SpongeBob SquarePants is an American media franchise.
SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon . The series ' popularity has made it a media franchise , as well as the highest rated series to ever air on Nickelodeon , and the most distributed property of MTV Networks . SpongeBob SquarePants is the titular character and protagonist of the American animated television series of the same name . He is voiced by actor and comedian Tom Kenny , and first appeared on television in the series ' pilot episode on May 1 , 1999 . SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated/live-action comedy film series based on the Nickelodeon animated television program of the same name , created by Stephen Hillenburg .