Cartoon Network Conspiracy

Am I crazy or does anyone else feel like like the "Cartoon" Network is secretly planning on becoming a live-action network?
It began with the success of "Re-Animated". I kinda like that movie myself, and it had the animation cross-over aspects. But then they decided to have a series of it, with much less and low quality animation and a weaker storyline. Then they start airing Goosebumps, and have another live-action movie with NO animation called "The Haunting Room: Don't Think About It". Up next we have the Ben 10 live action movie. This all has me uneasy. Before I counted on Cartoon Network to have cartoons all the time, I just can't do that anymore.

I read an article a while back about how live-action productions are more appealing to the tween set; that they command more money than before and that is what is influencing the Cartoon Network "shift".

Should we change the definition of "cartoon" because tweens are asking for live-action or should cartoon network change it's name to "Media Network"? I'm just curious to know if I'm the only one concerned about this turn of events.

Tags: animation, cartoon, conspiracy, live-action, network, pantaloons, theory

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Permalink Reply by Vincent Veidt on November 11, 2007 at 3:05pm: The name would probably become Turner Kids (which creeps me out) or something like that. Don't worry about it, Tim, that's a network decision and you're no more qualified to change it than I... now if we eliminate tweens, we might have something.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Seibert on November 11, 2007 at 4:16pm: I don't think "Reanimated" was as successful as you think.

And the only reason CN is trying live action is they haven't had a bona fide cartoon hit in way too many years.

(It would probably help all the animation gossip about "success" if every once in a while everyone would regularly look at the publicly available facts. Ratings are available every Monday at the New York Times, or at Zap2it.com--http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,272|||cable,00.html. One would see that CN has not had a top 10 cable hit in at least 10 years, whereas SpongeBob and The Fairly Oddparents have been there pretty consistently since 2001.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vincent Veidt on November 11, 2007 at 4:18pm: Sadly, those ratings usually list Hannah Montana in at least four spots...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Seibert on November 11, 2007 at 5:39pm: Come up with a hit show and they'll dump Hannah in a heartbeat.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vincent Veidt on November 11, 2007 at 5:53pm: Sir, I accept your challenge... for the good of the world.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vincent Veidt on November 11, 2007 at 7:26pm: It's kind of off topic, put it's nice to see you active in the community, Fred (and everyone else, for that matter).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Daryl T on July 10, 2008 at 12:52pm: I thought Foster's Home got pretty good ratings.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dude on November 11, 2007 at 5:20pm: Not sure if yous remember MTV2 when the channel first aired, they showed 24/7 Rock Videos, not just the newones but all the old videos also. Then they started showing rap videos, talk shows. Not sure if the 24/7 Rock Video program was just something to hold off until they got around to getting shows ready or what.

ZDTV bought about by Comcast, changed name to G4TV, now its something else. Before they showed The Screen Savers, Hackers, computer related shows, after Comcast bought them out, they air shows of gaming interest.

It's something networks have to decided on, it is after all a win loose situation.

I also agree, I'm 21 now, 10 years ago I remember the good cartoons, when cartoon network was cool. They showed loony toons, dexters labatory, among others, all you see now is anime.

Anime is cool and all, but Cartoon Network over does it.

They better leave the Adult Swim, and robot chicken alone.

Or I'll be hurt.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Seibert on November 11, 2007 at 5:39pm: I'm really beating a dead horse, but CN wants hit cartoons even more than you do. Really.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Seibert on November 11, 2007 at 5:42pm: And by the way "the networks" are just people not some corporate monolith. Actually, even corporate monoliths are only people too. "The network" doesn't decide anything, the people who work there do, and they try (the word is "try") to make decisions that will keep them their jobs. And there's no one at a 'cartoon network' that doesn't want a hit cartoon.

Now, I'm not saying they *know* how to find a hit cartoon, I'm just saying...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vincent Veidt on November 11, 2007 at 5:58pm: Sometimes I wonder if *certain networks* are actually run by robot overlords from the future who transmit messages of crap TV to their cultist present-day followers...

Hit cartoons are tough nowadays. There's a public (adult) stigma against marketing animation because "it's kids stuff" and the expense of animation production makes it unattractive to business minded individuals who happen to run media outlets. Considering the cost of production, you can imagine that the producer won't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on award winning writers (some exceptions apply) when the viewer (children) "probably won't notice". I'm not saying it's a good thing, but if I were a producer, I would look for a balance between the lowest cost and highest quality, but in the event of tanking ratings (and with ratings go stocks), I don't want to be black-balled.

Now, I'm sure we all understand this, so we need to stop talking about it and find a solution. How can we produce higher quality material at a lower cost AND market it with success. That's what we should concentrate on.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dude on November 11, 2007 at 5:44pm: True, I mean anime is the new thing, people really like it. People must be watching or they wouldn't be showing it.; ▶ Reply to This