Paramount Animation will host a special presentation of the upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants theatrical film The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Thursday, June 12 Tuesday, June 10! The feature film's presentation will take place in the afternoon.
During the presentation, director Derek Drymon will join the Paramount & Nickelodeon 2025 slate reveal panel to share a sneak peak at the upcoming film.
The presentation, titled Smurfs x SpongeBob x Turtles: A Paramount Animation & Nickelodeon Presentation, will also feature screenings of two exciting new animated shorts: SpongeBob: Order Up, directed by Sean Charmatz and TMNT: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey, directed by Kent Seki.
Smurfs x SpongeBob x Turtles: A Paramount Animation & Nickelodeon Presentation
Date: Tuesday 10 June 2025, from 14h30 to 15h45
Duration: 01h15
Get ready for a colorful first look as Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon unveil their 2025 film slate.
The panel features Smurfs, directed by Chris Miller, and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, helmed by Derek Drymon.
Plus, don't miss two exciting new animated shorts SpongeBob: Order Up, directed by Sean Charmatz and TMNT: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey, directed by Kent Seki.
Cowabunga!
Speaker(s):
Ramsey Naito
Chris Miller
Derek Drymon
Emily Nordwind
Not too much is currently known about The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, however, it was recently teased in a trailer during Paramount Pictures' presentation at CinemaCon that it'll follow SpongeBob's efforts to become a "big man." When Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) tells SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) about his days on the seas, it motivates SpongeBob and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) to follow in his footsteps and go on a swashbuckling sailing adventure. When SpongeBob and Patrick cross paths with the Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill), he takes them to the underworld, where they must endure terrors beyond the sponge’s imagination, including scary rollercoasters. The movie will boast CG-animation and live-action.
During Paramount's CinemaCon presentation, Tom Kenny and Mark Hamill took to the stage to discuss The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.
Hamill offered up a particularly eyebrow-raising tease for his role as the Flying Dutchman: "I actually did an episode of SpongeBob in the fifth season, and I did such a great job they asked me back 18 years later...And if I do my job correctly, every child in America will hate my guts."
The original SpongeBob SquarePants voice cast will return for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. The cast includes Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward Tentacles), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy Cheeks) and Mr. Lawrence (Sheldon J. Plankton).
The Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies release, based on the beloved series created by Stephen Hillenburg, is being directed by Derek Drymon. Pam Brady and Lisa Stewart and producing.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is currently slated to be released in theaters on Friday, December 19, 2025 during the holiday season.
Returning to the scenic French Alps from June 8-14, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and its accompanying MIFA market, running June 10-13, has revealed a staggering lineup of programming highlights, including screenings in and out of competition, behind-the-scenes sessions, special guests and milestone celebrations. Particular spotlights of this edition are a tribute to Hungarian animation, the music video works of auteur animators and the MIFA’s 40th anniversary.
Among the many delights awaiting visitors, the 2025 edition introduces a new short film program, Midnight Shorts, as a complement to the Midnight Specials screenings which focus on weird and wonderful films, and a first look at Netflix's upcoming Stranger Things animated series. This year’s attendees will also be the first to experience the Annecy Dome, a cozy new 32-seat venue to experience immersive works, in the heart of Annecy’s city center.
For more information about this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival, visit annecyfestival.com.
Watch the SpongeBob SquarePants Universe, including Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years and The Patrick Star Show on Nickelodeon and Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com.
Shop SpongeBob: https://www.paramountshop.com/pages/spongebobsquarepants
Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
►► Subscribe to the OFFICIAL Nickelodeon YouTube channel for More: https://at.nick.com/Subscribe
Originally published: April 24, 2025.
Sources: Animation Magazine, ToonHive; Special thanks to @KcaWomansRights and RegularCapital for the news!
