Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #19

Originally Posted on 01/08/2003 by Jeff Harris

Welcome to the not-so-new year. Chances are that 2003 might be a clone of 2002, but we're not going to make the same mistakes again. New year, new rules, and there's definitely change in the air.

Sure, the calendar's already changed, but in a couple of weeks, the Toonami lineup is changing . . . again. The digital ink is barely dry on the now two-week old lineup, but there's already a change taking place starting January 20, just one day before I turn a quarter century (*shudders*). Gone from the lineup is the popular He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Why is this series leaving? For starters, to give the show a rest. MOTU didn't have that many episodes to begin with this season, and quite frankly, the weekday stripping of the series is stretching the episodes to the breaking point. It'll still be around on weekends, but the series will likely return in the spring on weekdays.

So, what's going to replace MOTU on the weekday lineup? The return of Batman Beyond. Once again, the series is going to have a temporary run on the block, most likely until March when a new lineup MIGHT premiere. I'm not saying that something might not premiere on Toonami during the anniversary month, nor will I sign anything saying that. Afterall, last year's fifth anniversary was acknowledged briefly, and I don't know what the network will plan on or before Monday, March 17, 2003, the sixth anniversary of Toonami. They tell me nothing. Besides, we all know that the lineup is temporary because, well, it's Toonami. Nothing is permanent and everything changes.

The new lineup, effective on Monday, January 20, 2003, is:

  • 4 PM: Zoids: Chaotic Century
  • 4.5 PM: G-Gundam
  • 5 PM: Dragon Ball Z (back at 5 PM for the first time since Spring 2001)
  • 5.5 PM: Dragon Ball
  • 6 PM: Batman Beyond
  • 6.5 PM: Transformers Armada

    By the way, don't take anything I've said about the lineup as gospel truth, and everything could change on a drop of the hat. Don't believe me? Just ask those guys over at Toonami Infolink who's been covering the news about the Saturday evening Toonami lineup that is, isn't, is, ISN'T coming this Saturday.

    On a somber note, I'd like to say a final goodbye to Toonami Midnight Run. On Thursday, January 9, 2003, the final broadcast of the late-night installment of Toonami airs after over three years on the air. TMR has given us one last run of Voltron and Robotech as well as became the exclusive home of G-Force, Gundam Wing Uncut, Gundam 0080, and G.I. Joe, not to mention airing episodes of Dragonball Z, Dragonball, Outlaw Star, The Big O, G-Gundam and Midnight Run Special Edition, which premiered animated videos from Daft Punk and Gorillaz. Yeah, the end was near when CN scheduled a repeat of Adult Swim on Thursdays in September 2001 and Cartoon Cartoon Fridays permanently took over all of Friday nights in the summer of 2002, and the dark times of Toonami were represented during 2002 with the second repeats of Dragonball and Dragonball Z. It's time to reflect and remember.

    Of course, most anime fans are going to be pleased as punch to see TMR replaced by a newly stripped Adult Swim with two hours of anime Mondays through Thursdays starting next week.

    Got more things to talk about, but I can't think of the words to say. I'll be back when I think of them. Stay tuned. It's gonna be good!

    Until we are one, later.
    Jeff Harris
    CNX Creator/Webmaster
    January 8, 2003

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