Help Wanted (Episode)

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Episode No.:	1a
Airdate:	30.4.1999
Season:	Season 1
Next Episode:	Reef Blower

"Help Wanted" is the opening and debut episode of Season 1, usually referred to as the first of the three pilot episodes.

Brief summary: SpongeBob SquarePants preserves in getting a job at the Krusty Krab restaurant, despite the obstacles he has to face (for example: finding an expensive spatula).

Animation style

This episode is the first, so it has many differences to the rest of the series. However, the original version of the episode had many other minor differences corrected later. For example, this is the only episode where SpongeBob's bed is on the right. Differences in voices are another example. SpongeBob's voice is slightly lower and Patrick's is deeper. Designs and colors are also different. For example, SpongeBob has fewer holes than in newer episodes, Mr. Krabs' eyelids are bright pink opposed to red, Squidward's complexion is more pale, his laugh is different, the comedic "splat" sound is different, and his nose does not puff in and out when he laughs. Gary's eye pupils and irises are smaller with a lower tone of voice in the "meow" (although Tom Kenny claims to use a new "meow" for each episode where Gary is shown meowing). Squidward also appears to have rows of sticks behind his house. Differences in SpongeBob's house are also present in this episode, but not in others, such as there is only one window in the front. SpongeBob's alarm clock has a different ship horn sound than his alarm clock in later episodes. The changes were made when the series officially aired.

Trivia/Goofs

Stephen Hillenburg in the "Written By" section of the title card was incorrectly spelled as "Stephen Hilleburg".
Tiny Tim's "Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight" is featured in the episode.
During "Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight", Tiny Tim sings "Just take it from me, I'm just free as any daughter", but the captions sang, "Just take from me, I'm just free as any brother".
These were the first appearances of SpongeBob, Gary, Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs.
SpongeBob had a pet scallop that he kept in a birdcage.
The animation was not as high quality unlike the following episodes, as the rapid movements made by SpongeBob. When he was bouncing off the walls, roof, and floor of the Krusty Krab it just showed a yellow square. When the anchovies were jumping up and down they were just blue and brown (mostly blue) finger-shaped ovals.
Initially, the debut episode was not included on the SpongeBob season 1 DVD set presumably because of music licensing issues involving the aforementioned song. However, the episode has since been made available on the DVD release of the third season as a bonus feature.
Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Patrick, and SpongeBob all have a different tone in skin color than in most episodes.
Mr.Krabs' eyelids are pink in this episode. In every other episode, they are red.