Cartoon Network, the popular children’s animated channel, is not going anywhere. Well, at least that’s what its Twitter handle wants us to believe.
Two days ago, news were rife that Cartoon Network was shutting down. This was after Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) laid off 82 scripted, unscripted, and animation employees on Tuesday. And would not fill 43 more vacant positions. The 125 positions represented 26% of the companies workforce across those units. However, the layoffs, which were generally expected, did not tell the whole story of what was going on at Warner Bros. Discovery’s animation units.
In a company-wide memo, chairman Channing Dungey told staff that the company plans to fully consolidate its tv animation divisions, merging Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and Cartoon Network Studios (CNS). Going forward, Sam Register will continue as head of WBA and CNS, as well as Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, the latter of which will continue to operate independently from the other two.
According to the memo, all three labels will continue to exist, but perhaps more in name than in action. Both development and production at WBA and CNS will now be merged, extending on the cross-studio teams that were already in place for programming, casting, legal, and business affairs, and artist relations. This means that Cartoon Network Studios no longer has any independent say on either creative or operational matters, something that has never happened before in its existence.
We are not shutting
Cartoon Network which was founded on October 1, 1992 is not shutting down! The channel just dismissed the rumors of their closure after being in the biz for 30 years.
Y’all we’re not dead, we’re just turning 30! To our fans: We’re not going anywhere. We have been and will always be your home for beloved, innovative cartoons. More to come soon! Read their tweet.