Let’s talk about a show that shaped most childhoods: SpongeBob SquarePants. This series was nothing short of an important role for kids. It’s fun, has good lessons, and has lovable characters.
Speaking of characters, if you haven’t seen it, the protagonist is SpongeBob SquarePants. We are taken through his life as a fry cook at The Krusty Krab with his boss, Mr. Krabs, coworker Squidward, and best friend Patrick the Star. Because of its fame, SpongeBob SquarePants has had many spinoffs, including movies and other shows, since its release in 1999. Whether they’re good or bad, they still can be influential to society.
The most recent spinoff, The SpongeBob Movie: The Search for SquarePants, made its debut in December 2025, giving adults a nostalgic look back at an iconic show of their childhood. There are a lot of changes in this movie compared to the original series. A recent YouTube video by Jacey Flames reviews the movie and brings up the topic of differences. He mentions the animation style now being 3D and heavily relying on CGI, while the original show is hand-drawn and animated.
Although this is a change due to the world, the humor and pop-culture references strongly vary from what they were in the early 2000’s. For example, a well-known artist of today, Ice Spice, is a feature in this film. For the last comparison, fans have noticed the inconsistencies of character personalities, like Squidward gaining loyalty to SpongeBob. This evolution is upsetting, but this movie still has importance in our generation. Amber Joyce, a sixteen-year-old who recently saw this film, says the moral is “Don’t let other people affect your thoughts of yourself.” The plot includes SpongeBob chasing after his dream to be a “big guy”, but is quickly crushed by the words of Mr. Krabs. This journey proves to be useless, and SquarePants realizes he has to be who he is, no matter the words of other people.
When asked about the impact of the series, Hannah Godshall, a teacher at Pennridge High School, said, “I love SpongeBob; I use it a lot to teach lessons with.” She believes it is for everyone, no matter the age. Whether you’re a teenager or an adult with kids, you can relate to this show. The characters, even though they may seem child-like, are highly prominent in society. Godshall went on to say she relates to SpongeBob SquarePants the most. She can connect to how happy-go-lucky he is and his love for snazzy dressing. This demonstrates exactly how diverse the series can be, and everyone can identify with a character.
We recently went to see The SpongeBob Movie: The Search for SquarePants, and we noticed the differences as well. The theater was packed with families and young adults. It’s a great movie for kids, as those seeing it that day were laughing and having fun. Between all the jokes and crazy plot lines, it’s very enjoyable for young adults as well. Although the amount of adult puns ruined the true original meaning of SpongeBob. Despite all of this, it was enjoyable and gave us a good laugh.
SpongeBob SquarePants is an awesome TV show that is highly recommended to watch. Each episode teaches a different lesson that is important to developing skills. Other shows are available, like Kamp Koral and The Patrick Star Show, which emphasize different characters and plot lines. There’s no difference when it comes to where you start; just put it on and enjoy the laughs and fun!
Sources:
https://www.thelamron.com/opinion/lr2zo22admo9eprcki4f90eokvj2k3
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/01/1247526187/spongebob-squarepants-anniversary-25-years
