Toonami to the Rescue: This Canceled Anime Got Revived with a Thrilling Second Season!
Despite being a flop in Japan, the anime series 'The Big O' found a surprising success in America, leading to Cartoon Network's decision to greenlight a second season Thanks to Toonami's popularity, this canceled anime received a well-deserved revival
Toonami's impact on the popularity of anime extends beyond its mainstream success. Not only did it introduce anime to a wider audience, but it also played a significant role in reviving canceled anime series. The success of re-runs of Dragon Ball Z prompted Toonami to change course and invest in new English episodes of the beloved show, partnering with Funimation for production. Additionally, after airing the final 17 episodes of Sailor Moon's DiC Productions dub, Cartoon Network went a step further and financed the dubbing of Sailor Moon S and Sailor Moon SuperS, although the decision was made to not dub the final season, Sailor Stars, for reasons deemed mutually beneficial. However, there was one instance where Toonami went above and beyond its usual efforts by rescuing a show from cancellation.
Toonami’s Programming Policy
Toonami TOM
Toonami, originally intended as a platform for 80s action cartoons, underwent a transformation when the team behind the block decided to start airing anime. This shift in focus led to Toonami being recognized as an anime block rather than just an action animation block.
Despite this change, the programming policies remained the same. Toonami had the freedom to acquire existing content but lacked the authorization to purchase new programs or create new dubs. This posed a challenge when popular shows like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon gained immense popularity on the network. Cartoon Network desired more episodes of these shows, but additional funding was required to produce English versions.
Initially hesitant, Cartoon Network eventually relented and funded a dub of season three of Dragon Ball Z.
This decision proved to be instrumental in establishing Toonami's presence in the industry. As a result, the network gained authorization to finance the creation of dubbed versions for anime shows that were yet to be released. Sailor Moon quickly followed suit, along with various Mobile Suit Gundam series. However, while Toonami was willing to invest in new dubs, they were hesitant to fund the production of original animated properties. This dynamic changed when The Big O came along.
The Big O Premiers in Japan (And No One Notices)
In Japan, Sunrise created an anime titled The Big O, which revolved around a city that experienced a complete loss of memory overnight. The storyline followed a detective and his android assistant as they embarked on a quest to unravel the mystery behind the collective amnesia, including their own, and the protagonist's unique ability to control a mechanized mobile device known as The Big O. Drawing inspiration from the art deco aesthetics of Batman: The Animated Series, The Big O did not achieve significant popularity in Japan. Despite initially planning for 26 episodes, only 13 episodes were ultimately produced, leaving the series on a suspenseful cliffhanger. The anime producers believed that the show would remain unfinished, until an unexpected turn of events occurred.
The Big O is a Big Success on Toonami
Toonami brought The Big O to America through a licensing agreement with Bandai. The show had an American feel that resonated with viewers, making it an unexpected success. However, the series ended with a cliffhanger, leaving fans confused. Toonami wanted a second season, but there was a problem: there was no interest in Japan for it. Despite this, Toonami decided to break their policy and fund a second season themselves, deviating from their usual practice of only financing new dubs.
Unfortunately, the second season didn't reach the same popularity as the first. This experience made Toonami and Cartoon Network more cautious about the anime they personally produced. Nonetheless, the second season received positive feedback, provided a satisfying conclusion to the story, and left everyone content. Looking back, it's fascinating to note that Cartoon Network was the original company to co-finance a successful anime production, paving the way for future Japanese-American co-productions. While platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll later became more involved in anime creation, Cartoon Network played a significant role in this collaborative trend.
