would carry a youth-oriented alternate broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII on Nickelodeon, the first such broadcast for a Super Bowl.{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2023 |title=SpongeBob, slime to highlight Nickelodeon Super Bowl telecast |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38113170/spongebob-slime-highlight-nickelodeon-super-bowl-telecast |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801225944/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38113170/spongebob-slime-highlight-nickelodeon-super-bowl-telecast |url-status=live }} Billed as Super Bowl{{nbsp}}LVIII: Live from Bikini Bottom, the broadcast incorporated SpongeBob-themed augmented reality effects and features (in addition to those seen on previous games aired by the network), and appearances by characters from the series (SpongeBob and Patrick acted as "analysts" alongside announcers Noah Eagle and Nate Burleson, with Sandy Cheeks taking on "sideline reporter" duties).{{cite web |title=Nickelodeon and CBS Sports reveal details for slime-filed Super Bowl LVIII alternate telecast |url=https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/shows/nfl-on-cbs/releases/?view=109170-nickelodeon-and-cbs-sports-reveal-details-for-slime-filled-super-bowl-lviii-alternate-telecast |website=ParamountPress.com |date=February 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203000720/https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/shows/nfl-on-cbs/releases/?view=109170-nickelodeon-and-cbs-sports-reveal-details-for-slime-filled-super-bowl-lviii-alternate-telecast |url-status=live }}

{{Main|SpongeBob Comics|l1=SpongeBob Comics}}

The 32-page bimonthly comic book series, SpongeBob Comics, was announced in November 2010{{cite web| url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/18770.html| title='SpongeBob Comics': Cartoon Phenom Makes Comic Book Debut| publisher=ICv2| date=November 11, 2010| access-date=April 8, 2014}} and debuted the following February.{{cite web| last=Langshaw| first=Mark| url=http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a287379/spongebob-comics-on-the-way.html#~oAM7JL2CzYw6EB| title='SpongeBob' comics on the way| website=Digital Spy| date=November 11, 2010| access-date=April 8, 2014}} Before this, SpongeBob SquarePants comics had been published in Nickelodeon Magazine,{{cite web|title="SpongeBob SquarePants" Comic Debuts in February|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30502|website=Comic Book Resources|access-date=December 6, 2013|date=January 25, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Boom |first=Richard |title=SpongeBob Comics #1 debuts from United Plankton Pictures |url=http://www.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/p/detail/spongebob-comics-1-debuts-from-united-plankton-pictures |publisher=Broken Frontier |access-date=December 6, 2013 |date=January 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128020705/http://www.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/p/detail/spongebob-comics-1-debuts-from-united-plankton-pictures |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}} and episodes of the television series had been adapted by Cine-Manga,{{cite web|url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/2822/tokyopop-does-nickelodeon|title=Tokyopop Does Nickelodeon|work=ICv2|date=June 2, 2003|access-date=August 25, 2019}} but SpongeBob Comics was the first American comic book series devoted solely to SpongeBob SquarePants. It also served as SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg's debut as a comic book author. The series was published by Hillenburg's production company, United Plankton Pictures, and distributed by Bongo Comics Group. Hillenburg described the stories from the comic books as "original and always true to the humor, characters, and universe of the SpongeBob SquarePants series." Leading up to the release of the series, Hillenburg said, "I'm hoping that fans will enjoy finally having a SpongeBob comic book from me."

Chris Duffy, the former senior editor of Nickelodeon Magazine, serves as managing editor of SpongeBob Comics. Hillenburg and Duffy met with various cartoonists—including James Kochalka, Hilary Barta, Graham Annable, Gregg Schigiel, and Jacob Chabot—to contribute to each issues. Retired horror comics writer and artist Stephen R. Bissette returned to write a special Halloween issue in 2012, with Tony Millionaire and Al Jaffee.{{cite web|title=Steve Bissette Returns To Comics With SpongeBob SquarePants|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/07/18/steve-bissette-returns-to-comics-with-spongebob-squarepants/|publisher=Bleeding Cool|access-date=December 6, 2013|date=July 18, 2012|author=Johnston, Rich|author-link=Rich Johnston}} In an interview with Tom Spurgeon, Bissette said, "I've even broken my retirement to do one work-for-hire gig [for SpongeBob Comics] so I could share everything about that kind of current job."{{cite web|title=CR Holiday Interview #14 – Steve Bissette|url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_holiday_interview_11_steve_bissette/|work=The Comics Reporter|access-date=December 6, 2013|date=January 3, 2012|author=Spurgeon, Tom|author-link=Tom Spurgeon}}

In the United Kingdom, Titan Magazines published comics based on SpongeBob SquarePants every four weeks from February 3, 2005,{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Magazine 100th Issue|url=http://titanmagazines.com/news/announcements/spongebob-squarepants-magazine-100th-issue/|publisher=Titan Magazines|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=August 19, 2011}} through November 28, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://titanmagazines.com/t/spongebob-squarepants/?locale=uk|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Magazine @ Titan Magazines|website=titanmagazines.com}} Titan Magazines also teamed up with Lego to release a limited edition SpongeBob-themed comic.{{cite web|last=Hutchins|first=Rob|title=SpongeBob LEGO limited edition magazine launches|url=http://www.licensing.biz/news/10992/SpongeBob-Magazine-unites-with-LEGO|publisher=Licensing|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=March 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707123937/http://www.licensing.biz/news/read/spongebob-lego-limited-edition-magazine-launches/027694|archive-date=July 7, 2017}}

{{Main|SpongeBob SquarePants (film series)|l1=SpongeBob SquarePants (film series)}}

There have been five SpongeBob films that have been released theatrically or via streaming services: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020), Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024), and Plankton: The Movie (2025). The series' regulars have reprised their roles for each film. The films have had an overall positive reception.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is scheduled to be theatrically released in 2025, while another unnamed character spin-off project remains to be released on Netflix for the foreseeable future, according to ViacomCBS' revision in February 2022.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/spongebob-squarepants-paramount-plus-movies-theatrical-1234933589/|title=SpongeBob Universe Expands With Three Paramount+ Spinoff Movies, New Theatrical Film|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|date=February 15, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}

The first SpongeBob film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, an animated film adaptation of the series was released on November 19, 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-spongebob-squarepants-movie-opens-nationwide-on-friday-november-19-75337557.html|title='The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie' Opens Nationwide on Friday, November 19|publisher=PR Newswire|date=November 10, 2004|access-date=August 21, 2013}} The film was directed by Hillenburg and written by long-time series writers Derek Drymon, Tim Hill, Kent Osborne, Aaron Springer, Paul Tibbitt, and Hillenburg. He and Julia Pistor produced the film, while Gregor Narholz composed the film's score.{{cite web |title=APM Film and Television Composer Gregor Narholz Signs on to Score Activision's X-Men(TM) Legends Sequel |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apm-film-and-television-composer-gregor-narholz-signs-on-to-score-activisions-x-mentm-legends-sequel-54194902.html |publisher=PR Newswire |access-date=August 18, 2013 |date=March 9, 2005}}{{cite web |title=APM Film and Television Composer Gregor Narholz Signs on to Score Activision's X-Men(TM) Legends Sequel |url=http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=157576 |publisher=Activision |access-date=August 18, 2013 |date=March 9, 2005}}{{cite web |title=Gregor Narholz Scores X-Men |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/10/gregor-narholz-scores-x-men |website=IGN |access-date=August 18, 2013 |date=March 10, 2005}} The film is about Plankton's evil plan to steal King Neptune's crown and send it to Shell City. SpongeBob and Patrick must retrieve it and save Mr. Krabs' life from Neptune's raft and their home, Bikini Bottom, from Plankton's plan. It features guest appearances by Jeffrey Tambor as King Neptune, Scarlett Johansson as the King's daughter Mindy, Alec Baldwin as Dennis, and David Hasselhoff as himself,{{cite video | people=Johansson, Scarlett|date=2005|title= The Absorbing Tale Behind The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie| medium=DVD|publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}} and received a positive critical reception.{{cite web | url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spongebob_squarepants_movie/ | title = The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004) | work =Rotten Tomatoes | publisher = Flixster | access-date = July 9, 2010}}{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/spongebobsquarepantsmovie | title = SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The | publisher = CBS | work = Metacritic | access-date = July 9, 2010 | archive-date = March 6, 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050306091923/https://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/spongebobsquarepantsmovie | url-status = dead }} It was a box office success, grossing over $140 million worldwide.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=spongebob.htm|title=The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)|access-date=July 20, 2009|website=Box Office Mojo}}

A sequel to the 2004 film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, was released in theaters on February 6, 2015.{{cite web |last1=Sneider |first1=Jeff |title=Paramount Avoids Fifty Shades by Moving Up SpongeBob SquarePants Sequel |url=https://www.thewrap.com/paramount-avoids-fifty-shades-by-moving-up-spongebob-squarepants-sequel/ |website=The Wrap |access-date=June 7, 2014 |date=June 5, 2014}} The series' main cast members reprised their roles.{{cite web |title='SpongeBob SquarePants' Film Planned for 2014 |url=http://article.wn.com/view/2012/03/04/SpongeBob_SquarePants_Film_Planned_for_2014/#/related_news |publisher=WN.com |access-date=March 8, 2013 |date=March 4, 2013}} The underwater parts are animated traditionally in the manner of the series—the live-action parts use CGI animation with the SpongeBob characters.{{cite web|last=Webb|first=Charles|title=Is Paramount Prepping an Animated 'Legend of Korra' Movie?|url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/08/20/legend-of-korra-movie|publisher=MTV|access-date=March 8, 2013|date=August 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512062513/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/08/20/legend-of-korra-movie|archive-date=May 12, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|title=SpongeBob kicks off new Paramount Ani division|url=http://billdesowitz.com/spongebob-kicks-off-new-paramount-ani-division/|publisher=Bill Desowitz|access-date=March 31, 2013|date=February 29, 2012|archive-date=October 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022015510/http://billdesowitz.com/spongebob-kicks-off-new-paramount-ani-division/|url-status=dead}} The film has a budget similar to the previous film and cost less than $100 million to produce.{{cite news|last=Chozik|first=Amy|title=Return to Big Screen for SpongeBob|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/return-to-big-screen-for-spongebob/|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 25, 2013|date=March 4, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Goodwin|first=Liam|title=New SpongeBob SquarePants movie will be released in 2014|url=http://filmonic.com/spongebob-squarepants-movie-2014-release-date|publisher=Filmonic.com|access-date=April 25, 2013|date=February 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302143834/http://filmonic.com/spongebob-squarepants-movie-2014-release-date|archive-date=March 2, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Wolfe|first=Jennifer|title=Paramount to Release 'SpongeBob' Movie in 2014|url=http://www.awn.com/news/people/paramount-release-spongebob-movie-2014|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=April 25, 2013|date=February 29, 2012}} The film was met with positive reviews,{{Cite web |title=The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_spongebob_movie_sponge_out_of_water |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}} and was also a financial success, grossing over $325.2 million.{{Cite web |title=The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl158565889/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Box Office Mojo}}

A third film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, was initially scheduled for a May 2020 release date. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the film faced multiple delays.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/top-gun-maverick-flies-to-christmas-corridor-spongebob-eyes-late-summer-quiet-place-ii-to-debut-labor-day-1202898738/|title=Top Gun Maverick Flies To Christmas Corridor, SpongeBob Eyes Late Summer, Quiet Place II To Debut Labor Day|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 2, 2020}} Eventually in June 2020, it's worldwide theatrical window was canceled, opting Paramount to eventually release the film as a launch-day exclusive for its premium video on demand service Paramount+ in America on March 4, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/spongebob-movie-skipping-theaters-cbs-all-access-1203539493/|title=SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run Skipping Theaters to Launch On Demand and CBS All Access (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin|date=June 22, 2020|access-date=June 23, 2020}}{{cite tweet|number=1288988083514482688|title=The happiest place on earth is a pineapple under the sea! Paramount Pictures Canada is excited to announce that THE #SPONGEBOBMOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN will open exclusively in Canadian theatres on August 14th.|user=ParamountCanada|author=Paramount Canada|date=July 30, 2020|access-date=July 30, 2020}} Internationally, Canada received a theatrical release on August 14, 2020, while Netflix received the streaming rights in foreign regions excluding the US, China, and Canada on November 5, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Amidi |first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi |date=2020-07-31 |title='Sponge on the Run' Will Open Theatrically – But Only in Canada |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/sponge-on-the-run-will-open-theatrically-but-only-in-canada-195019.html |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-07-17 |title=Viacom Unloads Foreign Rights For 'SpongeBob: Sponge On The Run' To Netflix – Deadline |work=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/spongebob-sponge-on-the-run-foreign-rights-sold-to-netflix-1202986875/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717082607/https://deadline.com/2020/07/spongebob-sponge-on-the-run-foreign-rights-sold-to-netflix-1202986875/ |archive-date=July 17, 2020 |last1=d'Alessandro |first1=Anthony }}{{Cite web |last=West |first=Amy |date=2020-10-26 |title=New SpongeBob movie that skipped cinemas is coming to Netflix in November |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a34484315/spongebob-sponge-on-the-run-netflix-premiere-date/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}} Unlike the other two SpongeBob movies, the film mainly uses stylized-CGI animation. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, although audiences were less favorable.{{Cite web |title=The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_spongebob_movie_sponge_on_the_run |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}} Due to COVID-19, the film was not financially successful, grossing $4.8 million from its limited theatrical run.{{Cite web |title=The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2558297601/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Box Office Mojo}}

The fourth main SpongeBob movie as well as the franchise's sixth film overall, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, is currently set for release on December 19, 2025. In August, 2021, Brian Robbins, CEO of Nickelodeon, stated that a new theatrical SpongeBob film is "in the works."{{cite news |date=24 August 2021 |title=Streaming On: Kids and Family with Brian Robbins |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq82gIgy4l4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Oq82gIgy4l4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |access-date=26 August 2021 |work=YouTube |publisher=Google Inc.}}{{cbignore}}The film was initially set for release on May 23, 2025,{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2023/04/spongebob-squarepants-4-transformers-one-animated-cast-1234833032/|title=Paramount Gets Animated with CinemaCon Presentation|work=IndieWire|author=Brian Welk|date=April 27, 2023|access-date=April 28, 2023}} but was later delayed to December 19; Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning took its previous date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-2-quiet-place-day-one-actors-strike-1235580981/|title=Mission: Impossible 8 Jumps To 2025; A Quiet Place: Day One Goes To Summer In 2024 Theatrical Shake-Up Due To Actors Strike|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|date=October 23, 2023|access-date=October 23, 2023}}

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is an animated adventure comedy film released on Netflix on August 2, 2024.{{cite web |author=Carolyn Giardina |date=April 25, 2023 |title=Netflix Animation Reveals In Your Dreams, a New SpongeBob Adventure and Additional Nimona Voice Casting |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/netflix-animation-in-your-dreams-spongebob-nimona-chicken-run-1235398448/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} It is the first character-focused spin-off film, as well as the franchise's fourth film overall. It centers around Sandy and SpongeBob going on a mission to save Bikini Bottom, while a subplot centers on the latter's family's exploits in the Circus. Prior to its release, the entire film was leaked on January 21, 2024, as a video upload on X (the website formerly known as Twitter).{{cite web |author=Abdul Azim Naushad |date=January 22, 2024 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants Saving Bikini Bottom: Has the New Sandy Cheeks Movie Leaked? |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/guides/news/1499120-spongebob-squarepants-saving-bikini-bottom-has-the-new-sandy-cheeks-movie-leaked |access-date=January 22, 2024 |work=Comingsoon.net}} The film received mixed reviews from critics.{{Cite web |title=Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/saving_bikini_bottom_the_sandy_cheeks_movie |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}

Plankton: The Movie is an animated musical comedy film which released on Netflix on March 7, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Sam |date=2025-03-07 |title=A new SpongeBob SquarePants movie has just arrived on Netflix |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a64083994/spongebob-squarepants-plankton-movie-netflix/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}} It is the second character-focused spin-off film, and the fifth film in the franchise overall. As with the Sandy Cheeks Movie, the entire film was leaked onto X (Twitter) in August 2024.{{Cite web |last=Amidi |first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi |date=2024-08-09 |title=Major Netflix Animation Leak Traced Back To Burbank Post-Production Company |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/major-netflix-animation-leak-traced-back-to-burbank-post-production-company-242321.html |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}}

Three television films were released: SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis (2007), SpongeBob's Truth or Square (2009), and SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout (2019).

File:SpongeBob SquarePants The Yellow Album Cover.jpg

Collections of original music featured in the series have been released on the albums SpongeBob SquarePants: Original Theme Highlights (2001), SpongeBob's Greatest Hits (2009), and The Yellow Album (2005). The first two charted on the US Billboard 200, reaching number 171 and 122, respectively.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Original Theme Highlights|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/spongebob-squarepants-original-theme-highlights-mw0000012957/awards|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 7, 2013}}{{cite web|title=SpongeBob's Greatest Hits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/spongebobs-greatest-hits-mw0000810167/awards|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 7, 2013}}

Several songs have been recorded for the purpose of a single or album release and have not been featured on the show. The song "My Tighty Whiteys" written by Tom Kenny and Andy Paley was released only on the album The Best Day Ever (2006). Kenny's inspiration for the song was "underwear humor,"{{cite web|last=Bubbeo |first=Daniel |title=FAST CHAT TOM KENNY |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-fffast4956134nov05,0,4012699.story?coll=ny-entertainment-promo |work=Newsday |access-date=August 2, 2013 |date=November 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217024149/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-fffast4956134nov05%2C0%2C4012699.story?coll=ny-entertainment-promo |archive-date=February 17, 2008 |url-status=dead }} saying: "Underwear humor is always a surefire laugh-getter with kids ... Just seeing a character that odd wearing really prosaic, normal, Kmart, three-to-a-pack underwear is a funny drawing ... We thought it was funny to make a really lush, beautiful love song to his underwear."

A soundtrack album, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie – Music from the Movie and More, featuring the film's score, was released along with the feature-length film in November 2004. Various artists including the Flaming Lips,{{cite magazine|title=Lips, Shins Kick Back With 'SpongeBob'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65812/lips-shins-kick-back-with-spongebob|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 18, 2013}} Wilco,{{cite web|title=Flaming Lips and Wilco Featured on New SpongeBob Soundtrack|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2004/10/flaming-lips-and-wilco-featured-on-new-spongebob-s.html|work=Paste|access-date=August 18, 2013|date=October 13, 2004|archive-date=December 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226234145/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2004/10/flaming-lips-and-wilco-featured-on-new-spongebob-s.html|url-status=dead}} Ween, Motörhead,{{cite web|last=D'Angelo|first=Joe|title=Flaming Lips, Wilco, 'Commercial Weirdo' Avril Lavigne Head Up 'SpongeBob' LP|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491510/avril-lavigne-flaming-lips-on-spongebob-lp.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025195508/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491510/avril-lavigne-flaming-lips-on-spongebob-lp.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 25, 2011|publisher=MTV|access-date=August 18, 2013}} the Shins,{{cite web|last=Dufour|first=Matt|title=SpongeBob Soundtrack Boasts Shins, Wilco, And Flaming Lips Songs|url=http://www.thefader.com/2004/10/04/spongebob-soundtrack-boasts-shins-wilco-and-flaming-lips-songs/|work=The Fader|access-date=August 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207145020/http://www.thefader.com/2004/10/04/spongebob-soundtrack-boasts-shins-wilco-and-flaming-lips-songs/|archive-date=December 7, 2013|url-status=dead}} and Avril Lavigne{{cite magazine|last=Mar|first=Alex|title=Avril Sings "SpongeBob"|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/avril-sings-spongebob-20041001|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=August 18, 2013|date=October 1, 2004}} contributed to the soundtrack that reached number 76 on the US Billboard 200.{{cite web|title=The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Music From the Movie and More|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-spongebob-squarepants-movie-music-from-the-movie-and-more-mw0000674021/awards|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 7, 2013}}

File:EF-Mall of America.jpg ride at the Mall of America]]

The SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D film and ride opened at several locations, including Six Flags Over Texas, Flamingo Land Resort, and the Shedd Aquarium.{{cite web|url=http://www.sheddaquarium.org/4dtheater.html |title=Chicago | Plan a Visit | Now Playing in 4-D |publisher=Shedd Aquarium |access-date=September 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129122646/http://sheddaquarium.org/4dtheater.html |archive-date=November 29, 2010 }} The ride features water squirts, real bubbles, and other sensory enhancements. In 2012, Nickelodeon teamed up again with SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment and Super 78 to produce SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: The Great Jelly Rescue.{{cite web|last=Arrant|first=Chris|title="SpongeBob SquarePants" 4-D Attraction Coming Soon|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/spongebob-squarepants-4-d-attraction-coming-soon-70391.html|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=September 25, 2012}} The attraction opened in early 2013 at the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob goes 4-D at the aquarium|url=http://www.thewesterlysun.com/mysticriverpress/news/spongebob-goes--d-at-the-aquarium/article_3705ab20-bce3-11e2-8678-0019bb2963f4.html|url-status=dead|publisher=Mystic River Press|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=May 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211231455/http://www.thewesterlysun.com/mysticriverpress/news/spongebob-goes--d-at-the-aquarium/article_3705ab20-bce3-11e2-8678-0019bb2963f4.html|archive-date=December 11, 2013}} It was also installed at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort Orlando in Orlando, Florida.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: The Great Jelly Rescue|url=http://eyeonorlando.com/2013/04/spongebob-squarepants-4-d-the-great-jelly-rescue-2/|work=Eye on Orlando|access-date=May 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503111622/http://eyeonorlando.com/2013/04/spongebob-squarepants-4-d-the-great-jelly-rescue-2/|archive-date=May 3, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Brigante|first=Ricky|title=SpongeBob SquarePants makes a splash at Nick Hotel with new 4D movie, Bikini Bottom Breakfast, and more entertainment|url=http://www.insidethemagic.net/2013/04/spongebob-squarepants-makes-a-splash-at-nick-hotel-with-new-4d-movie-bikini-bottom-breakfast-and-more-entertainment/|publisher=Inside the Magic|access-date=May 21, 2013|date=April 23, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Roseboom|first=Matt|title=Nick Hotel debuts new SpongeBob 4D movie and Bikini Bottom character breakfast|url=http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2013/04/22/nick-hotel-debuts-new-spongebob-4d-movie-and-bikini-bottom-character-breakfast/|work=Orlando Attractions Magazine|access-date=May 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423114753/http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2013/04/22/nick-hotel-debuts-new-spongebob-4d-movie-and-bikini-bottom-character-breakfast/|archive-date=April 23, 2013}} The seven-minute film follows SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy rescuing the jellyfish of Jellyfish Fields from Plankton's evil clutches. On May 23, 2015, an interactive 3D show titled SpongeBob SubPants Adventure opened in Texas at Moody Gardens.{{cite press release |last1=Moody Gardens |title=Moody Gardens Announces Launch of New One-of-a-Kind SpongeBob SubPants Interactive Experience |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moody-gardens-announces-launch-of-new-one-of-a-kind-spongebob-subpants-interactive-experience-300043050.html |access-date=March 9, 2015 |publisher=PR Newswire |quote=Visitors will be able to interact with the Nickelodeon characters on a digital stage as they have never been able to do before.}} The show was replaced with a generic "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" re-theme in 2019.{{Cite web |title=MOODY GARDENS NEWEST INTERACTIVE ADVENTURE GOES 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA – Moody Gardens |url=http://blog.moodygardens.com/moody-gardens-newest-interactive-adventure-goes-20000-leagues-under-the-sea/ |access-date=2022-11-27 |language=en-US}} A dark ride shooter attraction titled SpongeBob's Crazy Carnival Ride opened at the Circus Circus Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Sally Dark Rides unveils animatronic at IAAPA Expo in Orlando for SpongeBob's Crazy Carnival Ride |url=https://www.gottagoorlando.com/post/sally-dark-rides-unveils-animatronic-at-iaapa-expo-in-orlando-for-spongebob-s-crazy-carnival-ride |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.gottagoorlando.com|date=November 15, 2023 }}

A variety of SpongeBob SquarePants-related attractions are currently located within Nickelodeon themed-areas at Movie Park Germany, Pleasure Beach Blackpool, Sea World, American Dream Meadowlands, and Mall of America, which includes the SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge euro-fighter roller coaster.

In 2026, Universal Kids Resort will include a themed land based on the franchise.{{cite web |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/universal-kids-resort-theme-park-frisco-dallas-texas-2026/ |title=Universal Kids theme park in Texas: All lands revealed |website=Attractions Magazine |first=Blake |last=Taylor |date=February 21, 2025 |access-date=February 21, 2025}}

{{main|SpongeBob SquarePants video games|l1=SpongeBob SquarePants video games}}

Numerous video games based on the series have been produced. Some of the early games include: Legend of the Lost Spatula (2001){{cite web|last=Antonucci|first=Mike|title=Triple Play Baseball has some annoying errors|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-71934675.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610075840/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-71934675.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|work=Knight Ridder|access-date=December 6, 2013|date=March 20, 2001}} and SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom (2003). In 2013, Nickelodeon published and distributed SpongeBob Moves In!, a freemium city-building game app developed by Kung Fu Factory for iOS and Android.{{cite magazine|last=Stecker|first=Erin|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' debuts new app – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO|url=http://family-room.ew.com/2013/06/05/spongebob-squarepants-spongebob-moves-in-app/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=June 5, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|title=Nick Launches Building 'SpongeBob' App|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/gaming/nick-launches-city-building-spongebob-app/|work=Animation|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=June 6, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Nickelodeon Announces SpongeBob SquarePants 'City Building' App|url=http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/Nickelodeon-Announces-SPONGEBOB-SQUAREPANTS-City-Building-App-20130606|website=BroadwayWorld|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=June 6, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Build Your Very Own Bikini Bottom Through Nickelodeon's Worldwide Release Of Brand-New Mobile Game, SpongeBob Moves In|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/build-your-very-own-bikini-bottom-through-nickelodeons-worldwide-release-of-brand-new-mobile-game-spongebob-moves-in-210383441.html|publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=June 6, 2013}} On June 5, 2019, THQ Nordic announced SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, a full remake of the console versions of the original 2003 game.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/spongebob-rehydrated-announce-1203233815/ |title=Classic Spongebob Squarepants Game Getting Remake, Multiplayer Mode |website=Variety |first=Liz |last=Lanier |date=June 5, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-getting-remastered-for-pc-and-consoles-556026.phtml|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom getting remastered for PC and consoles|last=Moyce|first=Chris|date=June 5, 2019|website=Destructoid|access-date=June 5, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806200006/https://www.destructoid.com/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-getting-remastered-for-pc-and-consoles-556026.phtml|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/06/are_you_ready_kids_spongebob_squarepants_battle_for_bikini_bottom_-_rehydrated_announced|title=Are You Ready, Kids? SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated Announced|last=Tailby|first=Stephen|date=June 5, 2019|website=Push Square|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605143730/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/06/are_you_ready_kids_spongebob_squarepants_battle_for_bikini_bottom_-_rehydrated_announced|archive-date=June 5, 2019|access-date=June 5, 2019}} The game was released one year later on June 23, 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-rehydrated/steam-release-date|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom hits Steam in June|last=Bailey|first=Dustin|website=PCGamesN|language=en-GB|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=April 21, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/04/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-rehydrated-launches-june-23|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated launches June 23|last=Romano|first=Sal|date=April 16, 2020|website=Gematsu|access-date=April 16, 2020}} and includes cut content from the original game.{{cite web |title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated Release Date Announced |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/spongebob-squarepants-battle-for-bikini-bottom-reh/1100-6476124/ |access-date=April 19, 2020}} On May 28, 2020, Apple Arcade released a game called Spongebob Squarepants: Patty Pursuit.{{cite web|url= https://www.cnet.com/news/spongebob-patty-pursuit-is-the-ultimate-new-apple-arcade-game-for-fans/|title= SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit is the ultimate new Apple Arcade game for fans|work=CNET|first=Shelby|last=Brown|date=May 28, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2021}} In 2021, EA Sports introduced a SpongeBob-themed level to the Yard section of its Madden NFL 21 video game.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/8/22220669/madden-spongebob-squarepants-field-reef-top-the-yard|title=Madden 21 now has a SpongeBob SquarePants field|work=The Verge|first=Jay|last=Peters|date=January 8, 2021|access-date=January 9, 2021}}

On September 17, 2021, THQ Nordic announced SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake, a new original game based on the franchise.{{Cite web |last=Borthwick |first=Ben |date=2021-09-20 |title=SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is an all new 3D platformer coming to consoles and PC |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/spongebob-squarepants-the-cosmic-shake-is-an-all-new-3d-platformer-coming-to-consoles-and-pc/ |access-date=2022-01-06 |website=VideoGamer.com |language=en-US}}

Nickelodeon launched the first global SpongeBob SquarePants-themed short film competition, SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes, in 2013.{{cite news|last=Wolfe|first=Jennifer|title=Nick Launches 2013 Short Film Contest|url=http://www.awn.com/news/call-entries/nick-launches-2013-short-film-contest|access-date=May 23, 2013|newspaper=Animation World Magazine|date=January 23, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|title=Nick Launches SpongeBob SquareShorts Contest|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/events/nick-launches-spongebob-squareshorts-contest/|work=Animation|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=May 7, 2013}} The contest encouraged fans and filmmakers around the world to create original short films inspired by SpongeBob for a chance to win a prize and a trip for four people to a screening event in Hollywood. The contest opened on May 6 and ran through June 28, 2013.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob Square Shorts Competition – $2,500 + Trip|url=http://www.filmthenext.com/2013/06/spongebob-square-shorts-competition-2500-trip/|website=FilmTheNext.com|access-date=May 23, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|title=Nickelodeon Announces First-Ever SpongeBob SquarePants Global Film Competition, 'SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes'|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/07/nickelodeon-announces-first-ever-spongebob-squarepants-global-film-competition-spongebob-squareshorts-original-fan-tributes/181318/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511005553/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/07/nickelodeon-announces-first-ever-spongebob-squarepants-global-film-competition-spongebob-squareshorts-original-fan-tributes/181318/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2013|publisher=TV by the Numbers|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=May 7, 2013}} On July 19, 2013, Nickelodeon announced the competition's finalists.{{cite web|last=Hutchins|first=Rob|title=Nickelodeon reveals finalists in SpongeBob Squareshorts film comp|url=http://www.licensing.biz/news/11767/Nickelodeon-reveals-finalists-in-SpongeBob-Squareshorts-film-competition|publisher=Licensing.biz|access-date=July 22, 2013|date=July 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024040444/http://www.licensing.biz/news/read/nickelodeon-reveals-finalists-in-spongebob-squareshorts-film-comp/026966|archive-date=October 24, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Nickelodeon Announces Finalists For First-Ever SpongeBob SquareShorts Global Short Film Competition|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/07/19/nickelodeon-announces-finalists-for-first-ever-spongebob-squareshorts-global-short-film-competition-92000/20130719nickelodeon01/|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=July 22, 2013|date=July 19, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Liu|first=Ed|title=PR: Nickelodeon Announces Finalists for First-Ever "SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes"|url=http://www.toonzone.net/2013/07/nickelodeon-announces-finalists-for-first-ever-spongebob-squareshorts-original-fan-tributes/#.Ue0FftIwe5I|work=Toonzone|access-date=July 22, 2013|date=July 19, 2013|archive-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218233942/http://www.toonzone.net/2013/07/nickelodeon-announces-finalists-for-first-ever-spongebob-squareshorts-original-fan-tributes/#.Ue0FftIwe5I|url-status=dead}} On August 13, 2013, the under-18 category was won by David of the United States for his The Krabby Commercial, while the Finally Home short by Nicole of South Africa won the 18 and over category.{{Cite web |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/network-press-releases/nickelodeon-announces-winners-for-first-ever-spongebob-squarepants-global-short-film-competition/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307212451/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/network-press-releases/nickelodeon-announces-winners-for-first-ever-spongebob-squarepants-global-short-film-competition/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |title=Nickelodeon Announces Winners for First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Global Short Film Competition |date=August 9, 2013 |publisher=TV by the Numbers |access-date=September 8, 2019}}

{{main|SpongeBob SquarePants (musical)|l1=SpongeBob SquarePants (musical)}}

SpongeBob SquarePants was adapted as a stage musical in 2016 by director Tina Landau. SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical premiered in Chicago in 2016 and opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on December 4, 2017.{{cite news|first=Sopan|last=Deb|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/theater/spongebob-squarepants-the-broadway-musical-nickelodeon.html |title=With a Singing SpongeBob, Nickelodeon Aims for a Broadway Splash – The New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=November 22, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2018}} The musical opened to critical acclaim,{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article/Spongebob-musical-underscores-nautical-nonsense-12620152.php|title='SpongeBob' musical underscores nautical nonsense of art vs. entertainment|work=Houston Chronicle|date=February 16, 2018|last=Chen|first=Wei-Huan}} and tied for most-nominated production at the 2018 72nd Tony Awards with twelve Tony nominations.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/2018-tony-award-nominations-spongebob-squarepants-and-mean-girls-lead-the-pack|title=2018 Tony Award Nominations: SpongeBob SquarePants and Mean Girls Lead the Pack|work=Playbill|date=May 1, 2018}}

{{further|List of SpongeBob SquarePants merchandise|l1=List of SpongeBob SquarePants merchandise}}

File:SpongeBob-SquarePants-characters-toys.jpg

The popularity of SpongeBob SquarePants inspired merchandise from T-shirts to posters. In 2009, it was reported that the franchise had generated an estimated $8 billion in merchandising revenue for Nickelodeon.{{cite web|last=Hampp|first=Andrew|title=How SpongeBob Became an $8 Billion Franchise|url=http://adage.com/article/media/nickelodeon-s-spongebob-8b-kid-franchise/137866/|work=Advertising Age|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=July 13, 2009}} The series is also the most distributed property of Paramount Media Networks.{{cite web |url=http://mnilive.com/2009/06/nickelodeon-celebrates-pop-culture-icon-spongebob-squarepants-decade/ |title=Nickelodeon Celebrates Pop Culture Icon SpongeBob SquarePants decade |work=Media News International |first=Rosina |last=Stock |date=June 24, 2009 |access-date=July 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626060310/http://mnilive.com/2009/06/nickelodeon-celebrates-pop-culture-icon-spongebob-squarepants-decade/ |archive-date=June 26, 2009}} SpongeBob is viewed in 170 countries, speaks 24 languages, and has become "a killer merchandising app.".{{cite news|last=Hinckley|first=David|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' gets closer look on VH1 with 10th anniversary documentary on Nickelodeon hit|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/spongebob-squarepants-closer-vh1-10th-anniversary-documentary-nickelodeon-hit-article-1.426636|work=New York Daily News|access-date=May 24, 2013|date=July 13, 2009}} The title character and his friends have been used as a theme for special editions of well-known family board games, including Monopoly,{{cite web|title=MTV Networks' Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group Puts a Digital Spin on Classic Hasbro Games Featuring Dora The Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mtv-networks-nickelodeon-kids-and-family-group-puts-a-digital-spin-on-classic-hasbro-games-featuring-dora-the-explorer-and-spongebob-squarepants-58463892.html|publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215064748/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mtv-networks-nickelodeon-kids-and-family-group-puts-a-digital-spin-on-classic-hasbro-games-featuring-dora-the-explorer-and-spongebob-squarepants-58463892.html|archive-date=December 15, 2013|url-status=dead}} Life,{{cite web|last=Onyett|first=Charles|title=The Game of Life -SpongeBob SquarePants Edition Review|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/10/the-game-of-life-spongebob-squarepants-edition-review|website=IGN|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=September 10, 2008}} and Operation,{{cite magazine|last=Ward|first=Kate|title=Hasbro lets us operate on SpongeBob. Which TV character would you like to get inside?|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/28/operation-spongebob-tv-characters/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=November 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204035456/http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/28/operation-spongebob-tv-characters/|archive-date=December 4, 2009|url-status=dead}} as well as a SpongeBob SquarePants edition of Ants in the Pants,{{cite web|title=ANTS IN THE SquarePants|url=http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?R=927727BC-6D40-1014-8BF0-9EFBF894F9D4:en_US|publisher=Hasbro|access-date=May 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622093031/http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?R=927727BC-6D40-1014-8BF0-9EFBF894F9D4:en_US|archive-date=June 22, 2012|url-status=dead}} and Yahtzee.{{cite web|title=YAHTZEE Jr. SpongeBob SquarePants Edition Card Game|url=http://www.hasbro.com/games/en_US/shop/details.cfm?R=8F8A0CA2-5056-900B-1002-5FC898DDBE91:en_US|publisher=Hasbro|access-date=May 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620001213/http://www.hasbro.com/games/en_US/shop/details.cfm?R=8F8A0CA2-5056-900B-1002-5FC898DDBE91:en_US|archive-date=June 20, 2012|url-status=dead}}

In 2001, Nickelodeon signed a marketing deal with Target Corporation and Burger King, expanding its merchandising. The popularity of SpongeBob has translated well into sales. In 2002, SpongeBob SquarePants dolls sold at a rate of 75,000 per week—faster than Tickle Me Elmo dolls were selling at the time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/covers/2002-05-17-spongebob.htm|title=Life's good for SpongeBob|last=Strauss|first=Gary|date=May 17, 2002|work=USA Today |access-date=November 8, 2008|archive-url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/covers/2002-05-17-sponge-bob.htm|archive-date=May 21, 2013}} SpongeBob has gained popularity in Japan, specifically with Japanese women. Nickelodeon's parent company, Viacom, purposefully targeted marketing at women there. Skeptics initially doubted that SpongeBob could be popular in Japan, as the character's design is very different from already popular designs for Hello Kitty and Pikachu.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/01/24/entertainment/e091755S47.DTL |title=SpongeBob Goes Trendy to Win Japan Fans |last=Kageyama |first=Yuri |date=January 24, 2007 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=November 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405192838/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2007%2F01%2F24%2Fentertainment%2Fe091755S47.DTL |archive-date=April 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }} Ratings and merchandise sales showed SpongeBob SquarePants has caught on with parents and with college audiences. In a 2013 promotion, college-oriented website Music.com gave away 80,000 SpongeBob T-shirts, four times more than during a similar promotion for Comedy Central's South Park.{{cite web|title=The Hype Soaking it Up' SpongeBob Actor Loves the Attention|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83498648.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106075350/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83498648.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2013|work=Daily News|access-date=October 30, 2013|date=March 8, 2001|location=Los Angeles, CA}}

Kids' meal tie-ins have been released in fast food restaurants in many parts of the world, including Burger King in Europe and North America, as well as Wendy's in North America, and Hungry Jack's in Australia. A McDonald's Happy Meal tie-in with SpongeBob-themed Happy Meal boxes and toys was released in Europe and other international markets in the summer of 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.megamodo.com/200711368-spongebob-con-lhappy-meal-mcdonalds/ |title=Spongebob con l'Happy Meal McDonald's |work=Megamodo |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109234852/http://www.megamodo.com/200711368-spongebob-con-lhappy-meal-mcdonalds/ |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |date=May 17, 2007 |access-date=January 10, 2014}} In Australia, the advertisement for the McDonald's SpongeBob Happy Meal won the Pester Power Award because the ads enticed young children to want its food because of the free toy.{{cite news|last=Stark|first=Jill|title=Maccas takes out 'pester power' prize|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/maccas-takes-out-pester-power-prize/2007/10/04/1191091281190.html|work=The Age|access-date=May 23, 2013|date=October 5, 2007|location=Melbourne}} As a tie-in beverage for the DVD release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, 7-Eleven released the limited edition Under-the-Sea Pineapple Slurpee in March 2004.{{cite web|last=Meitner|first=Sarah Hale|title=Slurpee Galaxy Expands With Nod To 'Star Wars'|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2005/03/02/slurpee-galaxy-expands-with-nod-to-star-wars/|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=May 22, 2013|date=March 2, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524054843/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2005-03-02/news/0503020192_1_darth-vader-7-eleven-new-flavors|url-status=live|archive-date=May 24, 2013}} Pirate's Booty released limited edition SpongeBob SquarePants Pirate's Booty snacks in 2013.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Pirates Booty $1 at Target|url=http://www.totallytarget.com/2012/04/30/spongebob-squarepants-pirates-booty-1-at-target/|publisher=Totally Target|access-date=May 24, 2013|date=April 30, 2013|archive-date=May 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501235155/http://www.totallytarget.com/2012/04/30/spongebob-squarepants-pirates-booty-1-at-target/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SplashPants Sweepstakes 5/31/13 1PPD4-14|url=http://sweetiessweeps.com/2013/03/spongebob-splashpants-sweepstakes.html|publisher=Sweetis Sweeps|access-date=May 24, 2013|date=March 22, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327205612/http://sweetiessweeps.com/2013/03/spongebob-splashpants-sweepstakes.html|archive-date=March 27, 2013}}

In 2007, high-end SpongeBob-themed electronics were introduced by Imation Electronics Products under the Npower brand, including MP3 players, digital cameras, a DVD player, and a flatscreen television.{{cite news|last1=Veneziani|first1=Vince|title=Nickelodeon's NPower Lineup Of Electronics|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/nickelodeons-npower-lineup-of-electronics/|work=TechCrunch|access-date=June 28, 2014|date=September 27, 2007}} Pictures of SpongeBob SquarePants began to appear on the labels of 8-ounce cans of Green Giant cut green beans and packages of frozen Green Giant green beans and butter sauce in 2007, which featured free stickers. This was part of an initiative to encourage kids to eat their vegetables.{{cite web |url=http://promomagazine.com/entertainmentmarketing/news/nickelodeon_healthy_food_initiative_green_giant_053107/ |title=Nickelodeon Expands Healthy Food Initiative with Green Giant |work=Promomagazine.com |date=May 31, 2007 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230024017/http://promomagazine.com/entertainmentmarketing/news/nickelodeon_healthy_food_initiative_green_giant_053107/ |archive-date=December 30, 2010 }} Simmons Jewelry Co. released a $75,000 diamond pendant as part of a SpongeBob collection.{{cite news|last=Huff|first=Richard|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' one of Nickelodeon's longest-running shows after nearly a decade|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/spongebob-squarepants-nickelodeon-longest-running-shows-decade-article-1.435311|work=New York Daily News|date=December 14, 2009|access-date=May 23, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121072606/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/spongebob-squarepants-nickelodeon-longest-running-shows-decade-article-1.435311|archive-date=January 21, 2013}}{{cite news|title=High Fashion Hits Bikini Bottom|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=85242&p=irol-newsArticle_pf&ID=1244418&highlight=|access-date=May 23, 2013|newspaper=Viacom|date=January 14, 2009}} In New Zealand, the UK-based Beechdean Group unveiled the SpongeBob SquarePants Vanilla Ice Cream character product as part of a license deal with Nickelodeon.{{cite web|last=Weston|first=Shaun|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Vanilla Ice Cream|url=http://www.foodbev.com/news/spongebob-squarepants-vanilla-ice-cream#.UbcBjOcwe5J|work=Food Bev|access-date=June 11, 2013|date=May 22, 2013}} NZ Drinks launched the SpongeBob SquarePants bottled water.{{cite web|last=Weston|first=Shaun|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Spring Water|url=http://www.foodbev.com/news/spongebob-squarepants-spring-water#.UbcBF-cwe5I|work=Food Bev|access-date=June 11, 2013|date=June 3, 2013}}

Build-A-Bear Workshop introduced the new SpongeBob SquarePants collection in stores and online in North America on May 17, 2013.{{cite web|last=Dedman|first=Christie|title=Build A Bear SpongeBob SquarePants coming May 17|url=http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/2013/04/build_a_bear_spongebob_square.html|publisher=AL.com|access-date=May 24, 2013|date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Build-A-Bear Workshop Makes a Splash with New SpongeBob SquarePants Collection|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130515005084/en/Build-A-Bear-Workshop-Splash-SpongeBob-SquarePants-Collection|publisher=Business Wire|access-date=May 24, 2013|date=May 15, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Build-A-Bear welcomes the SpongeBob gang|url=http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/build-bear-welcomes-spongebob-gang|work=Retailing Today|access-date=May 24, 2013|date=May 15, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918153644/http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/build-bear-welcomes-spongebob-gang|archive-date=September 18, 2013}} Shoppers can dress their SpongeBob and Patrick plush in a variety of clothing and accessories. Sandy Cheeks and Gary the Snail are also available as pre-stuffed minis.{{cite web|last=Edel |first=Ray |title=Make a splash with new SpongeBob SquarePants Collection at Build-A-Bear |url=http://blog.northjersey.com/thebeat/4415/make-a-splash-with-new-spongebob-squarepants-collection-at-build-a-bear/ |publisher=NorthJersey.com |access-date=May 24, 2013 |date=May 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001122705/http://blog.northjersey.com/thebeat/4415/make-a-splash-with-new-spongebob-squarepants-collection-at-build-a-bear/ |archive-date=October 1, 2013 }} Build-A-Bear Workshop stores nationwide celebrated the arrival of SpongeBob with a series of special events from May 17 through May 19.{{cite web|last=Mierzejewski|first=Ali|title=Build-A-Bear Workshop Meets Bikini Bottom with New SpongeBob SquarePants Collection|url=http://toybook.com/build-a-bear-workshop-meets-bikini-bottom-with-new-spongebob-squarepants-collection/|publisher=Toy Book|access-date=May 24, 2013|date=May 15, 2013}}

On July 13, 2013, Toyota, with Nickelodeon, unveiled a SpongeBob-inspired Toyota Highlander.{{Cite web |last=Burden |first=Melissa |date=July 12, 2013 |title=Toyota creates one-of-a-kind SpongeBob Highlander |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130712/AUTO0104/307120114/1361/Toyota-creates-one-of-a-kind-SpongeBob-Highlander |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130713100514/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130712/AUTO0104/307120114/1361/Toyota-creates-one-of-a-kind-SpongeBob-Highlander |archive-date=July 13, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2013 |website=The Detroit News}} The 2014 Toyota Highlander was launched on SpongeBob Day at the San Diego Padres v. Giants game.{{cite news|last=Ayapana|first=Erick|title=Custom Spongebob Squarepants 2014 Toyota Highlander Sets Sail|newspaper=Motortrend |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/custom-spongebob-squarepants-2014-toyota-highlander-sets-sail-385945/|publisher=MotorTrend.com|access-date=July 16, 2013|date=July 15, 2013}}{{cite magazine|last=Busis|first=Hillary|title=SpongeBob Square...Car? Check out the cartoon's new 'concept vehicle' – EXCLUSIVE|url=http://family-room.ew.com/2013/07/12/spongebob-squarepants-concept-vehicle/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=July 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714103855/http://family-room.ew.com/2013/07/12/spongebob-squarepants-concept-vehicle/|archive-date=July 14, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Brindusescu|first=Gabriel|title=Toyota to Unveil 2014 Highlander SpongeBob Edition [Video]|url=http://www.autoevolution.com/toyota-blog/toyota-to-unveil-2014-highlander-spongebob-edition-video-63013.html|work=Auto Evolution|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=July 12, 2013}} The SpongeBob Toyota Highlander visited seven U.S. locations during its release, including the Nickelodeon Suites Resort Orlando in Florida.{{cite web|last=Barari|first=Arman|title=SpongeBob-Themed Toyota Highlander by Nickelodeon|url=http://www.motorward.com/2013/07/spongebob-themed-toyota-highlander-by-nickelodeon/|publisher=Motor Ward|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=July 13, 2013}}

In April 2019, Nickelodeon released a series of toys adapted from various SpongeBob Internet memes. These included "Handsome Squidward", "Imaginaaation SpongeBob", "Mocking SpongeBob", "SpongeGar", and "Surprised Patrick". Shortly after the release of the line, most of the toys sold out on Amazon.com.{{cite news |last1=Harbison |first1=Cammy Harbison |title=A new line of Spongebob Squarepants Masterpiece Memes figurines bring all your favorite SpongeBob memes to life. |url=https://www.newsweek.com/spongebob-meme-toys-nickelodeon-figures-where-buy-mocking-spongebob-toy-1404691 |access-date=April 25, 2019 |work=Newsweek |date=April 24, 2019}}

{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Xavier |date=2019-04-24 |title=Nickelodeon Releases Official Spongebob Meme Figures |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/fnr-tigg/nickelodeon-releases-official-spongebob-meme-figures |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=Complex}}

SpongeBob has also appeared as a guest character in multiple video games, mainly Nickelodeon based ones such as the Nicktoons Unite and Nick All-Star Brawl franchises, and a crossover game with the MLB entitled Nicktoons MLB.{{Cite web |last=Abraham |first=Peter |title=Nicktoons MLB video game debuts next week |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2011/09/07/nicktoons_mlb_v/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.boston.com |language=en-US}} Additionally, there have been SpongeBob skins in mobile games, such as Stumble Guys{{Cite web |title=Stumble Guys - Patch Notes 0.74 - SpongeBob SquarePants is Back! |url=https://www.stumbleguys.com/news/update74 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Stumble Guys |language=en}} and Brawl Stars.{{Cite web |title=SpongeBob SquarePants shows up in Brawl Stars for a special takeover |url=https://supercell.com/en/news/brawlstars-spongebob/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Supercell |language=en}}

In 2024, Nickelodeon collaborated with various local restaurants and fast food chain Wendy's to create Krabby Patty Kollab meals,{{Cite web |last=Buenahora |first=Andrés |date=2024-10-02 |title=Krabby Patties Enter the Real World: 'SpongeBob SquarePants'-Themed Dishes Coming to Wendy's and Over 250 Other Restaurants |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/spongebob-squarepants-themed-burgers-wendys-restaurants-collaboration-1236162353/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} including a recreation of the Krabby Patty (which was just the Dave's burgers from Wendy's with special sauce) and various SpongeBob themed food items, including a Pineapple Under The Sea Frosty from Wendy's, along with specialized items at select local restaurants nationwide. While the promotion was popular, it was also criticized for allegedly going against creator Stephen Hillenburg's wishes of not selling themed fast food based on the property.{{Cite web |last=Cifarelli |first=David |date=2024-10-11 |title=Here's why 'SpongeBob Squarepants' fans are upset about Wendy's Krabby Patty |url=https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2024/10/wendys-krabby-patty-collaboration-sparks-backlash-from-spongebob-fans.html |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=masslive |language=en}}

On October 25, 2024, as part of multiple reveals at that year's MagicCon Las Vegas event, Wizards of the Coast announced a SpongeBob themed Secret Lair would be released for Magic: The Gathering (Secret Lair is the label for special limited edition cards for the game). Not much is currently known aside from it releasing in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Fanelli |first=Jason |date=October 25, 2024 |title=Magic: The Gathering's 2025 Lineup Features Final Fantasy, Spider-Man, And SpongeBob |url=https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/magic-the-gatherings-2025-lineup-features-final-fantasy-spider-man-and-spongebob/2900-5889/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}

On December 5, 2024, clothing brand Uniqlo announced a collab featuring SpongeBob inspired designs by streetwear brand Cactus Plant Flea Market. It is set to release December 12.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-05 |title=Uniqlo UT Officially Launches SpongeBob x Cactus Plant Flea Market Collection |url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/12/uniqlo-ut-spongebob-cactus-plant-flea-market-collaboration-release-info |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Hypebeast}}{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Uniqlo UT x CPFM collab page |url=https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/special-feature/ut/spongebob-cpfm |website=Uniqlo}}

• Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years
• The Patrick Star Show
• Rocko's Modern Life

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Banks|first=Steven|others=Schigiel, Gregg (Illustrator)|title=SpongeBob Exposed! The Insider's Guide to SpongeBob SquarePants|publisher=Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon| date=September 24, 2004|isbn=978-0-689-86870-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Beck|first=Jerry|title=The SpongeBob SquarePants Experience: A Deep Dive Into the World of Bikini Bottom|year=2013|publisher=Insight Editions|location=USA|isbn=978-1-4357-3248-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aPRymAEACAAJ}}
• {{Cite book|title=Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies|publisher=Allworth Communications, Inc|last=Neuwirth|first=Allan|isbn=978-1-58115-269-2|year=2003|url=https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw}}
• {{cite book|last=Priebe|first=Kenneth A.|title=The Advanced Art of Stop-Motion Animation|year=2011|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1-4354-5704-1}}
• {{Cite book|last=Lenburg|first=Jeff|title=Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film & Television's Award Winning and Legendary Animators|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|chapter=Hal Leonard|year=2006|isbn=978-1-55783-671-7|url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinanimate0000lenb}}

{{Spoken Wikipedia|SpongeBob SquarePants.ogg|date=2010-05-11}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons category|SpongeBob SquarePants}}

• {{Official website|https://www.nick.com/shows/spongebob-squarepants}}
• {{IMDb title|0206512}}
• [https://archive.today/20121209054354/http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios/N/Nickelodeon/Nicktoons_Productions/SpongeBob_SquarePants/index.html SpongeBob SquarePants] at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• [http://toonopedia.com/spongbob.htm SpongeBob SquarePants] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia

{{SpongeBob SquarePants|state=expanded}}

{{SpongeBob SquarePants episodes}}

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