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Sandy's Rocket

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If you were looking for the article about the spaceship, then see Sandy's rocket (object).
If you were looking for the article about the book, then see Sandy's Rocket (book).

"Sandy's Rocket" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 1. In this episode, SpongeBob and Patrick sneak onto Sandy's rocket ship.

Characters

Synopsis

SpongeBob visits Sandy's treedome, and then sees that Sandy has built a rocket ship. Sandy explains to him that she is going to the moon, and SpongeBob begs her to take him with her. Although she immediately rebuffs this request, saying that this trip is for science and not for fun, not wanting a repeat of the "whirly bird incident," and that there is not even enough room for him on board, she ultimately relents to his incessant begging. Sandy also demonstrates a pop gun which casts nets at its target, which she intends to use to harvest moon rocks. When SpongeBob asks whether it can be used to hunt aliens, she denies their existence and tells SpongeBob to be present at the rocket at the crack of dawn without any notions that he might encounter aliens.

Sandy explaining how she will be going to the moon.

That night, Patrick comes to SpongeBob's house and gives him some "Alien Repellent," which they intend to covertly spray on the windows of the rocket. Even though they agree to only spray the windows, Patrick inadvertently enters the rocket, and SpongeBob follows. After playing with the ship's various features, SpongeBob accidentally starts up the rocket and it starts to launch, which makes Sandy wake up and figure out the cause. SpongeBob and Patrick fall right down the rocket. Luckily, the gravity significantly decreases while they're in outer space, preventing them from injuring themselves. The ship loops over the moon a few times, falls back down to Earth, and crashes back in Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob and Patrick are both convinced that they are on the moon and that the aliens are projecting their memories onto the environment to trick them.

File:Sandy's Rocket 184.png
SpongeBob and Patrick capture Sandy and call her "Ms. AlienPants," much to her dismay.

The two begin capturing everyone with Sandy's net guns, believing the citizens of Bikini Bottom to be aliens. Eventually, they capture everyone in the city. When Sandy arrives and chews them out for ruining her experiment, SpongeBob and Patrick shoot their net guns at her, capturing her too. Sandy attempts to explain the truth to them, but they slam the door in her face. Then, each of them becomes convinced that the other is also an alien. Patrick attempts to shoot SpongeBob before he has a chance to capture him, but had his gun pointed the wrong way and ends up shooting and capturing himself. At this point, SpongeBob starts the rocket again to return home, and when it reaches the moon, the rocket crashes on top of it, having run out of gas. Noticing that things are different, SpongeBob looks out the window to see the Earth where he realizes his mistake. This causes everyone in the cargo hold to warn SpongeBob that they’ll have a talk with him by the time everyone returns to earth.

Production

SpongeBob and Patrick in their spacesuits were designed by Todd White.[4] According to an Instagram post by Derek Drymon, this episode was based on a short story by Ray Bradbury, and was initially pitched under the title "Space Show" on June 23, 1998, but was then revised under its current title a day later.[5] The recording script for this episode was completed on September 21, 1998.

Script

Art

Model sheets

Music

( ‣ ) Production music
( • ) Original music
( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 ‣ Rocket Sled to Oahu - The Mel-Tones [Title card.]
 ‣ Millennium Fanfare (C) - Ron Goodwin [The rocket is shown.]
 ‣ Monks (f) - Dave Hewson [Shot of the graveyard.]
 ‣ Old Hilo March - Kapono Beamer ["I can fit in here."/transition to the next scene.]
 ‣ Vibe Link (A) - Richard Myhill [SpongeBob talking about aliens.]
 ‣ Vibe Link (B) - Richard Myhill ["There's one now!"]
 • Hello Blues - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Alien repellent.]
 ‣ Time in Space - Gregor F. Narholz ["Look how big it is, SpongeBob!"]
 ‣ Robo Files B - Wesley Plass, Hannes Treiber [The control room.]
 ‣ Moloka'i Nui A - Kapono Beamer [Patrick playing a video game.]
 ‣ Star Warriors - Richard A. Harvey [SpongeBob starts the rocket.]
 ‣ Skaters Waltz - Emile Charles Waldteufel, Vienna Symphony Orchestra ["Look, we're in space now!"]
 ‣ Clusters - Otto Sieben [The rocket lands in Bikini Bottom.]
 ‣ War Lords - Robert Cornford [SpongeBob thinks it is a trick.]
 ‣ It Came from Outer Space - Ilona Sekacz [SpongeBob and Patrick enter Squidward's house.]
 ‣ Mavericks - The Woodies ["Get this thing off me!"]
 ‣ Shock (U) - Dave Hewson [Mr. Krabs captured.]
 • War Blower - The Blue Hawaiians [SpongeBob and Patrick capturing everyone.]
 ‣ Return of the Surfin' Headhunters - The Mel-Tones [Sandy captured.]
 ‣ Alien Menace - Frederic Talgorn [SpongeBob and Patrick suspect each other of being aliens (selenites).]
 ‣ Space Explorers A - Gregor F. Narholz [Launch.]
 ‣ Hawaiian Link (A) - Richard Myhill [Ending.]

*On The Complete 1st Season and The First 100 Episodes DVDs, "Mavericks" is replaced with "Sharkskin" by The Surfdusters. On the Home Sweet Pineapple DVD and VHS versions, TV airings, and the Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and Paramount+ versions, the "Mavericks" music is left intact.

Release

Broadcast

  • This and the sister episode "Squeaky Boots" were the first episode pairing to not premiere on a Saturday. They first aired on a Friday night (September 17, 1999).

Distribution

Reception

  • "Sandy's Rocket" was ranked #68 during the Best Day Ever event from November 9–10, 2006.
  • "Sandy's Rocket" was ranked #33 during the SpongeBob's Top 100 event in the UK and Ireland from June 4-8, 2012.

Trivia

General

File:SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Song (1999) 23.png
  • The title card background for this episode is similar to that of one of the backgrounds from the theme song, when SpongeBob is being split and reassembled, but its shade of red is different, and it is slightly zoomed out.
File:Screenshot 2018-12-18-19-07-07-723 com.miui.gallery.png
Tom Yasumi is named on a gravestone.
  • Tom Yasumi's name can be seen on a gravestone in a cemetery.
  • Patrick mentions the episode's title when he says, "Is Sandy's Rocket alien proof?"
  • SpongeBob's quote "It's pretty impressive alright" was reused in some SpongeBob online games.
  • This episode reveals that Mr. Krabs has a pet worm, Mr. Doodles (though he is not referred to by name in the episode).
  • When SpongeBob looks out at the window towards the moon, the view of Earth from the Moon looks almost exactly like the famed Apollo 8 photograph.
  • This episode ends on a cliffhanger.
File:Screenshot 2016-11-10 at 2.13.08 AM.png
File:1999-09-17 2000pm SpongeBob SquarePants.png
File:SpongeBob - September 17, 1999 Smell-O-Vision Screen Bug (Sandy's Rocket)
  • During a promotion for The Rugrats Movie VHS tape and DVD released on March 30, 1999, a set of scratch-and-sniff stickers were released at specified fast-food restaurants to be used with certain Nicktoons. One of them was used when Patrick squirts toothpaste in SpongeBob's peanut butter. Another one of them was used when SpongeBob pulls out a hot water bottle from Squidward.[7] Also, the symbol that signaled one to "sniff" at the bottom left part of the screen was filmed along with the episode in American TV airings, and not edited out until late 2002, almost three years after the scratch-and-sniff card packs were put out of circulation.[8]
  • There is a LEGO set called "Rocket Ride (3831)" which is based on this episode.
File:Clint Bond art for deleted scene.png
Book art for the Plankton scene, drawn by storyboard artist Clint Bond Jr.
  • A chapter book based on this episode features a number of scenes not found in the episode:
    • SpongeBob and Patrick capture Plankton while he is in the middle of stealing a Krabby Patty.
    • They also capture Pearl while she is shopping at Whale Watchers Mall, needing more than one net to capture her.
    • After SpongeBob realizes his grave mistake, he releases Patrick and Sandy from the bags. Sandy captures SpongeBob with a net as punishment before refueling the rocket, and flying back to Bikini Bottom, where she makes SpongeBob apologize to everyone else.
      • Additionally, the book solves the episode's cliffhanger.
  • There are two additional books based on this episode called Blast Off, Splash Down! and Sponge in Space!
  • This is the first episode for several things:
    • The first episode where Mr. Krabs is seen only outside of the Krusty Krab during an episode.
      • This marks the first episode where Mr. Krabs appears without the Krusty Krab appearing. However, Mr. Krabs and the Krusty Krab appear in the chapter book based on this episode.
    • The first episode that shows that Sandy is interested in science. This would become a more common part of her personality in the post-first movie episodes.
    • The first time Bikini Atoll (or any location above sea levels) appears outside of the theme song or establishing shots in which no characters are present.
    • The first appearance of Flats the Flounder, who would later appear in "Texas" and "The Bully," the latter of which is his first speaking appearance.
  • This is one of four episodes transcribed as a comic into the SpongeBob SquarePants/Tokyopop book Gone Nutty! The other three were "Karate Choppers," "Pressure," and "Sandy, SpongeBob, and the Worm."
File:Sandy's Rocket 098.png
File:DSCF6723.jpg


Dub facts

  • In the Filipino dub, Mrs. Puff's voice does not become low pitched as she gets captured.

Cultural references

File:2001-A-Space-Odyssey-References-1-SpongeBob-SquarePants-Easter-Eggs-350x300.jpg
A book with "2001" written on its cover, which is a reference to the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
  • When SpongeBob and Patrick first become weightless in the rocket, a book floats by with "2001" written on its cover. This is a reference to the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
    • In another reference to 2001: A Space Odyssey, the music heard when SpongeBob launches into space the first time is a parody of one of the tracks from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
  • SpongeBob saying, "Hey, you got your toothpaste in my peanut butter!" is a reference to the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cups commercials.
  • The music that plays when SpongeBob and Patrick are in zero-gravity is "Les Patineurs" ("Skaters' Waltz") by Emile Waldteufel.
  • The scene when SpongeBob and Patrick "analyze" Squidward thinking he's an alien has some references to the 1979 film Alien. Most notably, Squidward's tentacle attaching to Patrick's helmet homages the series' "Facehuggers" in a famous scene from the film, and the way SpongeBob's hands appear under the light in Squidward's water bottle is similar to the way the eggs in Alien appeared.

Errors

  • At the beginning of this episode, there is a ladder to get onto the platform. Then, in the next scene with the platform, the ladder is gone, and is not seen again for the rest of the episode.
  • At the beginning of this episode, Sandy in talking to SpongeBob through a window in her rocket ship. However, in the next shot, Sandy is at a different window.
  • In one scene where Sandy is showing SpongeBob how the net gun works, she blows on the bubbles coming out of the gun, despite having her helmet on.
File:Sandy's Missing Eyelashes Error in Sandy's Rocket.jpg
Sandy's missing eyelashes.
  • After Sandy tests her net gun, her eyelashes are missing.
File:Sandy's Rocket 044.png
SpongeBob's house is missing one of the windows.
  • When SpongeBob is trying to sleep, SpongeBob's house is missing a window.
  • SpongeBob's alarm clock is on the left side on the bed, unlike in most other episodes.
    • It is possible that he simply put it on the left side.
  • When SpongeBob says, "a present," his speech is cut off so it sounds like "a prese-."
File:Sandy's Rocket 059.png
SpongeBob's blanket has the wrong color in this shot.
  • For most of the scenes in SpongeBob's bedroom, his blanket is its original aqua-teal color. However, in the close-up shot of the Alien-Out! repellent can, his blanket is its newer purple color.
  • The rocket is standing vertically before it takes off, but SpongeBob and Patrick are shown walking in it as if it is laying horizontally.
File:Sandy's Rocket 089.png
The smoke inside the tree while the rocket is taking off.
  • When the rocket begins to lift off and smoke is created from the launch, Sandy smells it in her bedroom. This should not be possible, as the rocket was outside of the treedome and the dome is airtight with Sandy inside.
  • SpongeBob and Patrick experience gravity turning on and off when leaving the water. However, gravity does not change until they left Earth's atmosphere.
  • When SpongeBob and Patrick are floating in the rocket and Patrick is trying to get right side up, SpongeBob's laughing is out of sync with the animation.
File:SpongeBob's yellow mouth mistake in Sandy's Rocket.png
SpongeBob's yellow mouth mistake.
  • When SpongeBob says, "Hey, you got your toothpaste in my peanut butter!," the inside of his mouth appears yellow instead of red for a couple frames.
  • When Sandy jetpacks up to the moon and lands, she takes up almost the whole top surface of the moon, which is a size error.
  • The rocket leaves a fire trail behind it, but when it crash lands, it uses a propeller.
  • Outside of a few scenes, Patrick's eyebrows are missing when he's in his spacesuit.
  • Gary's shape inside the net when SpongeBob holds him is not correct. There should be a large bulge indicating the shell.
  • Before Squidward wakes up, SpongeBob is holding on to three of his tentacles; the fourth one is still in bed. However, in the next close-up of Squidward, SpongeBob is holding on to all four of them.
  • Patrick holds on to Squidward's right tentacle before he wakes up, but after he wakes up, he is holding his left tentacle.
  • Squidward's pajama shirt changes from lavender to pink in color for one shot.
  • When the fish holding the parasol is netted, her eyes appear on its canopy. Her eyes should appear underneath the canopy, not on it.
  • When SpongeBob and Patrick are trying to stuff everyone into the ship, it appears to be full. However, they have enough room to throw Sandy in later.
  • Sandy says that the rocket does not have enough room for SpongeBob. However, it is later revealed to have enough room to fit almost the entirety of Bikini Bottom.
    • However, part of the reason Sandy claimed SpongeBob couldn't fit was for the usage of her scientific equipment. It may be that the others were able to fit because SpongeBob and Patrick weren't using that equipment.
  • Before throwing Sandy in the rocket to bring to the moon, Patrick laughs, but his voice is out of sync with the animation.
  • When the rocket first circles the moon, the rocket is almost as big as the moon, but at the end of the episode when SpongeBob looks out the window, the moon is much bigger.

Videos

File:May the 4th Be With You! 🚀 - s
File:SpongeBob and Patrick Go to Space IRL! 🚀 - SpongeBob IRL

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Dutch Raket naar de maan Rocket to the Moon
French La fusée The Rocket
German Sandys Rakete Sandy's Rocket
Hebrew החללית של סנדי
Hahalalit shel Sandy		 Sandy's Rocket
Hungarian Szandi űrhajója Sandy's Spaceship
Italian A caccia di alieni On the Hunt for Aliens
Polish Rakieta Sandy Sandy's Rocket
Russian Ракета Сэнди
Raketa Sendi		 Sandy's Rocket
Spanish El cohete de Arenita Sandy's Rocket

References

  1. ↑ Date confirmed by SpongeBob Exposed!, The First 100 Episodes, and the iTunes listing.
  2. ↑ Cable Guide (UK) January 2000 - pg. 82
  3. ↑ Juice! - 2000 - YouTube
  4. ↑ The SpongeBob SquarePants Experience: A Deep Dive into the World of Bikini Bottom
  5. ↑ Derek Dryon on Instagram: "Sandy’s Rocket"
  6. ↑ SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge Development Archives - Internet Archive
  7. ↑ Nickelodeon September 1999 Screen Bug (Sandy's Rocket and Squeaky Boots)
  8. ↑ Nickelodeon Smell-O-Vision Screen Bug Sandy's Rocket (Outdated) (2000? 2001?)
  9. ↑ July 29, 2000 - Nickstory
  10. ↑ February 10, 2001 - Nickstory
  11. ↑ September 3, 2012 - Nickstory
  12. ↑ September 12, 2019 - Nickstory
  13. ↑ July 31, 2020 - Nickstory

es:El Cohete de Arenita fr:La Fusée hu:Szandi űrhajója id:Sandy's Rocket it:A caccia di alieni nl:Raket naar de maan pl:Rakieta Sandy pt-br:O Foguete da Sandy ru:Ракета Сэнди zh:珊迪的火箭

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