Be Careful What You Wish For?

H

happy. :]

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For decades people have often dreamed about a TV channel/network/station/what have you that would show "cartoons" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I admit even I've given some thought about it. Nickelodeon doesn't quite count...not really anyway. That said, in 1991 we finally got our wish in the form of the Cartoon Network. The same year, NICK started it's Nicktoons brand, and in 2000, Walt Disney TV Animation began making "original" shows for the Disney Channel.

However, in recent years, these networks have been focusing more on "original" programming, giving viewers of all ages and generations the same old thing over and over again, without seemingly any attempt at quality or uniqueness (I'm not going to say "originality", or "creativity", because they have become subjective terms; long story); in other words, it's become more about their idea of what "cartoons" (notice how I'm using quotes) should be like, and what they think us viewers "want" (among other things; another long story) based on what the "experts" think, and based on "demographic" research (which actually goes into another topic, but that's for later). Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that this has happened all the time; there have been some "gems" here and there, but it's only been recently that the quality factor has started to go up a little (there's way more to it than just this, but it would really take too long to explain).

Suffice it to say, rather than try to find out why these networks have been doing this, I've decided to approach this a different way. Does anyone think that the "be careful what you wish for" adage applies here? Would we have been better off with just dedicated blocks of programming on other networks rather than networks dedicated to showing "cartoons"? Now, for myself I'm not trying to imply one position or the other, I'm just curious as to what your position on it is.

So, anyone?
 
I'm very particular these days.When I was a kid I liked everything and anything.Now I'm more hard pressed.If it's got no quality,no thanks.I don't like what I watch to be "dumbed down" for the kiddies.Give us something that is smart and funny,for gosh sakes.

I'm pretty much thinking about just disconnecting cable all together when I get out on my own and just rent DVD's instead. It's a small price to pay for the lack of quality in animation today.Good examples of creative shows in recent years are hard to come by.
 
The challenge with niche-market programming lies in turning a profit. And it takes time for a cable channel to build an audience and to maintain one in a competitive marketplace. Programming that is done on the cheap may the bane of a sophisticated viewer, but to a less discerning audience (like, say, young children, or teenagers), it can jack up the profit-to-expense ratio. All cable stations have their share of junk.

Speaking specifically of the Cartoon Network, I don't really think it's a case of "be careful what you wish for". The Cartoon Network has done a lot for animation fandom over the years: they introduced a whole new generation to Robotech; they built solid American fan bases for Sailor Moon, Reboot, and Gundam; they've produced some marvelous original programs like Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, and Megas XLR; they've brought some of the greatest anime programs ever (Cowbop Bebop, Evangelion) to American audiences; and they shepherded the DCAU through its final -- and some would say most creatively daring -- years.

Sure, there's a lot of stuff on the Cartoon Network I wouldn't touch with a stick. But I can say the same about every other cable network, and the sputtering broadcast networks are even worse.
 
Sadly the same old tends to do better in the ratings then trying to make new shows that are original. While some unique cartoons are made they tend to A fail or B become the new "Same old" a few years latter after their are copy cats trying to cash in on them.

Really it's the way every medium is not just animation. You see it with TV, Movies, Video games, Books. Most stuff is generic, and the unique still is ether bad, fails or after it's a hit is followed by countless copy cats.

When taking risks does not pay off less people will take risks. When it does pay off, you get copy cats. And the people who take those risks? The big name companies with nothing to lose or the small name companies with everything to lose. everyone else tends to go with the flow.
 
You hit the nail right on the Roof of the house,I have been thinking this for the last few weeks,about our 24/7 Cartoon Tv stations worth it anymore?. I feel myself that their not, if they dont have variety of Classics Cartoons to some new cartoons at A 60/40 rate on their cartoon stations.

Instead of only the reruns heck of the most resent hype cartoons to come along to the cartoon tv networks every so months,and then get the axe and others come along to replace it,an they get hyped for a while on the cartoon stations then,repeat,rise, the same again over an over.

I know im going to get it for this, but I to wish and pray that we just one day have cartoons to go back to Mornings and Afternoons 2 or 3 hour blocks and then the weekends on Saturdays on some of the stations on cable and sat.,an the way it looks that could be happen again real soon,with now Disney XD coming that is going for Live/Action programming spilt Animation programming.


I have A bad feeling pulling at me that soon the Time Warner Heads our going to make Cartoon Network to follow suit of Disney, and drop the Cartoon out of the name and make A new Kids Network into A La La Disney XD,The N type stations airing Live action and A little to hardly any Animation.

I agree to that there is no reason for keeping Cable,if there not going to give me my moneys worth,by the 24/7 cartoon stations airing A variety of cartoons instead of the circle rule of only what is now should overair,not what was in the past way there showing and implying to us fans of Classic Cartoons of Yesteryear.

I have drop my Cable box as of Yesterday,it has nothing for me to look forward to these days,so why keep it for the reason of it just being off more than on.


- Cartoon Aider
 
And that would be more of a possibility last year, but this year the live action movies are about the only non-animated things broadcasted on CN (Kamen Rider will be shown on 4Kids rather than CN for one). Heck, they may stop the LA movies eventually should the cartoons turn up better ratings.

Plus a good portion of their upcoming material seems to cutback on the cliched "kids in school" setting. They still have a bit to do before it becomes the best place for cartoons again, but the network's future is looking good for a change.
 
You need not worry about that because that isn't going to happen, at least not in the next 10 years or so. I don't know if you've been watching CN as of late, but the fact of the matter is that Cartoon Network has been showing more animated programming in the past year and even more animation is on the way. CN has even abandoned their live action bumps with the dancing kids and replaced them with strictly animated bumps. The only live action currently on the lineup is the occasional non-animated movie. CN's first (and to date, only) live action series, Out of Jimmy's Head, is apparently canceled. So it would seem that the Powers That Be over at CN have been listening to some of their fans, after all.
 
I dunno. As long as they listen to the opinions of the animation community and fans and other professionals in the industry, I'm cool with it basically. I'd rather have the option of tuning into someone who's playing cartoons most of, if not all, the time (even if some of it is bad) then the way it used to be, which is animation blocks at select times, and that's all they ever air. Looking back at THOSE dark ages, now doesn't look so bad by comparison. If anything, animation is more popular now the world over than it's ever been. There's more awareness and part of that's due to channels like cartoon network. This includes anime...

There's a lot more variety and choice now, if nothing else. I don't know if I'd go so far as to consider that element a "bad" one...
 
If it has the slightest hint of intelligence to it it wont last long. But then again Mad Jack the Pirate,Oggy and the Cockroaches,Exo Squad,JL,JLU,Samurai Jack and endless other "grown up" cartoons will still be made by some company will come wether it will take one season or ten seasons, Im just hoping Van-Pires will never raise its ugly head ever again and how it got to DVD I will never understand.
 
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