Mr. Idea Box

And the last week of What A Cartoon ends, presumably being the last time we see these shorts on television. As for my thoughts on the final six? At least they got the original openings back this week. Pat Ventura is one of the most bizarre creators this side of Ralph Bakshi. I don't want to say the Courage pilot looks bad, but you can tell Dilworth had a bigger animation budget for the series.

Funny how a Sailor Moon episode with the name Naru in it immediately precedes a Naru-to episode. Let the fan art commence.

Swap IFG and Daima, and this would be my dream November Toonami lineup.

If they did air this show next year, my hope is that they air it in September and give it the October marathon treatment. But let's be reasonable, it'll get a January or February cycle if that does happen.

The one show that would be deemed perfect for Toonami otherwise, and I forgot it in my predictions. Goes to show how sparse information was before now. Option B would be the best outcome for Toonami, while the worst would be Option A. Do you want the Undead Unluck fate thrust upon Goku and Vegeta? As for what I want out of these rumors, it's probably Option C or D, as I'm split down the middle.

Cool trailer! Now watch this be on Crunchyroll and too expensive for Toonami to get.

Thank God.

With all of these casting calls for the second season alone, I have a bad feeling it'll be too crowded when it does come out.

You know, if it was on both blocks, I'd prefer Rewind getting the lead over Toonami. Of course, if it was really up to me, Invincible Fight Girl would've been the first Rewind exclusive. But I know that's unlikely at this rate. On the other hand, I too would like more than two shows a night on Rewind. With all this hoopla, I didn't even think of how interesting a post-Naruto schedule would look. Between that, Uzumaki finally airing, and the latest Demon Slayer arc they could grab, I guess we're about to have one of the most mind-freeing two months in quite some time. In fact, I'd almost welcome a two-month hiatus. All that's really changing is a One Piece episode surplus and MHA waiting a couple more months for its return, especially if Toonami Rewind covers the slack on Fridays. Would that really be bad this year, after two finales and a handful of originals?

I'd hate to put a damper on things, but unless I'm mistaken, this accusation was from 2016. I hope I'm mistaken. Otherwise? This is something I feel like I can blame Seth MacFarlane on that doesn't involve his shows.

Today begins a new month, and next Saturday gives us Two Piece and the Ninja Kamui finale. Seeing as though Toonami is effectively booked through til November, I thought I should make some early predictions. Invincible Fight Girl: 9/10 I wouldn't want this show to be on Adult Swim, but if Canada's getting it in the Fall, we should brace ourselves for this. My Hero Academia Season 7: 9/10 Between their current path of MHA reruns and how they breezed past the Demon Slayer reruns in summer, I think Season 7 may finally come to Toonami in November. I'd even say the month of October will have three episodes of Season 6 a night, just to get through the old season before premiering the new one. I mean, it's only airing reruns at 2 in the morning... Toonami loses 3 AM: 7/10 By my calculations, there will be a minimum of four open slots that Toonami must fill on Saturday nights. As such, it wouldn't surprise me if they decided to give 3 AM back to regular Adult Swim programming. Boruto returns: 6/10 My apologies for those who want more original properties, but there is a vacancy in the Hokage timeline. Now that Shippuden has ended and OG Naruto is on a different night, maybe it's time to get reintroduced to his son. Besides, there does seem to be a renewed interest in the manga recently. Something from Viz, Aniplex, or HiDive: 6/10 If they were to partner with one of their regulars, it would likely be at 1 or 1:30, assuming IFC, MHA, and One Piece remain on the block. Considering the options, it could be anything. Urusei Yatsura (2022): 5/10 Do I expect this to happen? Not really. But I'm still holding out hope. Reruns of Lycoris and/or Zom 100: 4/10 I know these two would be out of season, especially Zom 100, but they've gotta fill up space somehow. That should do it. Hey, wait a second! If my episode calculations are correct, Dragon Ball Z Kai will have caught up to the Saturday reruns! SCREW IT, REWIND BONUS ROUND! DBZ Kai airs the same episode two nights a week: 6/10 In the year 2024, it wouldn't surprise me if DBZ Kai repeats an episode twice in different timeslots. I would prefer if they didn't do that, but I'm not in the programming department. DBZ Kai becomes exclusive to one block: 5/10 This is a realistic hope, but I'm at a crossroads. Does Kai become exclusive to Toonami Rewind and free up another open slot on Saturdays, or does it become a Saturday exclusive and free up a Rewind slot? Whatever happens, I hope they choose a direction. Toonami Rewind moves to early Sunday mornings: 5/10 This has become a legitimate fear of mine when it comes to Toonami's future. If Rewind merges into the Saturday lineup and becomes its new back half, say goodbye to tolerable ratings. And yet, it would answer the question of how to fill an equal slot here. Double Naruto (no gap filled): 5/10 Whichever road Dragon Ball Z Kai takes, I feel like it would degrade into the same repetition as Checkered Past normally goes through, devolving into two Sailor Moon episodes and two Naruto episodes. If Kai moves directly to Saturdays, that's what it becomes. If the whole Rewind block moves there, it fills space easier. Toonami Rewind adds a fourth show: 4/10 I think it's safe to say that most things under the Discovery umbrella aren't what we want to happen, but they are what we don't want to see. As a result, I have doubts we'd get more than Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and Naruto as Rewind programming. Naruto: The Missing Episodes or IGPX Season 2: 4/10 On par with Rewind getting a fourth show, filling the gap with the missing Naruto arc or the slightly-overdue IGPX second season isn't as likely as I once thought. If it looks like I'm unsure on what the end of the year holds for Toonami in 2024, that's because I am. I just hope their lineup isn't as bland as other months are, but I know better than to hope for things that are directly handled by Z*****'s whipping mule of a film studio.

As the East Coast begins tonight's Toonami broadcast, let me just say this. I am completely surprised that Naruto somehow aired the entire story on Toonami's airwaves. Sure, there have been some setbacks throughout history, the four-year gap that allowed for Disney X.D. to scoop up the rights being chief among them, but at the end of the day, I'm kinda glad we can send this Hokage out to the tune of "Here Comes the Bride", or whatever the Japanese equivalent is. On the other hand, even when the Attack on Titan finale ended at the beginning of this year, I still thought this was an impossibility. Now that it's actually going to happen in a few hours, I will send out my own words of parting. PARTY NO JITSU! FREE RAMEN FOR ALL! BELIEVE IT! (with apologies to the Japanese seiyuu)

I admit missing some protagonists was on me, but I didn't want to make it too long of a post. At least I gave someone a lasting impact here. No comment.

Between Rick and Morty, Demon Slayer, Uzumaki, and My Hero Academia reruns, it's safe to say Toonami is booked until November. And when a programming block is booked for two months, I get bored. And when I got bored this time, I thought I'd get you guys in on the act... If all the Toonami protagonists (as of October 2024) were shoved into a fighting ring at maximum power, who would survive? For posterity reasons, here's the list: Space Ghost (Cartoon Roulette) Jonny Quest (The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest) Lion-O (ThunderCats '85) Lion-O (ThunderCats '11) Keith Kogane (Voltron) Rick Hunter (Robotech) Optimus Primal (Beast Wars: Transformers) Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) Son Goku (Dragon Ball Z/Kai/Super) Kid Goku (Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball GT) Superman (Super Friends) Superman (S:TAS) Superman (My Adventures with Superman) Bob (ReBoot) Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls) Ryo Sanada (Ronin Warriors) Ace Goodheart (G-Force: Guardians of Space) Heero Yuy (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing) Tenchi Masaki (Tenchi Muyo!/Tenchi Universe/Tenchi in Tokyo) Batman (B:TAS) Batman (Batman Beyond) Batman (The Batman) Batman (Beware the Batman) Tetsu Hayami (Blue Submarine No. 6) Gene Starwind (Outlaw Star) Roger Smith (The Big O) Derek Wildstar (Star Blazers) (AKA: Space Battleship Yamato) Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura) Amuro Ray (Mobile Suit Gundam/Gundam: Advent of the Red Comet) Shiro Amada (Gundam: The 08th MS Team) Bit Cloud (Zoids: New Century) Alfred Izuhara (Gundam: War in the Pocket) Parn (Record of Lodoss War) Captain Harlock (Harlock Saga) Noa Izumi (Patlabor) Van Flyheight (Zoids: Chaotic Century) Hamtaro Domon Kasshu (G Gundam) He-Man (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe '02) Optimus Prime (Transformers: Armada/Energon/Cybertron) Duke (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero '83) Tsukasa (.hack//Sign) Akito Tenkawa (Neon Genesis Evangelion) Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) Gigantor Shunsuke Akagi (Dai-Guard) Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho) Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) Wonder Woman (Justice League/Unlimited) Cyborg 009 Shute (SD Gundam) Samurai Jack Josef Wheeler (Hot Wheels: World Race) Shobu Kirifuda (Duel Masters) Astro Boy '03 Jackie Chan (Jackie Chan Adventures) Kira Yamato (Gundam SEED) Coop (Megas XLR) Haru Glory (Rave Master) Robin (Teen Titans '03) Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars: Clone Wars '03) Jet Siegel (D.I.C.E.) Zatch Bell Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece) Yugi Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh!) Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto/Naruto Shippuden) Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo Takeshi Jin (IGPX) Ash Ketchum (Pokemon) Ben Grimm (Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes) Jaden Yuki (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX) Ryoma Echizen (The Prince of Tennis) Ginta Toramizu (MAR) Aerrow (Storm Hawks) Dan Kuso (Bakugan: Battle Brawlers) Shu (Blue Dragon) Ben Tennyson (Ben 10: Alien Force) Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach) Vash the Stampede (Trigun) Ganta Igarashi (Deadman Wonderland) Casshern (Casshern Sins) Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) Daisuke Aramaki (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop) Shimada Kanbei (Samurai 7) Renton Thurston (Eureka Seven) Ilana (Sym-Bionic Titan) Seina Yamada (Tenchi Muyo! GXP) InuYasha Soul Evans (Soul Eater) Kirito (Sword Art Online) Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars: The Clone Wars '08) Haruko Haruhara (FLCL/Progressive/Alternative/Grunge/Shoegaze) Space Dandy Rin Okumura (Blue Exorcist) Rock Okajima (Black Lagoon) Eren Yaeger (Attack on Titan) Simon the Digger (Gurren Lagann) Alucard (Hellsing Ultimate) Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill) Michiko Malandro (Michiko and Hatchin) Tatsumi (Akame ga Kill!) Shinichi Izumi (Parasyte -The Maxim-) Fuu (Samurai Champloo) Kyouma Mabuchi (Dimension W) Gon Freecss (Hunter x Hunter '11) Mikazaki Augus (Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) Saitama (One-Punch Man) Jonathan Joestar (JJBA: Phantom Blood) Jotaro Kujo (JJBA: Stardust Crusaders/Golden Wind) Josuke Higashikata (JJBA: Diamond is Unbreakable) Banagher Links (Gundam: Unicorn) Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul) Arsene Lupin III (Lupin the Third: Parts 4-6) Asta Starla (Black Clover) Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia) Popuko (Pop Team Epic) Boruto Uzumaki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations) Shigeo "Mob" Kagayama (Mob Psycho 100) Gearless Joe (Megalobox) Emma (The Promised Neverland) Soma Yukihira (Food Wars! Shokugemi no Soma) Shinra Kusakabe (Fire Force) Julian Chase (Gen:LOCK) Senki Ishigami (Dr. Stone) Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) Lil' Slugger (Paranoia Agent) Gaz Digby (Ballzmastrz: 9009) Koro-sensei (Assassination Classroom) Makasu (Gemusetto) Spear (Primal) Yuta Hibiki (SSSS.Gridman) Towa Higurashi (YashaHime: Princess Half-Demon) Harley Quinn (Harley Quinn '19) Fena Houtman (Fena: Pirate Princess) Elle (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) Riko (Made in Abyss) Ryo Hazuki (Shenmue: The Animation) Kimi Shirokado (Housing Complex C) Emma Fairfax (Unicorn: Warriors Eternal) Takina Inoue (Lycoris Recoil) Joe Logan (Ninja Kamui) Akira Tendo (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty: The Anime) Kirie Goshima (Uzumaki) That is 145 potential fighters shoved into a last man standing fight. Who comes out on top here? And why is it going to be from shonen?

I mean, I was gonna watch the show regardless. But HOLY SHIT.

On the one hand, I certainly didn't expect this. On the other hand, will it be the original 90s version or the 2012 reboot?

That is a good point. However, I'd also consider Toonami losing the 3 AM slot again. Sure, they only lost it for January, but I wouldn't be surprised if the MHA recap was the last time Toonami ran for 3.5 hours this year.

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

Maybe it's because my knowledge of One Piece comes from pop culture osmosis, but why would Vivi be called Miss Wednesday? Is it a Netflix thing?

On the one hand, I want this movie to succeed so that DeMarco doesn't end up like Andy Merrill. On the other hand, I don't know who's in charge of Toonami's acquisitions unit.

She may not be Jamie Lee Curtis, but I expected someone I didn't recognize. This could be a good performance.

Assuming you're right, and the One Piece debt is paid during the late-October period, while My Hero Academia is tripled for a month AND given a marathon (or given the Daylight Savings burn-off treatment), this would also have some results for the rest of the lineup. DBZ Kai would air the same episode twice in a week. Episode 30, if my calculations are correct. So either Rewind gets a shakeup or the mainline block does. Invincible Fight Girl could bump MHA down to a 12:30 slot, assuming it becomes the holiday title for Toonami. They could pull something from HiDive or Viz to fill in one of the available slots. Now that Shippuden is actually ending, and its slot is given to Two Piece, the Straw Hats can't regularly take on 1 AM by Christmas. Now watch them do exactly that because the budget belt is the only tight thing during Thanksgiving dinner. All this to say it's a mostly-complete question mark on how Toonami could look in three months time.

Why.

This seems to have slipped through the cracks, but Adult Swim is considering making more anime spinoffs in the future, as per Comic Con. https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-anime-adult-swim-spinoffs-comic-con-sdcc-2024/ I'm sure we all have our requests for what could come next. Venture Bros., Metalocalypse, The Eric Andre Show, and so on. But I want to see a Harvey Birdman anime over all of them. More specifically, I want to see Harvey try to defend anime characters in court, legal snafus be damned. WB has connections with Viz Media, Sentai Studios, and Studio Ghibli among others, and they already have 60s anime like Marine Boy to pull from in-house. But even I know that's a pie-in-the-sky wish. What's yours?

It's like we all expect IFG to only get that one season, like with Warriors Eternal. I'm pretty sure it's just on the wrong network, the show itself has some promise.