History of SpongeBob SquarePants in Timeline
SpongeBob SquarePants, an American animated comedy series created by Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon, premiered in 1999. The show follows the adventures of SpongeBob, a sea sponge, and his various underwater friends living in the city of Bikini Bottom. The series first aired May 1, 1999, and officially premiered July 17, 1999.
1984: Hillenburg Joins Ocean Institute
After graduating in 1984, Stephen Hillenburg joined the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California, an organization dedicated to educating the public about marine science and maritime history.
1989: The Intertidal Zone comic book
In 1989, Stephen Hillenburg created The Intertidal Zone, an unpublished educational comic book that served as the origin for many of the ideas used in SpongeBob SquarePants.
1992: Hillenburg joins Nickelodeon
In 1992, Stephen Hillenburg joined Nickelodeon as an artist on Rocko's Modern Life.
1996: Rocko's Modern Life cancelled
After Rocko's Modern Life was cancelled in 1996, Stephen Hillenburg began developing SpongeBob SquarePants into a television series.
1996: Drymon becomes creative director
In 1996, after the end of Rocko's Modern Life, Stephen Hillenburg brought Drymon on as creative director, and they began developing SpongeBob SquarePants.
1997: Pilot pitched to Nickelodeon
In 1997, Stephen Hillenburg pitched a seven-minute pilot of SpongeBob SquarePants to Nickelodeon.
1997: Inspiration from The Mollusk album
In 1997, Ween's album The Mollusk, with its nautical and underwater theme, served as a large inspiration to Stephen Hillenburg for SpongeBob SquarePants. Hillenburg contacted the band and requested a song.
May 1, 1999: Sneak peek of SpongeBob SquarePants
On May 1, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants first aired as a sneak peek on Nickelodeon after the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards.
July 17, 1999: Official premiere of SpongeBob SquarePants
On July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants officially premiered on Nickelodeon, chronicling the adventures of SpongeBob and his friends in Bikini Bottom.
1999: Ernest Borgnine as Mermaid Man
From 1999 until his death in 2012, Ernest Borgnine voiced Mermaid Man on SpongeBob SquarePants.
1999: Hillenburg Becomes Showrunner
In 1999, Stephen Hillenburg served as the showrunner for SpongeBob SquarePants from its debut.
1999: Recording Day
Since 1999, the recording sessions for SpongeBob SquarePants have always included a full cast of actors, which Tom Kenny describes as "getting more unusual". The recording day for the show has always been Wednesday.
1999: SpongeBob Becomes Popular
Since its premiere in 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants became the highest-rated and most viewed animated Saturday morning program that year, beating Pokémon.
2001: Ratings Success and Increased Exposure
By the end of 2001, SpongeBob SquarePants had the highest ratings for any children's series on television. Weekly viewership had reached around fifteen million, with at least five million adults. Nickelodeon gave SpongeBob SquarePants time slots at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, to increase the series' exposure.
2001: Nickelodeon Signs Marketing Deals with Target and Burger King
In 2001, Nickelodeon signed a marketing deal with Target Corporation and Burger King, expanding its merchandising for SpongeBob SquarePants.
2001: Legend of the Lost Spatula Game Release
In 2001, the video game Legend of the Lost Spatula based on SpongeBob SquarePants was released.
October 2002: The Fairly OddParents Surpasses SpongeBob in Ratings
In October 2002, The Fairly OddParents briefly surpassed SpongeBob SquarePants in ratings, causing it to drop into second place. At this time, The Fairly OddParents had a 6.2 rating and nearly 2.5 million child viewers, while SpongeBob SquarePants had a 6.0 rating and 2.4 million child viewers aged two to eleven.
2002: SpongeBob SquarePants Dolls Sales
In 2002, SpongeBob SquarePants dolls sold at a rate of 75,000 per week.
2002: Series Hiatus
In 2002, SpongeBob SquarePants went on hiatus after Stephen Hillenburg halted production to work on The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.
2002: TV Guide's 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time
In 2002, TV Guide listed SpongeBob SquarePants himself at number nine on its list of the 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time, highlighting the character's popularity.
2003: SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Game Release
In 2003, the video game SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom based on SpongeBob SquarePants was released.
March 2004: 7-Eleven Releases Under-the-Sea Pineapple Slurpee
In March 2004, as a tie-in beverage for the DVD release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, 7-Eleven released the limited edition Under-the-Sea Pineapple Slurpee.
2004: Hillenburg Resigns as Showrunner
In 2004, Stephen Hillenburg resigned as the showrunner for SpongeBob SquarePants after the film was finalized.
2004: Collaboration with Screen Novelties
In 2004, the SpongeBob crew began a periodic collaboration with Screen Novelties, an LA-based animation studio, to create stop-motion sequences for special episodes, starting with a claymation scene for the climax of the first theatrical film.
2004: Release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
In 2004, the first theatrical feature film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, was released.
2004: Channel 4's Greatest Cartoons Poll
In 2004, viewers of UK television network Channel 4 voted SpongeBob SquarePants the 28th Greatest Cartoon in a poll, showcasing the show's international appeal.
2005: Controversy Over "We Are Family" Video
In 2005, an online video showing clips from SpongeBob SquarePants set to the Sister Sledge song "We Are Family" was attacked by an evangelical group for allegedly promoting homosexuality, sparking a debate over SpongeBob's sexuality.
2006: IGN Top 25 Animated Series Ranking
In 2006, IGN ranked SpongeBob SquarePants 15th on its list of the Top 25 Animated Series of All Time.
2007: All-TIME 100 TV Shows by Time
In 2007, Time television critic James Poniewozik included the series among the All-TIME 100 TV Shows, praising its inventiveness and impact on kids' and adult entertainment.
2007: SpongeBob-Themed Products Introduced
In 2007, high-end SpongeBob-themed electronics were introduced by Imation Electronics Products under the Npower brand, including MP3 players, digital cameras, a DVD player, and a flatscreen television. Also in 2007, SpongeBob SquarePants images began to appear on Green Giant vegetable cans and packages. Additionally, Simmons Jewelry Co. released a $75,000 diamond pendant as part of a SpongeBob collection, and the Beechdean Group unveiled SpongeBob SquarePants Vanilla Ice Cream character product in New Zealand.
2007: Barack Obama's Favorite TV Character
In a 2007 interview, Barack Obama said SpongeBob is his favorite TV character and admitted that SpongeBob SquarePants is "the show I watch with my daughters."
2007: McDonald's Happy Meal Promotion
In the summer of 2007, a McDonald's Happy Meal tie-in with SpongeBob-themed Happy Meal boxes and toys was released in Europe and other international markets.
2008: Usage of Wacom Cintiqs
In 2008, the crew began using Wacom Cintiqs for drawings instead of pencils. The shift to Wacom Cintiqs let the designers and animators draw on computer screens and make immediate changes or undo mistakes. The fifth season episode "Pest of the West" was the first episode where the crew applied this method.
January 18, 2009: 10th Anniversary Celebration Begins
On January 18, 2009, Nickelodeon began celebrating the series' 10th anniversary with a live cast reading of the episode "SpongeBob vs. The Big One" at the Sundance Film Festival.
April 2009: Burger King's SpongeBob Ad Controversy
In April 2009, Burger King released a SpongeBob-themed advertisement featuring a parody of Sir Mix-a-Lot's song "Baby Got Back", which was protested by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood for being sexist and inappropriately sexual.
April 17, 2009: Episode Premiere on TV
On April 17, 2009, the episode "SpongeBob vs. The Big One", featuring Johnny Depp as a guest star, premiered on TV.
July 2009: Madame Tussauds Wax Sculpture
In July 2009, Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York launched a wax sculpture of SpongeBob in celebration of the series' 10th anniversary, marking him as the first animated character sculpted entirely out of wax.
November 10, 2009: DVD set release
On November 10, 2009, the film Truth or Square was released as part of a five-episode DVD set.
2009: Mr. Lawrence Improvisation
In 2009, Mr. Lawrence mentioned that improvisation was his "favorite part of the voice over" for Plankton.
2009: 10th Anniversary Special Opening
In 2009, Screen Novelties was re-enlisted to create an exclusive opening for the series' tenth anniversary special.
2009: Digital Ink and Paint Animation
In 2009, executive producer Paul Tibbitt mentioned that the shift to digital ink and paint animation after the first season made correcting mistakes easier compared to the old-fashioned cel animation.
2009: Franchise Generates $8 Billion in Merchandising Revenue
In 2009, it was reported that the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise had generated an estimated $8 billion in merchandising revenue for Nickelodeon.
June 2010: Entertainment Weekly's 100 Greatest Characters
In June 2010, Entertainment Weekly named SpongeBob one of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years, recognizing the character's cultural impact.
2010: Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program
In 2010, SpongeBob SquarePants won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program, adding to its list of accolades.
May 2011: Spongiforma squarepantsii Naming
In May 2011, a new species of mushroom, Spongiforma squarepantsii, was described and named after the series' title character.
2011: Stop Motion Episode
In 2011, Screen Novelties was asked to create an episode animated entirely in stop motion, which became "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!", reimagining the show's characters as part of a Rankin/Bass holiday film.
2011: University of Virginia Study on Attention Span
In 2011, a University of Virginia study suggested that preschool-aged children watching SpongeBob SquarePants experienced short-term disruptions in mental function and attention span.
2011: SpongeBob Trend in Egypt
In 2011, after the Egyptian Revolution, SpongeBob became a fashion phenomenon in Egypt, appearing on various merchandise items. This led to the Tumblr project "SpongeBob on the Nile".
August 2012: Ukraine Considers Banning SpongeBob
In August 2012, the National Expert Commission of Ukraine on the Protection of Public Morality reviewed SpongeBob SquarePants for its alleged "promotion of homosexuality" following criticism from a "fringe Catholic" group.
2012: Death of Ernest Borgnine
From 1999 until his death in 2012, Ernest Borgnine voiced Mermaid Man on SpongeBob SquarePants.
2012: Nickelodeon's insistence on a child SpongeBob
In 2012, Hillenburg recalled that Nickelodeon executives insisted that SpongeBob would not be popular unless he was a child who went to school. Hillenburg compromised by adding Mrs. Puff to the main cast.
2012: Decline in Ratings
In 2012, Nielsen reported that the average number of viewers aged two to eleven watching SpongeBob SquarePants declined by 29% in the first quarter from the previous year.
2012: Tom Kenny on Stop-Motion Episode
In 2012, Tom Kenny, who contributed to the plot of "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!", mentioned that he and Nickelodeon wanted to create something similar to the old-school, stop-motion Rankin-Bass holiday specials.
2012: Availability on Hulu
In 2012, the series SpongeBob SquarePants was available on Hulu from 2012 until 2016.
2012: Lawrence Interview
In a 2012 interview, Mr. Lawrence elaborated on his improvisation with Jill Talley (Karen Plankton), noting that their overlapping dialogue often requires the voice directors to separate their contributions.
February 2013: Russian Army Singing SpongeBob Theme Song
In February 2013, a video posted to YouTube showed soldiers in the Russian army and navy singing the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song as they march, gaining nearly 50,000 views in its first week.
April 22, 2013: Netflix Ends Deal With Viacom
On April 22, 2013, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced their intentions not to renew their existing deal with Viacom. Shows such as SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer were removed from Netflix in the United States.
May 17, 2013: Build-A-Bear Workshop Introduces SpongeBob Collection
On May 17, 2013, Build-A-Bear Workshop introduced the new SpongeBob SquarePants collection in stores and online in North America. Celebrations and special events were held from May 17 through May 19.
June 4, 2013: Viacom Announces Deal with Amazon
On June 4, 2013, Viacom announced a $200 million multi-year licensing agreement which would move its programs, such as SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer, to Amazon.com.
June 28, 2013: SpongeBob SquareShorts Competition Ends
On June 28, 2013, the first global SpongeBob SquarePants-themed short film competition, SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes, closed.
July 13, 2013: Toyota Unveils SpongeBob-Inspired Highlander
On July 13, 2013, Toyota, with Nickelodeon, unveiled a SpongeBob-inspired Toyota Highlander.
July 19, 2013: SpongeBob SquareShorts Finalists Announced
On July 19, 2013, Nickelodeon announced the finalists of the SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes competition.
August 13, 2013: SpongeBob SquareShorts Winners Announced
On August 13, 2013, the winners of the SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes competition were announced. The under-18 category was won by David of the United States for his The Krabby Commercial, and the 18 and over category was won by Nicole of South Africa for her short Finally Home.
2013: IGN Top 25 Animated Series for Adults Ranking
In 2013, IGN ranked SpongeBob SquarePants 12th on its list of the Top 25 Animated Series for Adults.
2013: Catlett's Retirement
In 2013, Mary Jo Catlett described herself as "basically retired", since she feels that voicing Mrs. Puff requires less preparation than her performances in person.
2013: SpongeBob Moves In! Released
In 2013, Nickelodeon published and distributed SpongeBob Moves In!, a freemium city-building game app developed by Kung Fu Factory for iOS and Android.
2013: Pirate's Booty Releases Limited Edition SpongeBob Snacks
In 2013, Pirate's Booty released limited edition SpongeBob SquarePants Pirate's Booty snacks.
2013: Availability on Amazon Prime Video
In 2013, SpongeBob SquarePants became available on Amazon Prime Video in 2013 after the Netflix deal ended.
2013: Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time by Time
In 2013, Time publication ranked SpongeBob SquarePants the eighth Greatest TV Cartoon of All Time, further solidifying its status in television history.
2013: Annie Awards, Golden Reel Awards and Annecy International Animated Film Festival Nominations
In 2013, members of the Screen Novelties crew received one win and two nominations at the 30th Annie Awards, a nomination at the 2013 Golden Reel Awards, and a nomination at the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival for animating the episode.
2013: Music.com gives away 80,000 SpongeBob T-shirts
In a 2013 promotion, college-oriented website Music.com gave away 80,000 SpongeBob T-shirts, four times more than during a similar promotion for Comedy Central's South Park.
December 13, 2014: Hillenburg Returns to the Series
On December 13, 2014, it was announced that Stephen Hillenburg would return to SpongeBob SquarePants in an unspecified position.
2014: Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing—Animation
In 2014, SpongeBob SquarePants won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing—Animation, marking another achievement for the show.
2014: Controversies over episode content
In 2014, the Parents Television Council criticized the season 2 episode "Sailor Mouth" for promoting profanity. Additionally, Zabira Orazalieva, chairwoman of the Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights in Kazakhstan, deemed the show too violent for children.
2014: SpongeBob Toyota Highlander Launched
The 2014 Toyota Highlander was launched on SpongeBob Day at the San Diego Padres v. Giants game. The SpongeBob Toyota Highlander visited seven U.S. locations during its release, including the Nickelodeon Suites Resort Orlando in Florida.
May 23, 2015: SpongeBob SubPants Adventure Opens
On May 23, 2015, an interactive 3D show titled SpongeBob SubPants Adventure opened at Moody Gardens in Texas.
2016: TV (The Book)
In 2016, Matt Zoller Seitz included SpongeBob SquarePants in his book "TV (The Book)" as the 22nd greatest American television series, recognizing it as an absurdist masterpiece.
2016: SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical Premieres in Chicago
In 2016, SpongeBob SquarePants was adapted as a stage musical by director Tina Landau. SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical premiered in Chicago in 2016.
2016: End of Hulu streaming
In 2016, SpongeBob SquarePants was removed from Hulu.
2016: Ranked as 22nd Greatest American TV Series
In 2016, television critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz ranked SpongeBob SquarePants as the 22nd greatest American TV series of all time in their book TV (The Book).
March 2017: Hillenburg's ALS Diagnosis
In March 2017, Stephen Hillenburg was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
December 4, 2017: SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical Opens on Broadway
On December 4, 2017, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre.
2017: Catlett's Regular Role
As of 2017, voicing Mrs. Puff has become Mary Jo Catlett's only regular television role.
November 2018: Petition for "Sweet Victory" Performance
Following Stephen Hillenburg's death in November 2018, over 1.2 million fans signed a petition for the National Football League to have the song "Sweet Victory" from the episode "Band Geeks" performed at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show.
November 26, 2018: Death of Hillenburg
On November 26, 2018, Stephen Hillenburg died from complications from ALS, and Nickelodeon confirmed that SpongeBob SquarePants would continue.
2018: Two Emmy Awards
In 2018, SpongeBob SquarePants received two Emmy Awards: Outstanding Children's Animated Series and Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for Kenny.
2018: SpongeBob Musical Nominated for 12 Tony Awards
In 2018, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical tied for most-nominated production at the 72nd Tony Awards with twelve Tony nominations.
2018: Death of Stephen Hillenburg
Stephen Hillenburg served as the executive producer and showrunner of SpongeBob SquarePants from 1999 until 2004. He passed away in 2018, and the series continued after his death.
February 11, 2019: "Best Year Ever" Announcement
On February 11, 2019, Nickelodeon announced the "Best Year Ever", a series of celebrations for the twentieth anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants. Pantone created color shades known as "SpongeBob SquarePants Yellow" and "Patrick Star Pink" for use by Nickelodeon's licensing partners.
February 2019: Nickelodeon to continue production
In February 2019, Brian Robbins vowed that Nickelodeon would keep SpongeBob SquarePants in production for as long as the network exists.
April 2019: Release of SpongeBob Internet Meme Toys
In April 2019, Nickelodeon released a series of toys adapted from various SpongeBob Internet memes, including "Handsome Squidward", "Imaginaaation SpongeBob", "Mocking SpongeBob", "SpongeGar", and "Surprised Patrick".
May 2019: Spongebob Memes Rule Internet Culture
In May 2019, it was noted that Spongebob memes had come to rule internet culture, with a dedicated subreddit accumulating over 1.7 million subscribers.
June 5, 2019: SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated Announced
On June 5, 2019, THQ Nordic announced SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, a full remake of the console versions of the original 2003 game.
July 12, 2019: "Best Year Ever" Begins
On July 12, 2019, the "Best Year Ever" formally began with the premiere of the one-hour, live-action/animated TV special SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout.
2019: Merchandising Revenue
By 2019, SpongeBob SquarePants had generated over $13 billion in merchandising revenue, making it the most profitable intellectual property for Paramount Consumer Products.
2019: Death of Tim Conway
From 1999 until his death in 2019, Tim Conway voiced Barnacle Boy on SpongeBob SquarePants.
2019: Colonialism and Cultural Appropriation Allegations
In 2019, University of Washington professor Holly M. Barker stated that the show promotes "violent and racist" colonialism due to Bikini Bottom's name and alleged cultural appropriation of Pacific culture.
2019: Clathria hillenburgi Naming
In 2019, a species of sea sponge, Clathria hillenburgi, was named in honor of Stephen Hillenburg, referencing his creation of SpongeBob SquarePants.
May 28, 2020: Spongebob Squarepants: Patty Pursuit Released on Apple Arcade
On May 28, 2020, Apple Arcade released a game called Spongebob Squarepants: Patty Pursuit.
June 23, 2020: Release of SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated
On June 23, 2020, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated was released, including cut content from the original game.
July 30, 2020: Paramount+ streaming
On July 30, 2020, as part of the rebranding plan of Paramount+, SpongeBob SquarePants joined the streaming service along with other ViacomCBS shows.
2020: Astrolirus patricki Naming
In 2020, a species of abyssal sea star, Astrolirus patricki, was described and named after Patrick Star, referencing the character's friendship with SpongeBob.
2020: SpongeBob's Sexuality Resurfaces
In 2020, questions about SpongeBob's sexuality resurfaced after Nickelodeon's official Twitter account posted an image of the character in rainbow colors during Pride Month, sparking debate among users despite the lack of explicit statements.
2020: Release of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
The "Best Year Ever" continued into 2020 culminating with the August 14 release of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.
September 17, 2021: SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake Announced
On September 17, 2021, THQ Nordic announced SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake, a new original game based on the franchise.
2021: SpongeBob-Themed Level Introduced to Madden NFL 21
In 2021, EA Sports introduced a SpongeBob-themed level to the Yard section of its Madden NFL 21 video game.
2021: Premiere of Spin-off Series
In 2021, two spin-off series, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years and The Patrick Star Show, premiered.
May 1, 2022: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Rehydrated Release and Takedown
On May 1, 2022, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Rehydrated, a nonprofit fan project, was released online and then taken down by Paramount Global due to copyright laws, leading to the #JusticeForSpongeBob trend on Twitter.
September 2023: Renewal for Fifteenth Season
In September 2023, SpongeBob SquarePants was renewed for a fifteenth season.
2023: Nickelodeon's broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII
In 2023, a recreation of Sweet Victory was what opened Nickelodeon's broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, while implementing clips of the 2023 San Francisco 49ers and 2023 Kansas City Chiefs.
May 22, 2024: "SpongeBob 25" Announcement
On May 22, 2024, Nickelodeon announced it would celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants with a worldwide event known as "SpongeBob 25".
July 13, 2024: "SpongeBob 25" Begins with Kids' Choice Awards
On July 13, 2024, "SpongeBob 25" formally began with the 2024 Kids' Choice Awards hosted by SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star.
July 2024: Premiere of Fifteenth Season
In July 2024, the fifteenth season of SpongeBob SquarePants premiered.
October 8, 2024: Krabby Patty Kollab Collaboration
On October 8, 2024, the Krabby Patty Kollab collaboration began, in which Wendy's and several local restaurants collaborated to bring their own interpretations of real-life Krabby Patties.
October 10, 2024: Kreepaway Kamp Premiere
On October 10, 2024, the one-hour television special, Kreepaway Kamp, premiered on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.
October 15, 2024: Release of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best 300 Episodes Ever
On October 15, 2024, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best 300 Episodes Ever, a 44-disc DVD compilation of three box sets, SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Next 100 Episodes and SpongeBob SquarePants: Another 100 Episodes, was released.
October 25, 2024: SpongeBob Themed Secret Lair Announced for Magic: The Gathering
On October 25, 2024, Wizards of the Coast announced a SpongeBob themed Secret Lair would be released for Magic: The Gathering (Secret Lair is the label for special limited edition cards for the game).
December 5, 2024: Uniqlo announces SpongeBob inspired designs by Cactus Plant Flea Market.
On December 5, 2024, clothing brand Uniqlo announced a collab featuring SpongeBob inspired designs by streetwear brand Cactus Plant Flea Market. It is set to release December 12.
2024: 'Freakbob' Meme Surfaced
Another Spongebob meme that surfaced in 2024 is the 'Freakbob' meme. Associated with Gen Z humor, Freakbob (or sometimes Freaky Bob) is typically shown on the dialing end of a phone call.
2024: Hillenburg Posthumously Credited
As of 2024, Stephen Hillenburg is still posthumously credited as executive producer in episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants.
2024: Krabby Patty Kollab Meals Released
In 2024, Nickelodeon collaborated with various local restaurants and fast food chain Wendy's to create Krabby Patty Kollab meals, including a recreation of the Krabby Patty and a Pineapple Under The Sea Frosty from Wendy's, along with specialized items at select local restaurants nationwide.
2025: Fourth Longest-Running American Animated Series
As of 2025, SpongeBob SquarePants is the fourth longest-running American animated series and the longest-running American children's animated series, surpassing Arthur in 2025.
2025: Longest-Running American Children's Animated Series
In 2025, SpongeBob SquarePants became the longest-running American children's animated series.
2025: SpongeBob Themed Secret Lair Set to Release for Magic: The Gathering
In 2025, the SpongeBob themed Secret Lair is set to release for Magic: The Gathering.
2026: Universal Kids Resort to include SpongeBob themed land
In 2026, Universal Kids Resort will include a themed land based on the SpongeBob franchise.
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