Recipe for holiday cheer: SpongeBob & Sandy’s Christmas special with a big scoop of nostalgia (and more treats)

If there’s one thing SpongeBob SquarePants knows how to do—besides flipping Krabby Patties—it’s delivering holiday cheer in the quirkiest way possible. This December, Nickelodeon, and Paramount+ are treating us to a holly-jolly celebration with SpongeBob & Sandy’s Country Christmas, a stop-motion special that’s sure to make even the grumpiest Plankton crack a smile.

Revealed during New York Comic Con, the special is part of SpongeBob's 25th anniversary (yes, you read that right—25 years of nautical nonsense!). The first look at this festive extravaganza promises a heartwarming—and hilariously chaotic—holiday adventure. When one of Sandy Cheeks’ experiments goes wrong (because what’s a Christmas special without some wacky science?), the entire Cheeks family has to step in to save Christmas in Bikini Bottom. With voices like Craig Robinson, Johnny Knoxville, and Grey DeLisle bringing the Cheeks clan to life, you know we’re in for some country-flavored Christmas magic.

Let’s talk about that tree. Yes, Sandy's got an instant Christmas tree experiment up her sleeve, and if that’s not a metaphor for holiday stress in 2024, I don’t know what is. Blink, and boom—instant holiday spirit, or disaster waiting to happen? Either way, we’re ready to watch it all unfold in glorious stop-motion that looks like it was sprinkled with fairy dust. The animation style alone makes this special visual treat—because, really, what says "Merry Christmas" more than stop-motion holiday magic?

But it’s not just the sparkly visuals that are hitting us in the nostalgic feels—SpongeBob has been part of our lives since 1999, which means this special is serving up a heaping side of "remember when?" alongside the yuletide cheer. The familiar faces, the offbeat humor, and the sheer absurdity of it all make us feel like kids again. And what’s better than sitting down to enjoy SpongeBob with a mug of hot cocoa in hand, knowing you’re about to watch Bikini Bottom go full-on Christmas chaos?

Oh, and speaking of chaos—let’s not forget about Plankton. While this special is all about Sandy’s family saving the day, our favorite (and tiniest) villain has his own holiday plans, with Plankton heading to Netflix in a brand-new movie. It looks like Bikini Bottom’s smallest baddie is getting some screen time of his own, but let’s be honest, he’ll probably still find a way to mess up someone’s Christmas.

Meanwhile, in the SpongeBob multiverse, the fun doesn’t stop with Sandy’s Christmas hijinks. The Patrick Star spinoff The Patrick Star Show is coming back for not one, but two more seasons. Looks like our favorite starfish is staying in the spotlight. And just when you thought SpongeBob couldn't get any more square, along comes the Snow Yellow special, set to debut this November. Revealed at Nickelodeon’s New York Comic Con panel, this twisted fairytale parody casts our beloved sea sponge as "Snow Yellow" (because who else could pull off being “the squarest of them all”?). In this hilarious take on the classic, the evil Queen Karen (yes, Plankton's wife!) will stop at nothing to claim that coveted title for herself. With SpongeBob serving up fairy tale realness, expect a wild underwater adventure with a side of enchanted absurdity—because if we didn’t know we needed SpongeBob in a fairy tale spoof, we definitely do now.

Created by the late, great Stephen Hillenburg, SpongeBob SquarePants has done more than just survive in the ever-competitive world of animation—it’s thrived. From the iconic voices of Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), and Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), to the recent renewal for its 15th season, this show has become a cornerstone of animated television. And now, with holiday specials like SpongeBob & Sandy’s Country Christmas, we’re reminded why we fell in love with these zany underwater adventures in the first place.

So, as you mark your calendars for December, get ready to watch Sandy, SpongeBob, and the whole gang bring Bikini Bottom together for the ultimate Christmas celebration. And remember, if all else fails this holiday season, maybe try an instant Christmas tree—it worked for Sandy (kind of).