Current:Home > ScamsSpongeBob SquarePants is autistic, according to voice actor Tom Kenny: 'That's his superpower'-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
SpongeBob SquarePants is autistic, according to voice actor Tom Kenny: 'That's his superpower'
View Date:2024-12-23 22:41:08
Tom Kenny wants kids with autism to know that SpongeBob SquarePants shares their "superpower." During a recent appearance at Motor City Comic Con in Michigan, the actor, 62, said the beloved animated character he voices is "kind of on the spectrum." "A person who's obviously on the spectrum came up to me and said, 'I have a question for you, Tom Kenny: Is SpongeBob autistic? Is SpongeBob himself autistic as a character?'" Kenny said, according to a video shared on social media. "And I said, 'Yes, of course. Of course he is!'" He added, "I said, 'You know what? That's his superpower, the same way it's your superpower.'" Kenny, who also plays Patchy the Pirate in live-action on "SpongeBob SquarePants," previously reflected on why the Nickelodeon cartoon appeals to children with autism so much. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "I think they like that character," he said in a 2017 interview with Bleeding Cool. "He doesn't have a filter, he does what he wants. It comes up a lot actually, the autistic thing comes up, like at comic-cons and things like that." 'SpongeBob' turns 25: We celebrate his birthday with a dive into Bikini Bottom Kenny added, "I know autistic kids fixate on certain things and certain shows, but there's something about 'SpongeBob' and it's not just that 'SpongeBob' is bigger than other shows." Rodger Bumpass, the voice of Squidward, suggested in the Bleeding Cool interview that this has to do with the fact that "there's a simplicity" to the show, "not only in the gags and the words, but to the colors and the drawings that might appeal to autistic kids or adults also." Why, 20 years later'SpongeBob SquarePants' endures as one of the best kids' shows around "SpongeBob SquarePants," which follows the undersea adventures of the title character and his friends, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The show is still airing new episodes, and Kenny has provided SpongeBob's voice since the beginning in 1999. The actor has also voiced characters on animated shows like "The Powerpuff Girls" and "Adventure Time." "'SpongeBob' feels more real to me than real life lately," Kenny recently joked to USA TODAY. "I think Bikini Bottom is actually reality, and we're just a dream SpongeBob and Patrick are having. It's like a 'Black Mirror' episode." Speaking to USA TODAY, Kenny also credited the continued success of "SpongeBob" to original creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died in 2018. "One thing I learned from him is that character drives everything," Kenny said. "You shouldn't violate who they are or stuff they would do for the sake of a laugh. Steve was very strict about that. He always said SpongeBob was the hardest character to write for. He's so elastic; he's very complex." Contributing: Patrick Ryan
veryGood! (28482)
Related
- Texas mother sentenced to 50 years for leaving kids in dire conditions as son’s body decomposed
- Almost 20 Years Ago, a Mid-Career Psychiatrist Started Thinking About Climate Anxiety and Mental Health
- Texas women denied abortions for ectopic pregnancies file complaints against hospitals
- Texas launches new investigation into Houston’s power utility following deadly outages after Beryl
- Minnesota man is free after 16 years in prison for murder that prosecutors say he didn’t commit
- Victor Wembanyama warns opponents ‘everywhere’ after gold medal loss to USA
- Plan approved by North Carolina panel to meet prisoner reentry goals
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can remain on the North Carolina presidential ballot, judge says
- Tuskegee University closes its campus to the public, fires security chief after shooting
- Gilmore Girls’ Jared Padalecki Has a Surprising Reaction to Rory's Best Boyfriend Debate
Ranking
- Should Georgia bench Carson Beck with CFP at stake against Tennessee? That's not happening
- Why Kylie Jenner Is Keeping Her Romance With Timothée Chalamet Private
- Left in Debby's wake: Storm floods homes, historic battlefield
- Grant Ellis named the new Bachelor following his elimination from 'The Bachelorette'
- Todd Golden to continue as Florida basketball coach despite sexual harassment probe
- When does 'The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras' premiere? Cast, where to watch, stream
- Injured Ferguson police officer wanted to improve department ‘from the inside,’ ex-supervisor says
- Vance backs Trump’s support for a presidential ‘say’ on Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy
Recommendation
-
Ex-Marine misused a combat technique in fatal chokehold of NYC subway rider, trainer testifies
-
What vitamins should you take? Why experts say some answers to this are a 'big red flag.'
-
Book Review: ‘Kent State’ a chilling examination of 1970 campus shooting and its ramifications
-
Wisconsin voters to set Senate race and decide on questions limiting the governor’s power
-
Kathy Bates likes 'not having breasts' after her cancer battle: 'They were like 10 pounds'
-
50 best friend quotes to remind you how beautiful friendship really is
-
Who is Grant Ellis? What to know about the next 'Bachelor' from Jenn Tran's season
-
Horoscopes Today, August 12, 2024