An unlikely meeting between SpongeBob SquarePants and One Piece has officially moved from Happy Meal merchandise into animation. McDonald’s has released a new crossover video combining the worlds of Nickelodeon’s Bikini Bottom and Eiichiro Oda’s pirate adventure. The video gives fans an animated preview of the upcoming SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal promotion.
The short was shared through the official One Piece channel on August 31. It blends the visual style of One Piece with SpongeBob SquarePants, placing characters from Bikini Bottom into pirate-inspired roles. The video is part of McDonald’s larger promotional campaign for its limited-time SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal collection.
The New Animation Turns Bikini Bottom Into the Grand Line
The crossover works because it does more than place the two casts next to each other. SpongeBob and other Bikini Bottom characters are redesigned around recognizable One Piece characters.
Some of the most notable combinations include SpongeBob as Monkey D. Luffy, Patrick Star as Roronoa Zoro, Squidward as Sanji, Gary as Tony Tony Chopper, and Sandy Cheeks as Nami. The campaign also features more unusual pairings, including Mrs. Puff as Big Mom and the Flying Dutchman as Blackbeard.
The animation also embraces One Piece’s dramatic style. Earlier promotional footage similarly recreated recognizable moments from the anime, including Zoro’s famous sacrifice during the Thriller Bark storyline, with Patrick taking Zoro’s role.
15 SpongeBob x One Piece Toys Are Coming to McDonald’s
The animated intro is ultimately designed to promote McDonald’s new collection of 15 exclusive SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal toys in the United States.
According to McDonald’s’ official Menu Spotter, the U.S. promotion begins September 15, 2026, at participating restaurants and will remain available for a limited time. The company describes the crossover as a “treasure-filled adventure” built around friendship, adventure, and imagination.
The lineup includes SpongeBob as both standard Luffy and Gear 5 Luffy, Patrick as Zoro, Sandy as Nami, Squidward as Sanji, Gary as Chopper, Plankton as Usopp, Pearl as Nico Robin, Larry as Franky, and Mr. Krabs as Jinbe. The collection also expands beyond the main Straw Hat crew with several unexpected character combinations.
The Collaboration Is Already Rolling Out Internationally
The U.S. launch is scheduled for September 15, but the promotion has already begun appearing in other markets. One Piece’s official website confirmed in August that the McDonald’s collaboration would roll out across numerous territories, with launch dates varying by region. Japan is specifically excluded from the listed rollout.
For One Piece fans, the promotion adds another unusual entry to the franchise’s growing list of global collaborations. For SpongeBob, it creates an equally unexpected opportunity to enter the visual world of one of anime’s biggest modern properties.
With the new animated intro now public and the U.S. Happy Meal launch approaching, the SpongeBob x One Piece McDonald’s crossover is shaping up to be one of the year’s strangest and most recognizable franchise mashups.
| Started | October 22, 1997 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Shueisha |
| Author | Eiichiro Oda |
