Enjoy the breakdown reel - the film’s 3 above-water sequences blend live-action environments with the iconic, stylized animation of ‘SpongeBob;’ include a ghostly Flying Dutchman prologue and 2 scenes set in Santa Monica.
Cinesite Montréal crafted three hybrid, above-water sequences for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, which blended live-action environments with the iconic, stylized animation of SpongeBob. Produced by Nickelodeon for Paramount and directed by Derek Drymon, the movie is based on the original SpongeBob SquarePants series. You can see the breakdown reel below.
The work included a ghostly Flying Dutchman prologue and two action-packed beach sequences set in Santa Monica. The team, which worked closely with production designer Pablo Mayer, faced a speedy turnaround, with work beginning in July 2024 and delivering in May 2025.
Consistency with the animation for the main body of the film, produced by Reel FX, was key. In reference to the original show, the work’s 2D graphic style featured strong silhouettes and little perspective shift, which then needed to be rendered in 3D alongside real-world footage.
In a later sequence, the Flying Dutchman crosses into the real world on a Santa Monica beach. SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs follow after him and fly out of the water on a 3-headed seagull. The bird, previously in fully animated scenes, was supplied to Cinesite and adapted to their workflow and feather system.
Zip lines, or “speed lines,” were added to the Twisting Totem rollercoaster scene, with additional dynamic cartoon-style effects such as arms waving and spinning. The live-action performance with Flying Dutchman actor Mark Hamill was captured in a full-sized car on a rail. The digital rollercoaster was built using a procedural tool from curves drawn in 3D, which enabled quick, dynamic changes to the layout according to directions. Animators matched the energy and emotion of the actors’ voice performances, as well as referenced the original 2D series with guidance from Drymon.
Check out the breakdown reel now:
Source: Cinesite
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
