Cartoon Network facts for kids
The channel's logo since May 29, 2010
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| Country | United States |
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| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | 1050 Techwood Drive NW Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Programming | |
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| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) (shown in a lower quality format for standard TVs) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Global Linear Networks |
| Parent | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
| Key people |
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| Sister channels |
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| History | |
| Launched | October 1, 1992 |
| Founder | Betty Cohen |
| Availability (shares its channel space with the nighttime block Adult Swim) |
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| Streaming media | |
| Affiliated Streaming Services | Max Hulu |
| Internet Protocol television | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Spectrum |
Cartoon Network (often shortened to CN) is an American cable TV channel that mostly shows cartoons. It is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The channel first started on October 1, 1992.
The channel was created by Betty Cohen. It mainly broadcasts animated shows for kids, from action series to comedies. Cartoon Network's main shows are for kids aged 6 to 12. It also has a morning block called Cartoonito for preschool kids. At night, the channel becomes Adult Swim, which is aimed at young adults.
Contents
History of the Channel
The story of Cartoon Network began when a company called Turner Broadcasting System bought the film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1986. Through this deal, and by buying the animation studio Hanna-Barbera in 1991, the company's owner, Ted Turner, got a huge library of classic cartoons. This included shows like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, as well as Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry cartoons.
Ted Turner wanted to create a TV channel that would show these cartoons 24 hours a day. He chose Betty Cohen, an executive at one of his other channels, to lead the project. On October 1, 1992, Cartoon Network was launched. It was the first channel ever to be dedicated only to animation all day long.
In 1994, the channel started its own animation studio, Cartoon Network Studios. This studio began making original shows. The first major project was a show called What a Cartoon!, which showed off new, original cartoon shorts. This led to the creation of many of the channel's most famous shows.
Cartoon Network's Shows
Cartoon Network is famous for its original shows, which are called "Cartoon Cartoons." Many of these are made by its own studio, Cartoon Network Studios. Some of the earliest and most popular original shows include Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and The Powerpuff Girls.
Other hit shows, like Ed, Edd n Eddy and Courage the Cowardly Dog, were made by other studios for the channel. The channel continues to make new original shows, such as The Amazing World of Gumball and We Baby Bears.
For many years, Cartoon Network also showed classic cartoons from the Warner Bros. library, like Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, and MGM cartoons like Tom and Jerry. Most of these classic shows were later moved to its sister channel, Boomerang.
Special Programming Blocks
Cartoon Network has often grouped its shows into special blocks.
- Cartoon Cartoon Fridays was a popular block in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was the place where new episodes of original shows would premiere.
- Toonami was an action-animation block that started in 1997. It showed many popular anime series from Japan and action cartoons from America. It was later brought back as part of Adult Swim.
- Cartoonito is the channel's current block for preschool children. It airs in the mornings.
- ACME Night was a block that showed family-friendly movies on Sunday evenings. It later moved to Adult Swim.
Editing Old Cartoons
When Cartoon Network first started, it aired many classic cartoons from the 1920s to the 1960s. Some of these older cartoons had jokes or scenes that are not seen as appropriate for kids today.
To make sure the shows were suitable for a modern audience, the channel would sometimes edit them. This meant removing certain scenes, such as those that showed characters smoking or using weapons in a harmful way. This is a common practice when older shows are aired on television for new generations of viewers.
Other Cartoon Network Brands
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is the block that takes over Cartoon Network's channel space at night. It is aimed at older teenagers and adults. Because it shows more mature content, it is treated as a separate channel for TV ratings.
Adult Swim shows a mix of animated and live-action shows, including comedies and action series. It started in 2001 and has expanded its hours over the years. It currently begins at 5:00 p.m. every day. A special part of Adult Swim is a block called Checkered Past, which airs older Cartoon Network originals from the 1990s and 2000s.
Toonami
Toonami is a brand focused on action cartoons and anime. It first launched on Cartoon Network in 1997 and became very popular for bringing Japanese anime to American audiences. The block was known for its cool space-themed look and its robot host, T.O.M.
After its original run ended in 2008, Toonami was brought back in 2012 as a Saturday night block on Adult Swim, where it continues to air today.
Boomerang
Boomerang is a brand that focuses on classic cartoons. It started as a programming block on Cartoon Network in 1992. In 2000, it became its own 24-hour channel. Boomerang is the main place to watch classic Hanna-Barbera shows like The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and Scooby-Doo, as well as classic Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry cartoons.
Cartoonito
Cartoonito is a brand for preschool children, aged 2 to 6. It first started in the United Kingdom in 2006 and later came to the United States in 2021. It runs as a programming block on Cartoon Network during the daytime hours. It also has shows available on the Max streaming service.
Other Services and Studios
High-Definition and On-Demand
- Cartoon Network HD is a high-definition version of the channel that gives a clearer picture. Most TV providers offer this version.
- Cartoon Network on Demand is a service offered by many cable and satellite companies. It lets you watch episodes of shows whenever you want.
- A Spanish-language feed is also available, so viewers can watch shows with Spanish audio.
Production Studios
- Cartoon Network Studios is the main studio that creates original shows for the channel, like The Powerpuff Girls and Adventure Time.
- Williams Street is the production company behind Adult Swim. It creates shows like ... Ghost Coast to Coast and handles the Toonami block.
- Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe is the channel's European studio, located in London. It produces shows like The Amazing World of Gumball.
Games and Media
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Formerly
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Cartoon Network Interactive (2000–2014) |
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| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2000 |
Video Games
Cartoon Network has released many video games based on its popular shows. The company that makes these games is called Cartoon Network Games.
One of the most well-known games was Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion, a fighting game similar to Super Smash Bros. that featured characters from many different shows. There have also been many games based on the Ben 10 series. For many years, the channel's website had hundreds of free browser games.
Website and App
Cartoon Network launched its website, CartoonNetwork.com, in 1998. For a long time, it was a popular place for kids to play games, watch clips, and learn more about their favorite shows. In 2024, the U.S. website was shut down, and visitors are now sent to the Cartoon Network section on the Max streaming service.
The channel also has a mobile app where users can watch full episodes and play games.
Movies
Cartoon Network has also produced movies based on its shows. Most of these have been TV movies that premiered on the channel. However, a few films were released in theaters, including The Powerpuff Girls Movie and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.
See also
In Spanish: Cartoon Network para niños
- Adult Swim
- Boomerang
- Cartoon Network and LGBTQ representation
- Cartoonito
- Discovery Family
- MeTV Toons
