Cartoon Network Studios

Cartoon Network Studios is an American animation production studio associated with Cartoon Network and owned within the Warner Bros. Discovery entertainment structure. It originated in 1994 as a Hanna-Barbera division created to develop original animated programming for Cartoon Network, at a time when the young cable network was seeking to supplement its library of acquired animation with distinctive in-house productions. Its early development work included What a Cartoon!, an anthology of short pilots that helped launch Dexter's Laboratory and other influential Cartoon Network series. The studio's identity developed during the corporate integration of Turner Broadcasting System, Hanna-Barbera, and Time Warner. After Time Warner acquired Turner in 1996, Hanna-Barbera's operations were consolidated with Warner Bros. Animation. Cartoon Network Studios was subsequently established as a more independent production operation focused on original Cartoon Network programming, while Warner Bros. Animation concentrated more heavily on established Warner and Hanna-Barbera properties. A dedicated Burbank facility was acquired in 1999, began receiving production offices in 2000, and was formally opened that year. During the 2000s and 2010s, Cartoon Network Studios became one of the most recognizable American television-animation labels. Its productions included Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Camp Lazlo, Ben 10, Chowder, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, We Bare Bears, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Craig of the Creek, Summer Camp Island, and Infinity Train. The studio also experimented with theatrical animation, live-action and hybrid programming, adult animation, miniseries, and projects commissioned for streaming services. The company has produced programming not only for Cartoon Network's main schedule, but also for Adult Swim, Cartoonito, and HBO Max. Examples of work outside the traditional children's schedule include the fifth season of Samurai Jack for Adult Swim, Primal, Close Enough, and Adventure Time: Distant Lands. Its only theatrical feature released under the studio's principal banner was The Powerpuff Girls Movie, released in 2002. In the 2020s, Warner Bros. Discovery restructuring brought Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation into a more closely integrated development and production organization. The two labels continued to be used, with Cartoon Network Studios generally associated with original and contemporary Cartoon Network-oriented work and Warner Bros. Animation associated more strongly with established intellectual properties and broader animated long-form production. The historic Burbank Cartoon Network Studios building closed to the studio's operations on August 1, 2023, as teams moved to Warner Bros.' Second Century facilities. Cartoon Network Studios continues to operate as a distinct creative label within the Warner Bros. animation organization.

Cartoon Network Studios emerged from the expansion of cable television animation in the 1990s. Turner Broadcasting System had developed Cartoon Network as a destination for animation, initially relying heavily on the Hanna-Barbera library and other acquired material. To create original programming, Hanna-Barbera established a Cartoon Network-focused division in 1994. Its best-known early initiative was What a Cartoon!, an anthology that commissioned short films and pilots from emerging and established creators. Dexter's Laboratory, one of the anthology's successful outcomes, premiered in 1996 and helped establish the studio's creative direction. The studio's early years coincided with major corporate changes. Time Warner acquired Turner Broadcasting System in 1996, bringing Cartoon Network and Hanna-Barbera into the Warner organization. Hanna-Barbera operations were later consolidated with Warner Bros. Animation, and Cartoon Network Studios briefly operated within that broader transition. The studio was formally established as an independent Cartoon Network production entity in 1999, with the objective of developing original series rather than serving primarily as a custodian of older intellectual property. A former commercial bakery and telephone-exchange building at 300 North Third Street in Burbank was acquired for the studio's headquarters. Production offices began moving there in March 2000, and the facility was christened on May 22, 2000, before its official opening later that year. The building became closely identified with the studio's creator-driven culture and housed production on series including Samurai Jack and Time Squad. After Hanna-Barbera co-founder William Hanna died in 2001 and Hanna-Barbera's original operation closed, Cartoon Network Studios assumed much of the function of producing new original television animation for the network. Throughout the 2000s, the studio broadened its output. It produced prominent children's series such as The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Camp Lazlo, Ben 10, Chowder, and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. It also tested projects for Adult Swim and experimented with live-action and hybrid production, including Out of Jimmy's Head, Ben 10 television films, and Tower Prep. These projects demonstrated an effort to extend the Cartoon Network production infrastructure beyond conventional animated series, although live-action production did not become the studio's principal identity. The 2010s brought a new period of critical and cultural visibility. Adventure Time premiered in 2010 and ran for ten seasons through 2018. Regular Show, Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, We Bare Bears, Clarence, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Craig of the Creek, Summer Camp Island, and Infinity Train expanded the studio's range of styles and formats. The company also produced miniseries, reboots, and adaptations of material first developed as online shorts. Samurai Jack returned for a fifth and final season on Adult Swim in 2017, and the studio produced Primal, its first full Adult Swim program, in 2019. Streaming became increasingly important at the end of the decade. Cartoon Network Studios supplied projects for HBO Max, including Adventure Time: Distant Lands and Close Enough after that series moved from a planned TBS animation initiative. The studio also continued producing programming for Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and other Warner-related outlets. Corporate restructuring shaped the studio's 2020s operations. Sam Register was appointed to lead both Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios in 2020. In 2021, the European sister operation formerly known as Cartoon Network Studios Europe was renamed Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Following Warner Bros. Discovery's 2022 restructuring, Cartoon Network Studios moved under Warner Bros. Television, and its development and production teams were consolidated with those of Warner Bros. Animation. The labels remained in use, with Cartoon Network Studios continuing to signify original contemporary work. On August 1, 2023, Cartoon Network Studios vacated its historic Burbank headquarters and moved its operations to Warner Bros.' Second Century facilities. The relocation marked the end of the studio's more than two-decade association with the building, but not the end of the Cartoon Network Studios label or its role in Warner Bros. Discovery's animation activities.

1. 2023Operations move from the original Burbank headquarters

   The historic facility closed to Cartoon Network Studios operations on August 1, with teams relocating to Warner Bros.' Second Century facilities.

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2. 2022Development and production teams integrate with Warner Bros. Animation

   A Warner Bros. Television restructuring consolidated teams while retaining Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation as labels.

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3. 2020Sam Register assumes studio leadership

   Sam Register was appointed to lead Cartoon Network Studios alongside Warner Bros. Animation.

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4. 2019Primal becomes the studio's first full Adult Swim program

   Genndy Tartakovsky's adult animated series expanded the studio's work into a major Adult Swim production.

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5. 2017Samurai Jack returns on Adult Swim

   The studio produced a fifth and concluding season of the revived series.

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6. 2014Over the Garden Wall premieres

   The studio produced its first miniseries.

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7. 2010Adventure Time premieres

   The series became one of Cartoon Network Studios' most internationally recognized productions.

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8. 2002The Powerpuff Girls Movie released

   The studio made its only theatrical feature released under its principal banner.

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9. 2000Burbank headquarters opens

   The studio moved into and opened its dedicated Burbank facility.

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10. 1999Cartoon Network Studios formally established

    The studio was organized as a dedicated entity for original Cartoon Network programming.

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11. 1996Dexter's Laboratory premieres

    The successful series became one of the studio's defining early productions.

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12. 1995What a Cartoon! begins

    The anthology of animated shorts provided pilots and creative development opportunities for future Cartoon Network series.

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13. 1994Cartoon Network-focused Hanna-Barbera division established

    Hanna-Barbera created a division to develop original animated programming for Cartoon Network.

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A creator-led animation studio built around original, stylistically distinctive programming for Cartoon Network and adjacent Warner Bros. Discovery platforms, spanning children's animation, family entertainment, young-adult programming, and selected adult animation.

• What a Cartoon!Animated pilot anthology1995

  An anthology of animated shorts developed as potential pilots for Cartoon Network. The project gave creators room to test visual styles, characters, and premises, and served as the development source for successful series including Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and The Powerpuff Girls.

• The Powerpuff GirlsAnimated television series1998

  A superhero comedy about three kindergarten-aged sisters created from a laboratory experiment. The series became a major Cartoon Network property and later supported a theatrical film and a television reboot.

• Ben 10Animated franchise2005

  An action-adventure franchise centered on a boy who uses the Omnitrix to transform into different alien species. Cartoon Network Studios produced the original series and later television adaptations, films, and a 2016 reboot.

• Adventure TimeAnimated television series and streaming specials2010

  A fantasy-comedy series following Finn and Jake in the Land of Ooo. Its imaginative mythology, serialized storytelling, and unusual visual language made it one of the studio's signature productions. The original series ran for ten seasons, followed by HBO Max specials under the Distant Lands title.

• Regular ShowAnimated television series2010

  A workplace comedy about two groundskeepers whose everyday tasks routinely develop into surreal adventures. The series was created by J. G. Quintel and became a major production associated with the studio's 2010s original-programming slate.

• Steven UniverseAnimated television series2013

  A fantasy series combining coming-of-age storytelling, superhero elements, music, and long-form character development. It follows Steven and the Crystal Gems and was recognized for expanding the emotional and thematic range of mainstream children's animation.

• Over the Garden WallAnimated miniseries2014

  A limited series about two brothers lost in a mysterious woodland. Its self-contained structure, autumnal atmosphere, and fairy-tale influences represented the studio's first miniseries production.

• PrimalAdult animated series2019

  An action-driven adult animated series created by Genndy Tartakovsky, centered on the bond between a prehistoric human and a dinosaur. Its largely dialogue-free storytelling and graphic visual style marked a significant expansion of the studio's work for Adult Swim.

• Adventure Time: Distant LandsStreaming animated specials2020

  A group of extended Adventure Time specials produced for HBO Max. The project continued the original property's characters and world while allowing stories that differed in scale and structure from regular television episodes.

• 2023Relocate operations from the historic Burbank facilityStrategy

  The studio had outgrown its original building and had already been using additional facilities in the Burbank area.

  What changed. Cartoon Network Studios moved its operations to Warner Bros.' Second Century facilities on August 1, 2023.

  Aftermath. The relocation ended the studio's long-term use of its landmark Burbank headquarters while preserving the label within the integrated Warner Bros. animation organization.

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• 2022Integrate development and production with Warner Bros. AnimationStrategy

  Warner Bros. Discovery reorganized its global kids, young-adult, and classics operations after the company's formation.

  What changed. Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation consolidated development and production teams under Warner Bros. Television while keeping their labels in use.

  Aftermath. Cartoon Network Studios continued to be associated with original contemporary content, while the wider organization coordinated production resources across both animation labels.

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• 2019Increase production for Adult Swim and streamingStrategy

  WarnerMedia was expanding platform-specific programming, including content for Adult Swim and the planned HBO Max service.

  What changed. The studio produced Primal for Adult Swim and began developing or supplying projects such as Adventure Time: Distant Lands for HBO Max.

  Aftermath. The studio's remit broadened beyond the core Cartoon Network children's schedule.

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• 2007Expand into live-action and hybrid productionStrategy

  The studio explored whether its production infrastructure could support programming beyond conventional animation.

  What changed. Cartoon Network Studios produced hybrid and live-action projects including Out of Jimmy's Head, Ben 10 television films, and later Tower Prep.

  Aftermath. Live-action did not become the studio's primary long-term identity, although related infrastructure was later used for Adult Swim productions.

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• 1999Create a dedicated original-programming studioStrategy

  Hanna-Barbera's operations were being consolidated with Warner Bros. Animation, while Cartoon Network sought a specialized operation focused on new original series.

  What changed. Cartoon Network formally established Cartoon Network Studios as a dedicated production entity.

  Aftermath. The structure supported a sustained pipeline of creator-led Cartoon Network originals and gave the studio a distinct identity from Warner Bros. Animation.

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• 2023Cartoon Network Studios leaves its historic Burbank building

  The studio's long-used Burbank facility ceased to house its operations, which moved to Warner Bros.' Second Century facilities.

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• 2022Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation consolidate production teams

  Warner Bros. Television reorganized development and production functions across the two animation studios while retaining their separate labels and broad creative identities.

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• 2020Sam Register appointed to lead Cartoon Network Studios

  Warner Bros. Animation president Sam Register was also placed in charge of Cartoon Network Studios after Rob Sorcher left his studio and Cartoon Network leadership roles.

  Leadership change
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• 2002The Powerpuff Girls Movie released theatrically

  Cartoon Network Studios released its only theatrical feature to date, based on The Powerpuff Girls. The film received generally positive critical reviews but did not perform successfully at the box office.

  Product launch
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1. Cartoon Network Studios