for the last several months, where anime seems to be making big moves mainstream, the name of one particular cable network always seems to pop up: cartoon network.

the same station that holds programming such as "powerpuff girls" and "space ghost: coast to coast", is also home to many an anime series that has done particularly well in america, including dragon ball z, sailor moon, gundam wing, and tenchi muyo. they have also played host to the bandai oav blue submarine no. 6, which is a completely different direction from much of the anime that has been produced with its extensive use of computer graphics for much of the series. soon, cartoon network will also have another show from bandai: outlaw star, as well as get 2 series that are relatively fresh from their run in japan: the big o and megami kohousei ("the candidate for goddess", to be renamed "pilot candidate").

the best part is that, with exception to time and what would be necessary to cut to meet censors, the translations and dubs have passed into the hands of cartoon network and out to the airwaves relatively unharmed (granted, some of the steps they have taken may have been a bit extreme for any show [why use digital swimsuits when it'd almost be easier to do some workable cropping? isn't that more expensive?]).

we should hope that more stations move to promote anime as heavily as cartoon network does. heck, the whole toonami block is basically anime. while other stations have made moves to push anime more mainstream (most notably kids wb with cardcaptors and fox with their short lived run of escaflowne [but hopefully a return soon with detective conan and... slayers?]), cartoon network is the only one who has seen any real level of success on the national level. sci-fi network will hopefully have more in the works, but as of yet, they haven't been as involved since they pulled their saturday morning anime movie from their line-up.

the staff at i360.com, along with myself, certainly wishes cartoon network continued success. we hope to see a good job done of outlaw star and candidate for goddess... ^_^

until next week sometime, ja!

monday, january 8, 2001 - 3:32 p.m. pst

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