SPONGEBOB COINS WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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SpongeBob coins

SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends have teamed up with Nickelodeon, PFG Precious Metals and New Zealand Mint to strike 100,00 pure silver coins, each featuring the likeness of one of the main Bikini Beach characters.

The coins, which are square rather than circular, come in $2 denominations and are legal tender of Niue Island, a Pacific Island with a population of about 1,400, all of whose residents are citizens of New Zealand, PFG Precious Metals, a division of PFGBEST, said Friday.

Each of the silver coins measures 35 mm across and features Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and, on the reverse, SpongeBob, Gary, Sandy Cheeks or Patrick Star.

The coins are available for a limited time from PFG Precious Metals, which is having them struck in the United States as a set of four coins that costs $279.

Each set holds the four coins in a treasure chest, complete with a certificate of authenticity issued by the New Zealand Mint.

"This coin collection is extremely exciting for us," said Chris Kirkness, vice president for USA Operations at New Zealand Mint. "With SpongeBob having such a huge fan base, we believe the issue will be a global bestseller. To marry a premium bullion coin with a fun and exciting brand such as Nickelodeon is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for New Zealand Mint."

Peter Thomas, director of business development for PFG Precious Metals, agrees.

"This partnership joins a beloved television character with a collectible currency that stands the test of time," Thomas notes. "Coin enthusiasts the world over will be delighted with a precious metal asset in the form of a 4-coin set that features SpongeBob."

Soaking Up Attention
SpongeBob SquarePants, indomitable invertebrate, floats to the top of the sea of kids' programming
BY JAMES PONIEWOZIK
 

NICKELODEON

In America, if you want to be successful, you go to college, study hard and pack your head full of arcane knowledge. Then you head for Hollywood and learn to tell plankton jokes. That, anyway, was the route to fame and fortune for Stephen Hillenburg, an avid surfer, scuba diver and marine-biology teacher fascinated with tide-pool life. After he later went to art school and became an animator, he decided to base his debut cartoon, loosely, on the creatures that he had made his life's study. Very loosely. His star: a talking sponge who wears a tie, flips Krabbie Patties at a submarine fast-food joint and resembles a slice of Swiss cheese more than his real-water counterparts.
Hail SpongeBob SquarePants: delightfully biologically incorrect and the new invertebrate king of children's television. Launched in 1999, his sweet, surrealistic, self-titled Nickelodeon cartoon recently unseated the long-reigning Rugrats as the most popular kids' show on TV, attracting an average of 10 million kids ages 2 to 11 (and more than 5 million adults) each week.
Not bad for a complete nerd. Hillenburg says he conceived SpongeBob as an offbeat, dweeby child-man in the mold of Pee-wee Herman. (Hillenburg, who wears a funky surfer haircut at age 40 and hangs sea-life mobiles outside his office, fits the offbeat, dweeby child-man profile a bit himself.) Like Pee-wee, the squeaky-voiced sponge lives in a colorful, goofy wonderland--inside an undersea pineapple in the town of Bikini Bottom. "I wanted to create a small town underwater where the characters were more like us than like fish," Hillenburg says. "They have fire. They take walks. They drive. They have pets and holidays." Of course, there are a few differences. In Bikini Bottom, no one thinks it's strange that the town villain, the megalomaniacal Plankton, is a one-celled organism, or that SpongeBob's boss, a crab, has a daughter who's a whale (literally).
Like Pee-wee's appeal, SpongeBob's lies in his innocence. He's the anti-Bart Simpson, temperamentally and physically: his head is as squared-off and neat as Bart's is unruly, and he has a personality to match--conscientious, optimistic and blind to the faults in the world and those around him. He never seems to notice that his cynical neighbor and co-worker Squidward (an octopus) drips contempt toward everything SpongeBob does, or that his best friend Patrick Starfish is a certified nitwit. Kids are drawn by the show's loopy slapstick, grownups by its dry (so to speak) wit: "I order the food, and you cook the food," Squidward tells SpongeBob, describing their jobs at the restaurant. "We do that for 40 years, and then we die."
That dual appeal is a sign of a welcome change in animation. Cartoons have bridged kids' and adult entertainment since the heyday of Walt Disney and Chuck Jones, but the field went through a long creative slump in the '70s and '80s, as programmers churned out Saturday-morning knock-offs made mainly to shill toys (My Little Pony) or repurpose sitcom characters (The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang). Today cartoons have undergone a renaissance, as kids' channels such as Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network have given their animators the freedom of auteurs. Smarter and more idiosyncratic, these animators have created shows like Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls that have become not just hits but cultural icons. "It harkens back to the old days at Warner Bros., when guys were creating Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, and they had free rein," says Powerpuff creator Craig McCracken. There's still plenty of toy-driven junk, particularly in the anime-action category, but cartoons have also become more diverse (with new entries like Disney Channel's African-American The Proud Family) and ambitious (Cartoon Network's epic Samurai Jack).
Of course, there's still cashing in to be done--SpongeBob has lent his image to Target, Burger King and Nabisco Cheese Nips, and a SpongeBob movie is in the works. But, Hillenburg says, the art comes first. "I could get more money from a [broadcast] network," he says, but "I was interested in doing the show the way I wanted." Now that creators like him can do that, it is, in the world of cartoons at least, a great time to be a kid, a grownup or--best of all--a little of each.

SPONGEBOB vacation

With school back in session across the country, the first thing most kids are being asked is “How did you spend your summer vacation?” SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends in Bikini Bottom have all been out on vacation too, and are sharing their adventures in the new DVD SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip.
We begin with SpongeBob sending out misleading invitations to the gang. For example, the one that Mr. Krabs is sent says “Please come to my house tonight. I’m having a free money party!” When Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and the rest arrive, they quickly discover the real purpose of the gathering is for SpongeBob to show slides of his and Patrick’s vacation to the Great Barrier Reef.
Naturally enough, events conspire to prevent them from ever actually getting to their destination, but plenty of fun occurs anyway. They even manage to win the Basscar car races before being sidelined at a roadside service station. It is here that Patrick and SpongeBob are picked up by a random flying insect, while SpongeBob’s parents wait for the car to be fixed.
After “A SquarePants Family Vacation,“ Patrick takes over the slide projector to share his own story, “Patrick’s Staycation.“ Following this, it seems that the rest of the group have had second thoughts, and wish to share their own vacation adventures. Sheldon is next, with “Walking The Plankton.” Then comes Sandy’s “Mooncation,” and finally the boss himself, Mr. Krabs in “Mr. Krabs Takes A Vacation.”
These various vacation-themed episodes run together as the main feature, which is just over 66 minutes in length. There are also two bonus episodes: “Hide And Then What Happens?” and “Shellback Shenanigans,” which bring the entire package up to about 90 minutes.
As always, SpongeBob and his friends’ adventures in Bikini Bottom are great fun for pre-teens and their parents. SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip is being released on DVD exclusively first, and will premiere on Nickelodeon in November.

SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip

After a dozen years on the air, the biggest animated star needs a vacation. SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip contains five episodes that let him and his pals head off for a little rest and relaxation. That’s not quite true. There’s no way anyone can rest when the hyperactive SpongeBob is around. The show is entertaining and not sedating thanks to the little yellow fellow. These episodes will air as part of a major special in mid-November.
“A Squarepants Family Vacation” starts with everyone getting invitations for an evening at SpongeBob’s pineapple house. Everyone is told a different theme from Mr. Krabs thinking it’s free money to Lobster guy thinking it’s a workout. What is it? SpongeBob’s vacation slides projected on the big screen. That’s a fate worse than a marathon of World According to Jim. People stick around because the trip is a major catastrophe with Patrick tagging along with SpongeBob and his folks. Their car takes a major detour. There’s a musical moment when they break out “The Road Song.” Kids should enjoy shouting this in your car at the wrong moment. When the car breaks, the friends get lost in a mucky town. They get stuck in a tourist trap.
“Patrick’s Staycation” demonstrates what you can do when you can’t afford a fancy tourist travel package. SpongeBob wants to make sure Patrick enjoy his time without reminding him that he hasn’t gone anywhere. “Walking the Plankton” surprises SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs with free tickets for a cruise. But it’s a trap! Plankton wants them to get so relaxed they cough up the Krabby Patty recipe. “Mooncation” provides the extreme vacation when SpongeBob joins Sandy Squirrel in a trip to the moon. So much zero gravity fun . “Mr. Krabs Takes A Vacation” shows off slides of the money he found on his trip. He makes the major mistake of inviting SpongeBob on his family’s journey to the Bikini Bottom Mint. It’s a fun that’s only been loved by Mr. Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Recently scientists claim that watching SpongeBob SquarePants gets kids excited. This is no surprise to fans of the show. SpongeBob is out of control. SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip isn’t a calm relaxing time by the sea. This is a nonstop sugar rush. The five tales teach us one major tip for keeping your travels safe and sane: Don’t invite SpongeBob.

SpongeBob Dora help Blackpool bounce back.

The revival of Blackpool, one of Britain’s best-loved resorts, has never quite materialised. Budget flights abroad, poor summers and the collapse of the supercasino project stopped the town regaining the heights of its popularity in the Victorian era.
But now Blackpool Council, which is spending millions of pounds on regeneration, is hoping to see the town return to its former glory days.
Figures just filed by Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the 42-acre amusement park, show that while the company lost £764,000 on a turnover of £23.3million in the year ending April 3, the directors say its recent commercial tie-up with Nickelodeon, the cable TV channel will bring it to profitability next year. 

Downs and ups: Visitors to the Pleasure Beach are rising and profits are forecast

The company earlier this year opened a £9million children’s theme park, complete with rides featuring characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

The directors also explored the possibility of insuring against  the British weather, but they concluded that the cost would be ‘prohibitive’.

STAR CRUISES

 recently announced the launch of the first-ever Nickelodeon SpongeBob at Sea cruises in Asia, exclusively aboard the luxurious SuperStar Virgo.
A series of 19 highly-anticipated SpongeBob-theme cruises will kick off during this coming year end school holidays from Nov 18 to Dec 30, co-sponsored by OCBC Bank and Mondial Insurance.
SpongeBob at Sea cruises is an exhilarating voyage of fun-filled adventure with the denizens of Bikini Bottom, “deep down” in the Pacific Ocean.
Guests onboard the SuperStar Virgo can expect to meet up with their favourite Nickelodeon’s stars – SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star – and giving the children their ultimate cartoon fantasy.
The key highlight of the cruise is the hilarious brand-new 30-minute live show, SpongeBob’s Krabby Patty Celebration, only available on SuperStar Virgo.
In addition to the regular world-class entertainment highlights available onboard, passengers of the SpongeBob at Sea cruises will enjoy a brandnew series of immersive experiences specially customised for everyone in the family.
These include meet-and-greet sessions with SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Squidward Tentacles and Patchy the Pirate; Perky Breakfast and Wacky Tea with SpongeBob and Patrick; get messy and slimy at Nick Slime Time!; watch the first SpongeBob’s Krabby Patty Celebration live show; and catch jellyfish at the SpongeBob Jelly Fishing Competition.
They can also take part in the SpongeBob Wii Game Competition; listen to enchanting tales from Bikini Bottom; catch special screenings of the all-time favourite SpongeBob movies; indulge in arts and crafts creative fun at the Sponge Station; go on a SpongeBob Scavenger Hunt and many other activities.
Some of these onboard games, however, may be subject to change.
“We are passionate and committed to bringing only the best cruise experiences as the leading cruise line in Asia Pacific,” says Star Cruises senior vice president of sales Michael Goh. “Star Cruises is proud to present SpongeBob at Sea cruises whereby our valued passengers can watch the never-before-seen SpongeBob’s Krabby Patty Celebration live show which will take centrestage.”
Goh added that they hope their passengers can get to see their favourite Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and spend quality time bonding in top-notch SpongeBob activities onboard the SuperStar Virgo.
Viacom International Media Networks executive vice president and managing director of North and Southeast Asia, Indra Suharjono, said: “Creating SpongeBob at Sea with Star Cruises is an exciting new way to offer Nickelodeon family experiences in the Asian region. We’re delighted to be working with Star Cruises, and look forward to giving kids and families new ways to experience the adventures of SpongeBob and all his Bikini Bottom friends.

SpongeBob SquarePants is setting his sights on the nearest beach in his latest video game adventure, SpongeBob's Surf & Skate Roadtrip, scheduled for release Nov. 8 from THQ.
Available on Kinect™ for Xbox 360®, SpongeBob's Surf & Skate Roadtrip will be the very first game with which players can use the Kinect technology to experience skateboarding and surfing right in their living rooms. The title will also be available on the popular Nintendo DS™ handheld system.
In this brand new road trip adventure, SpongeBob and friends find themselves taking to the waves on surfboards and tearing up all the gnarliest skateboarding turf with their wildest moves and tricks.
SpongeBob's Surf & Skate Roadtrip features both single and two-player options for boarders to perfect their awesome skills. In single-player mode, SpongeBob and Patrick set out on a crazy roadtrip adventure, engaging players in arcade-style story-driven gameplay. In two-player mode, boarding skills are put to the test with simultaneous head-to-head split-screen action.
“This is SpongeBob's first game on Kinect for Xbox 360, and for the first time, players will actually become SpongeBob,” said Martin Good, Executive Vice President of PlayTHQ™, the company's division for kids, family and casual games. “It’s a great combination of a classic character and amazing technology, not to mention both the first surfing and first skating game ever released for Kinect.”
On Kinect for Xbox 360, players will surf and skate through 12 totally tubular environments as they perfect their boarding skills and immerse themselves in augmented reality. Using the innovative technology, boarders can reach down and watch the water splash up on screen!
The Kinect™ version also features a variety of boards and seven different challenge modes including Flag, Mine, Timed and Score Runs. Using the built-in camera, players can even snap photos and show off their radical moves!
With Nintendo DS, players will surf and skate across more than 100 maps and even carve up 10 righteous snowboarding levels that are unlockable upon completion. Those hoping to prove their skills can choose from five challenging victory conditions – Combo Mayhem, Untouchable, Score, Win the Race and Collectible modes. The Nintendo DS version also features two-player multi-play with single- and multi-card gaming.
SpongeBob’s Surf & Skate Roadtrip is scheduled to be available Nov. 8 on Kinect for Xbox 360 (MSRP $49.99) and Nintendo DS (MSRP $29.99).