Cartoon Network Studios Is Not Dead
Two days ago, social media was set ablaze by the rumor that Dark Lord David Zaslav, previous king of reality garbage and newly crowned emperor of Warner Bros, was about to kill Cartoon Network by eliminating the studio that produces their content. The flames were only fanned further by Cartoon Brew, who has never seen a negative animation rumor it didn’t love, seeming to confirm the news. Folks, it ain’t so. The current state of animation at WBA may be bleak but it’s not THAT bleak.
According to more solid sources like Variety and Deadline, and confirmed by Polygon, the actual announced plan for Cartoon Network Studios is to merge it with Warner Bros Animation, as Dave feels keeping two separate studios around for the same thing makes no financial sense. This doesn’t mean the death of the CNS brand either — both brands will continue to operate, but will function as one entity in reality. Via Variety:
Sam Register will continue to oversee Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Those three labels will continue to exist, but development and main production teams for Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios will now merge (while Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe will maintain a separate team). The three shingles had already shared the same current programming, casting, legal/business affairs and artist relations teams.
More to the point, from a later paragraph:
Despite the changes, output will remain the same as Cartoon Network Studios continues to produce original animated fare for internal outlets including Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and HBO Max.
(HBO Max not so much.)
Of course, CNS and WBA didn’t EXACTLY produce the same things, no matter what Zaslav thinks. WBA stuck to keeping the studio’s oldest properties alive like Looney Tunes and Scooby Doo, while CNS was mostly devoted to original content with brand-new characters. Whether this joined studio can perform both tasks at once, well, it wouldn’t be hard under fair circumstances, but the ghoul in charge is very risk-averse and will probably prefer reboots.
Despite declining ratings and a decidedly anti-creative bent to its leadership head at WB, Cartoon Network will still be sticking around, though it’s anyone’s guess how long.
October 15, 2022 @ 6:54 am
They need to bring back creative minds like Lauren Faust to make Cartoon Network watchable again. Also no politics on cartoons, leave that to adult swim.
October 16, 2022 @ 3:47 pm
The fact that CN Studios is still in business makes me ecstatic because we need a platform for the creation of original television. The fact that CN Studios is still operating is a miracle, and I have a hunch that very soon, a fresh rumor about WB combining Williams Street under the same roof, which would result in the demise of all Adult Swim series, would send the internet into a tailspin once more. But thankfully, that’s not likely at all. And just to be clear, Cartoonbrew is not the place to go for the most recent information on animation.
October 16, 2022 @ 3:47 pm
I got the feeling that something wasn’t quite right as soon as I saw someone upload a video regarding Cartoon Network Studios closing down. In either event, let’s send a hearty and resounding “Screw you!” to all the people who have lost their employment as a direct result of our good friend David Zaslav’s foolishness.
October 16, 2022 @ 3:48 pm
Because of a recent piece it released that caused a lot of individuals in the animation community to feel apprehensive, Cartoon Brew is not a trustworthy source for news regarding the animation industry. According to the news, CN Studios and Warner Animation are now combining their operations, despite the fact that WBD was a bad merger and the animated projects would still go through. Many people in the animation world were alarmed by this statement.
October 16, 2022 @ 3:51 pm
Just a few months ago, it was revealed that Discovery and HBO would shortly merge to form a new subscription service. Classics from Cartoon Network are available through that membership service? HBO already has a tab for it with some excellent classics, but there are still many things missing. I believe the news’s overwhelming response is a result of the news about Discovery and how it is affecting WB, as well as the confirmation that Craig of the Creek’s episode order has been reduced, as claimed by a staff member of the show. People are in a panic because no show is safe from this because it also affects CN’s largest show that is now airing.
October 17, 2022 @ 5:02 am
I wish them the best in reviving the almost dying cartoon network services. I think the merge of the the major cartoon studios will produce the best as far as cartoon network is concerned.
October 18, 2022 @ 3:26 am
Will this marge brings out something cool? Well, I will have my fingers crossed while anticipating the result.