From then on, SpongeBob’s specific age or birthday is never directly referenced ... that would place him having just turned 13 years old at the start of the series, making his sudden desire ...

Since its series premiere in 1999, "SpongeBob SquarePants ... him as society's tendency to age-shame crushes his spirit (one of his customers calls him an "old and dried out" Krabby Patty ...

He retains SpongeBob’s walk — more a sashay, really — which is greeted by cheers from the audience as he crosses the stage the first time. The show’s plot crosses age lines. At its ...