Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #110

Originally Posted on 03/17/2004 by Jeff Harris

Seven years ago today, how would you react if someone told you that Robotech, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, ReBoot, Gundam, Tenchi Muyo, Batman, G.I. Joe, Rurouni Kenshin, Superfriends, Evangelion, Gigantor, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Astro Boy would one day grace this new programming block known as Toonami? Chances are that you'd probably call that person a liar, and you'd punch him out for wasting your time.

How about that same day, if someone told you that anime that would never have a chance on television like Outlaw Star, The Big O, and Cyborg 009 as well as new versions of Masters of the Universe and Transformers would also become a part of this block called Toonami? Once again, you wouldn't believe it.

Afterall, Toonami was just an experimental block when it premiered seven years ago. By airing old-school programming and a new version of Jonny Quest and combining them with an attitude that hadn't been seen on television before, Cartoon Network took a chance on a new block created by a group whose only other projects were Space Ghost Coast To Coast and Cartoon Planet. Over the years, the experiment evolved into something a little bit more. Some things were added, like oft-looked syndicated anime fare like Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z. Some things were removed like Jonny Quest. Some formulas were shifted like the radical attempts to turn Toonami into a hybrid block to the numerous attempts to make it all anime. There has also been deviations in the formula created by outside forces, such as the Turner coup of '01 which still leaves an ill effect to Cartoon Network to this day. And, of course, the duplicate experiment on another time period. Perhaps the Saturday experiment and the Toonami experiment will lead to something better for those who benefit from the experiments.

Seven years later, Toonami is still an experimental block. Shows that were once new to the block like Dragon Ball Z are now considered "old-school" and right now, the lead-in show is a new version of an animation classic, Astro Boy. The more things change, the more they remain the same, and a month from today, Toonami is going to change forever when it makes the exodus from weekday afternoons to Saturday nights. Williams Street, the same maverick creators of the Toonami block, are turning the current daily block into Miguzi, a lighter vision of Toonami taking place underwater rather than outer space.

As Toonami marks its seventh anniversary today, it also marks the countdown to the start of the new Toonami and its departure from weekday afternoons. Everything changes and nothing is coincidental. Perhaps this departure from weekdays also means a departure from the norm. Afterall, Toonami hasn't been the same in a long, long time, and, as the song goes, a change could do it good. In the meantime, Toonami weekdays evolves into something likable for all involved. A new start for Cartoon Network, a new place to showcase the creative prowess of Williams Street, and a new home for shows that wouldn't fit on the traditional Toonami block. Change is good. So as we prepare for the new Toonami exactly a month from now, today is for celebrating the original Toonami and its seven years of bringing the fans the good stuff.

Happy birthday Toonami!

*end transmission*

Jeff Harris,
The X Bridge Creator/Webmaster
March 17, 2004