So, AZN TV has been on CPR in the past few months...

[Carlos]

I used to remember a time when AZN TV(or formerly known as the International Channel) was a haven for anime. 6-7 years ago, I remember flipping channels and stumbling across Dragonball Z in Japanese. I continued to watch every week, even though I didn't understand what they were saying(but, since this is DBZ, it wasn't hard to piece things together).

Then around 2002-2003, AZN TV decided to start airing more anime and offer a nice alternative to CN. Shows like El Hazard aired in English and Japanese and was uncut too. I believe Jubel-Chan aired there as well. I also remember being shocked when they got the rights to air Tenchi Muyo after CN let the contract run out(a mistake, IMO). These shows, along with DBZ/GT led me to consider this the golden years of the network.

Of course that all changed. After that, the network changed names and decided to focus on Asian content completely. I thought this was a blessing but, this wasn't the case. All the above shows either stopped airing or their contracts ran out. DBZ/GT was taken off the air.

Now, AZN TV still airs anime, but it's mostly old anime movies and Record of Lodoss War TV(which is starting to get rerunned like Street Fighter II V on Encore WAM). A couple of months back they did air the YYH movie, but it was the crappy CPM dub, and I didn't really watch. Even the non-anime programming is mostly old Asian movies and the network has lots of infomericals(a sign that a network doesn't get alot of advertisers).

Wow, that was long. I had to get that off my chest.:)

[K-S-O]

The only anime show they seem to have these days is Descendants of Darkness, which I don't think is that great. They did air Tokyo Godfathers a couple of nights ago. I didn't see the whole thing but what I did see I liked it.

[G1Ravage]

International Channel's airing of the Dragon Ball trilogy was perfect. In Japanese, completely uncut and uncensored, and with all PROPER openings, closings, and previews intact.

[Tokoro No Ataru]

International Channel's airing of the Dragon Ball trilogy was perfect. In Japanese, completely uncut and uncensored, and with all PROPER openings, closings, and previews intact.

Trilogy? All I remember is them starting from Raditz showing up back when it was on Fuji Fun Time! (back when I actually had I-Channel in 1996-1997...heck, I remember watching some other silly anime before that ended and they replaced it with the uncut DBZ...why Comcast got rid of it is beyond me.)

[Beat]

I miss IC. They aired all the Tenchi shows uncensored and even aired the Mihoshi special, subbed.

Good times, but it seems fate curses any who offer good alternatives to the Adult Swim/Toonami monopoly.

[Space Cadet]

International Channel's airing of the Dragon Ball trilogy was perfect. In Japanese, completely uncut and uncensored, and with all PROPER openings, closings, and previews intact.

Yeah, I remember that. Back in 2000 and 2001, I watched DBZ on IC every Sunday at 9 P.M. In fact, I made sure to record it so I could always watch it. Then, in early 2001, Comcast took the channel away. I remember the last episode I saw was when Goten and Trunks were in that Junior Tournament. Bastards.:( Of course when I got Digital Cable last year, I regained the channel but, it was a shadow of it's former self.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Watching DBZ on IC was a treat you have no idea what I'd give for them to do the same with One Piece (subs would be nice but that's not possible and it'd be more expensive anyway). I also thought Kenshin would be a great dubbed show they could pick up to run uncut much like with Tenchi.

[Gary L Thompson]

International Channel's airing of the Dragon Ball trilogy was perfect. In Japanese, completely uncut and uncensored, and with all PROPER openings, closings, and previews intact.

The airing wasn't really on IC's part, but as part of their block from Fujisankei Communications Group. Though I tuned into DBZ out of curiousity, I really enjoyed the mini-series dramas they would show (until FCI quit subtitling them), as well as "Music Fair" (which they replaced with another music show I didn't enjoy anywhere near as much). Since IC morphed into AZN, which basically has a totally Asian American emphasis, I don't know if they even show any programs from FCI anymore.

Yeah, I'm getting tired of the same old shows on AZN too (it's become more difficult for me to watch as well, since it jumped to digital). When I was part of some sort of input panel for them some time back, I did suggest they get "Animation Runner Kuromi" for their movie package. I don't know why they didn't, unless it's because of its short length, but since CPM recently released "Kuromi 2", I don't know why AZN couldn't run them back-to-back like it did with "Sailor Victory" and its sequel.

Frankly, IC's very nature meant it didn't have to be tied into the same old straightjacket that its competitors were in in regard to anime (only pick up American releases, dubbed only, only action aimed at young males and no sports/serious drama/shoujo/hard-core sci-fi/old school/etc., and so on). Why IC's management never really exploited this as a competitive advantage is quite beyond me.

[herbkir]

Like it or not, Adult Swim is the only cable channel with a continuing commitment to adult-level anime. Lately, adult anime on TV looks like its been swirling around the drain in a death spiral, but at least AS is continuing to acquire new series. It seems the casual U.S. TV viewer just isn't ready for animation as a serious storytelling medium. (^_*)

[Mackaybear]

What I miss most from the "old" IC was the uncut, subtitled full run of Armored Trooper Votoms....That was a great way to see an excellent long series...

[j32885]

I also use to watch and have AZNTV, before Comcast took the channel off my Analog service 2 years back. Now, it's become another Digital channel that I don't have, unless my family gets the upgrade.

Any how back to the topic at hand.

IC was the second channel, that I use to watch for Anime, besides Cartoon Network. Enjoyed watching shows such as: Tenchi Muyo! (Uncut), Patlabor (OVA & TV), Record Of Lodoss War (OVA & TV), and Blackjack.