Netflix and Nickelodeon recently announced an estimated $200 million deal to create a slate of original animated content. The animated films and series will be based on both new and existing characters, including SpongeBob Squarepants. “Nickelodeon has generated scores of characters that kids love, and we look forward to telling wholly original stories that reimagine and expand on the worlds they inhabit.” -Melissa Cobb, Netflix Vice President of Original Animation, via ’NYT’. The SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff is being described as a “music-based project” centered around the popular clarinet playing character, Squidward. . It has not yet been confirmed whether the spinoff will take the form of a series or movie. . This multiyear content-production deal reflects a strategic shift in part by Nickelodeon’s owner, Viacom. . Rather than launch their own platform, Viacom intends to create content for already established streaming sites. . “Nickelodeon’s next step forward is to keep expanding beyond linear platforms, and our broader content partnership with Netflix is a key path toward that goal.” -Brian Robbins, Nickelodeon’s president, via ‘NYT’