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Cartoonito (American programming block)
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <h3>Background</h3> <p>In 1996, <a href="/facts/Cartoon_Network/0rdGXMmw">Cartoon Network</a> created a Sunday morning block of preschool programs, consisting of <i><a href="/facts/Big_Bag/KfvFs4F1">Big Bag</a></i> (a live-action/puppet television program by the <a href="/facts/Sesame_Workshop/0YwheTHS">Children's Television Workshop</a>), <i><a href="/facts/Small_World_(American_TV_series)/kSLfAwMS">Small World</a></i> (an anthology of foreign children's shows), and <i><a href="/facts/Cave_Kids/ToErdQWg">Cave Kids</a></i>. However, <i>Big Bag</i> ran until 1998, while <i>Small World</i> ran until 2002. Once <i>Big Bag</i> left the lineup in 2001, its space was filled by <i><a href="/facts/Baby_Looney_Tunes/bbVRDf2K">Baby Looney Tunes</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Pecola/Jwl0V3TF">Pecola</a>, <a href="/facts/Sitting_Ducks_(TV_series)/fmW70Pry">Sitting Ducks</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Hamtaro/5GYGmEhS">Hamtaro</a></i> in 2003. The block moved to weekday mornings thereafter. </p><p>On August 22, 2005, Cartoon Network debuted <a href="/facts/Tickle-U/G4smaHew">Tickle-U</a>, the network's first official attempt at weekday-morning preschool <a href="/facts/Block_programming/aNFd2Rk0">programming block</a>. The block aired from 9 to 11 a.m.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> and featured a mix of domestic and foreign-imported series, with interstitial segments hosted by two <a href="/facts/Computer_animation/rPW63nm0">CGI</a> characters: a red <a href="/facts/Butterfly/qlSgwlRx">butterfly</a>-like creature named Pipoca (voiced by <a href="/facts/Ariel_Winter/RUIIy9Pu">Ariel Winter</a>) and a yellow <a href="/facts/Rabbit/8jQGWcQD">rabbit</a>-like creature named Henderson (voiced by <a href="/facts/Tom_Kenny/weqp7whx">Tom Kenny</a>). </p><p>Programs on Tickle-U included <a href="/facts/Warner_Bros._Animation/5JxbkXIf">Warner Bros. Animation</a>'s <i><a href="/facts/Firehouse_Tales/H6uN4rAt">Firehouse Tales</a></i> (its sole original series), Canadian co-productions <i><a href="/facts/Gerald_McBoing-Boing_(TV_series)/4HMyXGTR">Gerald McBoing-Boing</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/Harry_and_His_Bucket_Full_of_Dinosaurs/MBEFbdlz">Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs</a></i> (with <a href="/facts/Teletoon/8AXCByen">Teletoon</a> and <a href="/facts/Treehouse_TV/uzQmAJoq">Treehouse TV</a>), and British series <i><a href="/facts/Gordon_the_Garden_Gnome/wEhLazeY">Gordon the Garden Gnome</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Little_Robots/XL7mPDvE">Little Robots</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Peppa_Pig/8PHprG2u">Peppa Pig</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/Yoko!_Jakamoko!_Toto!/dVL1fREk">Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!</a></i>, some of which were re-dubbed for American audiences. The block was criticized by the <a href="/facts/Campaign_for_a_Commercial-Free_Childhood/BypCXUQp">CCFC</a>, for its marketing strategies.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> Tickle-U ended on January 13, 2006; some of its programs still aired on Cartoon Network until 2007 and in the United Kingdom on <a href="/facts/Cartoonito_(British_and_Irish_TV_channel)/5F2gPdX1">the native Cartoonito channel</a>. </p> <h3>Launch</h3> <p>On June 14, 2021, Cartoonito's <a href="/facts/YouTube/db276jst">YouTube</a> channel uploaded videos featuring new <a href="/facts/Station_identification/RIPqv6JH">idents</a> of the block's programs (which included <i><a href="/facts/Esme_%2526_Roy/ewoCvKLq">Esme & Roy</a></i>, <i>Mush-Mush & the Mushables</i>, <i><a href="/facts/Care_Bears%3a_Unlock_the_Magic/qFcmscfn">Care Bears: Unlock the Magic</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Love_Monster_(British_TV_series)/CUXMcNMJ">Love Monster</a></i>), and a newsletter was announced, with a new banner and avatar on the Cartoonito YouTube Channel in July.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> A trailer for the block was released on July 29, 2021.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h3>Scheduling</h3> <p>The block, originally eight hours in length between 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. <a href="/facts/Eastern_Time_Zone/jP4S8j1V">ET</a>/<a href="/facts/Pacific_Time_Zone/v04MPIjz">PT</a> weekdays and two hours (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ET/PT) on weekends, premiered on September 13, 2021 with an episode of <i><a href="/facts/Baby_Looney_Tunes/bbVRDf2K">Baby Looney Tunes</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> From there, the block would lose time due to viewer and ratings feedback, with the 1:00 p.m. hour returning to Cartoon Network on November 16 of the same year, then the noon hour on December 20. The weekend schedule was entirely discontinued on January 29, 2022, followed by the 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon block two days later.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>Through the summer of 2022, the block ended at 11:00 a.m. until the resumption of the academic year on September 5. A month later on October 3, the 6:00 a.m. hour was abandoned for Cartoon Network content, leaving it as a four-hour block going into 2023. It underwent two additional cuts, with 2½ hours removed on March 13 with a new 9:00 a.m. endtime, then another half-hour cut on February 19, 2024, resulting in the block airing for only an hour between 7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m. until its end on May 23, 2025.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> However, on October 3, the 6 a.m. time slot was removed, Cartoonito would begin at 7 a.m. after a regular Cartoon Network program, retaining its 4 hours.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="programming">Programming</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_Cartoonito/2vvG64gm">List of programs broadcast by Cartoonito</a></p> <p>Cartoonito featured co-productions and acquired programming, in addition to original series exclusive to the program block on Cartoon Network. Cartoonito's lineup included <i><a href="/facts/Bugs_Bunny_Builders/nAsmUg3H">Bugs Bunny Builders</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Batwheels/K1Fp0n6s">Batwheels</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Jessica%2527s_Big_Little_World/kjLxWuT8">Jessica's Big Little World</a></i>; with <i><a href="/facts/Sesame_Street/kejrLUeG">Sesame Street</a></i> exclusive to Max. </p> <h2 id="related-services">Related services</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Service</th><th>Description</th></tr><tr><td>Cartoonito on Demand</td><td>A <a href="/facts/Video_on_demand/jWQq1o80">video-on-demand</a> service, which launched concurrently in 2021, and was available to most subscription-based providers. The service offers select episodes of Cartoonito programming seen on Cartoon Network.</td></tr><tr><td>Cartoonito App</td><td>An online mobile app based on the Cartoonito website.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Max_(streaming_service)/s2wq20PT">Max</a></td><td>A <a href="/facts/Video_on_demand/jWQq1o80">subscription video-on-demand</a> hub that launched on <a href="/facts/Max_(streaming_service)/s2wq20PT">Max</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="international">International</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/The_Cartoon_Network%2c_Inc./0rdGXMmw">The Cartoon Network, Inc.</a></p> <p>Since its inception in the United States, Cartoonito rebranded 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Cartoon_Network/0rdGXMmw">Cartoon Network</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Boomerang_(TV_network)/SPdhJdnV">Boomerang</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Discovery_Family/u4V3CQFq">Discovery Family</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tiny_TV/EUs3t2wh">Tiny TV</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Max_(streaming_service)/s2wq20PT">Max</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/BabyFirst/mze1Qpcv">BabyFirst</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Disney_Junior/qnSekPm5">Disney Junior</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Nick_Jr._Channel/db3MBQQG">Nick Jr. Channel</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Noggin_(brand)/lrutwY5e">Noggin</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Universal_Kids/op0ueaHS">Universal Kids</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cartoonito. <ul><li><a href="https://www.max.com/channel/cartoon-network">Official website</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network". Animation Magazine. <a href="https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cartoonito-pre-k-block-debuts-sept-13-on-hbo-max-cartoon-network/" target="_blank">https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cartoonito-pre-k-block-debuts-sept-13-on-hbo-max-cartoon-network/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Valentine, Evan (May 23, 2025). "Cartoon Network Ends Major Programming Block". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 28, 2025. <a href="https://comicbook.com/anime/news/cartoon-network-cartoonito-shut-down/" target="_blank">https://comicbook.com/anime/news/cartoon-network-cartoonito-shut-down/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Cartoon Network Unveils 'Tickle U.'". Fox News. Associated Press. August 22, 2005. Retrieved April 8, 2018. <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/story/cartoon-network-unveils-tickle-u" target="_blank">https://www.foxnews.com/story/cartoon-network-unveils-tickle-u</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>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 from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170708022901/http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/cartoon-network%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ctickle-u%E2%80%9D-no-laughing-matter-ccfc-urges-families-stay-away-new-preschool" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170708022901/http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/cartoon-network%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ctickle-u%E2%80%9D-no-laughing-matter-ccfc-urges-families-stay-away-new-preschool</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"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 from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2021. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170708022901/https://commercialfreechildhood.org/cartoon-network%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ctickle-u%E2%80%9D-no-laughing-matter-ccfc-urges-families-stay-away-new-preschool" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170708022901/https://commercialfreechildhood.org/cartoon-network%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ctickle-u%E2%80%9D-no-laughing-matter-ccfc-urges-families-stay-away-new-preschool</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Tribune (October 25, 2005). "Network hopes to help develop preschoolers' sense of humor". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2020. <a href="https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/network-hopes-to-help-develop-preschoolers-sense-of-humor/article_5ca943f4-6171-50b7-a954-bb8a4abc6508.html" target="_blank">https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/network-hopes-to-help-develop-preschoolers-sense-of-humor/article_5ca943f4-6171-50b7-a954-bb8a4abc6508.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Cartoonito - YouTube". www.youtube.com. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrFslqncMIdjD2WfB6pAcEg" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrFslqncMIdjD2WfB6pAcEg</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Cartoonito Debuts Program Trailer and 'Sneak Peek' Clips". Animation World Network. July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021. <a href="https://www.awn.com/news/cartoonito-debuts-program-trailer-and-sneak-peek-clips" target="_blank">https://www.awn.com/news/cartoonito-debuts-program-trailer-and-sneak-peek-clips</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2021. <a href="https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cartoonito-pre-k-block-debuts-sept-13-no-hbo-max-cartoon-network/" target="_blank">https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cartoonito-pre-k-block-debuts-sept-13-no-hbo-max-cartoon-network/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>""Cocomelon" Joins Cartoon Network's Cartoonito Block – Nickandmore! News". January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022. <a href="https://www.nickandmore.com/news/cocomelon-joins-cartoon-networks-cartoonito-block/" target="_blank">https://www.nickandmore.com/news/cocomelon-joins-cartoon-networks-cartoonito-block/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Schedules, CN News/. "CN News Schedules". Twitter. Retrieved October 7, 2022. <a href="https://twitter.com/cnschedules/status/1528532751900676096?lang=en" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/cnschedules/status/1528532751900676096?lang=en</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Schedules, CN News/. "CN News Schedules". Twitter. Retrieved October 7, 2022. <a href="https://twitter.com/cnschedules/status/1577123104475578368" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/cnschedules/status/1577123104475578368</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"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. Retrieved February 25, 2021. <a href="https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/cartoon-network-9/warnermedia-kids-family-debut-cartoonito-new-preschool-programming-block-based" target="_blank">https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/cartoon-network-9/warnermedia-kids-family-debut-cartoonito-new-preschool-programming-block-based</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"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. Retrieved February 25, 2021. <a href="https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/cartoon-network-9/warnermedia-kids-family-debut-cartoonito-new-preschool-programming-block-based" target="_blank">https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/cartoon-network-9/warnermedia-kids-family-debut-cartoonito-new-preschool-programming-block-based</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>