Sep 18, 2015

Nickelodeon Revives '90s Cartoons with "Splat"

As this century's audience migrates from traditional television to computers, tablets, and smartphones, Nickelodeon is trying to lure them back with a block of programming that reruns some of the coolest shows of the last century. [In October, Nickelodeon will air John Kricfalusi's "The Ren & Stimpy Show," Klasky/Chupeau's "Rugrats," Craig Bartlett's "Hey Arnold! and others, will present "The Splat," a channel specializing in popular shows from the 90s that have inherited the genes of today's animated TV shows.

Details are sparse so far, but Nickelodeon confirmed to Cartoon Brew that The Splat's placeholder site and YouTube channel are formative strands of a larger plan to revive the network's vintage hits for a new generation

The network's new YouTube channel is a formative strand in a larger plan to revive vintage hits for a new generation.

Which specific shows will make up Spratt's roster could not be confirmed, although the trailer above gives a pretty good idea of what will end up there first. The move makes sense for Nickelodeon and parent company Viacom, which have struggled creatively in the face of declining ratings and overwhelming programming. Bringing back a show from Nickelodeon's golden age for younger viewers who may only know the long-running "SpongeBob" could ironically breathe new life into Nickelodeon.

The nostalgic revival of Splat, at least for now, is a departure from Nickelodeon's vision of reorganizing classic classics as stand-alone movies or specials. That separation would likely include live-action and animated hybrid Nicktoons like the rumored Avengers, which Cartoon Brew reported earlier this month.

But even if Splatoon is simply a recurrence of older anime on a dedicated platform, it would be a sign that Nickelodeon is beginning to realize that there is really no legitimate reason to hide these beloved shows behind more current programming that is failing to capture viewers. In fact, the lack of limited viewing options and business models is the main reason why the Internet, mobile technology, and streaming media are annihilating reserved television, perhaps for good. Better to evolve with the times than face extinction.