Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #103

Originally Posted on 02/14/2004 by Jeff Harris

At precisely 7:28 PM EST on Saturday, February 14, 2004, Toon Disney, a 24-hour animation block that showcased predominately late 80s/mid-90's Disney cartoons, died of an apparent infection of live-action elements on the nightly schedule. Okay, that's a bit harsh, the network is kind of on the air, but it has no right to call itself an animation network anymore. It was bad enough that the network refused to show any older Disney shorts or pre-Disney Afternoon series on Toon Disney, but to completely place a live-action series on three hours of their lineup not only creates a "one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others" moment, but it makes the name Toon Disney irrelevant.

I sense some skeptics to what I'm trying to say, and I sense you want to speak up by saying something like "Well, Cartoon Network isn't all-cartoon either since they air The Banana Splits on many occasions, and as long as Space Ghost Coast to Coast keeps on airing and those pesky kids continue to host Fridays, there will always be live-action on Cartoon Network." There's a big difference between a completely live-action show and shows with live-action actors in costumes wrapped around animated segments, channel hosts interacting with viewers and animated characters, and animated hosts and characters interviewing live-action guests. To place a show like Power Rangers on ABC Family is one thing, since the series is already a part of their lineups, but to put it on Toon Disney makes no sense whatsoever.

It's like if some idiot puts a Peter Engel-made crapulence teen show on Cartoon Network's Friday lineup. No sense whatsoeverrrrrrrrrrr - -

*begin interruption*

(GREETINGS . . . FROM THE FUTURE: *sigh* Where do I begin? About that crack about a "Peter Engel-made crapulence teen show on Cartoon Network" brought on by idiots? Well, idiots didn't air on the Friday lineup, but idiots did put Saved By The Bell, Mr. Engel's first major series, on the adult-skewing Adult Swim lineup in April 2006 for a two-week run. And other live-action fare began airing in November 2005 on the network. Cartoon Network premiered a live-action Nickelodeon-made movie in 2006. 2007 brought them the ill-conceived Out of Jimmy's Head. Live-action versions of Scooby-Doo and Ben 10 populated the network with record ratings. 2007 also brought the live-action Goosebumps to Cartoon Network, which interrupted and dramatically cut down Toonami by two hours [so, once again, Toonami was a two-hour block, only on one day rather than five days] In the summer of 2009, Cartoon Network put on CN Real, a block of live-action reality shows that largely bombed. In 2010, they heavily promoted live-action dramas Unnatural History and Tower Prep. And get this. In 2009, Toon Disney did go off the air as the network evolved into Disney XD, filled with old Marvel and DC cartoons [Disney now owns Marvel. I just freaked your mind, didn't I younger Jeff?], Disney Channel reruns, and boycentric smeg, but oddly cut down on Power Rangers, which got sold back to Haim Saban, who's planning on relaunching the franchise on Nicktoons beginning in fall 2010. Yes, another network with the word "Toon" will be graced by the live-action Power Rangers franchise. The circle of life continues. - jh, 7/10)

*resume transmission*

As is the case of every action franchise that comes along, the Toonami fanbase is keeping an eye on the Jetix block. Heck, there was even a thread dedicated to it wondering if it could be a threat to Toonami. Nobody knows for sure, but if you're only judging by the first couple of weeks, it's not. In the future, who knows?

I come here to bury Toon Disney, not to praise it. It's days as an all-animation network has come to an end. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

*end transmission*

Jeff Harris,
The X Bridge Creator/Webmaster
February 14, 2004