I am an entertainment enthusiast with six years experience as an online pop culture writer.

In 2006, LEGO release two test themes based on Nickelodeon cartoons. Fans then voted to have either Avatar: The Last Airbender or SpongeBob SquarePants become a full theme. SpongeBob won the contest and LEGO has created more building sets based on SpongeBob, his friends, and the residents of Bikini Bottom.

Adventures in Bikini Bottom

Item #: 3827

Year: 2006

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 579

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob SquarePants
2. Patrick
3. Squidward
4. Gary

This building set includes the homes of SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, and Squidward Tentacles. All three of their homes can be opened to reveal the living space inside. SpongeBob’s pineapple under the sea house looks like a gymnasium on the inside. There is a basketball hoop over the door and balls to shoot. He does have a bed that will launch him in the air when the clock next to it is moved. In the cartoon, Patrick lives under the rock and not inside of it. However, cutting a hole in your floor is impractical, so LEGO has the rock open up to reveal Patrick’s living room. It comes with a television and a chair. Squidward’s tiki house opens up, but it is empty inside. The top floor can’t be used because the eyepieces take up too much space.

The Bikini Bottom Express

Item #: 3830

Year: 2008

Ages: 6–12

Pieces: 210

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob SquarePants
2. Patrick
3. Bus Driver

The main model in this set is the 6” long bus. Its appearance is a cross between that of a city bus and submarine. The propeller in the back spins to create the illusion of it being pushed through the water. Minifigures can be placed inside by detaching the roof. A working ticket dispenser functions by pulling the tickets from the machine. There is also a small bus stop sign for Patrick and SpongeBob to wait. You can decide if the bus driver stops or not.

Build-A-Bob

Item #: 3826

Year: 2006

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 445

Minifigures:

1. Plankton

This building set was inspired by season 1, episode 3 of the show. The story was called “Plankton!” and had Plankton hiding inside SpongeBob’s head. He was controlling SpongeBob’s brain, in an attempt to steal the Krabby Patty recipe. The front of the model looked like a huge SpongeBob SquarePants, but the back was opened to reveal the machines being used to control him. These gears and controls could make the SpongeBob model’s eyes spin, cause him to frown or smile and fire jellyfish out his mouth. The finished model stands over 11.5” tall.

Bikini Bottom Undersea Party

Item #: 3818

Year: 2012

Ages: 6–12

Pieces: 471

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob SquarePants (Red)
2. Patrick (D.J)
3. Squidward (Long Sleeves)
4. Mrs. Puff (Smiling)
5. Gary

It’s a block party at SpongeBob and Squidward’s houses. SpongeBob’s pineapple house has an ejection bed to help him get up in the morning and a bowl for Gary to eat. For added detail, there are pictures of Patrick and Gary as their cartoon versions. Squidward’s tiki house has a music stand and art studio. Most of the party action takes place outside their homes. The set comes with a spinning merry-go-round, a working seesaw, a juice bar and DJ table with speakers.

Chum Bucket

Item #: 4981

Year: 2007

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 337

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob SquarePants
2. Plankton
3. Robot SpongeBob
4. Robot Customer

This would be the first Chum Bucket created by LEGO. Since Plankton never has customers, the inside of the structure is designed for him to carry out his plans to steal the Krabby Patty recipe. The top floor has a computer and lab table to create a robotic SpongeBob. The bottom floor is empty, leaving room for the walking hamburger, robot customer, and brainwashing machine.

The Flying Dutchman

Item #: 3817

Year: 2012

Ages: 6–12

Pieces: 241

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob (Pirate)
2. Patrick (Pirate)
3. The Flying Dutchman

At only 7” long and 7” tall, the pirate ship is packed with canons, a plank, a crow’s nest, and large sail. The set also comes with a small island that measures 5” wide and 3” tall. The island has a dock for the ship to anchor and a large rock formation. Inside the rocks is a secret compartment hiding the treasure chest. SpongeBob can defend the treasure using a cannon that fires small blue translucent cylinders. These cylinders are supposed to represent bubbles.

The Emergency Room

Item #: 3832

Year: 2008

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 236

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob
2. Patrick
3. Dr. Gill Gilliam

With all the trouble SpongeBob and Patrick get into, it’s surprising they don’t end up in the hospital more often. This would be the first SpongeBob SquarePants themed set to be released as a limited edition. The ambulance-boat has a spinning propeller and the top of the cabin can be removed to seat one minifigure. The back of the ambulance doors open and contains a removable stretcher to put patients on. The inside of the hospital has one room. The doctors desk, medical cabinet and an IV can all be found in the emergency room. There is enough space to wheel the gurney in and operate.

Glove World

Item #: 3816

Year: 2011

Ages: 5–12

Pieces: 169

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob
2. Patrick
3. Sandy
4. Ice Cream Vendor

The Glove World amusement park comes with a ticket booth, an ice cream shop, and a Ferris wheel. The entrance to the park has a small red turnstile that actually rotates as the minifigures pass through. The ice cream shop is attached directly to the entrance. An awning hangs over the window to shade customers as they stand in line to get a chocolate ice cream pieces that were released for the first time in this set. A knob in the back of the Ferris wheel can be turned to rotate the three chairs on the ride.

Good Neighbours at Bikini Bottom

Item #: 3834

Year: 2009

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 425

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob
2. Squidward
3. Patrick
4. Gary

Good Neighbours gets its inspiration from Squidward constantly being annoyed by his neighbors SpongeBob and Patrick. SpongeBob’s pineapple house is the only building represented in this set, but Squidward has his lawn chair and is trying to relax while he BBQs. Which won’t be easy, because Patrick’s boat is equipped with a working “marshmallow” launcher. SpongeBob’s house has plenty to do inside. It has a television, chair, and bed, but what’s the fun of staying inside.

Heroic Heroes of the Deep

Item #: 3815

Year: 2011

Ages: 5–12

Pieces: 95

Minifigures:

1. SpongeBob
2. Patrick
3. Plankton (Robot Suit)

This set has SpongeBob and Patrick playing superheroes as they attempt to get the secret Krabby Patty recipe back from Plankton. The boatmobile has room for two minifigures. There is a steering wheel and lever for the characters to operate. The boatmobile is armed with two flick-fire bubble missiles. The propellers on the vehicle and Plankton’s robot really spin.

Krusty Krab Adventures

Item #: 3833

Year: 2009

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 209

Minifigures:

1. Mr. Krabs
2. SpongeBob
3. Patrick

This is the second building set LEGO released of the Krusty Krab restaurant. The model mostly focuses on the outside of the building and does not have the inner details of the original. It has working doors and a few accessories for customers. The set does come with the Patty Wagon seen in the 2004 SpongeBob SquarePants movie. So perhaps this set is focused more on their delivery business.

Krusty Krab

Item #: 3825

Year: 2006

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 295

Minifigures:

1. Mr. Krabs
2. SpongeBob
3. Squidward
4. Plankton

Despite being one of the main setting in the cartoon, the Krusty Krab would be the smallest building set in the 2006 wave. It still managed to pack in a lot of fun features. The grill SpongeBob uses to cook the Krabby Patties has a launcher to flip the burgers. It is connected to the register that Squidward takes orders. This piece is separate from the main building and can be moved to whatever position you desire. The restaurant has a table for customers to sit and a counter with condiments. There is a dumpster to take out the trash and a safe to keep Mr. Krabs secret recipe and money.

Mrs. Puff’s Boating School

Item #: 4982

Year: 2007

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 393

Minifigures:

1. Mrs. Puff
2. SpongeBob
3. Patrick

This set was inspired by season 1, episode 4's story "Boating School." The show had SpongeBob repeatedly failing his driving test. In desperation, Patrick helps SpongeBob cheat by communicating with him through a walkie-talkie.

The driving school has several sections and lots of interactive features. The lighthouse has a ladder to reach the top and a spinning light. The classroom contains a trophy case, Mrs. Puffs' desk, a chalkboard, and two clam chairs. The driving course is a track that runs through a ring of fire, a breakable wall, and an anchor obstacle. The car has a pull-back motor and can zip through the course by itself.

The SpongeBob minifigure has an antenna, so he can hear Patrick's instructions. However, Mrs. Puff can't fit in the boat car with SpongeBob.

Rocket Ride

Item #: 3831

Year: 2008

Ages: 7–12

Pieces: 279

Minifigures:

1. Sandy
2. SpongeBob
3. Patrick

This set is inspired by season 1, episode 8 of the show, titled "Sandy’s Rocket." Sandy Cheeks is going to fly a rocket to outer space, but SpongeBob and Patrick accidentally launch it early. They think they are on the moon and attempt to capture the citizens of Bikini Bottom, believing they are aliens. The rocket model is two stories high and comes with a working elevator, to board the top level. The set also includes a small moon buggy, with a trailer attached for collecting alien samples. Rather than kidnapping Bikini Bottom residents, the set comes with “alien” jellyfish.

Sources

• www.brickset.com
• www.legowikia.com
• www.wikipedia.com

Comments

Geekdom (author) on June 04, 2015:

Thanks!!! I enjoy learning about all the different sets LEGO has created over the years. These hubs give me a way to share what I have learned.

Summer LeBlanc from USA on June 04, 2015:

Wow! You have put so much work and effort into this! What a beautiful hub with great information! I love lego!

Voted up and awesome!

-Wendi