It’s no secret that SpongeBob is one of the most innocent and wholesome animated characters in the media. It could be because he’s a sponge, as they factually are brainless animals, so he’s in a constant state of ignorance. But still, it’s what makes him so lovable and one of the most popular Nickelodeon characters of all time. 

In the newly released trailer for his film, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, the Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill) – “the most painsweatedly, scariest ghost to ever roam the high seas” – must find the most innocent soul to lift the curse placed on him. He tricks SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) into traveling with him to the deepest parts of the ocean to the Underworld. Desperate to prove his bravery to his friends, especially Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), SpongeBob and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) go with the Flying Dutchman on this sea quest. 

The trailer showcases hilarious moments, including Patrick being forced to wear pants, and he attempts to put them on his star-shaped body. SpongeBob and Patrick fall on colorful seaweed, believing it to be their intestines, and then play with it. 

Mr. Krabs, Squidward (Roger Bumpass), and Gary (Kenny) must go on a rescue mission to find them. It takes them to the most horrible place in all of Bikini Bottom – Bikini Bottom High School, which serves as the entrance to the Underworld.

Rapper Ice Spice is featured in fish form, working as a park attendant at the Pirate Amusement Park. She is also featured in the soundtrack for the film with her song “Big Guy.”

According to the Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies official synopsis, SpongeBob is embarking on a massive cinematic adventure:

Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman – a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate – on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is the fourth feature film based on the character from the long-running Nickelodeon series, created by Stephen Hillenburg. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants opens in theaters on Christmas Day.