Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #107

Originally Posted on 02/26/2004 by Jeff Harris

Toonami. Miguzi.

One's aimed for the younger set. The other's aimed towards the teens/young adult set. In perhaps the biggest, somewhat shocking move since the creation of Toonami itself, Cartoon Network pulled an ultimate surprise for the Toonami fans. Starting on Saturday, April 17, one month removed from the block's seventh anniversary, Toonami will become the premiere destination for sophisticated and teen-oriented action cartoons and anime on Cartoon Network. Transformers: Energon, Dragonball Z, Justice League, Megas XLR, and Gundam SEED are amongst the shows that are a part of the new Toonami, but don't expect to see business as usual. Toonami will take over the Saturday lineup from 7 PM to Midnight EST/PST, right before the new Adult Swim Action franchise heats up with premieres like Wolf's Rain and Case Closed (one of the most popular shows in Japan, this series was formerly known as Detective Conan but changed to prevent a possible, but unlikely lawsuit from Conan Properties, owner of the Conan the Barbarian franchise [psh, like people would confuse the two]).

Two days later, Cartoon Network premieres a brand new action-animation destination for the masses called Miguzi. Instead of exploring the depths of space, Miguzi conquers that other unknown realm, deep within the oceans. What may surprise the Toonami masses is that Miguzi will actually have a lot of old-school elements that were once a part of Toonami, many of which recently started creeping in Toonami in recent months. You know, the live-action profile segments and schedule descriptions.

Miguzi will be aimed towards the younger set with interactive segments and a comedic action-filled lineup like Totally Spies, Teen Titans, and a pair of premieres, the "official" Cartoon Network premiere of 4Kids' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the US premiere of Code Lyoko, a series from the creators of the ill-fated Funky Cops that blends 2D animation and 3D motion-captured animation. From what I researched about the series, it sounds pretty promising. Antefilms International, a French-based company, is slowly creeping into the US market with unique production developments. Wonder if Miguzi has heard of Anaita Legend of the Abyss . . . seems like a natural fit.

Do you realize what the creation of Miguzi and the Saturday exodus of Toonami means? Combined with the successful Adult Swim lineups on Saturdays through Thursdays, Williams Street has taken a hold on Cartoon Network. Think about it. Williams Street Productions is producing the new Miguzi afternoon block, continuing to produce Toonami, and making a powerful mark with Adult Swim. Funny thing. By the end of the year, Williams Street, via Adult Swim, proclaimed their desire to control Saturday nights with action. And low and behold, the night belongs to Williams Street, from 7 PM until way after the midnight hour. Destiny fulfilled.

This is promising to be an exciting year for Cartoon Network. It's time to have fun, y'all.

*end transmission*

Jeff Harris,
The X Bridge Creator/Webmaster
February 26, 2004