Nickelodeon followers, rejoice! A piece of the cartoon large’s historical past has been recovered and uploaded as soon as extra onto the Internet Archive. The Best of Nicktoons 1998, a VHS unique solely to staff that was as soon as long-lost, is offered to watch now for free in its entirety by means of the non-profit digital library. Packed with episodes from a few of Nickelodeon’s hottest collection, it is most notable for containing the unique model of the SpongeBob SquarePants pilot “Help Wanted,” which did not hit dwelling tv screens till 1999.

It’s price noting that this is not the primary time The Best of Nicktoons 1998 has wound up on-line in current reminiscence. Just final 12 months, the VHS was uploaded to the Internet Archive by a separate person however was later taken down. Previous makes an attempt at posting the entire assortment on-line have largely been scrubbed from the web, that means there aren’t any ensures it will stay on the Internet Archive this time round. For the time being, it is one other probability to look again initially of one of many longest-running and most beloved animated collection to ever grace tv.

Penned by collection creator Stephen Hillenberg, storyboard artist Derek Drymon, and Tim Hill, “Help Wanted” acts as an introduction to Bikini Bottom and SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) himself as he prepares to apply for a job as the brand new fry prepare dinner of the Krusty Krab. To impress Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), he’s despatched on a seemingly unattainable activity to discover the proper spatula, setting him up for failure. However, the tables rapidly flip when 5 buses filled with hungry anchovies arrive exterior the restaurant, forcing SpongeBob to save the day by slinging sufficient Krabby Patties to sate all of them. Also featured on the VHS are different cartoon classics like CatDog and Hey Arnold!, in addition to the Halloween-themed “The Day The Earth Got Really Screwed Up” from The Angry Beavers, amongst different issues.

‘The Best of Nicktoons 1998’ Is a Window Into the Past of Nickelodeon

Plenty of Nicktoons have come and gone because the Best of Nicktoons 1998 compilation was put collectively, however the tape revisits a golden age of cartoons for followers of a sure era. Alongside different classics like Doug, Rugrats, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and even underrated darlings like Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, the reveals featured are a part of the muse that Nickelodeon would construct itself upon and used to turn out to be a mainstay in tv. SpongeBob, specifically, nonetheless casts a protracted shadow with new content material on the way in which, like Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie. It’s very important to proceed preserving items of those reveals and uncovering extra misplaced media associated to them to make sure that their full story will be advised to anybody curious in regards to the happenings of Bikini Bottom, Hillwood, Nearburg, and Wayouttatown within the generations to come.

Catch up on a bit of Nickelodeon historical past with The Best of Nicktoons 1998 tape now on the Internet Archive.

Spongebob Squarepants is an animated comedy created by Stephen Hillenburg and starring voices from Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and Rodger Bumpass. The collection revolves round a sea sponge that goes on many misadventures together with his buddies Patrick, Squidward, and Sandy Cheeks within the lands of Bikini Bottom and the encircling sea.

Release Date

July 17, 1999

Cast

Tom Kenny , Bill Fagerbakke , Rodger Bumpass , Clancy Brown , Carolyn Lawrence

Seasons

14

Watch on Paramount+