It’s a SpongeBob Christmas: A Stop-Motion Holiday Special
As the holiday season arrives, fans in Canada and the United States gain a fresh reason to tune in. IT’S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS marks SpongeBob SquarePants’ first foray into stop-motion animation, bringing a festive twist to the beloved series. In the story, Plankton hatches a plan to spread mischief by granting everyone in Bikini Bottom a Christmas wish that makes them go bad. After he seeds his jerktonium-laced fruitcake into the mix, only SpongeBob can rescue the town and restore the holiday spirit. The production aims to become a standout addition to the SpongeBob canon and is slated to air on YTV, offering families across North America a new way to celebrate the season.
Many viewers may wonder how the familiar 2D character was transformed into a stop-motion figure. The team relied on a puppet-based workflow rather than drawing new poses. Puppets of SpongeBob and the supporting cast were built with care, seated within detailed underwater sets, and moved by hand, frame by frame. It was crucial that the puppets resemble the animated characters so fans would recognize their favorite personalities in every twitch and smile. This approach delivers the tactile charm of stop motion while preserving the expressiveness that fans love from the original show.
The project draws inspiration from a long-running tradition of holiday stop-motion specials, aligning the SpongeBob piece with timeless favorites like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town. Animation supervisor Chris Finnegan reflects on the connection: “As a kid growing up, all my favourite specials were stop motion. Hopefully, the SpongeBob special will join that group and continue that tradition.”
Behind the scenes, a video offers further insight into the process, and audiences are encouraged to watch the official trailer below. The feature is scheduled to premiere on YTV at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, inviting families to gather for a cozy, laughter-filled holiday moment.