28 Years Ago, Cartoon Network Changed TV Forever With This Beloved Programming Block

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Anime is more popular and widely available than ever before, especially adult-focused shows. Once a niche interest in the West, anime has exploded in popularity thanks to streaming services – including those dedicated solely to anime – making it easy for anyone to explore. Today’s biggest anime series are genuine mainstream hits, with films like Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man’s Reze Arc regularly topping box offices around the world. However, anime’s journey to success in the West began years ago, and a key part of that journey was Cartoon Network’s Toonami, which sparked a love of anime for an entire generation.

For many who grew up in the ’90s, Toonami wasn’t just a TV block—it was a defining part of their childhood. With its cool space theme and introduction of unique shows, Toonami had a lasting impact that goes beyond simple nostalgia. For many, it sparked a lifelong passion for anime, whether through magical adventures like Sailor Moon or the action-packed battles of Dragon Ball Z. Around the early 2000s, Toonami also helped change how the world viewed anime, laying the groundwork for its current popularity as a major global cultural force.

Toonami Was a Project of Passion That Challenged Conventions

I still remember when Toonami first hit the air! It was the brainchild of Sean Akins and Jason DeMarco – two huge anime fans like myself. They launched it on March 17, 1997, as this awesome block of action cartoons every weekday afternoon. And the name ‘Toonami’ – a perfect blend of ‘cartoon’ and ‘tsunami’ – just felt right. What really grabbed me, though, was how it looked. It had this incredibly bold, futuristic style that totally defined the late ’90s and still gives me a huge wave of nostalgia today.

It took a while for Toonami to become the channel many people remember from the ’90s. Initially, the host was Moltar, a villain from Space Ghost. And while the creators always intended to showcase anime, the early programming included other content as well. Even the Voltron episodes shown on Toonami were quite different from the original ’80s Japanese anime, having been significantly altered for Western viewers.

Besides Voltron, Toonami initially showed American animated series like ThunderCats, Cartoon Roulette, and The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, along with Voltron. While Toonami had a lot of independence, its early success wasn’t guaranteed. Everything started to improve in 1998 when Toonami began airing the English dub of Sailor Moon, which hadn’t performed well on other channels previously.

Despite this, Sailor Moon was a major hit for Toonami, bringing in more viewers and paving the way for another popular show, Dragon Ball Z, to be added to the lineup that same year. During its run with the Moltar host (until 1999), Toonami kept growing by showcasing a combination of now-classic American cartoons like The Powerpuff Girls and ReBoot, alongside then-new and groundbreaking Japanese anime.

The Toonami that many people fondly remember from their teenage years actually began around the year 2000. In July 1999, the block was completely redesigned with a new futuristic setting – the spaceship Absolution – and a robot host named TOM. This updated version of Toonami was even more focused on bringing anime to viewers in the West, and that dedication was clear in the shows it aired in the early 2000s.

This marked the start of Toonami’s most popular period, influencing what an entire generation watched – not just cartoons and anime. Toonami was also known for its music and special events called Total Immersion Events, or TIEs. These events developed the story of the show’s host, let viewers participate, and helped move Toonami’s story forward throughout the years.

Toonami Introduced Countless People to the World of Anime

Anime wasn’t completely new to Western audiences when Toonami first aired. There had been efforts to bring it over since the 1960s, with shows like Astro Boy and Speed Racer finding some success. However, these early releases often faced challenges – they were either significantly changed to fit Western standards or were difficult to find.

For much of the 20th century, Western audiences often dismissed animation as simply children’s entertainment, not a serious art form. Because of this, anime fans were a small, largely ignored group. However, attitudes began to shift in the late 1990s, and Toonami played a key role in bringing anime to a wider, global audience.

Toonami is well-known for showcasing various kinds of programming, but it’s most remembered for how it shaped anime fandom in the West. Like many efforts to introduce Japanese animation to Western audiences, Toonami sometimes had to show edited versions of anime to make them suitable for local viewers.

Beyond just a new look, the TOM era of Toonami offered viewers a chance to see a more mature, intense side of anime with the “Midnight Run” block. Shows that were too action-packed or violent for daytime viewing, like Gundam Wing, The Big O, and Outlaw Star, found a place there. For many, Toonami was a first look at anime as more than just simple kids’ entertainment. It showed that animation could be a complex and powerful art form, offering exciting visuals, compelling stories, and real emotional depth.

Toonami consistently worked to offer a wide range of shows, including original Cartoon Network creations like Samurai Jack and various anime series. The block was particularly important in introducing Western viewers to popular and well-regarded anime like Gundam 0079, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the original Dragon Ball.

Beyond the popular shows, Toonami introduced a generation to many lesser-known but fantastic anime, including special event highlights like those featured during Giant Robot Week, and classic series such as hack//Sign, the various Tenchi Muyo! installments, and Blue Submarine No. 6. At a time when anime was difficult to find and watch legally, Toonami sparked a love for the medium in countless kids and teens, many of whom remain devoted fans today.

Toonami Might Belong to a Bygone Era, But Its Legacy Will Never Fade

Like all great things, Toonami’s most popular run eventually ended. In 2008, the original block was canceled because of declining viewership, marking the end of a fantastic period for the show. But surprisingly, that wasn’t the final chapter for Toonami. In 2012, Adult Swim brought it back as a playful April Fools’ Day stunt, broadcasting the beloved, classic episodes.

After a successful social media campaign to revive Toonami, Adult Swim officially brought it back permanently at the end of May. The block now features a mix of classic anime like Cowboy Bebop and Inuyasha, alongside newer series such as Deadman Wonderland and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Notably, Toonami even hosted world premieres during its run on Adult Swim, including Space Dandy, which aired episodes on Toonami before they did in Japan.

Throughout the 2010s, Toonami steadily expanded its anime offerings, and it continues to add new shows today, with recent exclusives like Uzumaki and the follow-up seasons of FLCL. However, with so many streaming options available now, Toonami isn’t the major cultural force it once was – it’s more of a beloved throwback for longtime fans. After 28 years, it’s no longer the first place most people turn to for anime.

Despite any current shortcomings, Toonami’s impact on anime history remains significant, and its continued popularity shows people still value it. It’s hard for today’s anime fans to understand just how revolutionary Toonami was in the early 2000s and how it helped shape the anime fandom in the West. However, those who first discovered anime through Toonami fondly remember its legacy, even if they’ve moved on from shows like Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z.

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2025-11-26 05:43