Twenty years ago, Cartoon Network officially launched Adult Swim, a late-night block of animated programming featuring four new shows from Williams Street Productions based in Atlanta. Adult Swim pushed the limits of what cartoons could be in wildly creative ways.
old adult swim cartoons
Cartoon Network already had an original adult-oriented cartoon with the 1994 launch of Space Ghost Coast to Coast that turned a forgotten Hanna-Barbera character into a talk show host. Cohen says the idea for an entire block of similar programming was always appealing, but increasing competition pushed the network to take the plunge.
After the successful launch of Space Ghost, Cohen says the idea of an adult block of animated programming started to feel like a necessity because of competing programming on other channels. The Nielson ratings told her that 20 percent of their viewing audience were adults, but there was still the risk of alienating parents who now entrusted their kids to Cartoon Network during the day.
While The Simpsons catered to a previously ignored market of adult and teenage animation fans, nothing had a greater influence on the development of adult animation than Cartoon Network's popular nighttime programming block, Adult Swim. Since its premiere in 2001, Adult Swim has divided Western animation into two distinct categories - the Disney-influenced half aimed at children and the Adult Swim-influenced half aimed at an older crowd. In a relatively short amount of time, Adult Swim has cultivated its own unique brand of cartoon entertainment, combining surrealism, anti-humor and bad animation. For better and for worse, Adult Swim has consistently pushed the boundaries of how weird TV can get while still being mainstream. While Adult Swim has branched out and created some live action shows, their live action material rarely strays from the path forged by their cartoons.
If Mission Hill isn't remembered, that's because people have taste. The show centered on a series of childless adult friends who live in the same apartment building. Outside of being animated, it did little to set itself apart from similar sitcoms like Seinfeld, Friends or How I Met Your Mother, except that it lacked the charms of a Jerry Seinfeld or a Jennifer Aniston.
Toonheads was the closest that Cartoon Network has ever come to Turner Classic Movies programming, and that's a very good thing. The series broadcast a series of short cartoons from masters of the form like Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, the Fleischer Brothers and Friz Freleng, alongside commentary about their creation.
It was a great way to introduce these classic cartoons to a new generation and a great way for Cartoon Network to pay homage to the giant on whose shoulders they were standing. If only this series could be reinvented!
Whether the shows were short-lived, older, or just not as popular, there are plenty of underrated Adult Swim cartoons that deserve more recognition than they got. Many of them were even more unique than the most popular shows, but they just never caught on. Regardless of the reason, all the following Adult Swim shows are underrated for one reason or another.
From 2001 to 2007, this show aired on Adult Swim with a total of 4 seasons. It relied heavily on references to these older cartoons though, so the jokes were really only funny if you understood all the references.
Brendon Small is a young aspiring filmaker who is named after one of the show's creators. In his free time, he makes movies with his friends, Melissa and Jason. However, he also has to deal with the quirky adults in his life, including his divorced mother and his alcoholic soccer coach who he has a bizarre father-like relationship with.
The Brak Show is a spin-off of the animated series called Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Both cartoons used footage from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Space Ghost, which was a superhero show in the 1960s as opposed to a comedy. The Brak Show was featured on Adult Swim from 2000 to 2003 with a total of 3 seasons, however, it was later canceled to make room for new content.
go on youtube. there are so many amazing people creating the most absurd stuff you would have never found otherwise. you have to dig a bit, but its insane what people make. adult swim smalls are a good example, or things from the aunty donna crew, or people who make video documentaries like nakeyjakey and eddy burback, etc.
Adult SwimCartoon Network BlockNetworkCartoon NetworkLaunchedSeptember 2, 2001CancelledMarch 28, 2005Television NetworkLaunchedMarch 28, 2005Parent CompanyWarner Bros. EntertainmentAdult Swim (stylized as [adult swim] or abbreviated as [as]) is an American timeshare cable television network bundled with Cartoon Network, airing from 8:00 PM until 6:00 AM in the United States (Sometimes 9:00 PM-6:00 AM, depending on the season of the year). The programs featured on Adult Swim are geared toward teens and young adults. Broadcast since 2001, much of the network's general content is known for its risqué, unorthodox and often bizarre presentation, while many of the series' features are developed in stark contrast with traditional American television programs. The network was granted its own Nielsen ratings report due to differing target demographics, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. The block features stylistically varied animated and live-action shows including original programming, syndicated shows and Japanese anime, generally with minimal or no editing for content. Most recently, the majority of the action shows fall under the category of "Toonami shows" on the Adult Swim website.
In the United States, Adult Swim has, over the course of its history, frequently cycled through and aired either recent or older features of adult animation, foreign anime, mockumentaries and sketch comedy, among many other programs consisting of pilots and their subsequent, short-lived series' and numerous spinoffs and shows that have sexual themes, frank sex talk, nudity, strong language and hard violence. While the network features trendy comedies and dramas of all types, many of its programs could be considered aesthetically experimental, transgressive, improvised and surreal in nature. Adult Swim has contracted with various studios such as Williams Street, Augenblick Studios and PFFR, all of which are notable for their productions in absurd and shock comedy. As of 2013, Aqua Teen Hunger Force is the longest running Adult Swim-made series on the network
Adult Swim grew out of Cartoon Network's previous attempts at airing content appropriate for teenagers and young adults who might be watching the channel after 11pm. The network began experimenting with its late-night programming by airing anthology shows like ToonHeads and Late Night Black and White, both of which presented uncensored classic cartoon shorts. Space Ghost Coast to Coast, one of Cartoon Network's first forays into original programming, was created in 1994 specifically for late-night audiences. The series was created by Ghost Planet Industries, which eventually became Williams Street Studios, the eventual producers and programmers of Adult Swim.
Created by Matt Groening, The Simpsons is considered not only one of the best cartoons ever, but one of the best television series ever, and is the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American scripted primetime television series.
The show ran for 11 series and directly inspired the Adult Swim cartoons Sealab 2021, The Brak Show, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, with Eric Andre also citing it as an inspiration.
Adult Swim (stylized as [adult swim] or [as]) is an American cable network that operates every weeknight from 9:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and every weekend from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m, Eastern and Pacific Time, on Cartoon Network. Both networks are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery through the Warner Bros. subsidiary. It is programmed by Williams Street Productions, a subsidiary of Turner, which also developed two prior television programming blocks seen on Cartoon Network: Toonami (which later became a block on Adult Swim in 2012) and Miguzi. The name comes from a phrase used by public swimming pools in the United States to label designated times when children are restricted from using the facilities in favor of adults.
In the United States, Adult Swim has frequently aired recent or older adult animation features, Japanese anime, mockumentaries, sketch comedy, live-action, and pilots. Shows may have sexual themes, frank sexual discussion, nudity, strong language, and graphic violence. While the network features comedies and dramas of all types, many of its programs are aesthetically experimental, transgressive, improvised, and surreal in nature. Adult Swim has contracted with various studios known for their productions in absurd and shock comedy.
Cartoon Network's original head programmer, Mike Lazzo, conceived Adult Swim. The block grew out of Cartoon Network's previous attempts at airing content appropriate for teenagers and young adults who might be watching the channel after 11 pm (ET/PT). The network began experimenting with its late night programming by airing anthology shows that presented uncensored classic cartoon shorts, such as ToonHeads, The Bob Clampett Show, The Tex Avery Show, Late Night Black and White, and O Canada. Another block, Toonami's "Midnight Run", aired the network's action programming uncut with minimal edits. At that time, one third of Cartoon Network's audience were adults.
During the 1990s, prime time animation geared toward adults started growing popular due to the success of Fox's hit show The Simpsons. This was followed by a trend of other adult-oriented animated shows throughout the decade, as well as more general-oriented animated series that garnered strong adult followings.
Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Cartoon Network's first foray into original programming, was created in 1994 specifically for late-night adult audiences. The series was created by Mike Lazzo's Ghost Planet Industries, which eventually became Williams Street Studios, the producers and programmers of Adult Swim.[citation needed] 2ff7e9595c
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