Cartoonito facts for kids
Logo used since 2021
|
|
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery |
|---|---|
| Related brands |
|
Cartoonito is a special brand from Warner Bros. Discovery. It includes TV channels and blocks of shows made just for young children. The name "Cartoonito" mixes the word "cartoon" with "ito." "Ito" is a Spanish word that means "small."
As of September 2023, Cartoonito is a TV channel in many parts of the world. These include Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. It also appears as a block of shows on Cartoon Network in places like the UK, the US, and Japan. In Oceania, it's a block on Boomerang.
The Story of Cartoonito
Early Kids' TV Shows (1996–2006)
Before Cartoonito, there were other attempts to create shows for young kids.
Educational Blocks on Cartoon Network
In 1996, Cartoon Network started a Sunday morning block for preschool shows. It featured programs like Big Bag and Small World. Later, in 2001, Baby Looney Tunes also became popular on Kids' WB and then on Cartoon Network.
Tiny TV: A Global Idea
In 2003, Cartoon Network in India launched Tiny TV. This was a weekday morning block with shows like Bob the Builder and Noddy. By 2006, Tiny TV blocks were also on Cartoon Network and Boomerang channels in Australia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Tiny TV stopped in most places by 2007.
Tickle-U: Cartoon Network's First Big Try (2005–2006)
Tickle-U was Cartoon Network's first official block for preschool kids. It started on August 22, 2005. Shows included Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs and Peppa Pig. The block had two animated hosts, Pipoca (a red butterfly) and Henderson (a yellow rabbit).
Tickle-U was criticized for its marketing. It closed on January 13, 2006. Some of its shows still aired on Cartoon Network for a while. This was Cartoon Network's last try at a preschool block until Cartoonito came to the US in 2021.
Cartoonito's Journey
How Cartoonito Started (2006–2011)
On September 4, 2006, a new block called Cartoonito began on Cartoon Network Too in the UK. It showed programs from all over the world. This block became its own TV channel on May 24, 2007. It took over the daytime hours that Cartoon Network Too used to have. From 2009 to 2010, a Cartoonito block also aired on Boomerang in the mornings.
Expanding the Brand (2011–2021)
In May 2011, Turner Broadcasting System decided to bring Cartoonito to more countries. They planned to launch Cartoonito blocks on Cartoon Network or Boomerang channels across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Middle East: Cartoonito started as a morning block on Cartoon Network Arabic in September 2011. It also aired in English on Boomerang. These blocks ended in 2014 but Cartoon Network Arabic brought Cartoonito back in 2019.
- Italy: Cartoonito launched as a 24-hour channel on August 22, 2011.
- Spain: Cartoonito also launched as a 24-hour channel on September 1, 2011. It replaced the Spanish Boomerang channel. However, this channel closed down on June 30, 2013.
- France: Cartoonito was a block on Boing starting September 5, 2011. It stopped airing in July 2013.
- Asia Pacific: Cartoonito launched in Asia Pacific and the Philippines in December 2012. It was later replaced by Boomerang in January 2015.
- UK and Ireland: On January 15, 2018, the Cartoonito UK channel became a 24-hour channel.
New Look and Global Launch (2021–Present)
In 2021, Warner Bros. announced big plans for Cartoonito. They wanted to make it a global brand for preschool kids. This meant bringing it to more places and giving it a fresh new look.
United States
On February 17, 2021, it was announced that Cartoonito would launch in the United States. It would appear on Cartoon Network and the streaming service HBO Max. The block officially started on September 13, 2021. It featured over 20 new and acquired shows, including Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go. The block's schedule was later adjusted.
Latin America
In October 2021, it was announced that Cartoonito would replace Boomerang in Latin America. This change happened on December 1, 2021.
Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)
In May 2021, WarnerMedia announced plans to relaunch Cartoonito in the EMEA region.
- UK and Ireland: The Cartoonito channel in the UK and Ireland got the new look on February 1, 2022. A Cartoonito block also started airing on Cartoon Network there.
- Italy: The Italian Cartoonito channel adopted the new look on June 5, 2022.
- Other EMEA Regions:
- In the Nordics, Cartoonito started as a block on Boomerang in February 2022. The channel itself became Cartoonito in September 2023.
- In Portugal, a Cartoonito block launched on Boomerang in February 2022. The channel fully became Cartoonito in March 2023.
- In Africa, Boomerang relaunched its Cartoonito block in April 2022. It became a full-time Cartoonito channel in March 2023.
- In Central and Eastern Europe, Germany, and the Netherlands, Boomerang relaunched its Cartoonito block in September 2022. Boomerang CEE was replaced by a Cartoonito channel in March 2023.
- In France, Boing was replaced by a Cartoonito channel in April 2023.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
- Japan: A Cartoonito block launched on Cartoon Network in Japan in March 2022.
- Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea: Cartoonito relaunched as a block on Cartoon Network in March 2022. It focuses on "Humancentric Learning" to help kids grow.
- Australia and New Zealand: A Cartoonito block started on Cartoon Network in June 2022.
- Boomerang Asia: An additional Cartoonito block started on Boomerang Asia in May 2022. Later, in July 2023, Boomerang Asia was replaced by the Cartoonito channel.
Cartoonito Characters
The Original Cartoonitos (2006–2022)
When Cartoonito first launched, it had six original computer-animated characters. They were called The Cartoonitos. These characters were Cuba (a red cube), Lolly (a purple cylinder), Ringo (a green ring), Spike (a blue pyramid), Ting (a pink star), and Bubble (a yellow sphere). They were retired in the UK in February 2022 and in Italy in June 2022, as the brand got its new look.
The New Characters (2021–Present)
As part of the global relaunch, new 2D-animated characters were introduced. These new mascots are Nito (a cyan square), Glob (a multi-colored blob-like figure), Wedge (a magenta triangle), and Itty (a pink circle). These characters first appeared in the US and Latin America in 2021. Then, the UK and Italian channels started using them in 2022.
See also
- Cartoon Network
- Boomerang
- Tiny TV – a past international brand block from Turner Europe.
