NICKELODEON GREENLIGHTS SEASON 12 OF SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS,

NUMBER-ONE ANIMATED SERIES ACROSS ALL TV WITH KIDS



Art by Vincent Waller, the Creative Director on SpongeBob SquarePants.

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Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release:Nickelodeon today announced that, the number-one animated show for kids 2-11 and kids 6-11, has been greenlit for season 12. The 26-episode pick up will further the nautical adventures of SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Plankton and Squidward. Season 12 is scheduled to premiere in 2019, the series’ 20th anniversary year.The pickup comes on the heels of the recent announcement for a thirdtheatrical from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, also slated for 2019., the most-watched animated program with kids for more than 15 consecutive years, will debut season 11 later this summer, and feature the return of fan favorite characters including: the mischievous pencil-drawing Doodle Bob; SpongeBob’s friend and creation Bubble Buddy; the super villain Man Ray; and Cave SpongeBob, who made his debut in season one.is voiced by veteran cast members: Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants, an incurably optimistic sea sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea; Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star, SpongeBob's silly best friend; Roger Bumpass as Squidward, an aloof cashier of The Krusty Krab and SpongeBob’s neighbor; Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob's boss and greedy owner of The Krusty Krab; Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks, Bikini Bottom's only resident rodent aquanaut and scientist; and Mr. Lawrence as Plankton, owner of the Chum Bucket and chief rival of Mr. Krabs.Since 1999, many notable guest stars have voiced imaginative characters, including: Amy Poehler, Mark Hamill, David Bowie, Alton Brown, Johnny Depp, Dennis Quaid, Ricky Gervais, Rosario Dawson, LeBron James, Tina Fey, Craig Ferguson, Will Ferrell, P!nk, Victoria Beckham, Kristin Wiig, Ginnifer Goodwin, John Goodman, Andy Samberg, Johnny Knoxville, Bob Barker, Betty White, Aubrey Plaza, and Jon Hamm, among others.Viewers can visit the SpongeBob SquarePants page on Nick.com , the Nick App and the Facebook page, along with the SpongeBob Facebook page and SpongeBob Instagram , to get an exclusive look at the series. Episodes ofare available on Nick.com and the Nick App, along with platforms including iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu and Nick On Demand.is executive produced by creator Stephen Hillenburg, who previously worked as a writer, director and creative director on Nickelodeon’s animated series. Hillenburg graduated from the California Institute of the Arts with a master’s degree in experimental animation and studied marine biology and art as an undergraduate. Hillenburg created and executive produced his first feature film,, which debuted Nov. 19, 2004 and his second theatrical,, hit theaters Feb. 6, 2015. Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller are supervising producers on. The series is produced at Nickelodeon in Burbank.Since its launch in July 1999,has emerged as a pop culture phenomenon. The series has been the most-watched animated program with kids 2-11 for more than 15 consecutive years, and over the past several years, it has averaged more than 100,000,000 total viewers every quarter across all Nickelodeon networks.is the most widely distributed property in Viacom International Media Networks history, seen in more than 208 countries and territories and translated in 55+ languages. The Paramount Pictures feature filmpremiered Feb. 6, 2015, landing at #1 opening weekend. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.Nickelodeon, now in its 38th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated kids’ basic cable network for 22 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com . Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).“I’m one lucky airbreather to be the voice of Stephen Hillenburg’s briny brainchild!” said Tom Kenny, who voices SpongeBob, in a statement to EW . “This pickup is great news for me and my pliable poriferan pal! Twelve seasons, 18 years: It blows my mind when I do the math and realize that SpongeBob has been living in my head for nearly one-third of my life now… and he’s the best roommate I’ve ever had! (Hopefully he says the same about me!) Our Wednesday full-cast recording sessions still provide the biggest laughs of my week. It’s like therapy, but I get paid! SpongeBob SquarePants has the best creator, cast, and Krusty Krew on land or sea, and the best part is that I feel like the episodes we are doing right now are some of the most surreal, bizarre, crazy, creative ones ever! SpongeBob may be square, but he keeps on rolling right along!”“What delightful news- Patrick lives!,” Fagerbakke told Deadline . “Working with such a talented cast, production team and brilliant and indefatigable creative staff all under such steady stewardship from Nickelodeon is such a gift. I feel so privileged to be part of a touchstone for an entire generation, as goofy as my part may be.”