Is CN raising the bar on what, and what can't be shown?

[Sanius]

I am trying to figure this out, but i've noticed for like..the past year or so, CN has been really pushing the envelope. Uncut DBZ, TV-MA on AS, and is it me, or is JLU a little bit too mature for a Y7 rating?

Can someone tell me if cartoon network has been upping their main demographic lately, or has it always been like this? Hell, years ago, around like..1998 or 9, I just remember the most mature show they had on was SGC2C

If so, It would make me happy. Ever since I figured out that shows like DBZ and tenchi muyo were edited years ago (I was an anime noob back then), I always wanted CN to do something about that..Guess I was right. :)

I also wouldn't mind an uncut tenchi muyo. :anime:

[KnightusMaximus]

Up until uncut DBZ aired, I was sure the only demographic Cartoon Network cared about (outside of Toonami and Adult Swim) was 2-11. However, you don't air a show like that uncut if you're not trying to at least nominally target teens.

One week ago, the only bar raising I saw on CN came from Adult Swim.. they've quite clearly become more and more lenient on their editing standards over the years. The airing of the recent Paranoia Agent episode is just one step in a long line of boundary pushing on AS..

But as for CN itself, 2-11 has been the standard.

For one thing, the editing standards for TVY7 seem to have become stricter over time, which may possibly be the result of a post-Columbine, post-9/11 America. The editing on Gundam Wing wasn't nearly as strict as the editing for Gundam SEED, for example.

And for the block that targets older, Toonami, we've seen the Yu Yu Hakusho- Dragonball GT- Rurouni Kenshin / Gundam SEED's lineup slowly morph into our current Zatch Bell - 4Kids One Piece's lineup. As Sketchor has pointed out before, Toonami is now sadly the home for Americanized animes, and the demographic shift at the end of the block is noticeable.

Looks like change will come to CN's non-AS blocks, though. DBZ Uncut has profoundly changed the way most people view what can and can't be aired on CN primetime. And most people are confident that shows such as Naruto, Bobobo and IGPX will extend the boundary-pushing on Toonami, where it might fulfill the promises of a teen-oriented Toonami the fans had been clinging in hope for since April 2004. So we could be in the middle of change.. we'll have to see what CN has planned next, if anything.

[Natey]

but really CN is for 6-11 year olds...... so dont be complaining how CN doesnt fit 12-20. but thats why CN made adult swim

~Nate~

[CookieS]

I think CN has been trying to focus on the kids for a while. With the success of Toonami and Adult Swim, the network wasn't really as competitive as it could be in the children's market. For the past few years (and even today), they've been working at trying to capture back some of the appeal. Disney and Nickelodeon currently dominate children's television (although their pro-family and educational agendas often flavor their entertainment to the point of muckiness).

I think Cartoon Network is striving to be the "everyone" network but are focusing on demographics strictly because of competition and advertisers. Its easier to sell ad space in a black aimed at 2-11 year olds compared to a general non-block time.

At heart, I believe the people at Cartoon Network would run amuck and create shows that didn't need lables like this. I don't think any cartoon creator really WANTS a demographic, but its just a secondary effect from corporate beings, sales, and marketing.

[Justy]

CN is definately raising the bar on what's being shown during Adult Swim. For example, when Kikaider was shown, I was amazed that they showed a character shooting herself in the head in silhouette. In addition to the aforementioned Paranoia Agent episode, Episodes 7 and 8 of Full Metal Alchemist may be the most intense stuff ever shown on American commercial TV.
In those episodes, a little girl that the Elric brothers had befriended over two eps is merged with her dog then blown apart (offscreen) and Ed and Winry are threatened by a serial killer in a freezer.
A few of the things I predicted some time ago have happened. The pendulum could have swung either way (especially in light of 9/11's result i.e. airings of Mobile Suit Gundam) but it seems to have swung in the positive direction. In addition to repeating most of the Adult Swim block nightly, CN now has an extra hour of nightly programming (currently Lupin III and Case Closed [Conan]). Hopefully other shows will appear in this hour or may replace the repeated hours resulting in more varied programming during AS. We'll see what happens.

[Draft]

i think they are, jlu really doesn't seem like a y7 to me

[CyberCubed]

How can anyone say that CN ISN'T pushing the limits?

What the heck do you think Adult Swim is? I mean sure, it's a seperate block aired late at night, but that's meaningless. It's still part of Cartoon Network! CN used to be a family oriented channel where kids could watch on any hour without seeing anything too adult, but now that's definitely not the case anymore.

CN seems to be targeting Teens and Adults a lot more than kids these days, with the only major kids shows being the Cartoon Cartoons. Miguzi is a mixture really, but there are a lot of teens watching Miguzi.

[Tash]

What the heck do you think Adult Swim is? I mean sure, it's a seperate block aired late at night, but that's meaningless. It's still part of Cartoon Network! Not according to the neilson ratings.

[Justy]

Originally posted by Tash
Not according to the neilson ratings. The separation of the Adult Swim block from Cartoon Network was for demographic and ratings reporting reasons. The public's general conception of Adult Swim still reflects on Cartoon Network as the block appears on the network.

[Marinite]

Adult Swim isn't part of Cartoon Network like Nick-at-Nite isn't part of Nickelodeon. They simply share the same channel, but are on at different times.

[Scythemantis]

Cartoon Network's original shows have been darker and dirtier than Nickelodeon or Disney's current swill since the first batch of "World Premiere Toons".

But yes, for every example of quality writing or quality animation on the network there's been two or more examples of recycled, uninspired crap.

[PowerZord]

I seen DBZ uncut on english, Japanese, and Spanish. It isn't really that Great, CN could show it at five at' clock, easily, exept for the Roshi pervert jokes and Some small nudity, but anything else can be shown.

But oh well, Soccer moms would be really complaining

[livingfruitvirus]

I seen DBZ uncut on english, Japanese, and Spanish. It isn't really that Great, CN could show it at five at' clock, easily, exept for the Roshi pervert jokes and Some small nudity, but anything else can be shown.Yeah that Goku bleeding from his torso hole. Great kids entertainment!

[Dark Fact]

I seen DBZ uncut on english, Japanese, and Spanish. It isn't really that Great, CN could show it at five at' clock, easily, exept for the Roshi pervert jokes and Some small nudity, but anything else can be shown.
I'm assuming you've only seen the Saiyan Showdown DVD. Watch the second volume and tell me again if it is still worth seeing early in the morning.

[PowerZord]

I'm assuming you've only seen the Saiyan Showdown DVD. Watch the second volume and tell me again if it is still worth seeing early in the morning.
For your information, I have seen it in Spanish since is the same as Japanese, Oh and It was shown at 8:30A.M and 3:00P.M weekdays here in Puertorico and believe me noone was complaining.

It's not Adult swim material, just because he bleeds, That's the issue with most of you here, Every small drop of violence you go: OMG! OMG! CN IS BRAVE!! OMG!! THAT IS FOR TEENS! OMG! OMG!

DBZ is for Pre-teens, I seen more violent shows than DBZ

[Sanius]

That's the issue with most of you here, Every small drop of violence you go: OMG! OMG! CN IS BRAVE!! OMG!! THAT IS FOR TEENS! OMG! OMG!


It is pretty surprising if you consider that CN would never go beyond small scratches before. (atleast from what i've seen)

[Dark Fact]

PowerZord, you may be right about that but let's not forget about something called "differentiation of culture". Just because one thing may be A-OK in one society or culture doesn't mean it will be in another. Traditionally, kids shows in America cannot have any scenes that would result in bleeding, mentioning/displaying death/religion/alcohol. Dragon Ball Z has most of this stuff. In Japan, children are mature enough to understand the actions and society is very tolerable of that. In America, the majority of adult society lashes and pushes for censorship and/or outright banning of these actions because of fear of child corruption. Cartoon Network in the past was forced to regulate and edit some scenes in anime that can cause angry backlash from parents. Now that Cartoon Network is showing these scenes in Dragon Ball Z uncut and unedited(!), they appear willing to take a chance against the standard broadcast regulations and for that, I commend them.

If American society changes to the point where parents will be willing to let their children watch these violent shows and the children are mature enough to understand them, then shows like Dragon Ball Z will be no big deal in the morning time slot. Until then, we'll just have to watch and take notice.

[rrznn]

lol, just think of the rating system, it's being more lenient than 30 years ago. Take for example the movie antz, showed it today on cartoon netowrok @ 8pm; had some language not suitable for some 6-11 yr old kids

[Marinite]

It is pretty surprising if you consider that CN would never go beyond small scratches before. (atleast from what i've seen)
Uh, they've been fine with blood as long as it isn't flowing. Back when DBZ aired.

[Nin-Nin69]

When they aired Antz last night, they broke plenty of boundaries. I won't list them here for the sake of the future of CN, but anyone who's seen the movie knows what I mean. Not to mention the PG rating was normal size compared to other shows aired later. If anything CN is starting to pick themselves out of the rot they put themselves in the past few years. Here's hoping for the "ToonTV" CN I grew to love to rise from te dead.

Yeah that Goku bleeding from his torso hole. Great kids entertainment!
Spoilers/Edits Ahh! :ack::p

[j32885]

Is CN Raising The Bar?

Certainly, with the creation of Toonami, Adult Swim, & Miguzi, CN has been getting older crowds each year. CN want's to into a different direction with it's viewers, compare to Disney & Nick.

[KnightusMaximus]

Antz was nothing new (though it was great catching it again).. it has been aired many times before at 10AM in the morning and on Fridays. It's known as one of their "risque" PG movies alongside Osmosis Jones and Iron Giant. (I think it is general-CN's most mature movie and I'm glad to see they haven't stopped playing it)

[PowerZord]

For those who are taking my comments out of context, I'm only saying that people here are making DBZ look like an Adult show.

It doesn't really have the qualities of an adult show

[Dark Fact]

Well, if there was any doubt as to whether CN was raising the bar on its programming, tonight's episode of Dragon Ball Z quashed it. :anime:

For those who are taking my comments out of context, I'm only saying that people here are making DBZ look like an Adult show.

It doesn't really have the qualities of an adult show
It doesn't. People are just looking for excuses to complain about the violence.