SpongeBob SquarePants (SMF188's Version)

## SpongeBob SquarePants (Jamal's Version)

The orginal SpongeBob SquarePants balloon during his apperance at Balloonfest 2004.

## Santa Hat SpongeBob SquarePants (Jamal's Version)

SpongeBob holds on tight to his santa hat during the 2015 Parade.

## SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary (Jamal's Version)

SpongeBob, now joined by his pet snail Gary during their test flight at Balloonfest 2019.

### Handlers

90

**SpongeBob** **SquarePants** is an American animated television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg that premiered on Nickelodeon as a sneak peek after the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards on May 1, 1999, and officially premiered on July 17, 1999. It chronicles the adventures of the title character and his aquatic friends in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The series received worldwide critical acclaim, and has gained popularity by its second season. As of 2019, the series is the fifth-longest-running American animated series. Its popularity made it a media franchise, the highest rated Nickelodeon series, and the most profitable property for Paramount Consumer Products. By 2019, it had generated over $13 billion in merchandising revenue

## Background Music

* F.U.N Song (instrumental version) (2004-2013)
* SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Song Medley, composed by Ray Chew (2014-present)

## History with the Parade (Jamal's Version)

**SpongeBob SquarePants (2004-2012)**

SpongeBob SquarePants made his Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 2004 to promote the 2004 animated Nickelodeon movie, *The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie*.

The second SpongeBob balloon's design shows SpongeBob jumping for joy with excitement, with his arms raised in the air, this balloon measures at 62 feet tall, 28 feet long and 28 feet wide, inflated with 16,200 cubic ft of helium and was flown down with 70 balloon handlers.

SpongeBob toke another balloonfest apperance at Balloonfest 2004, with newcomer Chicken Little, the titular protagonist from the 2005 Walt Disney Animation Studios animated film, *Chicken Little* and returning veterans, Red and Yellow M&M's, but in a hot air balloon.

SpongeBob continued for 2005, 2006, 2007 and2008.

In 2009, he returned (to celebrate the show's 10th anniversary), 2010, and 2011.

Then this balloon made it's last appearance in 2012, the legs were bent and the balloon was worn out because the balloon's old age and was retired.

**SpongeBob SquarePants with a Santa Hat (2013-2018)**

In 2013, a new SpongeBob balloon was created, the balloon's design shows SpongeBob jumping for joy with excitement as he holds on to his santa hat.

The balloon was designed by Harry Moore, this design measured 44 feet in height, 41 feet in length and 34 feet in width and was flown with 90 balloon handlers.

The balloon debuted alongside returning veteran Snoopy along his bird buddy, Woodstock and newcomers like Toothless, from the DreamWorks Animation movie, *How to Train Your Dragon* and Finn the Human & Jake the Dog from the 2010 Cartoon Network animated series, *Adventure Time*.

The balloon appeared in 2014, by the way in that year, the balloon was named "Macy's Holiday Ambassador" of 2014, and promoted the 2015 movie *The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water*.

The balloon continued for 2015 and 2016, and im 2017, not just the cast of the SpongeBob Broadway show performed at the parade that year, the SpongeBob balloon continued to delight many SpongeBob fans of all ages.

And this SpongeBob balloon made it's final appearance at the 2018 Parade to celebrate SpongeBob's 20th anniversary in 2019 and the movie, *The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge (now re-named to The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run)*, and after that, this version was retired making a total of 6 appearances.

**SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary (2019-present)**

In 2019, Macy's and Nickelodeon decided to make another new SpongeBob SquarePants balloon, the balloon's design shows SpongeBob gliding down the parade route, by his pet snail, Gary decided to join him through the parade route.

The balloon 44 feet tall, 46 feet long, and 36 feet wide, the balloon weighs at 896 pounds, 18,000 cubic ft of helium and was flown down with 90 balloon handlers.

The fourth SpongeBob SquarePants balloon debuted with a brand-new Snoopy balloon, but Snoopy is wearing a orange astronaut outfit with a Nasa logo on it and Sam & Guy from the 2019 Netfilx animated series based off of Dr. Seuss's book, Green Eggs and Ham.

The balloon promoted the movie *The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run* and *the animated Nickelodeon/SpongeBob spin-off series Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years* and to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary.

The balloon returned to the 2020 line of march to promote the movie *The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run* and the spin-off series *Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years*.

The balloon appeared in 2021 to promote another SpongeBob spin-off series *The Patrick Star Show*.

The balloon appeared in the 2022 Parade, to promote the SpongeBob crossover episode *The Tidal Zone*.

The balloon appeared once again at the 2023 Parade to promote SpongeBob's 25th anniversary in 2024.

SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary are one of the giant character balloons that are confirmed to appear at the 2024 Parade.