San Diego Comic-Con hit this past weekend, leaving in its wake a flurry of both controversy and excitement. Of the many panels featured at the convention, one stood out for its focus on pure nostalgia and fun. Spongebob Squarepants celebrated its 25th anniversary with live table reads, reflections on the show’s legacy, and a few exciting announcements. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the cast’s conversation.

Highlights

“Celebrating 25 Years of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants,” moderated by Good Burger star, Kel Mitchell, brought together almost all of the show’s main voice actors. Featured on the panel were Tom Kenny (Spongebob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton). Executive producers Vincent Waller and Marc Ceccarelli were also present to give fans greater insight into the show’s creation.

The panel started on a high note with a live table read of Spongebob‘s landmark pilot episode, “Help Wanted.” Complete with sound effects and on-screen visuals, the reading managed to feel as if nothing had changed since the episode first aired back in 1999. The visuals on screen even included the storyboarding sketches for the episode, showing how the show really came to life. The cast’s passion for their characters and the material was clear. And the audience’s even more so. As the cast jumped into song with “Livin’ in the Sunlight, Lovin’ in the Moonlight”, fans joined in. Twenty-five years in, this introductory episode conveys just as much joy and humor as it did the first time around.

But Spongebob‘s legacy goes beyond humor. Multiple questions from audience members highlighted Spongebob‘s impact on their lives, from childhood to adulthood. From the voice of the beloved character himself: “Spongebob just connects with people. He did from the very beginning.” The cast highlighted the fact that Spongebob has a lot of deeper lessons to share with audiences. From accepting people for who they are to being unabashedly yourself— and maybe even the challenges of capitalism? — Spongebob has always had a deeper story to tell. And with a team so passionate about their work, it’s no wonder the show has maintained its hold on pop culture for so long.

“Spongebob just connects with people. He did from the very beginning.”

Coming Right Up

After taking a few trips down memory lane, the cast had some exciting announcements to offer fans. Everyone’s favorite squirrel is getting a story all her own. Carolyn Lawrence discussed Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, coming to Netflix on August 2nd. Lawrence expressed her excitement at exploring Sandy’s character beyond the realms of the original show, noting that even she was learning more about her character alongside audiences. Spongebob has had a few spin-offs in recent years. Aside from three feature-length movies, Kamp Koral: Spongebob’s Under Years introduced fans to the younger versions of their favorite characters. And The Patrick Star Show gave a new look at Spongebob’s loyal best friend. The franchise’s future is sure to hold more spin-offs featuring other ensemble members. And now, another movie.

In perhaps the most exciting moment of the panel, Mark Hamill was welcomed on stage to announce the fourth Spongebob movie: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants, set to release in May of next year. Some may know that Hamill isn’t completely new to the Spongebob universe. He once made an appearance in the episode “Night Light” as The Moth. Now, the Star Wars actor is back to being Spongebob’s nemesis, this time as The Flying Dutchman. Hamill even gave fans a sneak peek of his voice for the character, building anticipation for its release.

With such a passionate team of creators and a loyal fanbase, Spongebob‘s popularity is going steady. Although we all long for the nostalgia of the original seasons, it’s heartening to see so many of the original cast members still on board with the newer projects. And as new faces join the ranks, it’ll be interesting to see what changes and what stays the same for everyone’s favorite underwater sponge.