John Pannozzi
04-23-2006, 09:17 AM
Since everyone is speculating on Cartoon Network's future, I feel I might do the same. I feel that Cartoon Network could go down one of two routes at this point.
1. Cartoon Network could finally wisen up (or the higher-ups at Turner Broadcasting could) and realize that in order to stay alive, they need to get back the people who made Cartoon Network great: people like Betty Cohen and Mike Lazzo. If those people (or at least other CN veteran executives with similar ideals) were re-given the control of the network, things would almost definitly get better (and if they didn't, then I would admit I was wrong).
Or
2. If Cartoon Network does become a live-action network, then I guess there's nothing I can do about it. I just hope if they do they change their name to "Turner Kids Network" as others have said. I mean, it would still be sad, but I guess I could live with it. I mean, lots of cable networks (like G4) seem to departing far from their original target audience, so maybe the TV industry is just in a "stupid time" (like an awkward teenager). And Cartoon Network claims their live-action programming will be different (and more original) than other stuff I won't name (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/archives/2006_04.html#001871), I guess I'll give their stuff a try. And if all else fails, then I hope there are still other outlets for Time-Warner's large animation library on television (if Adult Swim becomes its own network, then just maybe they'll show some adult-oriented classic cartoons in the daytime, and then there's Boomerang).
And you know what, even if Cartoon Network DOES die, it's not the end of the animation industry. I now feel that animation history is simply repeating itself, as animation went into a decline that arguably hit rock bottom in the '70s but had arguably been starting back in the late '40s. In the depressing era of the '70s, the industry kinda fought depression by among other things reasearching and interviewing people behind the classics. And the animation industry went into a sort of revolution (and I credit Ralph Bakshi largely but that's another story) in the late '80s and the '90s (even if bad cartoons didn't completly die out, but hey, even the golden age had some clunkers). And now, it seems this "silver age" is in the middle of going into its own decline. But, things aren't all bad (Nickelodeon and Frederaor are reviving Oh Yeah! Cartoons as Random Cartoons which I strongly feel may be a shot in the arm to the industry and Disney seems to be improving itself again), and hey, as long as there are SOME creative people out there making cartoons (even if they are underground) and taking risks, then animation will never truly die.
Well, there's my thoughts. I hope you at least read them through.
1. Cartoon Network could finally wisen up (or the higher-ups at Turner Broadcasting could) and realize that in order to stay alive, they need to get back the people who made Cartoon Network great: people like Betty Cohen and Mike Lazzo. If those people (or at least other CN veteran executives with similar ideals) were re-given the control of the network, things would almost definitly get better (and if they didn't, then I would admit I was wrong).
Or
2. If Cartoon Network does become a live-action network, then I guess there's nothing I can do about it. I just hope if they do they change their name to "Turner Kids Network" as others have said. I mean, it would still be sad, but I guess I could live with it. I mean, lots of cable networks (like G4) seem to departing far from their original target audience, so maybe the TV industry is just in a "stupid time" (like an awkward teenager). And Cartoon Network claims their live-action programming will be different (and more original) than other stuff I won't name (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/archives/2006_04.html#001871), I guess I'll give their stuff a try. And if all else fails, then I hope there are still other outlets for Time-Warner's large animation library on television (if Adult Swim becomes its own network, then just maybe they'll show some adult-oriented classic cartoons in the daytime, and then there's Boomerang).
And you know what, even if Cartoon Network DOES die, it's not the end of the animation industry. I now feel that animation history is simply repeating itself, as animation went into a decline that arguably hit rock bottom in the '70s but had arguably been starting back in the late '40s. In the depressing era of the '70s, the industry kinda fought depression by among other things reasearching and interviewing people behind the classics. And the animation industry went into a sort of revolution (and I credit Ralph Bakshi largely but that's another story) in the late '80s and the '90s (even if bad cartoons didn't completly die out, but hey, even the golden age had some clunkers). And now, it seems this "silver age" is in the middle of going into its own decline. But, things aren't all bad (Nickelodeon and Frederaor are reviving Oh Yeah! Cartoons as Random Cartoons which I strongly feel may be a shot in the arm to the industry and Disney seems to be improving itself again), and hey, as long as there are SOME creative people out there making cartoons (even if they are underground) and taking risks, then animation will never truly die.
Well, there's my thoughts. I hope you at least read them through.