Ever wonder what SpongeBob SquarePants was like before he moved into a pineapple in Bikini Bottom? Fans of the beloved Nickelodeon series will find out soon, with a "SpongeBob" prequel series headed to the network.

Deadline has the scoop on "Kamp Koral," which is set to follow a 10-year-old SpongeBob as he spends a summer at the titular sleepaway camp. The series has received a 13-episode order, and will be animated with CGI, a departure from the OG show's signature 2D animated look.

Here's the breakdown of the series, according to Deadline:

In the series, SpongeBob and his pals spend the summer building underwater campfires, catching wild jellyfish, and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck at the craziest camp in the kelp forest, Kamp Koral.

Sounds pretty delightful to us. And apparently, there's more where that came from, with Nickelodeon planning additional future "SpongeBob" spinoffs in the coming years. All that extra content is meant to capitalize on the show's enduring popularity: It's been the number one kids' animated program on TV for 17 years and counting, inspiring two feature films (with a third due out next year) and a Tony-nominated Broadway musical.

There's no word yet on when audiences can expect to enroll in "Kamp Koral," though fans of the original series will soon have a big milestone to celebrate: The show's 20th anniversary. A splashy one-hour special, "SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout," will mark the occasion. It premieres on July 12.

[via: Deadline]