Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #147

Originally Posted on 10/02/2006 by Jeff Harris

In case you didn't know this, Saturday, March 17, 2007 marks the tenth anniversary of the premiere of the Toonami block on Cartoon Network. A decade that had many highs, many lows, and many changes. A decade that revolutionized a network as well as reinvented and reenergized an entire industry. Smaller show distributors like FUNimation and the then-new Bandai Animation grew to become major players as a result of Toonami. The block also introduced us to all sorts of characters ranging from alien infants and royalty who grew to become the Earth's greatest champions, masked vigilantes and rogue fighters, rebels controlling giant robots and causing havok, alien worlds, and cute hamsters. Not sure how that last one got in there, but nonetheless, it was only Toonami.

During Anime Weekend Atlanta a few weeks back, representatives from Toonami announced that a major makeover is coming to the block in time for the anniversary. Many people are anticipating, with high anxiety, the changes to the action block. Some fear that it'll only be a cosmetic change with nothing substantial in the final product.

It could have a minute-long opening from the combined forces of Studio Ghibli, Bird Studio, and Production I.G., but if that's all, I think I'll be a bit disappointed. I'm sure that it'll be more than just a new opening and packaging. I HOPE it's more than just a new opening and packaging. They haven't fully utilized what they revealed back in 2004. Just in case Cartoon Network decides to act like a fool with yet another tenth anniversary (they really dropped the ball the CN's 10th in 2002), I'd like the tenth anniversary to have something that'll be memorable and will have lasting power for the next decade. Here's a list of ten things, in no particular order, I'd like to see on that date:

An addiitional hour: It doesn't matter if it's the 6-7 PM EST hour or the 11 PM -12 AM hour, just as long as Toonami expands by one hour. Over the years it's been a Saturday exclusive, Toonami has crept into time outside of its own, mostly in the 6-7 PM period. And yes, while 11-12 period is reserved for Adult Swim, but honestly, how's that working out for them? It's doing alright? Oh! Hmm, well, then the 6-7 PM would be a nice extension spot for the block if the later period is unavailiable.

ThunderCats: You can't celebrate the 10th anniversary without even mentioning the first show they ever aired. Either acknowledge it in a montage (ala what Cartoon Network did for their 10th anniversary a day later on October 2, 2002) or at least officially announce a new ThunderCats production. We know that Warner Bros. is planning something with the franchise in 2007 by redesigning the characters and introducing merchandise based on the new designs as well as the classic designs. And they wouldn't be revising the characters for merchandising alone. So, it would be fitting for Toonami, the block that introduced the franchise for a new generation of fans way back on that cool St. Patrick's Day back in '97, to be the place where the announcement of anything new involving Thundercats would be made. Speaking of revamps of Toonami vets . . .

The US Premiere of Powerpuff Girls Z: In what could be the perfect melding of East and West, this unlikely production would be a marquee series as well as bring back a group that has seemingly abandoned the Toonami block . . . those with two X chromosomes, namely, the ladies. There hasn't been a series since Sailor Moon to solidly maintain a high viewership of females. And Cartoon Network really hasn't had an original series to do that either since, well, The Powerpuff Girls. It would not only reignite a franchise that had all but disappeared, but it would give both Cartoon Network and Toonami a boost in the viewership they haven't seen in years. Plus, a lot of American fans are interested in seeing the adventures of Momoko, Miyako, and Kaoru. An added bonus is if it premiered at 7 PM EST, the same time is shares in Japan.

No more Pokemon: Okay, granted that Pokemon Chronicles will probably be over by the time of the anniversary, but it would be nice if TOM gave the franchise the boot in a similar fashion that he gave The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest back in 1999.

Theatrical Trailers Based on Toonami Shows: Transformers is opening up that summer. Fantastic Four's sequel is also opening around that time. It sure would be nice if Toonami showed their established trailers during the night.

Gundam must make a significant presence: Ever since 2000, Gundam has been synonymous with Toonami, at least in this country. Sure, some diehard Gundam fans may not like that fact, especially considering a lot of them still curse the network for showing Gundam Wing first, cutting Mobile Suit Gundam off after 9/11/01, for not showing the second season of SD Gundam Force, and for burying Gundam SEED after its lone season on the new Toonami. Still, it wouldn't surprise me if Toonami made some kind of acknowledgement to the Gundam franchise. I know the folks at Williams Street are a little weary of airing Destiny here on Toonami, but perhaps they'd gaze into the stars for some kind of special event for the night only.

Air WORLD Premieres: Not just US or North-American premieres of shows, but world premieres. Toonami should air something that has never been seen before that wasn't based on a preexisting franchise. Not in Japan. Not in France. Not anywhere. The block hasn't had a show like that . . . ever. IGPX came close, but the series did premiere in Japan first, though it was a co-pro with Bandai, Production I.G., and Toonami. I'd like to see a new Toonami original premiere on the block's 10th anniversary.

Show the best of Toonami: Sean and Jason said it best. Toonami is packaging, and it's the best packaging on television today. The Intruder and the original IGPX are two of the best original productions Toonami has aired in its ten-year existance, and it'd be nice to show them during the anniversary in their entirety on television. They could even resurrect some of their classic idents and eyecatches for the anniversary as well.

Embrace the past: Just for the 10th, perhaps it'd be cool to see Moltar and Clyde 49 reanimated for a couple of segments for the night. Afterall, they were at Toonami long before TOM and Sara ever were and made a significant mark in their short two and a third-year stay. Also, if Toonami could somehow get their mitts on the entire day-long schedule, perhaps they could even air some of the best episodes of the past decade, from Gundam Wing and Tenchi to Outlaw Star and Yu Yu Hakusho to Batman and Justice League Unlimited, and everything inbetween. Heck, they could even air the first episode of Dragon Ball, the first episode of DBZ (the "revised version," please), and the last episode of Dragon Ball GT as a toast to the franchise that kept Toonami floating for seven years.

Enforce the present and look forward to the future: On the tenth anniversary, this should be the day that Cartoon Network tells the world what Toonami really is. Embrace the teen-oriented block that was supposed to be in place by now. Make a stand about what Toonami is and what it's going to be for the next decade. Differentiate it from Miguzi and anything else on the air today. Showcase your big guns, namely Naruto, tell what you're going to do (the majority of viewers don't attend cons and media events), and actually make Toonami a powerful block.

I'd be happy with half of these. Anything less, and, well, let's just say that my criticisms towards Full Cycle, Giant Robot Week, and New Horizons would be tame compared to the wraith they might unleash.

*end transmission*

Jeff Harris,
The X Bridge Creator/Webmaster
October 2, 2006