As Jones grew up, he said his love for the squishy sponge with limbs did not wane.

“I’ve watched it since it came out on TV, and I still watch it today,” Jones said.

One reason cartoons from the past still hold a special place in the hearts of viewers, such as Jones, even when these viewers are not children anymore, is because they have widespread appeal. According to Senior Global Public Relations Manager for Feld Entertainment Jenifer Maninger, such widespread appeal is the reason “Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!” is coming to Wharton Center this weekend.

The musical is based on Disney’s animated show “Phineas and Ferb,” which premiered in 2007. The cartoon is centered around a pair of stepbrother inventors, Phineas and Ferb, and their pet Perry the Platypus.

“For the first time ever, we are actually bringing the characters to life in front of (the audience’s) eyes,” Maninger said. “The audience gets to see the characters begin in an animated state on a huge screen. Then, they literally come off the screen and into a live state.”

The live show, which tells the story of the stepbrothers’ summer vacation, will run at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

“This show will appeal to children and adults alike,” Maninger said. “Just like the television show, this musical attracts people of all ages.”

Social relations and policy sophomore Nick Houle said that the appeal of this live show goes beyond the story. When he heard about the techniques used to bring “Phineas and Ferb” to life, he said the concept would be appealing to any cartoon lover.

“Even if it was a cartoon that I didn’t love, I’d still see it if it was transformed into a play with actors,” he said.

Houle still feels a connection with cartoons from his childhood, including his favorite, “Hey Arnold.”

“The humor isn’t just for little kids,” he said.

Both, the humor and the plot of “Hey Arnold”, were relatable to Houle, who said the stories on the show often would correspond with events from his childhood.

“As you get older, you find new things that entertain you,” he said.

On an average week, Jones said he watches episodes of his favorite TV program of the past every other day.

“When I was little, I thought (‘SpongeBob SquarePants’) was really funny,” he said. “I still watch it. The only difference is I get the humor more now.”

James Madison College freshman Katherine Landis said she loved watching TV programs geared toward children, such as “Lizzie McGuire” and “Rocket Power,” but does not find “Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!” appealing.

“It’s kind of weird because ‘Phineas and Ferb’ is a little kid’s show,” Landis said.