SpongeBob's 25th Anniversary: Tom Kenny on Why He Still Loves Voicing the SquarePants!
Tom Kenny: 25 Years of SpongeBob and Still Going Strong!
Tom Kenny, the legendary voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, has revealed why he's still having an absolute blast voicing this iconic cartoon character after a whopping 25 years! The show, which debuted way back in May 1999, continues to be a massive hit with new episodes still airing on Nickelodeon (currently season 14). SpongeBob's absurd humor, catchy songs, and totally memorable characters have turned it into this giant multimedia franchise; making its enduring popularity absolutely insane!
In a recent interview with Variety, Kenny discussed his continued involvement; mentioning that the continued expansion is the key to keeping this fun and never letting it get stale and he attributes this to those numerous ongoing spinoffs, the Broadway show, those appearances in the Super Bowl—keeping everything consistently fresh. This amazing evolution never really stopped and only created even more amazing moments. Kenny and his fellow voice actor Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star) don’t even want to swap jobs with some of the world’s biggest movie stars; he explains, saying that “it’s just that much fun”! Here’s what he had to say about that:
"For me, it’s fun to just be a passenger on the “SpongeBob” ride. The spinoffs, the Broadway show, the Super Bowl broadcasts, all these things are happening, and it means the franchise never gets stagnant, you know? It’s still fun to play these same characters that we started 25 years ago because they’re constantly coming up with new ways to reach people. We’re just as giddy about this job as we were 25 years ago. Neither of us [referring to Bill Fagerbakke, voice of Patrick] would trade jobs with the biggest movie stars in the world."
SpongeBob's Expanding Universe: A Testament to Tom Kenny's Dedication!
The SpongeBob franchise is just gigantic. We're talking video games like Battle for Bikini Bottom, spinoff shows like The Patrick Star Show, and those multiple movie releases! That insane fourth theatrical film, The Search for SquarePants is due out in theaters December 19, 2025. Kenny has voiced SpongeBob throughout these projects. And those iconic voice actors such as Fagerbakke (Patrick), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton) have done so too!
And this is extremely impressive, and shows how far and deep that network’s own ambitions for producing additional content for existing popular and well-known projects continues. It continues into Netflix productions—including Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie; these also use the same core voice actors. Kenny's passion is infectious— and shared by his amazing costars, creating a deep collaboration that keeps that SpongeBob magic alive, completely reinventing those already successful series through additional projects and through that never-ending enthusiasm found amongst its key personnel! We already anticipate the release of Plankton: The Movie (also on Netflix) in 2025; which emphasizes further growth within the multimedia expansion of this hugely popular cartoon.
Tom Kenny's Love for SpongeBob: A Lasting Legacy
With season 14 airing and many other projects already planned and in various phases of development–Kenny’s clear devotion to the character shows this is not likely to change soon. That continued success demonstrates exactly just why those expansion decisions, adding more spinoff titles remain a viable choice; and this makes fans totally excited. This expansion shows that SpongeBob isn't going anywhere; the enduring appeal shows the creativity that Tom Kenny and other key figures bring.
Conclusion: A 25-Year Reign and Many More to Come
Tom Kenny's amazing run as SpongeBob isn’t simply an amazing feat; its remarkable longevity reflects both his amazing skills, his utter commitment to the character and those important contributions that this amazing cartoon has had, on children's media; making a significant contribution over a significant timeframe, showcasing not simply just creativity in production but a truly important development in cartoon television production which truly set up many amazing cartoons in future productions. This truly showcases that continued success— this speaks volumes regarding Kenny's commitment. It makes fans absolutely certain that SpongeBob will remain a part of our lives, for decades and potentially years beyond what is mentioned within the title alone. It is also an immensely impressive testament to Stephen Hillenburg's vision—the creator— who imagined that completely lovable character to continue existing in our minds for even further future developments, as his unique style is certain to impress an even newer generation.
