Cartoonito (also known as Cartoonito on Cartoon Network) is a programming block that airs on weekday mornings. It premiered on September 13, 2021, on Cartoon Network, and a dedicated section on the streaming service Max. Cartoonito targets a preschool audience around 2 to 6 years old.[1] Cartoonito marks the first dedicated preschool block on Cartoon Network in over fifteen years.
 Logo used since September 13, 2021 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | Cartoon Network |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) |
|
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
| Parent | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
| Key people | |
| Sister channels | List
|
| History | |
| Launched | September 13, 2021 |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
History
Background
In 1996, Cartoon Network created a Sunday morning block of preschool programs. It featured series such as Big Bag, a live-action/puppet television program by the Children's Television Workshop, Small World, and Cave Kids. However, Big Bag ran until 1998, while Small World ran until 2002. Once Big Bag left Cartoon Network's lineup in 2001, Baby Looney Tunes, along with Pecola, Sitting Ducks, and Hamtaro, filled that space in 2003. The block moved to weekday mornings afterward.
On August 22, 2005, Cartoon Network USA debuted Tickle-U, the network's first official attempt at weekday-morning preschool programming block. The block aired 2 hours from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.[2][3] It featured domestic and foreign-imported series targeted at preschool-age children like its competitors Nick Jr. (on Nickelodeon) and Playhouse Disney (now Disney Junior on Disney Channel). The hosts were two animated CGI characters: a red butterfly-like creature named Pipoca (voiced by Ariel Winter) and a yellow rabbit-like creature named Henderson (voiced by Tom Kenny).
Programs on the lineup included Firehouse Tales (the only original series), Gerald McBoing-Boing, Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (both from Teletoon/Treehouse TV and both co-productions), and British series such as Gordon the Garden Gnome, Little Robots, Peppa Pig and Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!, some of which were re-dubbed for American audiences. The block came under criticized by the CCFC, for its marketing strategies.[4][5] Tickle-U closed on January 13, 2006; some of its programmings still aired on Cartoon Network until 2007 and as part of the schedule of the British variation of Cartoonito.
Launch
On June 14, 2021, new idents of the block appeared on videos (which includes Esme & Roy, Mush-Mush & the Mushables, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, and Love Monster) on Cartoonito's YouTube channel, and a newsletter was announced, with a new banner and avatar on the Cartoonito YouTube Channel in July.[6] A trailer for the block was released on July 29, 2021.[7][8]
On August 16, 2021, the launch date was announced for September 13, 2021; Baby Looney Tunes would be the first show to air on the block. The television block initially ran for 8 hours (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET/PT) on weekdays and 2 hours (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ET/PT) on weekends.[9]
On November 16, 2021, the weekday schedule decreased to 7 hours (ending at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT). It later lost another hour (ending at 12:00 p.m. ET/PT) on December 20, 2021. The block no longer aired on weekends since January 29, 2022, while the weekday schedule lost yet another hour (ending at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT), reducing Cartoonito to a total of 5 hours as of January 31, 2022.[10]
On June 6, 2022, the schedule lost another hour (ending at 10:00 a.m. ET/PT) but reverted on September 5.[11] However, October 3 marked the first time the start-up changed. Instead of the usual 6 a.m. time slot, Cartoonito would begin at 7 a.m. after a regular Cartoon Network program, retaining its 4 hours.[12]
On March 13, 2023, the schedule was reduced from a 4-hour block to a 90-minute block (starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT).
On February 19, 2024, the schedule was once again reduced from a 90-minute block to a 60-minute block (starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT).
Programming
Cartoonito features co-productions and acquired programming, in addition to original series exclusive to the program block on Cartoon Network. Currently, Cartoonito's lineup includes Bugs Bunny Builders, Batwheels, and Jessica's Big Little World; with Sesame Street exclusive to Max.
Related services
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Cartoonito on Demand | A video-on-demand service, which launched concurrently in 2021, and is available to most subscription-based providers. The service offers select episodes of Cartoonito programming seen on Cartoon Network. |
| Cartoonito App | An online mobile app based on the Cartoonito website. |
| Max | A subscription video-on-demand hub that launched on Max.[13] In addition to as well as some.[14] |
International
Since its inception, Cartoonito has rolled out across European territories through various nations and regional feeds. Following its global reintroduction in 2021, the brand has expanded to regions such as Latin America, Africa, and several Asia-Pacific countries.[15]
See also
References
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network".
- ^ "Cartoon Network Unveils 'Tickle U.'". Fox News. Associated Press. August 22, 2005. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ^ Linn, Susan (August 15, 2005). "Cartoon Network's "Tickle U" Is No Laughing Matter; CCFC Urges Families to Stay Away From New Preschool Programming". Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ^ "Cartoon Network's "Tickle U" Is No Laughing Matter; CCFC Urges Families to Stay Away From New Preschool Programming | Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood". July 8, 2017. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Tribune (October 25, 2005). "Network hopes to help develop preschoolers' sense of humor". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ "Cartoonito - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
- ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ "Cartoonito Debuts Program Trailer and 'Sneak Peek' Clips". Animation World Network. July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ ""Cocomelon" Joins Cartoon Network's Cartoonito Block – Nickandmore! News". Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Schedules, CN News/. "CN News Schedules". Twitter. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ Schedules, CN News/. "CN News Schedules". Twitter. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ "WarnerMedia Kids & Family to Debut Cartoonito, New Preschool Programming Block Based on Humancentric Learning to Launch this Fall on Cartoon Network and HBO Max" (Press release). WarnerMedia. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ White, Peter (August 17, 2022). "'Ellen's Next Great Designer', 'The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo' & 'My Mom, Your Dad' Among Unscripted & Animated Titles Pulled From HBO Max". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "WarnerMedia Kids & Family to Debut Cartoonito, New Preschool Programming Block Based on Humancentric Learning to Launch this Fall on Cartoon Network and HBO Max" (Press release). WarnerMedia. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
External links
