Spongebob Squarepants as Gaeilge has made it to Netflix, and Dáithí Ó Sé - one of its voice stars - says it's a 'fantastic' development for the Irish language.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on The Run is now available as Spongebob an Scannán: Rith, Spúinse, Rith, with Irish language subtitles and voice acting.
It's the first Irish language version of a movie on the streaming service, and comes following a successful run of the hit cartoon on TG4 in recent years.
The Irish-language broadcaster has supported Netflix in bringing the film to the service.
It comes amid calls for more to be done to encourage people to engage with the Irish language.
Dáithí Ó Sé voices King Poseidon in the movie, and he told Newstalk Breakfast he had 'so much fun' recording his part.
He said: "I got a call around this time last year, asking if I’d be part of a Spongebob Squarepants movie. The answer is yes… and then as Gaeilge was a double yes.
“The whole pandemic thing happened, so it was delayed for a while. We recorded it over the summer - not inside in studios, but inside in my front room.
“I don’t know how I got the gig, but I was delighted to get the call. I remember doing voiceovers for cartoons for TG4 years ago - you’d have to go back to the studio in Connemara or Dublin."
Dáithí said for Netflix to now be on board for Spongebob as Gaeilge is fantastic and 'such a positive move'.
He observed: “With respect to all those fantastic poets we had writing lovely poems back in the 17th and 18th century, if you want to bring young people with you you have to be looking forward - and this is a huge step.
"I know Spongebob has been on TG4 as Gaeilge since 2002-03. Now to be on the mainstream with Netflix on board… it’s fantastic, and such a positive move.
“This is about a movie that just happens to be in Irish - that’s the way I look at it, and I think that’s the beauty of it.”
He said it 'doesn't get more positive' than the idea of children listening to the hit cartoon in Irish.
