On March 16, the power belongs to the people. Beginning on February 17, the TICA Toonami Forum is hosting an interactive poll to determine the best of the best of Toonami in the eyes of the fans. The top ten choices in ten different categories. So much 10, you might need an omnitrex to contain it all.

So, starting now, the Countdown to X begins. Stick around. Master Control: Democracy at Cartoon Network? 2/15/07 by Jeff Harris

Master Control. Master Control. It's Cartoon Network's new interactive block coming soon that'll give the audience access to control the network every afternoon. I'm not really a fan of these fan-controlled blocks (hell, I'm still trying to figure out how that Top 5 show works), and the concept behind Master Control isn't filling me with much confidence. Daikun from Toonami Infolink isn't really helping me find total joy in the concept either, but he wrote an op/ed exclusively for the site entitled Mission Control: Democracy at Cartoon Network.

Hello Santo and The Secret Saturdays. Goodbye Miguzi. 2/14/07 by Jeff Harris

As far as presentations go, this year's Cartoon Network upfronts were . . . well, not disappointing, but rather punchless. Sure, we got word that there's going to be new shows coming to the network (I'm interested in the animated series inspired by the legendary luchadore Santo [a Santo series has already been seen on CN in Latin America] and The Secret Saturdays, which is as close to a Jonny Quest/Venture Bros. hybrid as you can get) as well as the Naruto movie coming soon and a timeshifted season of Ben 10 coming next year, which has Ben, Gwen and Grandpa older and serving as mentors to a new team of youngsters with similar powers of Ben. On the downside, we also saw confirmation of Cartoon Network continuing to morph itself into a Nick/Disney outlet with the announcement of a Re-Animated series, a Ben 10 movie (which allegedly will be ready by December, meaning, they're going to rush on the project like they did last year for Re-Animated), and Props, which will culumnate with what is essentially an hour-long version of those extreme sports spots seen on Toonami. Ugh.

I think the 2005 presentation spoiled me to be honest. In 2005, they went out and announced all their acquisitions in one fell swoop. In 2006, they did pretty much nothing, and yet, 2006 gave us a Month of Miyazaki, Marvel movies, Hellboy, and the introduction of Toonami Jetstream, none of which were mentioned at the upfronts. This year . . . more of the same. I believe the upfronts are used to showcase the first-party Cartoon Network originals and their most popular show, Naruto, which explains why they didn't showcase their third-party acquisitions like Peppa Pig, Storm Hawks, Land Before Time, and George of the Jungle. Regardless, I remain cautiously optimistic about Toonami 2007, which is, as of now, still under wraps. Oh, the suspense.

As the Countdown to X begins this weekend (I'll explain this weekend), I have to sadly say goodbye to the block that replaced Toonami on weekdays, Miguzi. The weekday afternoon block is seemingly replaced by a new interactive afternoon block known as Master Control. It's kind of unfair, but to be honest, I kind of saw it coming. On one hand, it'll be sad to see the weekday action block go away like that, but on the other hand, Miguzi and Toonami won't be blurred anymore since there is now only one major action block on Cartoon Network.

So, I'll reflect on the end of Miguzi and await news on Toonami for now.

Cartoon Network's 2007 Upfronts 2/14/07 by Jeff Harris

It's the most wonderful time of the year for a lot of us at Toon Zone. Cartoon Network announces their 2007/early 2008 agenda today, so the entire Toon Zone News team are working extremely hard to keep you all informed. Keep an eye on Toon Zone News for continuous coverage throughout the day on the news, surprises, renewals, cancellations, and insanity coming out of the upfronts, because you know there's going to be a lot of them.

And later today, come back to The X Bridge for my take on the day's events and announcements. Here's hoping The Network shows Toonami some love on Valentine's Day this year, especially after last year's lackluster presentation.

Ask TXB #4 2/02/07 by Jeff Harris

Well, another end to another week, and, in spite of Wednesday's bruhaha, we've managed to escape unscathed. So, what do I want to talk about at Ask TXB? Well, let's talk about Bleach. Bleach is the word on the street and a show on the rise here in the States. Unfortunately, fans are torn asunder because of the show's placement on Cartoon Network. Should The Network have put the series on the (supposedly) teen-oriented Toonami block or keep it on the young-adult-oriented Adult Swim? It's a question that boggles the mind, and one reader, Mugen, wants me to stop straddling at the fence and pick a side.

Sounds like a perfect opportunity for this week's topic at Ask TXB.

Boston Calling 2/01/07 by Jeff Harris

We made it through the first month of 2007 relatively unscathed, though barely. Did anything interesting happen yesterday? I mean, there was absolutely nothing happening in the world yesterday . . . except for the fact that Boston was shut down because of a marketing stunt gone paranoid. I hesitate to say it was a stunt gone wrong because, well, people learned what the image was and what the show behind it was all about, though the idiots at Rupert's house remain clueless and paranoid as ever. I didn't want to talk about it, but it's cold outside, I'm a bit under the weather, and I had nothing better to do, so, here's Boston Calling.

Ask TXB #3 1/26/07 by Jeff Harris

A day after I talked about rotoscoping and dared to defend Happy Feet and Monster House's nominations for best animated feature, I got a rise out of someone. He wanted a response, so I gave him one.

Is Motion-Capture Animation Really Animation? 1/25/07 by Jeff Harris

Cars will probably end up winning the Oscar (R) for Best Animated Picture though it was a so-so film. The other two nominees in the category, Happy Feet and Monster House, are being frowned upon by the animation community at large because many feel that they're not "true" animated films because the animation was acheived by mo-cap. So, I feel I should defend both of those films in an opinion piece I call What is Rotoscoping. What is rotoscoping? What does that have to do with motion capture? Everything. Read on.

There probably won't be an Ask TXB article this week because nobody wanted to ask me anything. Bummer. However, there will be a fourth cycle of Imagine If before the month ends, so be on the lookout for that.

Ask TXB #2 1/19/07 by Jeff Harris

Another slow week that has seen tentative sketches of Lion-O, the renewal of Heroes for another season on NBC (by the way, WATCH Heroes THIS MONDAY at 9 PM E/P on NBC or, if you're a 24 fanatic, catch the encore NEXT FRIDAY at 7 PM E/P on Sci-Fi; it's a great show), and the cancellation of Passions, also on NBC. So, while I wasn't making friends at Comic Space and working on comics, I was doing some research on another project.

I added this week's installment of Ask TXB where I answer the question of how do I feel about Adult Swim. It's more riveting than how I'm presenting it. Well, I'm spending my birthday weekend (I'm turning 29, too old for Cartoon Network's standards and almost too old for the Adult Swim demos) with family and all, so I'll see you guys and gals in a couple of days.

Ask TXB 1/11/07 by Jeff Harris

Starting today, I'm going to answer a different question every week in a section called Ask TXB. I want to create a section where the fans could ask me any question about the articles and opinions I've made here over the years, and I'll publicly answer them. Ask TXB will be updated every week here at the site, and you can always reach me at nemalki AT yahoo DOT com.

Cartoon Network 2006 in Primetime: Down 13% from 2005 1/3/07 by Jeff Harris

Cartoon Network's primetime is atrocious, and everybody knows it but The Network themselves. Sure, they're 7th with all audiences for the year, but since they decided to take on Nick and Disney, they're a distant third place for the hearts, minds, and wallets of the nation's youth. So, what brought them down this slippery slope and how can they stop it? I'll tell you how in this article.

Here Comes Another Challenger! 1/3/07 by Jeff Harris

Never really realized that people really hated the 80s like they did. I mean, I knew that they did, which is why I felt the need to defend it in the first place. Just off the heels of Jorge's rebuttal and my response, HG Revolution, one of the Toon Zone forum regulars, wrote a response to my response. Needless to say, I had a response to that too.

It's going to be a fun 2007, isn't it?

Bribing The Viewers 12/31/06 by Jeff Harris

What do you do when you have a movie that nobody really wanted to watch and $100,000 burning a hole in your pocket (funds that could easily be used to buy half a season's worth of episodes of an older Canadian series)? You do what Cartoon Network is doing and bribe viewers into watching it. But, is it a good thing?

The last update of 2006 is an opinion piece I call Bribing The Viewers.

On that note, thanks for coming to the site for another year. It was a crazy one both online and off, and I appreciate you guys and gals sticking around during the highs and lows. I don't know what the new year brings, but I hope it's a great one. Happy New Year from The X Bridge, and if the fates allow, we'll do this again same time next year!

A Cross Examination of the Rebuttal 12/28/06 by Jeff Harris

Man, Christmas was fun. It was the longest day, but I don't want to waste any more time.

I posted a response to my Defending the 80s article written by Jorge Garrido, a longtime reader of the site. Now, it's time to cross-exam the witness. I agreed with some points and disagreed with others, so, I'm willing to call him out one more time.

And if you don't hear from me anytime soon, I wish all of you have a happy and safe 2007.

A Rebuttal From A Fan of the Site 12/22/06 by Jeff Harris

Jorge Garrido made me feel really old. He's been reading the site since he was 10, and he's 18 now, so he's a longtime fan. He's a huge fan of John Kricfalusi and the animation industry at large. But he's not a fan of the 80s. In fact, Jorge has taken issue with my recent Defending The 80s article. He deconstructed and actually wrote a convincing rebuttal to the article, which, strangely, I'm going to publish verbatim and uncut right here and now. Hey, what can I say? I want to provide a fair and balanced website by giving both sides of an argument rather than being one sided whenever the opportunity arises.

And on that note, I'm taking a few days off for Christmas break. I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas (and I hope Hanukkah was an enjoyable one this year). I'll be back before the year ends. Got stuff to talk about.

Joseph Barbera (1911-2006) 12/18/06 by Jeff Harris

Joe Barbera, co-creator of Tom and Jerry, Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, The Flintstones, Top Cat, and The Jetsons and co-founder of Hanna-Barbera Productions, died today at the age of 95. The works that churned out of HB as well as his MGM output were the foundation of the creation of Cartoon Network and inspired many of today's generation of animators. I wrote words of appreciation tonight after I heard the shocking news on the NBC Nightly News earlier. He will truly be missed.

Imagine If: Cycle Three and What's A Classic? 12/12/06 by Jeff Harris

You ever wanted to see what Fox Kids would have done if they were around today? Is it unimaginable to think that Dexter's Lab would have been a Nicktoon? What would have happened if Sailor Moon actually saved the Cartoon Express? What if Cartoon Network made an action block without Williams Street in 1996? Cycle Three of Imagine If . . . is now online, a lot earlier than the promised January 2007 deadline. Consider this an early Christmas present.

Also, another turn to the flipside of the site talks about What's A Classic. Who decides, who makes that decision? Better yet, who cares?

A Wasted Opportunity 12/09/06 by Jeff Harris

You know how earlier in the year, networks that weren't going to be affiliated with The CW after the merger of UPN and The WB was announced were stuck about what they wanted to do? Well, this should have been the beginning of a new era of first-run syndication that haven't been seen in the US since the mid-90s. Unfortunately, News Corp "developed" a "network" around their syndicated package of English telenovella planned just in time for the fall season ending what should have been a new golden age of syndication. It's A Wasted Opportunity, and I'm talking about it in the flipside of TXB.

BXT: Welcome To The Flipside 12/07/06 by Jeff Harris

The newest section of The X Bridge is actually something familiar to longtime readers of the site. Instead of just focusing on action-animation, I want to examine other things in depth, not just the week in news or anything groundbreaking. Just my opinions on certain items. Uncut, unrestrained, and pretty much unhinged, the rebellious nature of TXB has been reborn. This is BXT. Welcome to the Flipside.

Read how I got there.

When you're done with that, read the three new articles I wrote after the moment I entered the flipside:

Bugs Bunny Was Here: Remember Bugs Bunny? If you do, you're not of this current generation who sees him as a safe, defanged, Mickey Mouse-esque mascot. Where is that wascally wabbit, and how can he come back to greatness in this politically and puritanically correct day and age? I'll talk about it here.

Defending The 80s: For some strange reason, when it comes to all the eras of animation, the 80s always get treated like rubbish. I know why, but I'm here to knock down excuses and chew gum. And I'm all out of gum.

Why Tickle U Failed: Cartoon Network launched Tickle U in the fall of 2005 with much fanfare from the network. At the beginning of 2006, it vanished without a trace. Nobody knows what went wrong. Well, nobody but me. Tickle U was a failure that should have worked.

Shirley Walker (1945 - 2006) 12/01/06 by Jeff Harris

Shirley Walker, the composer of Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The Flash (live-action series), and Batman Beyond, died on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at the age of 61. She basically created the signature sound of the DCAU bringing power and majesty to the first universe. I wrote a little something in appreciation of her work.

Why I Haven't Updated 11/06/06 by Jeff Harris

The world is a changing place. You either change with it or you get left behind. You adhere to things you once loved or you move on to something else after realizing that the love is gone. You grow frustrated, and, yet, you can't do nothing but complain. Eventually, you get sick of complaining.

WTS #148. It's not the end yet, but I can clearly see the finish line.

Toonami Turns Ten in Twenty-Four Weeks 10/02/06 by Jeff Harris

New month. New Watch This Space. I'm concentrating on something I heard about.

Toonami's going to have a makeover in time for its tenth anniversary on March 17, 2007. Many are on pins and needles about what they're going to do. Hopefully, it won't be as drastic as the mess they did over in the UK earlier in the year. Yeesh, that's still terrible. Still, there is a persistance within the fanbase that's it's going to be nothing more than a new opening and packaging, but the fans don't want that. They want something with more staying power. Something that's going to stick around longer than the four hours it currently comes on. Considering how Cartoon Network celebrated THEIR tenth anniversary four years ago yesterday, Toonami fans don't want them to drop the ball again. So, I presented a list of things I'd like to see Toonami do for its anniversary. Some of the things will be one-day only events while others should have more of a permanent impact on the block. Something more than carving "Cha" on the face of the moon. So, for your consumption, WTS #147.

Reason #18 of How Nick Embarrasses CN 9/22/06 by Jeff Harris

Avatar's coming to Nick's nightly lineup starting this Monday at 6:30 PM EST. Naruto is no longer on CN's nightly lineup. Oy vey. The second new WTS is here already.

The Fall of Our Discontent 9/20/06 by Jeff Harris

Ah, autumn. The air becomes a little crisper. Folks are wearing more clothing. You could almost smell the warm apple cider and the burning leaves. Ah, the leaves are brown and they're tumbling down, not unlike a certain checkerboard-logoed channel, which continues to impress me on how low they're willing to deteriorate their network. It's been a while since I said this, so here's the first new WTS of the fall season.

Returning To The Troubledome 9/15/06 by Jeff Harris

It's been a while, I know, but if you've read the forums over the last couple of months, you know the situation. The world went "BZRRT" back at the end of June for my computer, and insurance companies suck as a whole. As I'm still awaiting them to contact my family, I'm using this interm computer for the time being. It's not as fast as the computer that I lost, but it's still scores better than the one I had previously without that irritating scraping sound. Still, thanks for sticking around in spite of my absence. The site turned eight back in July, and I wish we could have had a party. Who knows? Maybe I'll still celebrate in some way or another.

So, what's been going on in the world? Well, from the looks of things, ABC Family is dead to a lot of people, Nickelodeon actually seems like a great network now, not so reliant on live-action fare these days (though that Mr. Meaty is kind of freaky, not unlike a certain Canadian import that was once a marquee show for the young people's station), and Cartoon Network continues to go to hell in a handbasket. Honestly, putting IGPX out of Toonami AND premiering the Teen Titans movie outside of the block while Toonami airs Pokemon specials? Whatever happened to the whole "teen-driven Toonami" and the "year of Toonami" talk I heard at the beginning of the year? It's gotten that Naruto is the only show I care about watching on Cartoon Network, let alone Toonami (and not counting Adult Swim), and that's kind of sad. Mainframe got sold to another company making it more Canadian. We lost a pair of veteran voice artists in Mako (best known as Aku on Samurai Jack) and Tony Jay (best known as Megabyte on ReBoot). We also lost "The Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, who knew the job was dangerous when he took it. "Who Wants To Be A Superhero?" was a fun diversion for Sci-Fi, which is slowly getting back to the root of their name. The Tenth Doctor makes his triumphant return there at the end of the month. Oh, and you apply Head-On directly to the forehead.

What's new around here? Nothing yet, but trust me, I have a lot to say in the coming days. I'm still getting used to repositioning myself to this newish machine. Discovered that there are a couple of video editors up here as well.

Again, thank you for sticking around The X Bridge. I'll have a real update in the coming days. If the fates allow, we'll do this again.

Later.

Tooguzi or Minami? 6/28/06 by Jeff Harris

You ever notice how the two blocks are becoming so blurred that you can't tell them apart? Surely I can't be the only one. But I commented about it in the latest Watch This Space, even mixing wrestling metaphors in it (fans of WWE will likely understand where I'm coming from). So, enjoy.

The (Real) Return of Thundercats on the Horizon? 6/28/06 by Jeff Harris

The first son of Toonami is poised to make a comeback very soon. For real this time. Not just in comic books or releases of DVDs, but it seems like Warner Bros. is preparing to bring Thundercats back for a new generation in the forseeable future. At the recent 2006 Licensing Show in New York, Warner Bros. announced that they were relaunching the property with an updated look and looking for licensees to develop products for kids as well as collectibles featuring the classic look for us older types. Hmm . . . new look for a classic property? A total relaunch for younger folks? Is the long-rumored Thundercats remake at last a reality? Stay tuned.

Saban-Led Group Buys Univision For $13.7 Billion 6/27/06 by Jeff Harris

Remember Haim Saban, the guy who was responsible for the music behind many of the 80s iconic theme songs who later emerged as one of the biggest supporters of the anime industry and introduced the world to Power Rangers? Well, he's no longer in that industry (he sold the Saban Entertainment unit, which was merged with Fox Kids Worldwide, to Disney back in 2001), but he continues to be on the lookout for newer media acquisitions. Saban Capital Group, which he founded shortly after the Disney deal was made, is an investor of numerous media outlets, including ProSiebenSat.1 in Germany and Keshet Broadcasting and a controlling stake in Bezeq, both in Israel.

Today, Saban Capital Group led a group of investors in acquiring Univision Communications, Inc., owner of the number-one Spanish-language network in the US (Univision) and cable network Galavision, for $13.7 billion, including $1.4 billion in debt. And yet, people will still remember him for being the one who introduced the English-speaking world to Super Sentai.

New Month, New Articles, New Updates 6/27/06 by Jeff Harris

This has been an extremely stressful month for me, and I thank you all for bearing with me. Everything on the homefront is okay. My grandfather's doing fine. So, with that in mind, it's back to work here at The X Bridge. The anniversary's coming up in a couple of weeks, and the timing couldn't be much better.

Details to come later in the week.

Nerd Corps Bringing StormHawks to Cartoon Network in 2007 6/22/06 by Jeff Harris

Yesterday, Nerd Corps Entertainment (not to be confused with nerdcore, that neek-friendly rap genre that is big on the fandom community) announced plans to bring their new 3D-animated/cel-shaded action series Storm Hawks throughout the globe courtesy of Cartoon Network in the UK, France, Latin America, and the United States. YTV announced plans to bring the series to its homeland in Canada a day earlier. The 52-episode series, which will launch worldwide in fall 2007, is about a quintet of rebelious teens who found the wreckage of a legendary sky knight squadron and decided to modify their own vehicles into flying machines and taking on all comers. With a premise like this, it's also not surprising that Nerd Corps announced licensing agreements with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who signed on as the licensing agent in North America and distributor of the series in all markets except for North America and Western Europe. Oh, and SpinMaster's making the toys. Like I said, it should be on the air next fall, so, prepare to wait.

Alex Toth: 1928 - 2006 5/28/06 by Jeff Harris

Alex Toth died doing what he loved best, drawing comics. That's testament to the craft that a lot of people nowadays see as a quick way to make a quick buck in a medium other than comics (I'm looking at you Joe Quesada). But this is no time to talk about others, but rather the genius of Alex Toth, the creator of Space Ghost, the visualist behind Super Friends, and inspiration for many comic and animation creators. I never met the man myself, but I appreciated everything he has ever done, and he will be missed. Here's my appreciation for an underappeciated genius.

A User-Friendly Search Mode 5/25/06 by Jeff Harris

Just what I needed around these parts, a new user-friendly search mode for your perusal here at The X Bridge. At the bottom of the page for your perusal. Now, search for everything with a keyword of your choice. Liberty Media Buys IDT Entertainment For Stock-Cash Swap 5/16/06 by Jeff Harris

How'd I miss this news byte from yesterday? It could have some far-reaching effects for you, the reader. Here's what I'm talking about, courtesy of Watch This Space #143.

Pokémon Chronicles Coming June 3 at 7 PM EST/PST 5/16/06 by Jeff Harris

The unseen episodes of Pokémon that don't feature a boy named Ash are coming on June 3 at 7 PM. Wait a sec. June 3? That's a Saturday! That's Toonami! Oh, hell no! Enter the Troubledome, aka Watch This Space #142.

The Fathers of the Revolution Speak! 5/9/06 by Jeff Harris

Over at the mothership taking place at all points on the globe, Ben, Karl, William, and Knux all take part in a once in a lifetime interview with the maverick fathers behind the block we call Toonami, Jason DeMarco and Sean Akins. At the same time. Listen as they talk about the evolution of Toonami Jetstream, the new season of IGPX, Black Hole Megamix, Oblivion, why they picked up Bo^7, why Gundam just isn't working (and what did), who's the better Guitar Hero guitarist, what they did during the reconstruction of Williams Street, and the crusty old guys who inspired them to do what they do. Oh, and a little shout out to yours truly. Head over to the eighth episode of The Toon Zone Podcast right now. And when you're done with that, talk about it.

And yes, I'll have a real update this Monday. My granddad's birthday's on Saturday and Mother's Day is on Sunday, so needless to say, I'm gonna be quite busy for the remainder of the week.

Watch This Space #141: Why I Care So Much 5/1/06 by Jeff Harris

I'm 28 years old. WAY too old for Cartoon Network's demographic, so why do I care so much about it's current identity crisis? Read on in WTS #141.

Phase One Complete: 5/1/06 by Jeff Harris

In case you didn't notice, I spruced up things around here at TXB. New front page design and all the Watch This Space articles upgraded to their new design. Again, this is phase one. You have been warned.

Toonami Jetstream: 4/26/06 by Jeff Harris

What a way to end a quiet month like April. Viz Media and Cartoon Network has announced the launch of Toonami Jetstream, a brand new streaming animation outlet. Notice the players behind Jetstream. This isn't their first swim in the broadband waters. Their first endeavor was the short-lived Adult Swim Pipeline, which replaced Toonami's earlier streaming video endeavor Toonami Reactor (the first one Cartoon Network has ever done featuring Toonami mainstays like Dragon Ball Z and web-exclusive shows like Star Blazers, Patlabor, Captain Harlock, and Record of Lodoss War). Here's the official press release straight from Ev and Jim:

Cartoon Network and VIZ Media Announce Broadband Joint Venture, Toonami Jetstream

Free Action and Animé Broadband Service, Available at ToonamiJetstream.com Beginning July 17, to Offer 24/7 Streaming Episodes of Top-Rated Series

Toonami Jetstream to be Exclusive U.S. Broadband Home to Series Naruto, Samurai Jack, Hikaru No Go, MÄR, The Prince of Tennis and More

Cartoon Network and VIZ Media announced a joint venture called Toonami Jetstream, a new broadband service that will provide on-demand, full-length streaming episodes of a number of hit animé and action series, including acclaimed hit series Naruto and Samurai Jack. In addition, users will also be able to watch full-length episodes of series like Hikaru No Go, MÄR and The Prince of Tennis that are not currently offered on U.S. broadcast or basic cable television. In this joint venture, Cartoon Network and VIZ Media will jointly manage and administer acquisitions and programming.

Toonami Jetstream (available at http://ToonamiJetstream.com) willlaunch on July 17. Each week, new episodes will be added to the site while previous episodes will also be available through the Toonami Jetstream archive. Toonami Jetstream, an online extension of Cartoon Network’s long-running and successful Toonami action-adventure television franchise, is a free service, supported by advertising that includes both banners and streaming video ads.

"Cartoon Network has long been the dominant TV provider of the best animé and action,” said Paul Condolora, senior vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network New Media. “And we were the first to stream, in 2001, full-length animé series online. Now, with this joint venture with VIZ Media, we will give our fans the chance to view our top shows on-demand and follow new series that cannot be seen anywhere else. We also believe this will bring new fans to the action/animé genre, create interest in new shows and build the overall popularity of “Toonami” on Cartoon Network.”

"Toonami Jetstream will provide our current fans and new fans alike with unlimited opportunities to view our popular hit shows such as Naruto," explained John Easum, executive vice president of VIZ Media. "It will also give us the opportunity to share with our fans an unprecedented variety of Japan's newest and most exciting animated series. We are thrilled to be expanding our strong relationship with Cartoon Network. VIZ Media is one of the industry's leading licensors of Japanese animation and Cartoon Network is the preeminent broadcaster of Japanese animation and we believe that our collective forces will make Toonami Jetstream the online destination of choice for action-adventure animation fans."

Five series are currently slated for the July launch of Toonami Jetstream. Following are descriptions of the shows that will be available at launch:

- Naruto: Twelve years prior, an evil Nine-Tailed-Fox demon that terrorized The Hidden Leaf Village was sealed inside the body of a baby in order to end the decimation of the village. A rule that forbade anyone to tell him that he possessed the spirit of the Nine-Tailed-Fox left Naruto unaware of why the villagers shunned him. Now a teenager, he attempts to earn the villagers' respect by training to become the village's top ninja. As Naruto develops his skills, he must learn to control his special powers to become the respected master ninja. Through exciting adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and right versus wrong. Naruto, created by manga artist Masahi Kishimoto, made its U.S. debut in September 2005 and is among the top-rated series on Cartoon Network.

- Samurai Jack: Samurai Jack, which won four Emmy Awards including the Emmy for Best Animated Series in 2003, tells the story of a warrior banished to the future by an evil shape-shifting wizard. Samurai Jack encounters an amazing array of cultures and civilizations as he travels the world seeking the portal to send him back to his own time. A man of few words, Jack relies on his mental and physical training as a warrior to help him fend off the evil wizard’s forces. Created by Genndy Tartakovsky at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Ca., the influential series Samurai Jack has been lauded for its magnificent artistry, gripping action sequences, evocative score and cinematic scope.

- Hikaru No Go: Written by Yumi Hotta and drawn by Takeshi Obata, Hikaru No Go tells the story of Hikaru Shindo, a young student who stumbles across a dusty old Go board while exploring his grandfather's attic. Trapped inside is Fujiwara-no-Sai, the ghost of an ancient Go master that enters Hikaru’s consciousness, allowing him to communicate with the spirit. Sai, newly awakened, wishes for nothing more than to play Go again. Urged on by Sai, Hikaru reluctantly begins playing Go. As he begins to appreciate the complexities of the game, Hikaru makes it his quest to become the ultimate Go champion.

- MÄR: Created by Nobuyuki Anzai, MÄR features Ginta, an average 14-year-old boy, until a mysterious portal suddenly transports him into the fairy tale realm he envisions in his dreams, the World of MÄR. In MÄR, Ginta acquires super human strength and Babbo- a talking magical weapon knows as an ARM. Together, Ginta and Babbo embark on a quest to save the World of MÄR from total domination by the evil chess pieces.

- The Prince of Tennis: The exciting backdrop of middle school tennis serves as the setting for this sports drama and coming-of-age story. The Prince of Tennis, created by Takeshi Konomi, depicts the on-and off-the-court adventures of Ryoma Echizen, who joins the Seishun Academy tennis team, known for being one of the most competitive teams in Japan. With his undeniable talent (and sometimes shamelessly cocky attitude), Ryoma is ready to lead his team to victory.

Other titles currently scheduled to be released on Toonami Jetstream include such hits as Cartoon Network's original Toonami production IGPX and VIZ Media's Megaman NT Warrior series and the all-new Zoids Genesis.

Additional series will be announced in subsequent months.

As soon as more is found out about this, keep your eyes to TXB for more details as soon as they come.

Finally! Voltron: Defender of the Universe Coming To DVD 4/2/06 by Jeff Harris

Caught this at the Infolink and Anime on DVD, so in case you missed it, I'm relaying the message. Voltron, one of the original shows (and one of the select few to keep that title in its Cartoon Network run to this day) to be considered "Only Toonami" (not to mention former Sprite spokesman), is coming to DVD this September courtesy of the good people at Media Blasters, the same guys behind the recent release of another cult favorite, Invader ZIM.

The series will arrive in special edition sets featuring all types of exclusives and extras, not to mention that'll look good in your collection. Also, like what ADV did years earlier with Robotech, Media Blasters is also bring the masses the original incarnations of the two series that formed Voltron, GoLion and Dairugger XV (the somewhat controversial "Vehicle Voltron"), in all its uncut and subbed glory starting in 2007. Check out the official site for more details.

First Thundercats, now Voltron. C'mon Warner Bros., give me the two seasons of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest to complete my old-school Toonami collection.

Tony Hawk/Mainframe Movie Information Revealed 4/1/06 by Jeff Harris

Now that programming is back to normal after today's "acquisition announcement", I'd continue talking about extreme sports. Trust me, this is a Toonami-based announcement. I'd like to pass along this news item I picked up yesterday detailing the plans on the upcoming Tony Hawk animated movie from Mainframe that's coming to Toonami this fall, and what they're planning to do to support it. Here's a press release via FUNimation (wait, FUNimation?):

FUNimation(R) Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR), in cooperation with Mainframe Entertainment (TSX: MFE), a leading Canadian computer animation studio and production company, and skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk announced today that distribution plans and brand management have been set into motion for the new CG-animated feature Tony Hawk in Boom Boom Sabotage. FUNimation has acquired domestic and Japanese home entertainment rights to the feature, a direct to DVD movie slated for release in fall 2006. Hawk will star as his animated self and is executive producer of the feature, along with Mainframe Entertainment's Rick Mischel, Kim Dent Wilder and Gregory R. Little. Mainframe developed the project with Hawk, and produced the film in its Vancouver studio.

Tony Hawk in Boom Boom Sabotage is a computer generated 3D animated movie that utilizes state-of-the-art motion capture technology to directly translate the impressive skateboarding done by Hawk and other professional skateboarders for their characters in the feature. The movie is set in Lincolnville, a city dominated by technology where extreme sports and video games are all the rage and the circus is definitely not. This news comes much to the chagrin of a twisted circus ringleader who puts plans in motion to shut down Boom Boom HuckJam by kidnapping its headlining star, Tony Hawk. A group of young skaters unite to attempt the ultimate rescue.

Music artists for the soundtrack have yet to be announced. The project is directed by Mainframe's Johnny Darrell, with Ben Burden Smith producing.

"The skating in this project will be authentic and the story is funny, with an edge that you don't see in traditional animated features," said Tony Hawk. "The Mainframe crew is doing a great job with the skating action, as I and some of Vancouver's best skaters have done extensive motion capture. We now have an encyclopedia of tricks to choose from."

"Tony Hawk is a sports and pop culture icon and Mainframe Entertainment produces some of the best computer generated animation out there," says Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. "We are excited to be involved in this project and we look forward to managing the brand, marketing and distributing Boom Boom Sabotage."

Promotion for Tony Hawk in Boom Boom Sabotage will be far reaching and will include nationwide viral and event marketing, as well as print, online, television, radio and outdoor advertising.

Directors, producers and those closest to the movie are scheduled to appear at Comic Con in San Diego in July and at Wizard World Chicago in August.

Other convention appearances, including an appearance of Tony Hawk himself, are yet to be announced. Sneak previews and exclusive first-looks at movie artwork will be available at these conventions and others throughout 2006.

Additional information about Tony Hawk in Boom Boom Sabotage can be obtained by visiting http://www.boomboomsabotage.com.

Happy 9th Birthday Toonami 3/17/06 by Jeff Harris

Nine years ago today, a phenominal event took place on weekday afternoons on a small but popular cable outlet. After the cancellation of The Rudy and Gogo Cartoon Show, the folks at Williams Street decided to create "a better cartoon show," and today marks the ninth anniversary of the premiere of that better cartoon show, Toonami.

From Thundercats to Justice League Unlimited, a new year begins tomorrow with A Month of Miyazaki, but first, I'd like to comment about the year that was in the Watch This Space section. Happy anniversary Toonami! Here's to a better and brighter year ahead.

Constant Waves of Thought Updated 3/16/06 by Jeff Harris

In case you didn't see them, I posted a pair of articles at Thoughtnami. One's about why you shouldn't totally blame Cartoon Network for the missing Looney Tunes and the other's about someone claiming to have invented the internet cartoon.

Hellboy, Tony Hawk, Marvel movies, Stan Lee Movies (not the same as Marvel Movies): 2006 is looking a LOT Clearer For Toonami 3/12/06 by Jeff Harris

You know how the news at last month's upfronts were sporadic at best? Well, I managed to pry a little more out of Cartoon Network. Nothing that'll impress otakus much, but I did manage to get a few things out of them:

Hi, Jeff:

Following is a response to your question about TOONAMI from Cartoon Network's Marc Buhaj, vice president of programming and scheduling...

"Readers should rest easy in that 2006 is easily shaping up as "Year of the Toonami!" We have an enviable cast of stars who will be returning, along with a number of movies and events that should please even the most ardent action fan. 2006 is a blockbuster year for viewers as we harvest a bumper crop of premiere episodes. There will be new seasons of Naruto, Zatchbell and One Piece. We will also be treated to new episodes of Bobobo-Bo-BoBobo, IGPX and the final episodes of Justice League Unlimited.

Viewers can also enjoy the premiere of blockbuster movies. These include the world premiere of the Teen Titans feature, Tony Hawk in Boom Boom Sabotage, The Ultimate Avengers I & II, Ironman plus two Hellboy movies (starring the voice of Ron Perlman). There will also be two Stan Lee original movies. The network will also see the launch of the Fantastic Four series.

This is the strongest starting line-up in Toonami history. So strap yourself in as we are going to have a lot of surprises throughout the year."

Wow, now I've seen everything. Not only is Toonami going to be the premiere home of the Teen Titans movie, but it also seems that we're getting not one, but TWO Hellboy movies on Toonami and a couple of movies from the mind of Stan Lee, unquestionably one of the greatest comic creators of all time. The year of Toonami. I like the sound of that. Stay tuned true believers.