Cartoon Network (-) – Anime News Network

Foundation date:

1992-10-01

About:

Cartoon Network was founded in 1992 after media mogul Ted Turner acquired Hanna Barbera and the MGM film library (which included an older catalog of Warner Bros. cartoons). Four years later, when Time Warner purchased Turner Broadcasting, Cartoon Network gained access to a larger cartoon catalog from Warner Bros.

Cartoon Network’s main anime block is Toonami (a verbal fusion of cartoon and tsunami, suggesting “a tidal wave of animation”), which originated in 1997. Originally a weekday afternoon block, Toonami currently airs on Saturday nights. Notable Toonami alumni include Gundam Wing, Tenchi Muyo!, The Big O (season 1), Outlaw Star and Blue Submarine No. 6. Toonami also airs non-anime titles such as Teen Titans, Justice League Unlimited and Megas XLR.

While not entirely anime-oriented, Miguzi is a weekday afternoon block that features anime titles such as Zatch Bell!, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and Pokemon.

On September 2, 2001, Cartoon Network launched Adult Swim, a late-night block aimed towards the college age group (18-34). Cowboy Bebop was the first anime featured on this block. Other notable anime titles on Adult Swim include Trigun, The Big O (season 2), InuYasha, s-CRY-ed and The Super Milk-chan Show.