Tyrell lands an interview with Jason DeMarco, and Toonami Fan has the exclusive!

Feel free to spread this link around, guys, as I'm sure there are probably many out there who would like to read this but may not check in to TF on a regular basis. And hats off to Tyrell for all his hard work. All of us fans should be very grateful!

http://www.toonamifan.com/toonamidemarco.html

Additional discussion threads: http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=213469

That was an excellent interview, it really brought out alot of information on the Toonami brand.

Really, I'm just glad to hear that the creators of Toonami still love and care about the block. As Mr. DeMarco said, things on TV can't last forever, but I'm certainly glad Toonami has lasted this long. They don't know how much I appriciate what they've made. Toonami has given me some great times and has taught me alot about life.

I have more to say, but I'll try to add it in later.

originals might be the only thing that could save toonami.

GREAT interview!

These originals have peaked my interest though. Wish the network saw Toonami the way Jason and the others see the block. Great read and , again, great interview.

Well, this interview did confirm one thing: CN is going to be increasing emphasis on originals over acquisitions. Hopefully Cartoonistitute works out, that's where the originals are all going to be coming from.

Otherwise, great, revealing interview here. That was a major coup. And we finally found out why Toonami stopped showing fan art too (isn't the antrhax scare six years old now though?). Glad that DeMarco still cares about the block and hopefully stuff will keep coming doiwn the pipe.

I had a feeling that DeMarco has had a hand in most CN promos. The way CN's promos have evolved, they seem definitely Toonami-esque.

First of all, thank you so much Ty for this interview. It answered alot of questions, put some issues to bed, and I know it couldn't have been easy to arrange. My main concern about the interview was that Toonami may never return to four hours, though DeMarco didn't say why. However, it was good to hear that Toonami still plans on acquiring new and hopefully quality shows. Oh, and I agree with both Ty and DeMarco, IGPX RULES! Kudos again Ty.

Congrats, Ty! An excellent interview & a coup as well. Sean Akins is usually the go-to guy whenever there are Toonami interviews. It's interesting to read something by Jason; also interesting to know he's behind Williams Street Music. I've got to check out the downloads at adultswim.com. Good luck getting an interview with Sean; that means you hit the Daily Double! "And the Final Jeopardy category for today is... Toonami!"

However, something Jason said makes me nervous:

Hopefully some originals will make it to Toonami & not just be reruns from other blocks. My bold italics are the scary part; but as he said, nothing lasts forever, especially in TV.

To comment upon Andrew's recent article on CN Action blocks, maybe there is room for more than one. Even though Fried Dynamite is history, Dynamite Action Squad could stay with the wacky live-action hosts (if CN wants to continue that) & kiddie-fied shows, the Friday block (hopefully 3 hours, but maybe 2 to start) for headlining originals & acquisitions, and Toonami for anime & encores. If CN is still planning to acquire Naruto Shippuden, then the Naruto Filler Hour will still be around until late November/early December.

It was nice to find out some stuff about the current Toonami. I hope Toonami stays around a while longer. Great interview! I can't wait to see some originals, and see what else Toonami has up its sleeve. I honestly hope Toonami returns to four hours though. Two hours, once a week is too short for me, but I do apprecaite that Toonami is still on.

Wow, this was a great interview.

Hi guys.

It was really fun to do this interview. And I can only hope the next time I get this chance, it only gets better.

I'm not going to comment on any reactions to the interview, although I'm elated you guys enjoyed it.

However, Toonzone is a lot harsher than you guys.haha.

Nicely done, TY.

Although on a lesser note, I kind of feel bad about redoing his tracks now. ^^;

Oh, just of out curiosity, how did the interview take place? (Phone, chatroom, in person, ect.)

Hasn't adult swims bumpers and shows changed minimally, I remember family guy from my first [AS], and the ratings music.

Fantastic interview!!! I had hoped The BIG-O would come up more besides the Dorothy painting, though. While brief, piecemeal answers have come up regarding that anime series' fate, I'd like a more complete answer as to its shift to Adult Swim and its eventual demise there, despite a Cartoon Network-optioned Season 3 (which many would have loved to see). I wonder if Jason DeMarco or Sean Akins knows more about that topic: like what Season 3 would have been about and if such a business venture as Big-O Season 3 is even possible anymore. *Tyrell, it'd be great if you could ask something along those lines if you get another interview so that longtime Toonami fans can get some much-needed closure.

But anyway...

Having watched Toonami from the beginning, Toonami's inspirational speeches have definitely been influential in my life. The music has always been awesome; I listen to Deep Space Bass to this day (and wish Black Hole MegaMix had a few more fave Toonami tunes on it)! Toonami in its strongest days was a phenomenon like no other, a convergence of everything hip and inspiring--entertaining, exciting, and broadening horizons. A HUGE THANK YOU to TOONAMI!!!

...The future does look a little bleak for Toonami, though. I'm worried it's going to drown in too much Naruto and cartoon shows double-dipping elsewhere on the channel. Escalating this concern is the fact that SciFi Channel nabbed Gundam 00 for the Fall. Yet, it seems that Toonami has taken a different direction in recent years and has more constraints on it, so it might not have fit. I think Adult Swim changed the dynamics significantly; but, from what Mr. DeMarco said, I gather that the TV industry and show acquisition processes have just become more complicated and limiting.

In regards to IGPX, I thought the series fit the Toonami motif nicely, and injected some old-school Toonami flavor back into the block, but I wouldn't say it was the most mind-blowing material I'd seen on the block. Making it was the right thing to do, however. When Naruto and IGPX were on the block together it was the last time I felt a significant connection to Toonami. Before that, the Zoids: Chaotic Century (with the awesome Final 4 event!) and G-Gundam duo worked excellently, as well. Still, despite these last gasps, it seems Toonami is slipping away given Mr. DeMarco's words. But regardless, it'll never change the facts of what Toonami accomplished and the joy it gave so many.

It's one of the least supportive 'fan' boards I've ever seen. Not to say that blind devotion is a good thing, but at times they seem impossible to please.

I think that's because the Toon Zone (two words, not one; The Cruzes get ticked when it's said and written as one word) posters are angry with the general direction of Toonami. They're angry that the block many of them grew up with, defended, and enjoyed is in the state that it's currently in.

The Toon Zone Toonami board is the oldest Toonami fan community on the internet, with roots to the old CN2 Inside The Web forum created in 1998 and the old CNX Revolution Board back in 1999, many of whom are still a part of the boards. We've been around during the good times, the great times, the bad times, and the troubling times.

These fans are passionate about Toonami, and when it disappoints them, they express their displeasure. There are a few that are still optimistic about the future of the block, despite the writings on the wall, but they're dwindling in number. Some moved on to other interests and other blocks. Some reflect with happiness and a heavy heart about what Toonami was and what it could be. All are still watching, wondering if the block will ever be the same though in the back of their minds, they know it won't.

I'm not here to defend the members of my board, but I do understand why they're frustated with the direction of Toonami. The interview was a good one, Ty, but the tone of the interview did seem kind of defeatist in some points, which is perhaps a reason they're less than enthused about the whole situation.