

It might fly under the radar when talking about the most influential animated shows of all time, but the reality is that some 25 years after it first debuted in 1999, SpongeBob Squarepants deserves to be in that conversation.
The absurdist family-friendly comedy is raucous fun, and its main characters have become completely iconic around the world, all of them instantly recognisable. Now, one of its unsung heroes is getting her own Netflix original movie in Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie.
In case that didn't make it clear enough for you, Sandy the squirrel is in the spotlight this time around, as she takes centre stage to lead SpongeBob, Patrick and more on a journey out of the ocean to rescue Bikini Bottom from corporate thieves.
In Finding Nemo-style, it looks like their whole hometown is going to get abducted and moved, right down to its famous buildings and houses, leaving our ragtag heroes to jump out of their familiar locations to go and get it back.
The movie also looks set to repeat one of the most successful choices previously made by SpongeBob movies – having the animated characters superimposed into the real world for sections. So it's both live-action and computer animation.





Rather than either making the whole thing animated or trying to create more photorealistic CGI versions of the characters, this lets the movies ham it up and place real actors in sets with SpongeBob and company careening about them. Hopefully, it'll bring plenty of funny moments.
The trailer gives plenty away, too, not least the fact that Sandy will discover her flying squirrel heritage at one point, but you'll be able to sink your teeth into the whole thing when it hits Netflix on 2 August – so in just a few week's time.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Netflix will doubtless hope that it helps to strengthen its case to be named the best streaming service for family-friendly content. Its main competition on that front is obviously Disney+, which has a huge library of shows and movies to fall back on, but Netflix is trying its level best to produce more originals.

Max is T3's Staff Writer for the Tech section – with years of experience reporting on tech and entertainment. He's also a gaming expert, both with the games themselves and in testing accessories and consoles, having previously flexed that expertise at Pocket-lint as a features editor.
-
Netflix hit show's S3 trailer has fans asking if another cancellation is coming
The Lincoln Lawyer is nearly back, but its fans are anxious
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
Move over Attenborough, new Netflix doc has Barack Obama on narration duties
That's quite the big name to attach
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
You won't believe how long this movie's been in the Netflix chart
Mario keeps doing the business for Netflix
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
Apple TV+'s beloved sci-fi series gets a surprise sequel and trailer
Wondla is coming back
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
Netflix's most surprising 100%-rated sci-fi series returns with gorgeous trailer
Love Death + Robots is back for more
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
My most anticipated Netflix movie of the year gets a wild new trailer
Havoc looks pretty unbelievable
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
I love the Murderbot books, and Apple TV+'s first trailer has me excited
Murderbot is a series I can't wait for
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
This runaway Netflix no.1 hit shows reviews aren't everything
Ignore The Life List's Rotten Tomatoes score
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
I'd never heard of this award-winning Apple TV+ series, but now it's back
Jane seems like lovely family fun
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
You only have days to catch this sci-fi stunner - it's leaving Netflix soon
A Quiet Place: Part II is terrifying
By Max Freeman-Mills
-
Apple TV+ summons the spirit of Indiana Jones for The Fountain of Youth
It's nabbed some big stars to help
By Max Freeman-Mills