At the 2024 Motor City Comic Con in Detroit, Tom Kenny, the iconic voice behind SpongeBob SquarePants, shared his perspective on the beloved character’s traits, suggesting SpongeBob’s “superpower” might be his representation of autism.
During a Q+A session captured on video by ToonHive’s X account, Kenny recounted an encounter where he was asked if SpongeBob is autistic. He described how a person he identified as being on the spectrum approached him with the question. Kenny recalled responding affirmatively, stating, “SpongeBob’s kind of on the spectrum too as a character.”
Reflecting on the interaction, Kenny elaborated, “It was the first time I’d ever been asked this question — a person who was obviously on the spectrum came up to me and said, ‘I have a question for you, Tom Kenny. Is SpongeBob autistic?’” He then shared his response with the crowd, saying, “‘Of course!’ I said, ‘You know what? That’s his superpower, the same way that’s your superpower.’”
The revelation drew cheers from the audience, supporting Kenny’s interpretation of the character’s neurodivergence.
Kenny’s comments provide insight into how SpongeBob SquarePants resonates with diverse audiences, including those with autism, highlighting the character’s broad appeal and the deeper connections viewers find with the show.
In addition to Kenny’s remarks, other members of the SpongeBob cast have previously discussed the show’s impact on viewers. Carolyn Lawrence, who voices Sandy Cheeks, shared in February that her daughters had differing reactions to the series over the years. “My oldest never liked the show,” she told PEOPLE, “But my youngest, I still hear her giggling. She’ll watch it, I can hear her laughing and laughing.”
Kenny, who has children of his own, reflected on how SpongeBob has been a significant part of his family life. “My kids grew up with SpongeBob being both the family business and also the biggest thing in the world with their classmates,” he said. “And maybe because our faces aren’t in it, they were always able to enjoy SpongeBob as something separate and apart from their dumb old parents. That was really good.”
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Bill Fagerbakke, known for voicing Patrick Star, shared his early uncertainty about the show’s potential until he saw his own children’s enthusiastic reaction to it. “That was the way I realized the pilot was as good as I thought it was,” Fagerbakke explained. “Because I knew nothing, I didn’t get it when we recorded it, and then we got the pilot in the mail on a video cassette.”
He recounted showing the pilot to his daughters, Carson and Hannah, ages 4 and 6 at the time, who loved it immediately. “And I went, ‘Yes, this is going to be fun.’ I figured for a few months and then something else comes along, you hope. But 25 years later,” he added, highlighting the enduring popularity and impact of the animated series.
SpongeBob SquarePants, which first aired in 1999, continues to capture the hearts of audiences worldwide with its humor, creativity, and now, according to Kenny, its relatable and inclusive character portrayals.
