30 years ago, Stephen Hillenburg began developing a strange little cartoon about an optimistic sponge living at the bottom of the ocean. Long before the movies, merchandise, memes, and worldwide phenomenon, SpongeBob SquarePants was simply a sketch, a voice, a storyboard, and a small group of artists trying to make each other laugh. Voice actor Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) and writer, director, and producer Derek Drymon, one of the key creative architects of the series, join moderator Brian A. Miller (former general manager, Cartoon Network Studios) for a behind-the-scenes conversation. Through rare stories, early artwork, live demonstrations, and never-before-heard memories, the panel explores the creation of Bikini Bottom, the creative genius of Stephen Hillenburg, and the moment before anyone knew they were making television history. Before SpongeBob became an icon, he was just an idea. This is the story of how that idea changed animation forever.
