Yellow, square, and eternally optimistic, SpongeBob SquarePants has been a global animation icon since his debut in 1999, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg.

On the first day of 2026, the beloved sponge will return to Chinese theaters with his friends — starfish Patrick Star, co-worker Squidward Tentacles, and boss Mr Krabs — in the latest installment of the long-running franchise, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

The adventure begins when SpongeBob discovers he has grown to exactly 36 clams tall — a height that makes him eligible to ride a massive roller coaster. However, still afraid of the scary experience and not daring to take the ride, he is determined to prove his bravery by setting off on a seafaring quest with the mysterious ghost pirate, the Flying Dutchman, embarking on a comedic adventure to the deepest ocean depths.

The SpongeBob franchise was first introduced to the Chinese mainland in 2006 on CCTV-14, a channel tailored for children and teenagers, and has since gained a large local following.

On Saturday, the new film held a premiere in a Beijing theater, featuring performers dressed as characters and the tossing of yellow light-up balls as a symbolic blessing for the New Year.