I've lamented on this blog numerous times the absence of "classic" cartoons on television. I would even love to see Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Terrytoons, and selections from the Tex Avery library as part of Adult Swim. Heck, bury them at one o'clock in the morning away from the newer offerings, that'd be just fine with me as long as they were there and accessible. These days, however, the only "Looney Tunes" one can usually see are Baby Looney Tunes or Loonatics Unleashed, modified and updated versions that are just dandy for younger kids who might not know the history behind those characters, but not so great for older folk with a greater appreciation for animation history.
In the late 90s, Cartoon Network did offer something to those of us who like to delve a bit deeper into animation. The show was called Toonheads, and each episode would focus on a specific director, animator, voiceover artists, era, or whatever. One episode might be dedicated to voice actor Daws Butler while another would plot the evolution of Tom and Jerry as different directors took over the cat and mouse duo. Every cartoon would be separated by brief snippets about the work and the people behind it. The episodes weren't exactly rife with information, but it was nice to know there was a series that actually took these old cartoons seriously, rather than just slapping them into various timeslots as a means to fill up airtime.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-11-2006 @ 6:39PM
Gavin said...
According to the Wiki, it aired from 1996 to 2003 and had 82 individual episodes, as some specials. I wouldn't excatly call that short lived when you consider the type of show it was. It was great though, and I'd rather the run that again on [as] than some of the junk they air nowadays in the real early hours.
Like why are they bringing back Gigantor again? That show is an important part of Anime history, but it hasn't held up well. Bring back ToonHeads....
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7-11-2006 @ 9:16PM
Al said...
Ditto to bringing back "anything" that deals with classic cartooning. I don't know if you have actually taken the time to watch an episode of Loonatics Unleashed, but it is a blashpemy to the Looney Tunes name. It's like the X-Men trying to to funny, but failing miserably, in the guise of "updated" versions of classic Looney Tunes characters. It is neither funny or "serious". It fa(i)lls
somewhere in the middle, and is basically unwatchable.As for anime, give me Grandizer...GO!!! Spin saucers and rainbow beam. Wait a minute, was he in the closet?
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7-11-2006 @ 9:23PM
Gloria said...
I don't know why there can't be a "Classic Cartoon" cable channel. My husband is buying up DVD's of the old Hanna Barbera cartoons, which he loved. And I'd even like to see old Saturday morning shows from the 60's and 70's. I bet there are a bunch of baby boomers who'd like to watch these, and they might just win a new audience from the kids of today.
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7-11-2006 @ 10:53PM
kel said...
Boomerang is a classic cartoon channel, kind like a retirement home for Hanna Barbera/Cartoon Network shows, showing eps of Dexter's Laboratory, 2 Stupid Dogs and other CN shows, as well as the Flintstones, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo and others. They recently added Justice League, which is very cool. I caught a couple of episodes of Toonheads on Boomerang awhile back (I don't know if it's still on, though). The channel is available on DirecTV, but I don't know if anyone else carries it.
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7-11-2006 @ 11:36PM
MrAkai said...
Gloria-
There is a classic cartoon channel, it's called Boomerang (http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/boomerang/index.html) that plays nothing but classic H&B and WB stuff (and other stuff from the Tuner/Warner Library)
It's on Dish Network, and I assume DirectTv at at least some cable outlets.
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7-12-2006 @ 1:53PM
tr said...
sure, there's Boomerang, but if any of you watched that network over the past years, you'd know that Boomerang is anything BUT classic cartoons. just look at the schedule (http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com/servlet/BoomerangServlet?action=selectBMDay)...since when are Mike, Lu and Og, Dexter's Laboratory, Captain Planet, Baby Looney Tunes, and Justice League classic cartoons? Justice League, for example, ran from 2001-2004 on the Cartoon Network. that's classic??? as their slogan says "it's all coming back to you..." yeah. from 2 years ago...
sure, Boomerang has their moments, like when they show a line up of cartoons of a particular year, or when they show classic Hanna-Barbera stuff, but for the most part, they've turned it from "classic cartoons from your childhood" to "a dumping ground for shows deemed 'too old' for Cartoon Network."
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7-12-2006 @ 2:12PM
Gloria said...
Thanks for the info. I didn't know about Boomerang. That's because I have cable! I'll have to find out if our system can carry it.
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7-30-2006 @ 4:59AM
carli said...
My system does not carry Boomerang, so I make to with an Amazon wish list chock full of HB cartoons (hint, hint), and Cartoon Alley, a semi-monthly show on Turner Classic Movies. Each episode features 3 cartoons focused on one theme (such as Tweety Bird or MGM's Barney Bear). It's not enough classic toonage, but it's enough to get by on, I suppose.
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