A funny thing happened on the internet yesterday. I actually went to the official Toonami site. For some reason, I wanted to see if they were going to talk about Giant Robot Week that's a week from Monday (you know, the big-time event with the one-time airings of popular ADV mecha titles like Evangelion, Dai-Guard, and Nadesico as well as the return of the king of the mecha titles in the United States, Robotech, last year's popular Cartoon Cartoon Weekend anime-like short Low Brow, the nation's first major mecha anime Gigantor, and a primetime invasion courtesy of The Iron Giant? What, you didn't know? Well, now you do.). However, the official site is showcasing an upcoming change in the way we look at Toonami.
You see, on Monday, March 17, 2003, a brand new look to the block is unleashed. The Absolution II begins its maiden voyage and the third incarnation of TOM begins his hosting duties. Oh, and say goodbye to those unsightly pipes. A new graphical interface will be unveiled, just in time for the premiere of the final episodes of a show that has been synonymous with the name Toonami, Dragonball Z. But there are a few secrets to be revealed. Will Steve Blum continue to provide the laid back, sardonic voice of our boy TOM? Will there be a new logo? I hope not, I kind of dig the one we got, but then again, almost every time there's a major change, the logo changes (the current logo has been in place since Gundam Wing's premiere in March 2000, and the font remained the typeface for the episode titles since then). And if this is a new ship, what will become of Sara?
Sure, laugh. Some people don't like the graphical presentation of the Toonami block (they see it as a pointless presentation of extravagance and egotism), but to some, the look of the block is represented by the elements around it. If the elements are attractive, then the block will look attractive. If the elements look bland and uninteresting, guess what? The block will look bland and uninteresting. The fact that the graphics haven't changed since September 2000 makes the upcoming changes that much more important. In a way, in the years since, the block actually felt stale because of the lack of graphical change and the execution of the presentation of the block. Also, because of the significance of the date of the total makeover, the new look will have that much more of an impact to the Toonami faithful. March 17 marks six years to the day of Toonami's premiere on Cartoon Network in 1997. Nice birthday gift the block's getting, if you ask me.
A total makeover in the tradition of Toonami. Thus begins the NeXt Chapter.
On to the news of this morning. Yesterday, I asked you all which film would Disney promote more in the best animated film category, Lilo and Stitch (the film they made) or Spirited Away (the film they reluctantly released). Well, now that the Golden Semi-Naked Baldheaded Man Award (I found out that the Oscar wears superhero short pants . . . go figure) nominations have been announced, Disney has THREE films to promote. Lilo and Stitch (the family favorite), Spirited Away (the critical favorite), and Treasure Planet (a film that got dogged by everybody, except the fans). The other two films are Spirit: Horse of the Cimmeron from Dreamworks and Blue Sky's Ice Age from Fox. I just hope voters are smart enough to differentiate Spirited Away from Spirit in the ballots.
Also, I was kind of ticked that Road to Perdition wasn't nominated in more categories, particularly best adapted screenplay and best picture. It's not that often that a well-made movie based on a graphic novel *cough*comic book*cough* is created, and quite frankly, Road to Perdition was one of those films that could have been nominated, if it was released later in 2002 rather than in the summer. Oh well, Dreamworks won't be getting their fifth straight best picture award this year (they won for American Beauty, Gladiator, Shrek, and A Beautiful Mind). It's pretty much a Disney/Miramax party this year. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers will be the genre pick, but alas, either Chicago or The Hours will win.
I got to go . . . gosh, this update is early.
Until we are one, later.
Jeff Harris
CNX Creator/Webmaster
February 11, 2003
