Oct 12, 2022

As you know, the Cartoon Network studio is gone thanks to David Zaslav.

Warner Bros.Television Group (WBTVG) fired 82 screenwriters, no script and animation employees on Tuesday, not filling more than 43 vacant positions. The 125 positions represent 26% of the corporate workforce across these units.

However, the layoffs that were generally expected don't tell the whole story of what's going on in Warner Bros. Discovery's animation unit. In fact, yesterday, the company called it part of a "strategic restructuring" that will radically change the structure of the upcoming Cartoon Network studio and have a far-reaching impact on the projects it generates."

In a company-wide memo, Chairman Channing Dungey told staff that the company plans to fully merge Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and Cartoon Network Studios (CNS) and integrate its TV animation division. Going forward, Sam Register will continue as Head of WBA and CNS, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, with the latter operating independently of the other 2.

According to the note, all 3 labels will continue to exist, but will probably be more of a name than they actually are. Both development and production at the WBA and CNS will be integrated and extended to cross-studio teams already located for programming, casting, legal, business affairs and artist relationships. This means that Cartoon Network Studio no longer has an independent say on anything that has never happened before its existence, either creative or operational problems.

This also seems an ominous sign for the future of the new original cartoon Network animation. The WBA is traditionally a much more catalog/IP-driven studio, and CNS is a studio that occasionally puts out original series and specials that become touchstones for generations of viewers.

Over the past 10 years, CNS has produced shows such as Uncle Grandpa, Steven Universe, Clarence, Over the Garden Wall, We Bare Bears, Craig of The Creek, Summer Camp Island, Infinity Train, and Primal. It was a great experience. Conversely, the Wba lineup focuses on catalog characters, including titles such as Batwheels, Bugs Bunny Builders, Aquaman: King of Atlantis, and Teen Titans Go.Jelliston, Animaniacs, Rooney Tunes comics, Harley Quinn, Justice League Action, Tom and Jerry Show.

David Zaslav under Boss, Warner Bros. As Discovery expresses its desire to focus more on IP across all its operations, CNS has to share development and production resources with the WBA, and as long as Zaslav is king, Cartoon Network Studios could move more strongly to rebooting existing catalogs, as it currently does with Powerpuff Girls, rather than launching a new IP. It's a good idea.

While the importance of yesterday's news may not have completely sunk in for many animation fans, business officials quickly understood the magnitude of the news and its impact on the future of Cartoon Network studios – and, consequently, of Cartoon Network. Brian Miller, a former general manager of Cartoon Network Studios and a key figure for the company's 21 years, tweeted a quote from the Variety report and a grim 2-word summary of what he believes to mean for the future of Cartoon Network Studios."RIP CNS."

Under the new setup, child and family series development in both the WBA and CNS will be supported by Audrey Diehl, adult animation development by peter Girardi, and animated longform series by Sammy Perlmutter, while Ed Adams will continue to serve as Executive vp and General Manager.