Cartoonito (American programming block)

(Redirected fromTickle-U)

Cartoonito(also known asCartoonito on Cartoon Network) is a programming block that airs on weekday mornings. It premiered on September 13, 2021, onCartoon Network,and a dedicated section on thestreaming serviceMax.Cartoonito targets a preschool audience around 2 to 6 years old.[1]Cartoonito marks the first dedicated preschool block on Cartoon Network in over fifteen years.

Cartoonito
Logo used since September 13, 2021
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
NetworkCartoon Network
HeadquartersAtlanta,Georgia, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)
  • English
  • Spanish (withSAP)
Picture format1080iHDTV
(downscaled toletterboxed480ifor theSDTVfeed)
Ownership
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery Networks
ParentThe Cartoon Network, Inc.
Key people
Sister channels
History
LaunchedSeptember 13, 2021;3 years ago(2021-09-13)
Links
Websitewww.max/channel/cartoon-network

History

Background

In 1996,Cartoon Networkcreated a Sunday morning block of preschool programs. It featured series such asBig Bag,a live-action/puppet television program by theChildren's Television Workshop,Small World,andCave Kids.However,Big Bagran until 1998, whileSmall Worldran until 2002. OnceBig Bagleft Cartoon Network's lineup in 2001,Baby Looney Tunes,along withPecola,Sitting Ducks,andHamtaro,filled that space in 2003. The block moved to weekday mornings afterward.

On August 22, 2005, Cartoon Network USA debutedTickle-U,the network's first official attempt at weekday-morning preschoolprogramming block.The block aired 2 hours from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.[2][3]It featured domestic and foreign-imported series targeted at preschool-age children like its competitorsNick Jr.(onNickelodeon) andPlayhouse Disney(nowDisney JunioronDisney Channel). The hosts were two animatedCGIcharacters: a redbutterfly-like creature named Pipoca (voiced byAriel Winter) and a yellowrabbit-like creature named Henderson (voiced byTom Kenny).

Programs on the lineup includedFirehouse Tales(the only original series),Gerald McBoing-Boing,Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs(both fromTeletoon/Treehouse TVand both co-productions), and British series such asGordon the Garden Gnome,Little Robots,Peppa PigandYoko! Jakamoko! Toto!,some of which were re-dubbed for American audiences. The block came under criticized by theCCFC,for its marketing strategies.[4][5]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 theBritish variation of Cartoonito.

Launch

On June 14, 2021, new idents of the block appeared on videos (which includesEsme & Roy,Mush-Mush & the Mushables,Care Bears: Unlock the Magic,andLove Monster) on Cartoonito'sYouTubechannel, and a newsletter was announced, with a new banner and avatar on the Cartoonito YouTube Channel in July.[6]A trailer for the block was released on July 29, 2021.[7][8]

On August 16, 2021, the launch date was announced for September 13, 2021;Baby Looney Tuneswould be the first show to air on the block. The television block 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.[9]

On November 16, 2021, the weekday schedule decreased to 7 hours (ending at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT). It later lost another hour (ending at 12:00 p.m. ET/PT) on December 20, 2021. The block no longer aired on weekends since January 29, 2022, while the weekday schedule lost yet another hour (ending at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT), reducing Cartoonito to a total of 5 hours as of January 31, 2022.[10]

On June 6, 2022, the schedule lost another hour (ending at 10:00 a.m. ET/PT) but reverted on September 5.[11]However, October 3 marked the first time the start-up changed. Instead of the usual 6 a.m. time slot, Cartoonito would begin at 7 a.m. after a regular Cartoon Network program, retaining its 4 hours.[12]

On March 13, 2023, the schedule was reduced from a 4-hour block to a 90-minute block (starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT).

On February 19, 2024, the schedule was once again reduced from a 90-minute block to a 60-minute block (starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT).

Programming

Cartoonito features co-productions and acquired programming, in addition to original series exclusive to the program block on Cartoon Network. Currently, Cartoonito's lineup includesBugs Bunny Builders,Batwheels,andJessica's Big Little World;withSesame Streetexclusive to Max.

Service Description
Cartoonito on Demand Avideo-on-demandservice, which launched concurrently in 2021, and is available to most subscription-based providers. The service offers select episodes of Cartoonito programming seen on Cartoon Network.
Cartoonito App An online mobile app based on the Cartoonito website.
Max Asubscription video-on-demandhub that launched onMax.[13]In addition to as well as some.[14]

International

Since its inception, Cartoonito has rolled out across European territories through various nations and regional feeds. Following its global reintroduction in 2021, the brand has expanded to regions such as Latin America, Africa, and several Asia-Pacific countries.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021)."Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network".
  2. ^"Cartoon Network Unveils 'Tickle U.'".Fox News.Associated Press. August 22, 2005.RetrievedApril 8,2018.
  3. ^Linn, Susan (August 15, 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 fromthe originalon July 8, 2017.RetrievedApril 8,2018.
  4. ^"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".July 8, 2017. Archived fromthe originalon July 8, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 18,2021.
  5. ^Tribune (October 25, 2005)."Network hopes to help develop preschoolers' sense of humor".East Valley Tribune.RetrievedDecember 17,2020.
  6. ^"Cartoonito - YouTube".youtube.
  7. ^"YouTube".youtube.RetrievedJuly 30,2021.
  8. ^"Cartoonito Debuts Program Trailer and 'Sneak Peek' Clips".Animation World Network.July 29, 2021.RetrievedAugust 21,2021.
  9. ^Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021)."Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network".Animation Magazine.RetrievedAugust 19,2021.
  10. ^""Cocomelon" Joins Cartoon Network's Cartoonito Block – Nickandmore! News ".RetrievedFebruary 3,2022.
  11. ^Schedules, CN News/."CN News Schedules".Twitter.RetrievedOctober 7,2022.
  12. ^Schedules, CN News/."CN News Schedules".Twitter.RetrievedOctober 7,2022.
  13. ^"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.February 17, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 25,2021.
  14. ^White, Peter (August 17, 2022)."'Ellen's Next Great Designer', 'The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo' & 'My Mom, Your Dad' Among Unscripted & Animated Titles Pulled From HBO Max ".Deadline.Archived fromthe originalon August 17, 2022.RetrievedAugust 18,2022.
  15. ^"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.February 17, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 25,2021.