SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg that first aired on ABC as a sneak peek on May 1, 1999, and officially premiered on July 17, 1999. It chronicles the adventures of the title character and his aquatic friends in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. It airs on ABC,ABC Family,and The WB as a co-production between Walt Disney Television and Warner Bros. Television, with Disney handling distribution in most countries while Warner Bros handles distribution in Eurasia.
The show was created in 1996, when Rocko's Modern Life was cancelled, and has aired 14 seasons,with a 15th season in development. It has also made three motion picture releases, as well as one direct to TV movie,with more coming in the future. The show has become a cultural phenomenon with millennials and Gen Z.