Animated cartoons featuring SpongeBob Square Pants are a must-watch for us — Bikini Bottom feels like a second home. Thanks to Netflix, we dive back into our underwater world, where dark forces threaten its existence. This time, Plankton, the usually grumpy and scheming copepod, finally takes centrestage. It may look silly, but instead of ruling the Bikini Bottom, the tiny guy is saving it.

The story of Plankton: The Movie takes us down under to Bikini Bottom, where Krusty Krab’s biggest rival, Plankton, is once again making ‘world-domination’ plans with his sentient computer wife, Karen. The couple’s tangled love story becomes the centre point of the film, and several flashbacks take us down memory lane and show us how it all started.

Karen’s origin story is a fascinating revelation and an homage to Plankton’s genius — showing how, even as a child, he transformed a simple calculator into a fully functional computer.

There is a lot of destruction and damage to property and threats to creatures, but being animated makes it funny. There is also live-action tucked in, but that is a big part of the world domination plan. From its vibrant animation to its catchy musical numbers, the film keeps the SpongeBob spirit alive while offering something fresh and exciting.

Directed by Dave Needham and written by Kaz, Chris Viscardi and Mr Lawrence, the 84-minute film is based on a story by Lawrence himself. In addition to crafting the narrative, Lawrence brings Plankton to life with his iconic voice performance, delivering a standout portrayal that adds depth and humour to the character.

The movie shows that even the biggest rivalries can be set aside for the greater good; working together is more potent than being alone. It emphasises that treating others with respect and kindness is essential — even for someone as mischievous as Plankton.

Just saying “I made a mistake” isn’t enough — real change happens when you understand what went wrong and try to do better instead of blaming others. Plankton: The Movie is a true gem, delighting long-time SpongeBob fans and a new generation of viewers alike.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 5th, 2025