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Cartoonito (American programming block)

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This article is about the American programming block. For international feeds and the brand as a whole, see Cartoonito (brand).

Cartoonito
Cartoonito logo 2021.svg
Network
LaunchedSeptember 13, 2021; 4 months ago (2021-09-13)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerThe Cartoon Network, Inc. (Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics)
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Running time6 hours (weekdays)
2 hours (weekends)
Original language(s)English
Spanish (with SAP)
Official websitecartoonito.com

Cartoonito is an American programming block that premiered on September 13, 2021 on Cartoon Network. The brand name is also used as a dedicated section on the streaming service HBO Max. Cartoonito targets a preschool audience around two to six years old.[1]

Background

Educational blocks (1996–2005)

In 1996, Cartoon Network decided to create a Sunday morning block of preschool programs. It featured series such as Big Bag, a live-action/puppet television program by the Children's Television Workshop, Small World, and Cave Kids. However, Big Bag ran until 1998, while Small World ran until 2002. Once Big Bag left Cartoon Network's lineup in 2001, Baby Looney Tunes, along with Pecola, Sitting Ducks, and Hamtaro, filled that line-up in 2003. The block moved to weekday mornings afterward.

Tickle-U (2005–2006)

Main article: Tickle-U

Tickle-U was Cartoon Network's first attempt at an official weekday-morning preschool programming block, premiering on August 22, 2005, and aired from 9 to 11 a.m. ET/PT. Programs on the line-up included acquired shows such as two Teletoon/Treehouse TV series (Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs and Gerald McBoing-Boing) and British shows (Gordon the Garden Gnome, Peppa Pig, Little Robots, and Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!). Unlike their original counterparts, the British-acquired shows featured an American voice cast. The only original series was Firehouse Tales, produced by Warner Bros. Animation.

The block also featured two CGI characters as hosts: named "Pipoca" and "Henderson." After Tickle-U closed in 2006, some of its programmings still aired on Cartoon Network until 2007 and eventually reran on Cartoonito in the UK.

History

On February 5, 2021, Tom Ascheim stated in an interview with Kidscreen that Cartoon Network would expand its offerings to include series aimed at family audiences, girls, and preschoolers, in order to compete with some other preschool blocks like Disney Junior, PBS Kids and Nick Jr..[2] The interview ended with the acquisition of the broadcast rights to Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, a reboot of the original Thomas & Friends series. On February 17, it was announced that WarnerMedia's international preschool brand Cartoonito would launch in the United States on Cartoon Network and streaming service HBO Max.[3] Over 20 series are expected to be featured at its 2021 launch.[4] A website for the block was launched in March 2021.[5]

On June 14, 2021, new idents of the block appeared on videos (which includes Esme and Roy, Mush-Mush and the Mushables, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, and Love Monster) on Cartoonito's YouTube channel, and a newsletter was announced, with a new banner and avatar on the Cartoonito YouTube Channel in July.[6] A trailer for the block was released on July 29, 2021.[7][8] Sneak previews of Cartoonito’s programming appeared on Cartoon Network in August.

On August 16, 2021, the launch date was announced for September 13, 2021 (with Baby Looney Tunes being the first show to air). On Cartoon Network, the block initially ran for 8 hours (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET/PT) on weekdays and 2 hours (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ET/PT) on weekends.[9]

However, on November 16, 2021, the weekday schedule decreased to 7 hours (ending at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT). It later dropped another hour, ending at noon (12:00 p.m. ET/PT) on December 20, 2021.

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Cartoonito

See also

References

  1. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network".
  2. ^ Whyte, Alexandra (February 5, 2021). "WarnerMedia's roadmap for world domination". Kidscreen.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "WarnerMedia Kids & Family to Debut Cartoonito, New Preschool Programming Block Based on Humancentric Learning to Launch this Fall on Cartoon Network and HBO Max" (Press release). WarnerMedia. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 17, 2021). "Cartoon Network, HBO Max Double Down on Preschool Fare". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "Cartoonito | Cartoon Network's New Preschool Block | Coming Soon". www.cartoonnetwork.com. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Cartoonito - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  7. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Cartoonito Debuts Program Trailer and 'Sneak Peek' Clips". Animation World Network. July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2021.

External links

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