The late 1990s and early 2000s was a very exciting time to be a fan of anime. What had once been a relatively niche product which often saw dramatic edits and changes to try to appeal to Americans began to hit mainstream popularity and, while many edits continued to occur, series and films began to be released in a more loyal fashion. While there were many avenues that the burgeoning Western anime fans could pursue to experience the world of anime, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at one particular source, Toonami, and how it contributed to the rising Western fandom.
First, let’s discuss the origins of Toonami. Originally releasing as a programming block within Cartoon Network in 1997 to replace the Super Adventures block, it oriented itself as focused on action animated series, in contrast to the comedy series typical for the channel. The early years predominantly focused on Western animated series although we did see a smattering of anime series such as Voltron, Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z. However, the brand was refocused in 1999 with the establishment of a new host for the channel, T.O.M., and the announcement of Toonami Midnight Run, a programming block that would air after midnight and show content too violent or inappropriate for the daytime Toonami block.
