Cartoonito
Logo used since 2021
Product type
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery
Country
List
Related brands
WebsiteInternational Sites

Cartoonito is a brand name used by Warner Bros. Discovery for a collection of television networks and programming blocks aimed at preschool children. The name combines the "cartoon" with the Spanish suffix "ito", meaning "small".

As of September 2023, Cartoonito exists as a TV channel across Europe (including the United Kingdom and Ireland, where it originated), the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia; as a block on Cartoon Network in the UK, the Middle East, Turkey, the United States, Japan,[1] the Philippines, Taiwan,[2] South Korea,[3] and South Asia; and as a block on Boomerang in Oceania.

Background

Precursors (1996–2006)

Educational blocks (1996–2005)

In 1996, Cartoon Network decided to create a Sunday morning block of preschool programs. The series featured Big Bag, a live-action/puppet television program made by the Children's Television Workshop (known for Sesame Street), Small World, a children's animated anthology show/variety show, and Cave Kids (a Hanna-Barbera-produced cartoon spin-off starring Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm).[4]

Small World aired in several countries (except Japan, China, and Korea) and syndicated many of their respective shows. Cave Kids only ran from September to November of that year. However, Big Bag ran until 1998, while Small World ran until c. 2002 before HBO's deal with Sesame Workshop.[4]

In 1997 (just the year after the merger of Turner Broadcasting System with Time Warner), Warner Bros. Animation announced Baby Looney Tunes, an original preschool series inspired by a line of pre-existing merchandise and had finished production by January 2001 with its pilot aired on 3 June of that year. Once the pilot proved a success, work on Baby Looney Tunes resumed, and it premiered on the Kids' WB block 28 July 2001.[5][6] However, the series officially ran on Cartoon Network from 2002 to 2005, while continuing its original run international until 16 October 2006.[7]

Tiny TV (2003–2006)

In 2003, Cartoon Network's Indian counterpart introduced Tiny TV, a weekday morning block of acquired preschool cartoons such as Bob the Builder, Kipper, Noddy, and Oswald. By 2006, it had expanded to Cartoon Network and Boomerang channels in Australia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Each block carried its own lineup of programs, with only a few shared between feeds. Tiny TV was discontinued internationally in 2007, but was temporarily revived on POGO (a sister channel to Cartoon Network India) in 2010.[8]

Tickle-U (2005–2006)

Tickle-U was Cartoon Network's first attempt at an official weekday-morning preschool programming block, premiering on August 22, 2005, and aired from 9 to 11 a.m. ET/PT.[9][10] Programs on the line-up included acquired shows such as two Teletoon/Treehouse TV series, with one being a co-production (Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs and Gerald McBoing-Boing), and British shows (Gordon the Garden Gnome, Peppa Pig, Little Robots, and Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!). Unlike their original counterparts, the British-acquired shows featured an American voice cast. The only original series was Firehouse Tales, produced by Warner Bros. Animation.

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).

The block came under fire by the CCFC, which criticized its marketing strategies.[11][12] After 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. The promos for the shows featured on the block had Tickle-U branding and the mascots of the block were all replaced by shots of the main view of the City of Townsville from The Powerpuff Girls (which was taken from Cartoon Network's on-air presentation from 2004–2007).[13][14] It was the last attempt at a preschool programming block until Cartoonito in 2021 on both Cartoon Network and HBO Max.

History

Launch (2006–2011)

The first variation of the original logo was used from 2006 to 2018. The eye dots were originally a dark purple.

On 4 September 2006, Cartoon Network Too debuted a new programming block called Cartoonito, running from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. The series featured in Cartoonito was acquired from countries worldwide and was available in both English and French. The block was later spun off into a separate channel on 24 May 2007, as Cartoonito expanded its broadcast hours by taking the whole daytime slot formerly given to Cartoon Network Too. In turn, Cartoon Network Too became a 24-hour channel replacing Toonami UK's former channel space. From September 2009 to March 2010, a morning Cartoonito block aired on Boomerang until its launch on Virgin Media.

Brand rollout (2011–2021)

The second variant of the original logo was used from 2018 to 2022. The eye dots were pitch black.

In May 2011, Turner Broadcasting System EMEA announced a rollout of the Cartoonito brand across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; under the arrangement, programming blocks would launch on Cartoon Network or Boomerang channels in that region.[15]

Cartoonito launched as a morning block on Cartoon Network Arabic in the Middle East on 4 September 2011, broadcasting seven days a week. Simultaneously, Cartoonito was also available in English in the Middle East via another morning block on the pan-European feed of Boomerang. Both blocks ended on 1 January 2014 (Boomerang) and on 1 April 2014 (Cartoon Network), but the Arabic Cartoon Network would reintroduce Cartoonito on 24 March 2019, now airing Sunday through Thursdays at 9:30 KSA Local Time.

In Italy, Cartoonito was launched as a 24-hour channel on 22 August 2011. In Spain, Cartoonito was launched as a 24-hour channel on 1 September 2011 replacing the Spanish version of Boomerang, as part of Turner Broadcasting System EMEA plans to roll out the brand across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The move also increased Cartoonito's distribution to 125 million homes in 112 territories.[16] On 30 June 2013, the channel was shut down alongside the Spanish feed of Cartoon Network.

In France, Cartoonito was launched as a block on Boing on 5 September 2011.[17] With low audiences and a reduction of its airtime in September 2012, it eventually retired from Boing on 5 July 2013.[18]

On 1 December 2012, Cartoonito launched in the Asia Pacific and the Philippines through SkyCable. Cartoonito is available as part of its Metropack and on an a la carte basis via Skycable Select.[19] Cartoonito was replaced by Boomerang on 1 January 2015.

On 15 January 2018, Cartoonito UK relaunched as a 24-hour channel.[20]

Global re-introduction and rebrand (2021–present)

After the announcement of Batwheels on 6 October 2020, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics president Tom Ascheim implied about plans for Cartoon Network to attract a preschool audience. On 5 February 2021, Tom Ascheim, president of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics announced in an interview with Kidscreen that Cartoon Network would expand its offerings to include series aimed at family audiences, girls, and preschoolers. The latter audience would pit the network in competition with established preschool brands like Disney Junior, PBS Kids and the Nick Jr. Channel.[21][22] He would also announce the acquisition of the broadcast rights to the Thomas & Friends reboot series, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.

United States

On 17 February 2021, it was announced that WarnerMedia's international preschool brand Cartoonito would launch in the United States on Cartoon Network[23] and streaming service HBO Max.[24] Over 20 series were expected to be featured at its 2021 launch.[25] A website for the block was launched in March 2021. Partnerships also encompassed acquired broadcasting rights to Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, a reboot of the original Thomas & Friends series.[26] The block officially launched on 13 September 2021, and 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.[27] It ultimately settled with 4–5 hours only on weekdays (starting at 7:00 a.m. ET/PT).[28] In March 2023, the schedule was reduced from a four hour block to a ninety minute block (starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT) due to competition with Nick Jr. and Disney Junior.

Latin America

In October 2021, Sky Brasil announced that Cartoonito would be launching in Brazil on 1 December 2021, replacing Boomerang.[29] A few days later, the Argentine pay television service Telered announced the replacement of Boomerang to Cartoonito for the rest of Latin America on the same date.[30]

EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa)

In May 2021, WarnerMedia UK and EMEA announced plans to relaunch Cartoonito within their region.[31][32]

Rebrand in the UK And Ireland

On 1 February 2022, the British and Irish Cartoonito channel adopted the worldwide rebrand.[33] Additionally, starting on 1 March 2022, a weekday hour-long Cartoonito block aired from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on sister channel Cartoon Network.[34] The block now runs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on weekdays and does not air during the school holidays.

Rebrand in Italy

On 5 June 2022, the Italian Cartoonito channel adopted the worldwide rebrand, officially retiring the old mascots along the way, making it one of the last Cartoonito-branded channels to retire Cartoonito's original CGI mascots, The Cartoonitos.[35]

Other EMEA Regions

In the Nordics, Cartoonito launched as a programming block on Boomerang on 1 February 2022.[36][37] The channel later rebranded as Cartoonito on 4 September 2023, as did Boomerang's feeds in Turkey[38] and the MENA region.[39]

Beginning on 7 February 2022, the Cartoonito blocks on Cartoon Network Arabic and Cartoon Network Turkey adopted the rebrand.[40][41]

In Portugal, a morning and afternoon Cartoonito block launched on Boomerang on 21 February 2022.[42][43] The channel would fully rebrand as Cartoonito on 23 March 2023.[44]

In Africa, Boomerang relaunched its morning Cartoonito block on 4 April 2022.[45] On 8 February 2023, it was announced that Cartoonito would expand into a full-time channel in Boomerang's place on 25 March.[46]

In Central and Eastern Europe, Germany, and the Netherlands, Boomerang relaunched its morning Cartoonito block on 1 September 2022. In January 2023, it was announced that Boomerang CEE would be fully replaced with a standalone Cartoonito channel on 18 March 2023.[47]

In France, Boing was replaced by a Cartoonito channel on 3 April 2023.[48]

APAC (Asia-Pacific)

In Japan, the Cartoonito block was launched on 1 March 2022 on Cartoon Network for daily mornings.[49][3]

In Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea, Cartoonito relaunched as a programming block on 28 March 2022 on Cartoon Network. It offers a modern approach to preschool programming, built to support each child's unique potential with its educational framework called "Humancentric Learning".[50][51]

In Australia and New Zealand, a Cartoonito block launched on 27 June 2022 on Cartoon Network.[52][53] A dedicated Cartoonito pop-up channel was available on Australia's Foxtel from 10 March 2023.[54][55]

On 2 May 2022, an additional Cartoonito block debuted on Boomerang Asia. Later, on 21 November, Cartoon Network discontinued its Cartoonito block, with the brand fully shifting to Boomerang. Cartoonito continues to air on Cartoon Network Philippines.[3]

On 28 June 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Boomerang would be replaced under the former Cartoonito channel, which launched one month later on 28 July. This marked the second time Cartoonito Asia appeared as linear TV channel as other big names, such as Disney Junior and Nick Jr. heading into the streaming portfolio.[56]

Mascots

The Cartoonitos (2006–2022)

From its initial launch, Cartoonito's original six CGI mascots included 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 called The Cartoonitos. Maria Darling voiced Cuba, Lolly, and Ringo, while Shelley Longworth voiced Spike, Ting, and Bubble in the UK. Initially, in the UK, Bubble, Spike and Ting spoke French and taught French phrases to viewers.

The mascots were retired in the UK in February 2022, and later in Italy in June 2022, as they adopted the rebranding.

Rebrand (2021–present)

As part of Cartoonito's global reintroduction, the original CGI mascots were retired in favor of four 2D-animated ones. The new mascots are Nito (a cyan square), Glob (a multi-colored glob-like figure), Wedge (a magenta triangle), and Itty (a pink circle).

These characters were exclusive to the US and Latin American feeds in 2021, until the British and Italian feeds adopted them in 2022.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cartoonito.

References

  1. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (21 April 2011). "Cartoonito spreads across EMEA". C21Media. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Cartoonito in Taiwan". Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022 – via Facebook.
  3. 1 2 3 "Preschool Brand 'Cartoonito' Launches on Cartoon Network in Asia". Google Docs. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  4. 1 2 Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 212–214. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  5. ↑ "1996 Baby Looney Tunes Warner Bros Crib set, bumper comforter". Etsy. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Vintage Baby Looney Tune Lamp 1997 Warner Bros". eBay. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  7. ↑ June 2002, Simon Applebaum 12 (12 June 2002). "Cartoon Revives 'Looney Tunes' Franchise". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Tiny TV back on Pogo from 5 July, Tiny TV back on Pogo from 5 July (30 June 2010). "Tiny TV back on Pogo from 5 July". Indian Television Dot Com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "Cartoon Network Unveils 'Tickle U.'". Fox News. Associated Press. 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  10. ↑ Linn, Susan (15 August 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 8 July 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "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". 8 July 2017. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  12. ↑ Tribune (25 October 2005). "Network hopes to help develop preschoolers' sense of humor". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Cartoon Network's NEW YEar's Schedule". 29 December 2006. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. ↑ YouTube, a Google company. YouTube. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
  15. ↑ McLean, Tom (21 April 2011). "Turner Expands Cartoonito to Europe, Mideast, Africa". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "Turner Broadcasting to launch Cartoonito across EMEA". AMEinfo. 21 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  17. ↑ DEMO REEL BOING SEPT 2011, archived from the original on 2 October 2022, retrieved 2 October 2022
  18. ↑ "Cartoonito | Des jeux, des vidéos et des ateliers pour les tout petits | Des programmes à découvrir sur la chaîne Boing Ma télé maboule". 15 January 2013. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  19. ↑ "Cartoonito Launches in the Philippines – Yahoo! Finance". archive.is. 9 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  20. ↑ "Cartoonito UK Now Available 24 Hours A Day". Regular Capital. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "WarnerMedia's roadmap for world domination". Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  22. ↑ Whyte, Alexandra (5 February 2021). "WarnerMedia's roadmap for world domination". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "Cartoonito | Cartoon Network's New Preschool Block | Coming Soon". www.cartoonnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "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. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  25. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (17 February 2021). "Cartoon Network, HBO Max Double Down on Preschool Fare". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "Cartoon Network, Netflix snap up new 2D Thomas". Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  27. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (16 August 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts 13 Sept. on HBO Max & Cartoon Network". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  28. ↑ ""Cocomelon" Joins Cartoon Network's Cartoonito Block – Nickandmore! News". Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  29. ↑ ANMTV (29 October 2021). "Boomerang passa a se chamar Cartoonito no Brasil". ANMTV (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  30. ↑ "Boomerang tambien pasará a ser Cartoonito para el público hispanoamericano". anmtvla.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  31. ↑ "C21Media » WarnerMedia eyes preschool originals » Print". www.c21media.net. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  32. ↑ "WarnerMedia takes German preschool series Spookies for Cartoonito, HBO Max". C21media. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  33. ↑ "WarnerMediaKidsUKFebruary2022Highlights.pdf". Google Docs. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  34. ↑ "WarnerMediaKidsUKMarch2022Highlights.PDF". Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "Cartoonito cambia immagine, nuovo look per il canale". 31 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  36. ↑ "Cartoonito is coming to Boomerang Nordic!". RegularCapital. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  37. ↑ "Boomerang International News and Discussion Thread 3.0". Markus Nelis. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  38. ↑ "R O Z H O D N U T Í O U D Ě L E N Í L I C E N C E" (PDF).
  39. ↑ "Boomerang MENA se může změnit na Cartoonito MENA". 22 June 2023.
  40. ↑ "إعلان 1 | 7 ايام – توماس والأصدقاء | كارتون نتورك بالعربية". YouTube. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  41. ↑ "Cartoonito will be on Cartoon Network on 7 February with its brand new looks and shows!". Cartoon Network ve Boomerang Türkiye Fandom. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  42. ↑ "Cartoonito is coming to Boomerang Portugal!". RegularCapital. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  43. ↑ "BOOMERANG TV – DESTAQUES DE FEVEREIRO!". ITO. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  44. ↑ "Adeus Boomerang! Cartoonito é o novo irmão do Cartoon Network". 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  45. ↑ "Hello, Cartoonito! Coming in April to Boomerang Africa!". BoomerangAfrica. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  46. ↑ "Cartoonito | Games, Videos & Downloads". BOOMERANG. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  47. ↑ "Kanał Boomerang 18 marca zmieni się w Cartoonito. "Miejsce dla przedszkolaków i ich rodzin"". 4 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  48. ↑ "Boing to be replaced by Cartoonito in France". 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  49. ↑ "カートゥニート | 番組詳細 | カートゥーン ネットワーク - 海外アニメと無料ゲームや動画なら Cartoon Network". www.cartoonnetwork.jp. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  50. ↑ "Cartoonito in South Korea!". Cartoonito Asia Facebook. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  51. ↑ "Cartoonito in Taiwan". Cartoonito Asia Facebook. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  52. ↑ Perry, Kevin (4 July 2022). "Brand new block of dedicated kids preschool programming CARTOONITO launches this week on FOXTEL". TV Blackbox. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  53. ↑ Mediaweek (4 July 2022). "Cartoonito launches on Cartoon Network ANZ for preschool kids". Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  54. ↑ "Cartoonito Pop Up Channel coming soon to Foxtel! | By Cartoon Network | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  55. ↑ "TV Guide". Foxtel. 4 April 2023. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  56. ↑ Frater, Patrick (27 June 2023). "WBD's Boomerang Channel Rebrands as Cartoonito in Asia". Variety. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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