Toonami co-creator and Adult Swim’s senior vice president and creative director Jason DeMarco announced the Toonami anime block on Adult Swim will be shortened to three hours due to increased costs beginning on February 29th.
DeMarco made the announcement on Twitter writing, “Attention Toonami fans! A note about the lineup shrinkage. In an effort to keep rumors and speculation under control, here’s a little context: a couple months back, our programming department came to us and asked how we felt about shaving some time off of the Toonami broadcast.”
Attention #Toonami fans! A note about the lineup shrinkage. In an effort to keep rumors and speculation under control, here’s a little context: a couple months back, our programming department came to us and asked how we felt about shaving some time off of the Toonami broadcast.
— SPIRAL CURSE DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) February 7, 2020
He continued, “Essentially, at 5-1/2 to 6 hours, Toonami was getting too expensive and unwieldy to handle. Too many shows rotating in and out, which are costing more and more these days. And frankly, as I’ve said before, our preferred length for the block is three hours.”
Essentially, at 5-1/2 to 6 hours, Toonami was getting too expensive and unwieldy to handle. Too many shows rotating in and out, which are costing more and more these days. And frankly, as I’ve said before, our preferred length for the block is three hours.
— SPIRAL CURSE DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) February 7, 2020
DeMarco then announced the block would be shortened to three hours. He wrote, “So we are going to go back to the three hour Toonami for a while and see how that works! The block will still expand periodically as opportunities for new shows pop up, Toonami originals come in, etc.”
So: we are going to go back to the three hour Toonami for a while and see how that works! The block will still expand periodically as opportunities for new shows pop up, Toonami originals come in, etc.
— SPIRAL CURSE DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) February 7, 2020
The Toonami co-creator then added, “In short, don’t worry! We are not going anywhere. We have 6 (yes, six) shows in production for Toonami, including Uzumaki and Blade Runner. That’s all! Stay gold.”
In short, don’t worry! We are not going anywhere. We have 6 (yes, six) shows in production for Toonami, including Uzumaki and Blade Runner. That’s all! Stay gold.
— SPIRAL CURSE DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) February 7, 2020
He then confirmed the block will shrink to three hours, but added it will more than likely return to 3.5 hours “when something new comes available.”
I think we will shrink to 3 for a while and get back to 3.5 when something new comes available.
— SPIRAL CURSE DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) February 7, 2020
As posted to their Facebook page, Toonami’s line-up for February 22nd includes Dr. Stone’s Finale, Sword Art Online Alicization War of Underworld, Demon Slayer, Food Wars, Black Clover, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Naruto: Shippuden, The Promised Neverland, and Attack on Titan.
It’s line-up for February 29th includes My Hero Academia, Sword Art Online Alicization War of Underworld, Demon Slayer, Food Wars, Black Clover, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, and Naruto: Shippuden.
What do you make of the reduction to Toonami’s anime block?