This blog was originally published on Xanga May 21, 2013.
Hey Xangan friends, readers, and subscribers! A few days ago, I published another blog about Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. Without any complaints, that same blog continues to get readers.
After publishing the blog and replying to others on my page, I researched to see what other viewers' thoughts were about Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. This included reading Adult Swim's forum.
As I read their comments, 1 Adult Swim poster mentioned, that Adult Swim's so-called "Toonami" block recently became a Shonen Jump Block. After thinking about what the poster said, I realized that he/she was onto something.
By Adult Swim currently showing Bleach, Naruto, One Piece (a.k.a. the so-called "Big 3"), and Soul Eater, the Saturday midnight viewers have OFFICIALLY been alienated more than ever within these last few years.
I am not saying this to completely insult every Shonen Anime, that is currently airing. I am a Bleach and Naruto fan, but I have never been a One Piece or Soul Eater fan.
Aside from my personal bias, these Shonen Jump Anime are perennials much like American soap operas. Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's main purpose behind airing Anime is to expose their viewers to shows, that lack having exposure. Most casual Anime fans already know about Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece.
It is not terrible for those Shonen to be mainstream. However, if the networks' goals are to expose viewers to Anime in general, chances are great, that he/she might not watch any or all those shows. "The Big 3" mostly have filler arcs.
Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece's arcs have tendencies to go on really long tangents with irrelevant characters to their main plots. Adult Swim should've ONLY aired 1 perennial Anime at a time as opposed to simultaneously airing 3.
Even though I hated Deadman Wonderland last year, at least Adult Swim was somewhat moving in the right direction in regards to airing more adult content.
By NO means am I a prude, but Deadman Wonderland had GRATUITOUS violence, unrealistic writing, and a crybaby for a protagonist. At the same time, Deadman Wonderland wasn't a perennial with mostly filler arcs for teenage boys.
Sometimes I get the impression that Adult Swim revels in alienating their current and potential viewers. Some of us viewers of both genders say the network should diversify its Anime genres and sub-genres instead of ALWAYS playing things safe with 1 group of fans.
Other viewers have told me in the past, that Cartoon Network and Adult Swim are not Anime networks. They are completely justified in that argument. At the same time, Anime helped keep their ratings high whether the anti-Anime fans and the networks want to accept it or not.
Mind you, this was before, during, and especially after Adult Swim acquired the rights to air canceled WB cartoons, Family Guy, and other Fox cartoons.
Don't get me wrong. I love watching Family Guy, American Dad, The Boondocks, Robot Chicken, and Metalocalypse, whenever they have new seasons.
Like I already said, Anime helped boost Cartoon Network and Adult Swim's ratings. Some give Anime fans grief because some are bratty fans with mental/behavioral problems and identity crises. Those few Anime fans ruin it for us sane people, who love watching Anime, but aren't pretentious zealots and sycophants about it.
To viewers with little or no knowledge about Anime, they are Japanese cartoons meant for ALL ages. Yes, I said "cartoons" because they are a Japanese form of animation, dating back to the 1920's and '30s. *Gasps*
Anime has genres and sub-genres for children (Kodomo), girls (Shojo), women (Josei), boys (Shonen), and men (Seinen). There are also the pornographic kind (Hentai) and a few others.
To be more specific, Kodomo, Shojo, Josei, Shonen, and Seinen are actually age and gender demographics. Those of us, who actually follow Anime OUTSIDE of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, know that Anime is NOT always Shonen Action.
There are Anime and Manga in Action, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Slice of Life (which depicts everyday life in Japan much like America's Seinfeld), etc.
Cartoon Network and Adult Swim fail to realize much less care to realize, that only airing Shonen Action Anime helps generate ignorance; Some Anime "fans" only know about Shonen.
Then again, I mostly blame our American marketers for knowing nothing about Japanese entertainment, culture, religions, and sub-cultures.
Those who really want to watch other genres and sub-genres can order certain channels, buy the DVD/Blurays, and/watch legal and illegal online streams and downloads. Although, that only helps the industry to an extent.
I think most people have at least basic cable/satellite, as
well as local channels but not every channel airs Anime. When the Industry reached its pinnacle, during the early 21st Century, Syfy, Chiller
TV, Colours TV, Fuse TV, IFC, Starz, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim all
showed Anime.
Since we're no longer in the early 21st Century and more people can ILLEGALLY download and stream Anime (as I'm blogging), the Anime Industry is suffering. Cartoon Network and Adult Swim are the most convenient and consistent. Both networks can help give newer Anime and genres more exposure. As I said earlier, Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece have the most exposure and enough of it.
If these 2 networks really want to spike their viewer ratings, while begging their Anime fans to watch them, they must:
1) STOP patronizing their viewers with a CGI robot (He self-righteously lectured fans about being a "hater")
2) START diversifying their programming by airing something their viewers and potential viewers want to watch.
Adult Swim's male viewers have especially been throwing in their towels left and right, since the network mostly airs mindless garbage. Anytime most of its male audience hates watching most of the programming, that should be a red flag.
Anyway, I'll continue to only watch Bleach on Saturday nights. Until Adult Swim's Toonami airs more shows, that we want to watch, my TV will be turned off.
