LogInIs one of the most iconic animation studios actually shutting down?
Over the past couple of hours, a new hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork took over Twitter, with claims that the beloved animation studio and its production arm, Cartoon Network Studios, are essentially dead at this point, making it seem like an official announcement regarding the studio's shutdown is set to take place in the immediate future.
Kicked off by Animation Workers Ignited's latest post, the #RIPCartoonNetwork trend encouraged users to share their favorite CN shows that have either been discontinued or ended, aiming to highlight the current struggles in the animation industry, such as layoffs, project cancellations, and questionable business practices adopted by some of the CEOs.
While the message AWI's short animation tried to convey is, undeniably, a positive one, its relative vagueness and the hashtag's wording led many to believe that Cartoon Network is actually shutting down for good. Numerous Twitter users began lamenting the apparent closure, sharing stories about their favorite cartoons and reminiscing about classics like Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Dexter's Laboratory, and more:
Amplifying the rumor even further, some users shared a picture of Cartoon Network's Burbank headquarters with the CN logo being removed, which, at first glance, may indeed appear to be actual proof of the studio's closure:
Alright, what is actually going on here? First and foremost, to answer the main question: no, neither Cartoon Network the channel nor Cartoon Network Studios are shutting down. Despite facing some challenges in the post-pandemic era and having to cancel a few shows, they are still alive and kicking, and there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest otherwise. 80 Level has reached out to the Cartoon Network team for clarification, and we will provide an update once we receive their response.
Regarding the Burbank photo, it was actually taken in 2023 when Cartoon Network's long-term lease of the building from Hollywood Production Center ended, and the team relocated its operations to Warner Bros. buildings:
TL;DR: Cartoon Network is not shutting down, and the #RIPCartoonNetwork hashtag is only there to put some spotlight on the animation industry's current-day issues.
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