SpongeBob Prequel Spin-off Kamp Koral Releases First Image

Nickelodeon has released a first-look image of its upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants prequel series, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, set to premiere in 2021 on Paramount+ (currently CBS All Access) and later airing on Nickelodeon. Are you ready, kids, to see SpongeBob and pals slightly smaller, wearing braces, and extremely CG-looking? Check out the image below and decide for yourself.

The show's basic premise of "What if SpongeBob, but young?" has been met with some resistance by fans due to creator Stephen Hillenburg's--who died in 2018 from ALS--outspoken distaste for spin-offs, especially ones featuring the same cast of characters aged-down. (Netflix also has a Squidward show on the way.) Nevertheless, Kamp Koral is full steam ahead, with the original cast reprising their original roles: Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), and Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy) are among those returning.

As Kamp Koral's name suggests, the show takes the familiar cast of characters as youngsters and chronicles their adventures in an underwater sleepaway camp. Marc Ceccarelli, Vincent Waller, and Jennie Monica collectively serve as co-executive producers--all had worked on the previous show.

SpongeBob premiered in 1999 and it is still going strong on Nickelodeon. Last year it was renewed for Season 13.