Sheldon J. Plankton/Appearances (Seasons 1-8)

Revision as of 18:14, 28 May 2025

This is a list of appearances of the character Sheldon J. Plankton in the first eight seasons of SpongeBob SquarePants. In total, Plankton has appeared in over hundreds of SpongeBob-related products. On the main series, he has appeared in some form in 159 (not counting Welcome to Binary Bottom) episodes so far.

Bold means Plankton was the main character of and/or played a major role in that episode.

Italic means Plankton appears in a feature-length movie, a book, a video game, or a musical. It is also used for the titles of television shows that he appears in.

Episodes where Plankton cameos, appears in a deleted scene, appears as an entirely different character not related to him or appears in a time card or title card, as well as episodes where only his voice is heard, also count. However, episodes where he is an entirely different character that is nonetheless related to him (e.g. PlankBot in "Welcome to Binary Bottom") do not count on this page. Exceptions to this rule are if both Plankton himself and an entirely different character that’s nonetheless related to him appear in the same episode or episodes that parody fairy tales, whereupon the characters essentially "play" otherwise entirely different characters (e.g. Plankton and the Beanstalk).

Season 1

Appearances in this season: 7 (including a deleted scene in "Sandy’s Rocket" and a cameo in "Valentine’s Day"; debut was Plankton!)

No.	Titlecard	Title	Description	Screenshot
3		Plankton!	As part of a plot to steal the Krabby Patty formula, Sheldon J. Plankton makes SpongeBob a acquaintance and puts him under his control. With this, he nearly steals the formula.
8		Sandy’s Rocket	SpongeBob and Patrick take Sandy’s rocket to what they think is the moon, but they’re still in Bikini Bottom. Trouble endues when they capture all the citizens, thinking they’re aliens.
10		Culture Shock	Since a while, the Krusty Krab has had no customers, so Mr. Krabs plans a talent show. Squidward is in charge.
		F.U.N.	SpongeBob wants Plankton to have "F.U.N."
15		Sleepy Time	SpongeBob dreams of invading the dreams of his friends. This gets on their nerves.
16		Valentine’s Day	Sandy and SpongeBob plan a method to give Patrick his Valentine’s Day present. But it doesn’t go as planned.
18		Walking Small	Plankton schemes to turn Goo Lagoon into a mega-sized Chum Bucket known as the Mega Bucket. He convinces SpongeBob to make the Bikini Bottomites leave and give space!

Season 2

Appearances in this season: 5

No.	Titlecard	Title	Description	Screenshot
24		Imitation Krabs	Plankton invents a robot that is exactly identical to Mr. Krabs as a plan to steal the secret formula. It starts confusing SpongeBob on who’s the real Mr. Krabs.
28		Christmas Who?	Sandy tells SpongeBob about Christmas customs, and he teaches the town of Bikini Bottom about Christmas. When Santa doesn’t come, the citizens shun him and Squidward makes fun of him, but he makes a gift for him and pretends to be Santa. But when the citizens notice him, Squidward has to keep up the act!
34		Welcome to the Chum Bucket	After losing a card game, Mr. Krabs sells SpongeBob to Plankton!
35		Band Geeks	Squidward forms a band to impress his high-school rival.
39		The Fry Cook Games	SpongeBob competes against Patrick in the Fry Cook Games.

Season 3

Appearances in this season: 5 (including his cameo at the end of "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV")

No.	Titlecard	Title	Description	Screenshot
41		The Algae’s Always Greener	To get the Krabby Patty formula, Plankton switches lives with Mr. Krabs (also getting rid of Mr. Krabs).
45		Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV	SpongeBob shrinks Bikini Bottom with Mermaid Man’s Belt.
50		Krusty Krab Training Video	A training narration of the Krusty Krab, demonstrating what work is like and how it takes place at the Krusty Krab.
58		Plankton’s Army	Plankton realizes that one plankton wouldn’t get the formula, so he calls his whole family to steal the Krabby Patty formula.
59		The Sponge Who Could Fly	SpongeBob tries to gain the ability to happily soar in the sky so he can fly with the jellyfish, but everybody laughs at him because his FIRST try was unsuccessful.

Season 4

Appearances in this season: 7 (including his cameo in "Patrick SmartPants")

No.	Titlecard	Title	Description	Screenshot
61		Fear of a Krabby Patty	Plankton’s next plan to steal the secret formula causes SpongeBob to have a fear of Krabby Patties! So he goes to Dr. Peter Lankton.
62		Krabs vs. Plankton	After slipping on a wet floor in the Krusty Krab, Plankton sues Mr. Krabs. What will Judge StickleBack do?
67		Enemy In-Law	Plankton dates Mr. Krabs' mother (Mama Krabs)! Is Mr. Krabs jealous, or angry...?
		Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy VI: The Motion Picture	SpongeBob and Patrick create their own Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy movie. But things aren’t going as planned.
72		Wishing You Well	Mr. Krabs adds a wishing well to make money. SpongeBob has to go down and collect the money. Somehow, he and Patrick find money...and Squidward falls into the well. But Krabs does not believe in magic and something bad happens.
73		New Leaf	Plankton gives up his competition with Mr. Krabs and goes into a knick-knack business. But Krabs and Plankton learn that you never know what could happen.
78		Best Frenemies	Plankton and Mr. Krabs team up to rid them of a new drink called KelpShake spreading across town.

Season 5

Appearances in this season: 10

No.	Titlecard	Title	Description	Screenshot
81		Friend or Foe?	The history behind the relationship between Mr. Krabs and Plankton is revealed.
84		Spy Buddies	SpongeBob and Patrick are assigned by Mr. Krabs to spy on Plankton.
85		Krabs à la Mode	Plankton freezes the Krusty Krab.
86		Bucket Sweet Bucket	Plankton tricks SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward to fix the Chum Bucket.
91		Goo Goo Gas	Plankton creates a gas that reverses the process of aging and changes adults to babies.
92		Atlantis SquarePantis	SpongeBob ventures to Atlantis and meets Lord Royal Highness (voiced by David Bowie).
94		Mermaid Man vs SpongeBob	Plankton hypnotizes Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy to attack the Krusty Krab.
97		20,000 Patties Under the Sea	A mobile Krusty Krab made from an old submarine inspires Plankton to build a traveling Chum Bucket, resulting in an undersea battle between the rivals.
100		Banned in Bikini Bottom	Krabby Patties are banned from Bikini Bottom by Miss Priss.
		Stanley S. SquarePants	SpongeBob’s klutzy cousin Stanley visits.

Season 6

Appearances in this season: 10

No.	Titlecard	Title	Description	Screenshot
101		Krabby Road	After escaping from Bikini Bottom Jail, Plankton makes up a new plan to get the formula by making up a band!
103		Spongicus	Plankton tears down the Chum Bucket and builds a coliseum in its place and holds a gladiator show.
108		Patty Caper	When the Krabby Patty special ingredient is stolen, SpongeBob goes on a search for it.
		Plankton’s Regular	Plankton is shocked to learn that he actually has a regular customer at the Chum Bucket: Nat, who loves to eat there. However, it turns out that Karen had been paying him to eat the chum.
109		The Krabby Kronicle	Mr. Krabs places SpongeBob in charge for finding interesting stories for the Krabby Kronicle, the Krusty Krab newspaper.
118		Komputer Overload	Plankton tries to replace Karen with some new computer inventions.
122		Chum Bucket Supreme	Patrick attracts customers to the Chum Bucket after Plankton makes him an advertiser.
		Single Cell Anniversary	SpongeBob helps Plankton find the perfect anniversary gift for Karen.
123 + 124		Truth or Square	The Krusty Krab celebrates its 117th (eleventy-seventh) anniversary, and Mr. Krabs plans to sell lots of Krabby Patties. But then, SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward and Krabs get locked in the freezer.
125		Chum Caverns	Plankton finds an underground cavern and turns it into the Chum Caverns, hiring Cave Dwellers to assist him.

Season 7

Appearances in this season: 15

#	Titlecard	Title	Description	Screenshot
127		Tentacle-Vision	When Squidward gets his own TV show, Squidward Chat, SpongeBob and his friends want to join in, despite Squidward’s wishes.
129		Someone’s in the Kitchen with Sandy	Plankton steals Sandy’s pelt so he can make SpongeBob spill the beans of the formula.
		The Inside Job	Plankton tries to steal the formula by launching himself into Mr. Krabs' brain, but goes into SpongeBob’s instead.
130		Greasy Buffoons	Mr. Krabs and Plankton compete by putting delicious, yet unhealthy, grease into their food.
134		SpongeBob’s Last Stand	When SpongeBob and Patrick hear that a new highway will be running through Jellyfish Fields, they decide to protest.
137		One Coarse Meal	Mr. Krabs discovers that Plankton is afraid of whales.
138		Rodeo Daze	SpongeBob brings his friends to Texas to try and save Sandy from a rodeo.
139		Gramma’s Secret Recipe	Plankton pretends to be SpongeBob’s grandma.
140		Welcome to the Bikini Bottom Triangle	SpongeBob and his pals try to find a way out of the Bikini Bottom Triangle.
141		The Main Drain	When SpongeBob and Patrick hear the story of the "Main Drain," they try looking for it. It gets hard when everyone keeps getting in their way.
143		The Great Patty Caper	When Mr. Krabs gives SpongeBob the only key to the vault holding the Krabby Patty’s secret recipe, SpongeBob vows to guard it. But as soon as SpongeBob and Patrick board the Oceanic Express train to retrieve the recipe, the key is mysteriously missing. Who could have stolen the key? Was it the sneaky Plankton? Or was it the "butler?"
144		That Sinking Feeling	SpongeBob and Patrick connect their houses via a tunnel, getting Squidward annoyed.
145		Buried in Time	SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward accidentally get locked in Bikini Bottom’s first time capsule.
147		Shellback Shenanigans	Plankton disguises himself as Gary so SpongeBob can take him to the Krusty Krab on "Take Your Pet to Work Day," in another attempt to steal the Krabby Patty formula.
152		Perfect Chemistry	Sandy works with Plankton to build an invention, while Plankton’s actual plan is to steal the Krabby Patty formula with the invention.

Season 8

Appearances in this season: 18 (including his appearance in the title card of "Oral Report")

#	Titlecard	Title	Airdate	Written by	Description	Screenshot
153		The Other Patty	June 25, 2011	Luke Brookshier Nate Cash Mr. Lawrence	Mr. Krabs and Plankton find a common enemy in the popular new Flabby Patty restaurant.
154		Drive Thru	July 19, 2011	Aaron Springer Dani Michaeli	Mr. Krabs finds a creative use for a hole in the wall of his restaurant: he transforms it into a drive-thru window.
156		Frozen Face-Off	July 15, 2011	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Derek Iversen Dani Michaeli Richard Pursel	SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy and Gary race for survival in a winter wonderland.
157		Oral Report	March 26, 2011	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Dani Michaeli	SpongeBob has to make a report for Mrs. Puff about Boating School, but he is really nervous about it.
158		Sweet and Sour Squid	July 20, 2011	Aaron Springer Mr. Lawrence	Plankton tries to befriend Squidward in an effort to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula.
159		A SquarePants Family Vacation	November 11, 2011	Aaron Springer Sean Charmatz Derek Iversen	SpongeBob, Patrick and SpongeBob’s parents go on a vacation to the Great Barrier Reef together.
160		Walking the Plankton	November 7, 2011	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Mr. Lawrence	Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob win a free cruise, thanks to Plankton, who secretly goes with them to try to steal the Krabby Patty formula.
163		Plankton’s Good Eye	September 23, 2011	Luke Brookshier Marc Ceccarelli Derek Iversen	Plankton acquires a second eye, which changes his personality.
167		The Krabby Patty That Ate Bikini Bottom	November 25, 2011	Aaron Springer Dani Michaeli	Mr. Krabs uses Sandy’s experimental growth formula on a Krabby Patty with disastrous results.
168		Fiasco!	April 5, 2012	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Mr. Lawrence	Plankton mistakenly swipes a piece of art by Fiasco instead of a Krabby Patty.
170		Free Samples	April 6, 2012	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Dani Michaeli	Mr. Krabs is forced to give out free Krabby Patties to win back his customers after Plankton drives them away.
171		Karen 2.0	April 13, 2012	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Richard Pursel	Plankton upgrades to Karen 2, so his first Karen leaves and gets a job at the Krusty Krab.
174		For Here or to Go	April 12, 2012	Luke Brookshier Marc Ceccarelli Steven Banks	Mr. Krabs sets up a guessing game, and the winner receives a free Krabby Patty.
175		It’s a SpongeBob Christmas!	November 23, 2012 (CBS) December 6, 2012 (Nickelodeon)	Luke Brookshier Marc Ceccarelli Derek Iversen Mr. Lawrence	SpongeBob tries to spread Christmas joy, but it gets hard when Plankton turns everyone into jerks with his Jerktonium-laced fruitcake.
176		Super Evil Aquatic Villain Team Up is Go!	October 14, 2012	Aaron Springer Dani Michaeli	Plankton and Man Ray team up!
		Chum Fricassee	October 21, 2012	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Richard Pursel	Squidward quits the Krusty Krab to work for Plankton, turning the Chum Bucket into an overnight success.
177		Move It or Lose It	October 21, 2012	Casey Alexander Zeus Cervas Mr. Lawrence	Mr. Krabs and Plankton circulate petitions to see which of their restaurants will get bulldozed by the city.
178		Hello Bikini Bottom!	October 8, 2012	Aaron Springer Sean Charmatz Dani Michaeli	SpongeBob and Squidward form a band, with Mr. Krabs as their money-hungry manager.