'It's a SpongeBob Christmas!' special brings the spirit of the season under the sea [Exclusive video]

Just because he lives in a pineapple under the sea doesn't mean that SpongeBob SquarePants isn't going to have a magical Christmas with his sea creature pals. In fact, Nickelodeon will soon debut its first full-length stop-motion animation special, "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!"

In this nautically nonsensical TV special, inspired by the classic Christmas favorites "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," SpongeBob will face off with Plankton, who is trying to turn every creature in Bikini Bottom naughty while, of course, trying to acquire the Krabby Patty recipe. Tune in to the premiere, and you'll also catch bonus scenes featuring Patchy the pirate in stop-motion animation voiced by, who else, Tom Kenny.

[Related: Check out our Holiday TV guide]

In this exclusive look at the new video for "Christmas Eve Jitters," live-action Patchy is reminded of SpongeBob SquarePants' bouncy (or should we say jittery?) tune. Everyone's favorite aquatic invertebrate is so amped about Christmas morning that (like so many kids on Christmas Eve) he can't sleep. He's convinced that it's not the heebie-jeebies or the eggnog shakes, but just those good old-fashioned Christmas jitters.

If you want to bust your buns with holiday cheer like SpongeBob, check out "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" premiering Thursday, 12/6 at 8 PM ET on Nickelodeon.