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Toonami
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Toonami ( ) is an American late-night television programming block that broadcasts Japanese anime and American action animation on Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim. It was created by Sean Akins and Jason DeMarco and programmed by Williams Street (formerly Cartoon Network Productions), a subsidiary of The Cartoon Network, Inc. The name is a portmanteau of the words "cartoon" and "tsunami". The block currently airs every Saturday night from 12:00 to 4:00 a.m. ET/PT.

Key facts

Programming block.name
Toonami
Programming block.image
Toonami 2025 logo.svg
Programming block.caption
Logo used since July 26, 2025
Programming block.country
United States
Programming block.parent
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Linear Networks
Programming block.headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
Programming block.format
Anime and action animation

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website
toonami.fandom.com
Show 4 more facts
start time
1997-03-17
Commons category
Toonami logos
dissolved, abolished or demolished date
2008-09-20
inception
1997-03-17
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~50 min read

Article

36 sections
Contents
  • Broadcast history
  • Cartoon Network (1997–2008)
  • 1997–99: Moltar era
  • 1999–2000: T.O.M. 1 era
  • 2000–03: T.O.M. 2 era
  • 2003–07, 2012: T.O.M. 3 era
  • 2007–08: T.O.M. 4 era and cancellation
  • Adult Swim (2012–present)
  • 2012–13: T.O.M. 3.5 era
  • 2013–19: T.O.M. 5 era
  • 2019–present: T.O.M. 6 era
  • Online video services
  • Toonami Reactor
  • Toonami Jetstream
  • Toonami: Pre-Flight
  • Crunchyroll
  • Current schedule
  • Programming
  • Cartoon Network (1997–2008) / Kids' WB (2001–02)
  • Adult Swim (2012–present)
  • Video game reviews
  • International
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Latin America
  • Pakistan
  • Poland and Central Europe
  • Southeast Asia
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • UK & Ireland
  • Notes
  • References
  • External links

Toonami ( ) is an American late-night television programming block that broadcasts Japanese anime and American action animation on Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim. It was created by Sean Akins and Jason DeMarco and programmed by Williams Street (formerly Cartoon Network Productions), a subsidiary of The Cartoon Network, Inc. The name is a portmanteau of the words "cartoon" and "tsunami". The block currently airs every Saturday night from 12:00 to 4:00 a.m. ET/PT.

Toonami initially premiered as a weekday afternoon block on Cartoon Network proper in 1997. It ran in this format until 2004, when it transitioned to a Saturday evening schedule. The block aired until its initial closure in 2008. During its original run (1997–2008), Toonami primarily targeted older children and adolescents aged 7–18. It became known for showcasing action-oriented programming, particularly Japanese anime, which gained widespread popularity with American audiences. The block was distinguished by its space-themed aesthetic, anime music videos, drum-and-bass-influenced soundtrack, and its robot host, T.O.M. (short for Toonami Operations Module).

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