Scratchbuilding | SB-01: Toon Disney 1.0

Originally Posted by Jeff Harris

Disclaimer (or The CNX Clause): All original ideas and concepts presented within the site are TM and © Jeff Harris. Any use or presentation of the materials found here without the expressed written consent and permission of the author is strictly prohibited.

For some odd reason, I find myself drawn to Toon Disney. When it launched, I found myself enjoying the classic Disney cartoons that were a part of the lineup. From the classic theatrical shorts to the television generation of shows from the 1980s and mid-90s, Toon Disney personified everything a Disney animation fan wanted to see, something that represented all eras of Disney Animation. The Golden Age. The First Generation of Television Animation. The Modern Age.

On February 14, 2004, Toon Disney changed.

On that date, the world of Jetix was introduced on Toon Disney as an action franchise that aired for two hours every night of the week. One of the shows that premiered on the block was Power Rangers Dino Thunder, the first live-action series to be seen on Toon Disney. Understandably, a lot of animation fans were upset at the show's addition to the formerly all-animation lineup (I know I had some words to say about it at the time). Still, over the years, the block expanded on Toon Disney eventually taking over a good 75% of the total Toon Disney lineup, especially after ABC Cable Networks, Toon Disney's parent company, moved Jetix away from ABC Family and made it exclusively seen on Toon Disney.

Meanwhile, it has become a rarity to see non-Jetix programming on Toon Disney. There aren't any classic Disney shorts on the air nor cartoons from the Disney Afternoon and One Saturday Morning eras of Disney Animation. Most of the non-Jetix lineup consists of Disney Channel reruns like Kim Possible, The Proud Family, and others. And knowing that Disney has a massive library of television animation, including the Fox Kids/Saban library and the ABC library of animated shorts, segments and interstitials like Bod Squad, Timer, Cap'n O.G. Readmore, and Schoolhouse Rock, and animated specials, Toon Disney is almost an embarrassment to the Disney name if it wasn't for Jetix, which brings in ratings, but generally loathed by the non-action fans of the network.

For it to succeed in the 21st century, it would have to be rebuilt from the ground up. It would embrace the past as well as the present. It would embrace the Jetix brand as well as show reverance towards the Disney brand. It would celebrate the animated legacies of all the pieces that became Disney Animation.

It would be a radically different network. And it could be built. Here's how I would do it.