Cartoon Network Plugs the Plug On Toonami

[J.E.Smith]

Last night was the end of an era.

After eleven and a half years, Cartoon Network put an end to its long running action cartoon block Toonami. But Toonami was differnet than your usual block of programming. It had an unique atmosphere to it, such as CGI segments with Toonami's robotic host TOM, customized intros for the shows, awesome music videos made up of clips from the shows, video game reviews, and even motivational speeches from TOM.

Toonami was also the one of the main factors that lead to the anime craze in the US(Pokemon being the other); showcasing many shows such as Sailor Moon, Tenchi Muyo!, the Gundam series, Naruto, and the ever popular Dragonball Z just to name a few.

It also featured interactive internet games that tied in with special on-air stories involving TOM.

But like everything, Toonami wasn't perfect. It started to decline in 2004 when Cartoon Network decided to place the block on Saturday nights only. Then last year CN forced a revamp of the block making TOM look more child-friendly than he had before, then did things such as pre-empt part of Toonami for other programming and then just cutting back to two hours, which is how it ended last night. Now, I haven't watch Toonami for a good couple of years since the Saturday move(Plus I guess it was part of getting older and the newer shows that appared on the block like Naruto didn't appeal to me), but it's kind of sad seeing something you were attached to when you were younger just die off.

For those who didn't experience Toonami, you can see an example of the work that was put into it at this site:
http://www.toonamiarsenal.com/

It contains all the on-air material since the block's debut. Every promo, bumper, interactive event, its all there; including the block's final farewell message(Which is the first thing that loads when you enter the site).

So sayanora Toonami, and thanks for all the great entertainment.

 

[JimboJones123]

Toonami sucked. Bring back Saturday Japanime!

I wouldn't ever spend the $25-$30 to buy any Japanime, but I loved tuning in on Saturday nights. I missed much of the mid 90s SNL because of it. Vampire Hunter D was AWESOME!!! They show MUCH worse stuff during Adult Swim.

 

[EpcotServo]

Toonami sucked. Bring back Saturday Japanime!

I wouldn't ever spend the $25-$30 to buy any Japanime, but I loved tuning in on Saturday nights. I missed much of the mid 90s SNL because of it. Vampire Hunter D was AWESOME!!! They show MUCH worse stuff during Adult Swim.

Seriously, DO NOT CALL IT what you just called it. That's almost as bad as -cringe- "Japanimation"-cringe-

Anyways, even though Toonami's programming went downhill in later years, I wouldn't be who I am today without Toonami and Midnight Run. I lived off those shows! Still today, the old school Toonami bumps are just plain amazing....

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Classic!


Tenchi Muyo. Gundum Wing. Blue Submarine #6. Outlaw Star. The list is amazing. You will be missed Toonami!

...See you, Space Cowboy

 

[KeithVH]

Rather than cry over those questionable shows (Jeez, why don't they rename Tenchi to Young and the Restless or Days of our Lives - same thing), y'all should write in to have them put a decent show on the schedule. Like the original Jonny Quest. Maybe Space Ghost or The Herculoids. You know, cool shows with good music. Decent animation, people with proper proportions and emotions. You know, entertaining stuff.

 

[JimboJones123]

Seriously, DO NOT CALL IT what you just called it. That's almost as bad as -cringe- "Japanimation"-cringe-

Anyways, even though Toonami's programming went downhill in later years, I wouldn't be who I am today without Toonami and Midnight Run. I lived off those shows! Still today, the old school Toonami bumps are just plain amazing....

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Classic!


Tenchi Muyo. Gundum Wing. Blue Submarine #6. Outlaw Star. The list is amazing. You will be missed Toonami!

...See you, Space Cowboy

I'll call it what I wan't. I'll even call it non-round-eye-vision if I want.

Sorry I don't overgeek about it like some do. Does it hurt that bad for it to be called that? Does it?

 

[EpcotServo]

I'll call it what I wan't. I'll even call it non-round-eye-vision if I want.

Sorry I don't overgeek about it like some do. Does it hurt that bad for it to be called that? Does it?

No, it hurts you. If you're callin' it something wrong, you just look dumb. I'm helping you, my friend, trust me!

Rather than cry over those questionable shows (Jeez, why don't they rename Tenchi to Young and the Restless or Days of our Lives - same thing), y'all should write in to have them put a decent show on the schedule. Like the original Jonny Quest. Maybe Space Ghost or The Herculoids. You know, cool shows with good music. Decent animation, people with proper proportions and emotions. You know, entertaining stuff.

pssssttt...you do know that most of those shows, as well as all Saturday Morning Cartoon shows were written by American companies, then animated in Japan!


I can't even get in to the fact that you'd call The Herculoids better art then the downright amazing animation in any one of those shows. The American stigma this artform has here astounds me. Mostly in part that "Animation fans" like you treat it like it's something different. Saying which while they continue to not actually sit down and watch entire series or movies, just as a slight of hand because they watched a few episodes of Sailor Moon.

Have you watched Evangelion?

End of Evangelion?

How about Trigun?

FLCL?

Gunbuster?

Gurren Lagann?

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya?

Any of the Hayao Miyzayki movies?

Most importantly, have you watched Cowboy Bebop?

If you haven't watched that ENTIRE series of Cowboy Bebop, you belong to a group of Thousands of "Animation" fans who look down on some of the best Animated shows ever created, ones that are truely art, simply based on an unfounded stigma. It's so sad because they MORE than deserve to have their place among American cartoons such as Warner Bros., Disney, and Pixar. And they will if only people would give them that chances.

It baffles me, and fills me with a deep feeling of regret when our culture allows things like this to happen.

 

[diddy_mouse]

wow...I remember watching Toonami back in the day afterschool. Yes, I did watch Sailor Moon and Pokemon but thanks to the Midnight Run I was introduced to Cowboy Bebop (which is my favorite anime ever!)

11 years...dang I feel old now...

 

[EpcotServo]

11 years...dang I feel old now...

Me too!
:lol:

 

[KeithVH]

Well, Herculoids was just cool to me when I was like 7. Great animation, no, just a sentimental place in my heart. You gotta keep in mind I can remember watching the original runs of these shows. Shoot, I can remember Bugs Bunny on Friday night prime time.

And just to clear the air, I've seen all the shows listed above and more. I started our girls on Usagi and Mamo-chan when they were in kindergarten. The oldest is now a college junior and two of them are serious cosplayers (so are all their college roommates). They watch their stories w/o dubbing or subtitles because they study Japanese it in college to be able to do so (God only knows why J-Pop has to go along with that but that's another story).

So, yeah, I'm pretty familiar with the genre for the last 15 years. And for everyone's raving about this stuff, I've yet to see anyone present any negative aspect about some of the questionable content. Although I must admit a certain detached admiration for Biko Daitokuji.:slurp::slurp::slurp::slurp::slurp:

 

[EpcotServo]

So, yeah, I'm pretty familiar with the genre for the last 15 years. And for everyone's raving about this stuff, I've yet to see anyone present any negative aspect about some of the questionable content.

I'm confused with this last part, are you saying that there's a lack of critcism towards the genere?

 

[KeithVH]

Criticism probably isn't the right word. Maybe something more objective? The problem that I see is that people are either (a) fanboys/fangrls or (b) people LOATHE it because it isn't Hello Kitty. Of course, they've seen the worst parts of Akira because those grab your attention. Or they focus on the hentai/schoolgirl fetish/androgynus nature of many characters. Without watching something like Spirited Away.

Then again, it's amazing how many MALE artists in Japan like to focus on 14-yr old schoolgirls (and their attendant outfits) with a figure to make a Playmate of the Year cry. That's very common even in shows which are rated PG. I find it hard to watch that kind of stuff knowing the frame of mind of the animator.

No one wants to find a happy medium and recognize it's not just all puppies and ice cream. For every good piece of work, there's easily at least one bad piece.

 

[diddy_mouse]

I've gotten into discussion with my best friend about this all the time. She is majorly into Japanese culture/lifestyle/anime and has been since high school. She plans to move there in the not too distant future.

What gets me are the people who find Inuyasha horribly dubbed on Adult Swim and start to base their whole lives around it. Now yes, the mass marketing of shows like that in stores like Hot Topic does add fuel to that fire. But people don't seem to be watching thing outside of the box, so to speak. There is no appreciation for story/artwork/ but rather the fanboy/girl "omg i luv so-and-so's relatnshp and think they shuld alwayz be together...mwah mwah mwah...let me write scary fan fics about them." For me there is that fine line between living in a strange fantasy world and really being a fan of something. Just my humble opinion...

 

[EpcotServo]

Criticism probably isn't the right word. Maybe something more objective? The problem that I see is that people are either (a) fanboys/fangrls or (b) people LOATHE it because it isn't Hello Kitty. Of course, they've seen the worst parts of Akira because those grab your attention. Or they focus on the hentai/schoolgirl fetish/androgynus nature of many characters. Without watching something like Spirited Away.

So the problem is the fans? I can agree that there are some fans that are like that, but you can't lump them into a "Majority". For every fan who likes it "Just because" there is a fan like me who likes it for much more deeper, thoughtful reasons.

Then again, it's amazing how many MALE artists in Japan like to focus on 14-yr old schoolgirls (and their attendant outfits) with a figure to make a Playmate of the Year cry. That's very common even in shows which are rated PG. I find it hard to watch that kind of stuff knowing the frame of mind of the animator.

I would say a very small percentage are like that, but those stay in Japan, and aren't very big hits. It's CERTAINLY not the majority, again. And honestly, South Park, Family Guy, and most recent american animation is just as adult-oriented, if not more. (Nothing against those shows, just making a point.)

No one wants to find a happy medium and recognize it's not just all puppies and ice cream. For every good piece of work, there's easily at least one bad piece.

That's a VERY opinionated figure. I would certainly like to hear the works you call a "Bad piece" (Pokemon, those shows aside.)

 

[EpcotServo]

I've gotten into discussion with my best friend about this all the time. She is majorly into Japanese culture/lifestyle/anime and has been since high school. She plans to move there in the not too distant future.

What gets me are the people who find Inuyasha horribly dubbed on Adult Swim and start to base their whole lives around it. Now yes, the mass marketing of shows like that in stores like Hot Topic does add fuel to that fire. But people don't seem to be watching thing outside of the box, so to speak. There is no appreciation for story/artwork/ but rather the fanboy/girl "omg i luv so-and-so's relatnshp and think they shuld alwayz be together...mwah mwah mwah...let me write scary fan fics about them." For me there is that fine line between living in a strange fantasy world and really being a fan of something. Just my humble opinion...

And a very good one at that!

I too find those fans annoying. (Seriously, go to a con and watch one of those movies. They yoop and holler so much! As I put it "Look, I'm happy for you guys that you're this excited about it. I am. Really. It's great you like this, but please SHUT UP SO I CAN WATCH IT!!!!!")
:lol:

But I think it's important to judge the fans and the genere separately.

 

[JimboJones123]

No, it hurts you. If you're callin' it something wrong, you just look dumb. I'm helping you, my friend, trust me!

Weird, I don't feel shattered. I'm calling it what the STATION CALLED IT WHEN IT AIRED THE SEGMENT. Where the hell did the word Imagineer come from anyways? Oh yeah, it was somebody that was trying to hurt himself and make himself look dumb.

No need for you to be a twit about it.

 

[EpcotServo]

Weird, I don't feel shattered. I'm calling it what the STATION CALLED IT WHEN IT AIRED THE SEGMENT. Where the hell did the word Imagineer come from anyways? Oh yeah, it was somebody that was trying to hurt himself and make himself look dumb.

No need for you to be a twit about it.

Look, I've got no problem with smooshing words. But it just looks stupid to call it something it's not. You wouldn't go around calling Mountaineering "Uprockwalking", would you? You could, but it'd just be funny. And I have, never, EVER heard Cartoon Network use the term "Japanime". If you can back that up, I'll take it back. I mean, I'd have a cow if you said "Japanimation"-cringe-, but at least I've heard that term used before.

Again, "Japanime" is not what it's called. Call it "Anime", "Japanese Animation", "Japanimation", even Mr. Tibbs if you want. But whatever, I was just tryin' to give a little "The more you know" segment, and if you really wanna' call it that, I won't stop you.

And my friend, as you should know, I am a Twit about everything.

"Look, you'd call it a Mill, I'd call it a Hillountain. That's just where we disagree."
-DJ Hesus, Lucy: Daughter of the Devil

 

[JimboJones123]

Guess I watched too much Cartoon Network in High School. Clearly the problems then with me watching it are much more problematic than the problems I'm currently having because I'm cursed with a memory that's powered by useless information. It aired in 1994.