#cartoonito

[COMM] Jessica Of The Creek

look what programming blocks we got because of Ted Turner

Most of these are on The Cartoon Network, but one of these started out as a block that eventually became more than half the network and, after Discovery liquidated CN in 2022 to save owner Warner Bros. from bankruptcy, is kind of the inheritor of CN

...and who could forget more recent blocks like Cartoonito, ACME Night, Toonami Rewind, and Checkered Past???

Oh yeah; Discovery could... except for ONE of them.

Congatulations to the talented Alex Savio (Adult Swim "Smiling Friends") in joining Disney Television Animation as Production Associate on "Cars: Lightning Racers".

The Rise of Anime, the Death of Western Teenage Cartoons, And the Beginning of Something New

What do Regular Show, 6teen, Infinity Train, and the Total Drama franchises have in common (despite all airing on Cartoon Network, of course?) They are each geared towards a teenage audience. With jokes and plots matured enough to appeal towards teenagers, but not quite graphic enough to be considered for adults, this hidden demographic of animated shows has entertained viewers ever since the dawn of entertainment itself.

However, as of late, it seems as if the Western teenage animated show has started to slowly fall into obscurity. With the stigma of animation being only for small children reigning on the cancellation and censorship of shows on the grounds of tax write-offs and the though that children can't handle tough topics, and the general downfall of cable TV in favor of YouTube and TikTok, the matter is that the teen genre is slowly dying, in favor of different ways of consuming media. If toddlers have (or at least, used to have) Cartoonito, school-age children have Cartoon Network, and adults have, well, Adult Swim, then what do teens have?

For better or for worse, we've simply lost the middle ground between children and adults. Rachel Shukert, showrunner on the now-cancelled Babysitters Club revival on Netflix, said it better herself: “Girls are expected to go straight from Doc McStuffins to Euphoria.” Even cable children's networks themselves have been subject to a slow, put painful death, with Cartoon Network's hours slowly being eaten up by Adult Swim, ditto with Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite. These maturer blocks get higher views than the channels they're even on.

That being said, one has to matter why this simply seems to be a Western issue rather than globally. In Asian territories, specifically in Japan for this post, animation is much less stigmatized and appeals towards a more neutral ground rather than simply kids or adults.

Take Spy x Family (pictured to the right), for example. Despite the show being animated, the engaging plot, action scenes, and humor makes it popular for both teens and adults. Frankly, to put it, this show doesn't treat the viewer like a child or a full-blown mature adult- it treats them like a person. And, as a teen myself, that's something that I value in not just the media I consume, but the world in general. I don't want to be infantlized or adultified. I want to be a person.

The appeal of anime also extends to how diverse the medium really is. If you want a slice-of-life anime, you can get it! If you want a rom-com, then come and take! Animes are released at a much faster pace than Western animation, probably since many of them are based off of previously existing manga. And, admittedly, at times anime turns out to be more adventurous than many Western cartoons in the sense that it is not afraid to tackle a variety of issues stemming to everyday life.

That's not to say that Western animation is entirely devoid of quality content. Shows like The Owl House, Amphibia, Steven Universe, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Rose of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, all encapsulate the perfect appeal towards that middle ground audience. Unfortunately, most, of not all, of these shows, as popular as they are fandom-wise, have been subjected to executive meddling, lack of promotion and airtime, and an overall lack of care from the networks and companies distributing them.

It also doesn't mean at all that Japan is some sort of wonderland for animation fans all across the globe. There are plenty of less-than-stellar animes out in the world. Anime artists are often overworked and underpaid, similar to the way Western animators are often forced to operate. Anime fandoms can range from chill havens for fans to hang out, to absolute hellholes no one deserves to be subjected to. Western anime fans themselves, just like animation fans, are occasionally seen as 'dorky' by others, creating yet another cycle where people are scared of expressing their true selves because of judgement.

And, with traditional Western animation taking a backseat, other animated pieces have had their chances to shine. Just this week, two international animated films, Arco and Little Amelie, were both nominated for Best Picture. Indie animated shows such as Murder Drones, The Amazing Digital Circus, the Hazbin Hotel franchise, and Catching Up have all been huge successes, and even more new shows are being created. It has never been easier to come up with your own story and bring it to the public eye, so why not take a chance?

I know I have to refrain from posting non-reviews, but..

I don't know what to type.

I'm genuinely so happy right now.

Magnus, you crazy man, I don't know WHAT you did to get the rights back from Warner Bros..

FIRST LOOK: From the brilliant minds behind “Craig of the Creek”, one of the most beloved characters from the series is FINALLY getting her own show!