In regards to anime, fans and historians both credit Toonami for single-handedly ushering in the mainstream Japanophilia boom of the early-to-mid 2000s.Ĭartoon Network exported Toonami to other nations' versions of the network it even became an entire network thanks to a revamp of the spinoff channel CNX (before degrading into "CN Too").
Toonami had a hand in uncancelling several syndicated series ( Dragon Ball Z, ReBoot, and Sailor Moon), and it premiered several series on its own, both anime ( Gundam Wing, Outlaw Star, all three of the original Tenchi Muyo! series) and Western animation ( He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002) and Megas XLR). The block features incredibly high production values for its commercial bumpers, advertisements, and ARG campaigns, which included high-end 3D graphics, a soundtrack consisting of then-uncharacteristic (for a children's block) drum-and-bass and ambient music, and a consistent setting and narrative. Toonami is an influential programming block that was previously broadcasted on Cartoon Network, consisting primarily of Western action-adventure cartoons and anime, airing on weekday afternoons from 1997 to 2004, and later Saturday nights from 2004 to 2008 and beginning again in 2012 on Adult Swim. If you've been down from the beginning, all I can say is: Thanks.
What's up, Toonami Faithful? Time to describe Toonami here.