Discover the truth behind the trending hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork. Cartoon Network is not closing, despite what some have said. Learn about the viral video that sparked the trend and the challenges facing the animation industry. Read more to understand the full story and support the animation community.
The hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork has been doing rounds online these past few days, and feelings of nostalgia have kicked in for many, resulting in much a flutter in the hearts of any fan of the said beloved channel. The trend came to life after a video surfaced on X, formerly Twitter, claiming Cartoon Network is “dead.” With the hashtag furiously trending, it evoked a deluge of memories from users who grew up watching iconic shows like “The Powerpuff Girls,” “Dexter’s Laboratory,” and “Adventure Time.” But the reality behind the hashtag goes totally opposite to the dire fate that it suggests.
The Viral Video
The real kick that put the #RIPCartoonNetwork trend in motion was a July 9th video posted by the account known as ‘Animation Workers Ignited’. With now over six million views, it features animated characters talking about the current state of the animation industry. “Wow, so this is where cartoons get made,” one character asks innocently, only to be given a somber reply: “Not anymore; Cartoon Network is basically dead, and other big animation studios are not very far behind.”
The caption with this dramatic exchange, “Cartoon Network is dead?!?! Spread da word, what’s at stake 4 animation!!! Post about you favorite Cartoon Network shows using #RIPCartoonNetwork,” got a wave of the posts flowing in as fans began mourning the supposed death of the channel.
Reality
The video, however, sounded an alarm to which Cartoon Network responded quickly to squelch the rumors. An official statement was made that the network is not going to shut down. Even though this video was poignant, it formed a part of the larger attempt at reflection on the dark times the animation industry has faced with specific respect to the toll caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State of the Animation Industry
The video from ‘Animation Workers Ignited’ was designed to draw attention to the huge challenges animation workers have been facing. While the pandemic allowed animation to continue remotely, it is one of the few entertainment sectors that kept running without a hitch. In reaction, however, many studios responded by canceling projects, outsourcing jobs, and laying off droves of artists. This has caused record numbers of unemployed animation workers to be out of work, with many of them jobless for over a year.
The video further condemns big studios for thinking of people in relation to profit, slashes in budgets, and staff reduction, while executives continue to be accorded humongous benefits. The message was loud and clear that the animation industry was dying, and action needed to be taken right now to save its workers.
Nostalgia and Response
What surprised everyone was the outpouring in the form of #RIPCartoonNetwork trend, posting their favorite Cartoon Network memories and moments. This outpouring of nostalgia proves that audiences are really attached to it and its programming.
While #RIPCartoonNetwork drew attention to some very real concerns in the animation industry, it indeed promoted much unnecessary panic over the fate of this much-loved channel. It is important to note that Cartoon Network is still alive, entertaining, and able to inspire further generations of viewers. What the trending hashtag exemplified more than anything else was the night the support should be given to the community of animators working with raw talent and hard work to make up our favorite shows.
As fans continue to share their favorite memories of the days of Cartoon Network, it’s also important that there is boosting of voices of people who advocate for better treatment and more help towards workers in animation. This way, we can help ensure the survival of the industry and that it goes on producing aided content that has been passed down to many childhoods.
