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Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants

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Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants
Also known asSquare Roots
Written byPatrick Creadon
Christine O'Malley
Directed byPatrick Creadon
Music byJohn Powell
Production
ProducerTheodore James
CinematographyPatrick Creadon
Robert F. Smith
EditorsDerek Boonstra
Alex Calleros
Miranda Yousef
Running timeapproximately 45 minutes
Original release
NetworkVH1
ReleaseJuly 14, 2009 (2009-07-14)

Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants is a 2009 American documentary film directed and co-written by Patrick Creadon. The special was released on VH1 on July 14, 2009, and July 23, 2009, on Nick at Nite. It was also included on SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes DVD released in North America on September 22, 2009. The documentary chronicles the popular culture success of the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants.[1][2][3] It features commentaries from series creator Stephen Hillenburg and celebrity fans.[4]

Synopsis

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Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants focuses on the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants and its immersion into global popular culture. The film documents the show's early inspirations, and its origins. Among the millions of fans are celebrities such as LeBron James and Ricky Gervais, who express their insights for the show and its title character, SpongeBob. It also features the series' impact on the US President Barack Obama, the inmates of San Quentin State Prison, and fans around the world.[5]

Cast

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Archive footage

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Release

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Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants was directed by Patrick Creadon. The documentary film originally aired on television on the cable network VH1 in the United States on July 14, 2009. It also aired on Nick at Nite on July 23, 2009, with a TV-PG parental rating. It was first announced in early 2009. On a press release, Viacom told:[5][6]

Commissioned by Nickelodeon to commemorate the anniversary of the series' first episode, the documentary chronicles the beloved character's journey to international pop culture icon status and showcases the series' impact on everyone from President Barack Obama, kids across the globe and San Quentin inmates who readily sing its catchy theme song. The one-hour documentary, features an opening song from Avril Lavigne and commentary from creator Steve Hillenburg, cast and crew members, industry experts, fanatics and celebrities like LeBron James, Ricky Gervais and Rosario Dawson.

The documentary film was endorsed to mark the celebration of the series' 10th anniversary, following a SpongeBob marathon the next weekend.[7] The anniversary was also celebrated with the premiere of the television film SpongeBob's Truth or Square and the special episode "To SquarePants or Not to SquarePants".[8]

On September 22, 2009, the documentary appeared as a bonus feature on the DVD compilation SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes.[9][10] The DVD consists 14 discs and runs 2200 minutes long.[11] Other bonus features included in the DVD set are Limited edition etched Plexiglass case, Limited edition 3D lenticular, Audio Commentary from the Animation Team, Life Lessons from Bikini Bottom, "Help Wanted": The Seven Seas Edition, and Kick-Wham-Pow-Bob Music Video.[12][13]

Reception

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The documentary film received positive reviews. David Hinckley of the New York Daily News said that the "documentary's most interesting moments come from Hillenburg, who created SpongeBob as a secondary character in a comic before breaking him out on his own in July 1999." He added that "it's fun for the whole family."[1] R.L. Shaffer of IGN wrote "what's here is still incredibly fun to pilfer through and a true delight for longtime fans."[14] Gord Lacey of TV Shows on DVD called the film "the single-best feature that's appeared on a Nickelodeon DVD set."[15] Michael Cavna of The Washington Post called it "some 'cult' to have."[4]

Aaron H. Bynum of Animation Insider said that it "is essentially of two halves, the first of which is where the value lies. The first twenty minutes or so of the documentary is excellent; profiling Hillenburg and the writers, storyboard artists, and voice actors that have accompanied him on his journey." He added that the "remainder of the documentary is chiefly fluff."[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hinckley, David (July 13, 2009). "'SpongeBob SquarePants' gets closer look on VH1 with 10th anniversary documentary on Nickelodeon hit". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  2. ^ Bubbeo, Daniel (July 13, 2009). "'SpongeBob SquarePants' celebrates 10 years of nautical nonsense". Pop Matters. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Cavna, Michael (July 14, 2009). "Absorbent And Yellow And Beloved At 10 Is He". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Cavna, Michael (July 14, 2009). "TV Preview: 'Square Roots' Honors Invertebrate Who's Soaked Up Fans for 10 Years". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Beck, Jerry (July 7, 2009). "SpongeBob documentary". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  6. ^ Liu, Ed (June 25, 2009). "Nickelodeon Announces Special Programming for SpongeBob SquarePants 10th Anniversary". Toonzone. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. ^ "Nickelodeon Celebrates 10 Years of Pop Culture Icon SpongeBob SquarePants". PR Newswire. June 24, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  8. ^ Zahed, Ramid (July 24, 2009). "Soaking in Festivities". Animation. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  9. ^ Weintraub, Steve (October 10, 2009). "Another Collider Giveaway – CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE, WALLACE AND GROMIT and SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS". Collider. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  10. ^ McCutcheon, David (September 14, 2009). "SpongeBob's First 100 Eps". IGN. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  11. ^ Lambert, David (April 28, 2009). "SpongeBob SquarePants - 'First 100 Episodes' 5-Season DVD Set Arrives with New Extras this Autumn". TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  12. ^ "'SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes' coming to DVD". The Animation Blog. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  13. ^ Maclntyre, April (October 10, 2009). "SpongeBob SquarePants cheated out of Nobel Peace Prize: Proof in latest DVD release". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  14. ^ Shaffer, R.L. (September 21, 2009). "SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes DVD Review". IGN. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  15. ^ Lacey, Gord (September 29, 2009). "SpongeBob SquarePants - The First 100 Episodes (Seasons 1-5) Review". TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  16. ^ Bynum, Aaron H. (July 10, 2009). "Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants". Animation Insider. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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