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 "excerpt": "SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone, also called The Tidal Zone, is Nickelodeon's first SpongeBob Universe crossover special, a Twilight Zone-style anthology premiering January 13, 2023, linking SpongeBob SquarePants, Kamp Koral, and The Patrick Star Show through GrandPat's dimension-hopping frame story.",
 "snippet": "SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone, also called The Tidal Zone, is Nickelodeon's first SpongeBob Universe crossover special, a Twilight Zone-style anthology premiering January 13, 2023, linking SpongeBob SquarePants, Kamp Koral, and The Patrick Star Show through GrandPat's dimension-hopping frame story.",
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 "markdown": "# SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone\n\n**SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone** is an American animated television special that premiered on [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) on January 13, 2023, and is the first crossover special uniting the three series of the SpongeBob Universe: *SpongeBob SquarePants*, *Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years*, and *The Patrick Star Show*.<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104599-nickelodeons-multidimensional-crossover-special-spongebob-squarepants-presents-the-tidal-zone-makes-a-splash-on-friday-january-13)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup> Structured as a parody of *The Twilight Zone*, the special follows the elderly starfish GrandPat through a series of surreal tales in which minds switch, bodies shrink, and robots rise.<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup>\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | Friday, January 13, 2023, 7:00 p.m. ET/PT on Nickelodeon, with encore airings January 14 and 15<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104599-nickelodeons-multidimensional-crossover-special-spongebob-squarepants-presents-the-tidal-zone-makes-a-splash-on-friday-january-13)</sup> |\n| Status | First-ever SpongeBob Universe crossover special<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104599-nickelodeons-multidimensional-crossover-special-spongebob-squarepants-presents-the-tidal-zone-makes-a-splash-on-friday-january-13)</sup> |\n| Series involved | *SpongeBob SquarePants*, *Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years*, and *The Patrick Star Show*<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup> |\n| Format | Twilight Zone-style anthology of five tales, narrated by the French Narrator, running about 44 minutes<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup> |\n| Framing character | GrandPat of *The Patrick Star Show*, traveling through alternate dimensions and timelines to get home<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/)</sup> |\n| Executive producers | Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller<sup>[4](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/spongebob-squarepants-presents-tidal-zone-hilarious-first-time-crossover)</sup> |\n| Streaming | Paramount+<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup> |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and structure\n\nThe special is presented as an anthology in the manner of *The Twilight Zone*, spoofing that series' title and opening narration; the French Narrator introduces and closes the stories.<sup>[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/1053042/tidal-zone-spongebob-squarepants-twilight-zone-spoof-video/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://en.spongepedia.org/index.php?title=The_Tidal_Zone)</sup> A framing device follows GrandPat, a character from *The Patrick Star Show*, as he travels through alternate dimensions and timelines trying to get home, passing through the five stories that make up the event.<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/)</sup> The tales mix 2D animation, 3D and CG animation, live action, and vintage-style cartoon imagery.<sup>[7](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/spongebob-square-pants-presents-the-tidal-zone)</sup>\n\nThe event comprised five new episodes across the three series:<sup>[6](https://en.spongepedia.org/index.php?title=The_Tidal_Zone)</sup>\n\n- *SpongeBob SquarePants*: \"Welcome to Binary Bottom\", \"You're Going to Pay...Phone\", and \"A Skin Wrinkle in Time\"\n- *Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years*: \"The Switch Glitch\"\n- *The Patrick Star Show*: \"Shrinking Stars\"\n\nIn \"A Skin Wrinkle in Time\", GrandPat travels through time to get back home, visiting settings that include a western and the SpongeBob theme song, and returning to a reality whose only difference is that the Star family are flies.<sup>[8](https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/f12c1df8-f5d2-4979-94b0-b0a5dbc4202e/downloads/the_intertidal_zone_bob_the_sponge.pdf)</sup> \"Welcome to Binary Bottom\" depicts an all-robot version of Bikini Bottom.<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup>\n\n## Production\n\nNickelodeon announced the special on July 21, 2022 at Comic-Con International in San Diego, with a first-look clip and art and a planned November debut; it was later scheduled for the first quarter of 2023 before settling on the January 13 premiere.<sup>[9](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104597-nickelodeon-unveils-first-ever-spongebob-universe-crossover-event-with-the-tidal-zone-undersea-special)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://worldscreen.com/tvkids/nickelodeon-slates-spongebob-squarepants-crossover-event/)</sup> A trailer and key art were released on December 13, 2022.<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104599-nickelodeons-multidimensional-crossover-special-spongebob-squarepants-presents-the-tidal-zone-makes-a-splash-on-friday-january-13)</sup>\n\n**Hillenburg's crossover rule.** Franchise creator [Stephen Hillenburg](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-hillenburg), who died in 2018, had been against crossing SpongeBob over with other shows; executive producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller described finding a way to do a crossover within the SpongeBob Universe itself. Waller recalled that fans had asked for crossovers for years, while Hillenburg's position was that he would not cross over with any other shows.<sup>[4](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/spongebob-squarepants-presents-tidal-zone-hilarious-first-time-crossover)</sup> On continuity, Waller said the franchise has no strict chronology, but that with three shows the stories begin to interlock; Ceccarelli added that the writers like to play with the idea of a canon without being bound by it.<sup>[11](https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/spongebob-squarepants-the-tidal-zone-spongebob-universe-crossover-interview/)</sup>\n\nThe episodes were written by Mr. Lawrence, Kaz, and Andrew Goodman, with Sherm Cohen and Dave Cunningham among the directors.<sup>[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/)</sup> The voice cast draws on the regular performers of the three series, including [Tom Kenny](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-kenny) (SpongeBob), [Bill Fagerbakke](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-fagerbakke) ([Patrick Star](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-star)), Jill Talley (Karen, Squidina), Dana Snyder, Clancy Brown, and Cree Summer.<sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/)</sup> Production companies included Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Nickelodeon Productions, and Rough Draft Korea.<sup>[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/)</sup>\n\n## Release and reception\n\nThe special premiered on Nickelodeon on January 13, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT and was rebroadcast the following two evenings at the same time; it later became available on Paramount+.<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104599-nickelodeons-multidimensional-crossover-special-spongebob-squarepants-presents-the-tidal-zone-makes-a-splash-on-friday-january-13)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)</sup> IMDb lists a runtime of 45 minutes and a user rating of 5.0/10 from about 649 votes.<sup>[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/ratings/)</sup> On Rotten Tomatoes the Tomatometer stood at 71% from a single critic review.<sup>[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spongebob_squarepants_presents_the_tidal_zone)</sup>\n\nCritical response was mixed. Stephanie Morgan, reviewing for Common Sense Media, rated the special 2/5, writing that its emotions are resoundingly negative, with anger, fear, and disgust at the center of each story, and that it lacks the heart usually found in SpongeBob's world; the site recommended it for ages 7 and up.<sup>[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spongebob_squarepants_presents_the_tidal_zone)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/spongebob-square-pants-presents-the-tidal-zone)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Nickelodeon's Multidimensional Crossover Special, SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone, Makes a Splash on Friday, January 13, Paramount Press Express (December 13, 2022)](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104599-nickelodeons-multidimensional-crossover-special-spongebob-squarepants-presents-the-tidal-zone-makes-a-splash-on-friday-january-13)\n2. [How To Watch The SpongeBob Universe Special The Tidal Zone On Paramount+, Paramount+ Sneak Peak (June 27, 2023)](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/where-to-watch-spongebob-the-tidal-zone/)\n3. [SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone (TV Special 2023), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/)\n4. [Victoria Davis, 'SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone': a Hilarious First-Time Crossover, Animation World Network (January 13, 2023)](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/spongebob-squarepants-presents-tidal-zone-hilarious-first-time-crossover)\n5. [SpongeBob SquarePants Reveals First Look at Twilight Zone Spoof Special, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1053042/tidal-zone-spongebob-squarepants-twilight-zone-spoof-video/)\n6. [The Tidal Zone, SpongePedia](https://en.spongepedia.org/index.php?title=The_Tidal_Zone)\n7. [SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone Parents' Guide, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/spongebob-square-pants-presents-the-tidal-zone)\n8. [The Tidal Zone episode summaries](https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/f12c1df8-f5d2-4979-94b0-b0a5dbc4202e/downloads/the_intertidal_zone_bob_the_sponge.pdf)\n9. [Nickelodeon Unveils First-Ever SpongeBob Universe Crossover Event, with The Tidal Zone Undersea Special, Paramount Press Express (July 21, 2022)](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/nickelodeon/shows/spongebob-squarepants/releases/?view=104597-nickelodeon-unveils-first-ever-spongebob-universe-crossover-event-with-the-tidal-zone-undersea-special)\n10. [Nickelodeon Slates SpongeBob SquarePants Crossover Event, TVKids, World Screen (November 14, 2022)](https://worldscreen.com/tvkids/nickelodeon-slates-spongebob-squarepants-crossover-event/)\n11. [Nick Valdez, SpongeBob SquarePants Executive Producers Talk Merging the SpongeBob Universe for The Tidal Zone Crossover Event, ComicBook.com (January 11, 2023)](https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/spongebob-squarepants-the-tidal-zone-spongebob-universe-crossover-interview/)\n12. [SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22640250/ratings/)\n13. [SpongeBob SquarePants Presents the Tidal Zone, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spongebob_squarepants_presents_the_tidal_zone)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Animated television series (individual series) › Children's animated adventure and fantasy series › Comedy and slice-of-life series*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/spongebob-squarepants-presents-the-tidal-zone. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone, also called The Tidal Zone, is Nickelodeon's first SpongeBob Universe crossover special, a Twilight Zone-style anthology premiering January 13, 2023, linking SpongeBob SquarePants, Kamp Koral, and The Patrick Star Show through GrandPat's dimension-hopping frame story."
}