| "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" | |
|---|---|
| SpongeBob SquarePants episode | |
 Promotional artwork for the episode depicting SpongeBob's friends singing a Christmas carol. | |
| Episode no. | Season 8 Episode 23 |
| Directed by | Mark Caballero (animation) Seamus Walsh (animation) Luke Brookshier (storyboard) Marc Ceccarelli (storyboard) Alan Smart (supervising) Chris Finnegan (animation) |
| Written by | Luke Brookshier Marc Ceccarelli Derek Iversen Mr. Lawrence |
| Featured music | "Don't Be a Jerk (It's Christmas)" by Tom Kenny and Andy Paley |
| Production code | 268-841/268-842[1] |
| Original air dates | November 23, 2012 (CBS) December 6, 2012 (Nickelodeon) |
| Guest appearance | |
"It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" is the 23rd episode of the eighth season, and the 175th episode overall of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on November 23, 2012, and on Nickelodeon on December 6. In the special, Plankton tries to convince SpongeBob to transform everybody in Bikini Bottom into jerks by feeding them his special jerktonium-laced fruitcakes in order to get his Christmas wish—the Krabby Patty secret formula.
The episode was produced in stop motion animation at Screen Novelties, and was directed by Mark Caballero and Seamus Walsh, two of the founders of the company. The animation style was inspired by those of the classic Rankin/Bass television specials. Written by Luke Brookshier, Marc Ceccarelli, Derek Iversen, and Mr. Lawrence, "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" was based on Tom Kenny and Andy Paley's 2009 song "Don't Be a Jerk (It's Christmas)", which was also featured in the episode. John Goodman guest starred as the voice of Santa Claus. On November 6, 2012, the soundtrack album and the DVD for the episode were released simultaneously.
Upon premiere, "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" attracted nearly five million viewers and met positive critical reception. It received four nominations at the 40th Annie Awards including Best Animated Television Production for Children (with Dan Driscoll winning the Character Animation in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production category). It was also nominated for Best Sound Editing in Television at the 60th Golden Reel Awards.