Order Up


Order Up is a 2025 American animated short film based on the SpongeBob SquarePants television series, created by Stephen Hillenburg. Co-written by Sean Charmatz and Paul Tibbitt, the film features no dialogue but utilizes vocal sound effects and centers on SpongeBob as he overuses the Krusty Krab's order up bell, sending his irritable co-worker Squidward into a fit of rage.
The short film was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio in 2011–12 but remained unreleased for several years. Order Up premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 10, 2025, and was released in theaters on July 18, 2025, along with screenings of Smurfs.

Plot

During one of his shifts at the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob amuses himself by overusing the restaurant's order up bell, much to the dismay of his grumpy co-worker and neighbor, Squidward. Squidward takes apart the bell, but SpongeBob tapes its pieces back together, making him furious. Squidward destroys the bell in multiple ways while a saddened SpongeBob watches, then dumps the remains into SpongeBob's head. SpongeBob discovers he can still make the bell's sound by hitting his nose, causing Squidward to run out of the Krusty Krab screaming.

Voice cast

In May 2025, it was reported that two animated short films, Order Up and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey, would debut at Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon's presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2025. Order Up features no dialogue. The short was produced in 2011–12 and received a picture lock in 2015, but remained unreleased for several years.
Order Up was directed by Sean Charmatz, who served as a storyboard director, writer, and artist on the main SpongeBob SquarePants television series. Charmatz co-wrote it with series veteran and former showrunner Paul Tibbitt. Other credits include Tibbitt and series creator Stephen Hillenburg as executive producers; Jennie Monica Hammond as producer; Vincent Waller as creative director; Alan Smart as animation and supervising director; Peter Bennett as art director; and Alvaro Zalaya as production manager.

Release

Order Up premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 10, 2025, and was released in theaters on July 18, 2025, along with screenings of Smurfs.

Reception

Wilson Chapman of IndieWire opined that the short was better than the feature film it was attached to, Smurfs, referring to it as a "fun, charming, and mercifully brief adaptation of a beloved cartoon". Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics shared a similar opinion, saying that Order Up was the only reason to see Smurfs in theaters. Joe Bendel of Cinema Daily US called the short a pleasant bonus to the main feature.