However, the layoffs, which were widely anticipated, do not reveal the whole story of what is going on in the animation groups of Warner Bros. Discovery. In point of fact, there was an announcement made yesterday that was much more significant. This announcement will radically alter the structure of Cartoon Network Studios moving forward, which in turn will have a wide-ranging impact on the projects that the studio creates. The corporation refers to this as a “strategic realignment” in its announcement.
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and Cartoon Network Studios are going to be merged into one entity as part of the business’s plan to fully integrate its animation division, as stated by Chairman Channing Dungey in a memo that was distributed to all employees of the company (CNS). Sam Register will continue to serve as the head of WBA, CNS, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, all of which will continue to function separately from one another going forward.
According to the memo, all three designations will continue to exist, although it is possible that their presence may be more symbolic than actual. The development and production departments of WBA and CNS will soon be united into a single entity. This will build on the cross-studio teams that were previously in place for programming, casting, legal and commercial affairs, and artist connections.
This seems to be a portent of bad things to come for fresh and original Cartoon Network animation in the future. WBA has historically been known as a studio that places a much greater emphasis on its catalogue and intellectual property, whereas CNS has been known as the studio that is responsible for producing original series and specials, some of which go on to become touchstones for successive generations of viewers.
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Now that CNS has to share development and production resources with WBA, it is difficult to imagine a future in which the studio’s original animation output can match what it has been in the past. This is because Warner Bros. Discovery has expressed a desire to concentrate more heavily on intellectual property across all of its businesses under the leadership of boss David Zaslav. As long as Zaslav is in charge of Cartoon Network Studios, it is likely that the company would focus more on reviving older properties from its library, such as it is doing right now with The Powerpuff Girls, rather than developing new intellectual property.
Over the course of the past ten years, CNS has created a wide variety of shows, some of which include: Uncle Grandpa, Steven Universe, Clarence, Over the Garden Wall, We Bare Bears, Craig of the Creek, Summer Camp Island, Infinity Train, and Primal. On the other hand, WBA’s lineup has been centred on catalogue characters. Some examples of this include titles such as Batwheels, Bugs Bunny Builders, Aquaman: King of Atlantis, Teen Titans Go!, Jellystone!, Animaniacs, Looney Tunes Cartoons, Harley Quinn, Justice League Action, and The Tom and Jerry Show.
The gravity of the news from yesterday may not have fully sunk in for a lot of animation enthusiasts, but those working in the industry knew immediately the weight of the news and its implications on the future of Cartoon Network Studio and, by extension, Cartoon Network itself. A key figurehead at Cartoon Network Studios for the past 21 years, Brian Miller tweeted a quote from the Variety report along with a grim two-word summary of what he thinks it means for the future of Cartoon Network Studios: “RIP CNS.” Miller was the former general manager of Cartoon Network Studios.
Under the new organisational structure, Audrey Diehl will be in charge of the development of kids and family series at both WBA and CNS. Peter Girardi will be in charge of the development of adult animation, and Sammy Perlmutter will be in charge of the development of animated long-form series. Bobbie Page will be in charge of the main production. Ed Adams is going to keep his positions as executive vice president and general manager.
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