Toon Disney
Encyclopedia
Toon Disney was an American
cable television
channel
owned by The Walt Disney Company
. A spinoff of Disney Channel
, it mostly aired child
ren's animated series and some live action programming. Its format had similarities to those of Cartoon Network
and Nicktoons. The channel's target audience was children ages 2–12, and children ages 7-14 during its nighttime block called Jetix
.
A Spanish
audio track was available on Toon Disney through the SAP
option; some cable and satellite systems also offered the Spanish feed as a separate channel.
. It has also shown some other cartoons, most of them produced by DiC Entertainment
, which was Disney owned at the time the network was launched. For the channel's first year on air, a block of programs seen on Toon Disney would air on Sunday evenings on Disney Channel as a "sneak preview" of the channel for interested subscribers.
In the 2000s, Toon Disney gained a variety of new programming expanding the vast collection of Disney animation. Many programs from One Saturday Morning/ABC Kids joined the lineup, mostly without the expense of other programs. In 2004 with the addition of Jetix, and the more animated programs from Disney Channel, many of the older programs on Toon Disney vanished, as it happens with other TV networks over the years.
Like most other Disney-owned cable channels, starting in 2008, Toon Disney began airing in High-Definition
(the only ones which didn't were ESPN Classic
& SOAPnet
). Toon Disney, at launch, was commercial-free until April 1, 2002. This was when the network reached two years of "critical mass" in subscribers of over 15 million.
On August 6, 2008, Disney-ABC Television Group announced they would replace Toon Disney with Disney XD
in early 2009, which is aimed at kids from ages 6 and up.
Two months and five days shy of its eleventh year on air, Toon Disney ceased broadcast on February 13, 2009 and was replaced with Disney XD. The final program on the channel was The Incredible Hulk, as part of Jetix. The first program on Disney XD was Phineas and Ferb
. Most of the programs now air on Disney XD.
. Toon Disney has also aired Muppet movies, including Muppets from Space
, one Muppet movie that Disney does not own.
During the network's existence, Toon Disney aired the Disney Channel Original Movies: Jett Jackson: The Movie
, and Up, Up, and Away
, both of which had minimal exposure on Disney Channel around their Toon Disney airtimes. The theatrical films Max Keeble's Big Move
, Snow Dogs
and Herbie: Fully Loaded
also aired toward the network's closure. Toon Disney contained more than 10 short segments includes video/slideshow format. The short series Check This Kid Out aired randomly during the commercial breaks between July 7, 2008 and February 13, 2009. On September 7, 2008, one of Disney's only live-action short films Frankenweenie aired on Toon Disney. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
aired on the network in late 2008, but this was likely part of the transition to Disney XD as the announcement had already been made.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
channel
Television channel
A television channel is a physical or virtual channel over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the broadcast or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video and...
owned by The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. A spinoff of Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
, it mostly aired child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren's animated series and some live action programming. Its format had similarities to those of Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (United States)
Cartoon Network is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting which primarily airs animated programming. The channel was launched on October 1, 1992 after Turner purchased the animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1991...
and Nicktoons. The channel's target audience was children ages 2–12, and children ages 7-14 during its nighttime block called Jetix
Jetix (US)
Jetix USA was a television programming brand running on Toon Disney, owned by The Walt Disney Company. It first officially began programming as a children's programming block on ABC Family in September 2002 as the ABC Family Action Block...
.
A Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
audio track was available on Toon Disney through the SAP
Second audio program
Second audio program , also known as secondary audio programming, is an auxiliary audio channel for analog television that can be broadcast or transmitted both over the air and by cable TV.-Usage:...
option; some cable and satellite systems also offered the Spanish feed as a separate channel.
History
Coinciding with Disney Channel's 15th anniversary, Toon Disney launched on April 18, 1998 as a spinoff of Disney Channel. Originally, the channel's programming consisted of older Disney animated series, including those from The Disney AfternoonThe Disney Afternoon
The Disney Afternoon was a created-for-syndication two-hour television programming block which aired from September 10, 1990, until Fall 1999. At that time, it was taken out of syndication, and a new Disney weekday afternoon block was started on UPN. The Disney Afternoon was produced by The Walt...
. It has also shown some other cartoons, most of them produced by DiC Entertainment
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
, which was Disney owned at the time the network was launched. For the channel's first year on air, a block of programs seen on Toon Disney would air on Sunday evenings on Disney Channel as a "sneak preview" of the channel for interested subscribers.
In the 2000s, Toon Disney gained a variety of new programming expanding the vast collection of Disney animation. Many programs from One Saturday Morning/ABC Kids joined the lineup, mostly without the expense of other programs. In 2004 with the addition of Jetix, and the more animated programs from Disney Channel, many of the older programs on Toon Disney vanished, as it happens with other TV networks over the years.
Like most other Disney-owned cable channels, starting in 2008, Toon Disney began airing in High-Definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
(the only ones which didn't were ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
& SOAPnet
SOAPnet
SOAPnet is an American cable television channel that broadcasts current and past soap operas and primetime dramas, along with some original programming. The channel launched on January 20, 2000, and is owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
). Toon Disney, at launch, was commercial-free until April 1, 2002. This was when the network reached two years of "critical mass" in subscribers of over 15 million.
On August 6, 2008, Disney-ABC Television Group announced they would replace Toon Disney with Disney XD
Disney XD
Disney XD is a brand of children's TV channels worldwide targeting young males, owned by The Walt Disney Company. The channel was formerly known as Toon Disney and/or Jetix in most areas. According to Gary Marsh, President of Entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide, "XD" does not "stand for...
in early 2009, which is aimed at kids from ages 6 and up.
Two months and five days shy of its eleventh year on air, Toon Disney ceased broadcast on February 13, 2009 and was replaced with Disney XD. The final program on the channel was The Incredible Hulk, as part of Jetix. The first program on Disney XD was Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb is an American animated television comedy series. Originally broadcast as a preview on August 17, 2007, on Disney Channel, the series follows Phineas Flynn and his English stepbrother Ferb Fletcher on summer vacation. Every day the boys embark on some grand new project, which...
. Most of the programs now air on Disney XD.
Live action programming
Although the majority of the network's programming was animation, live-action programming had become a part of Toon Disney during its final years. Live children were featured in bumpers aired from 1998 to 2002, and fan-made animations done in live-action were aired in these bumpers. The Jetix block aired the show Power RangersPower Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
. Toon Disney has also aired Muppet movies, including Muppets from Space
Muppets from Space
Muppets from Space is a 1999 science fiction comedy film and the sixth feature film to star The Muppets, and the first since the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson to have an original Muppet-focused plot. The film was directed by Tim Hill, produced by Jim Henson Pictures, and released to theaters...
, one Muppet movie that Disney does not own.
During the network's existence, Toon Disney aired the Disney Channel Original Movies: Jett Jackson: The Movie
Jett Jackson: The Movie
Jett Jackson: The Movie is a Canadian 2001 Disney Channel Original Movie based on the Disney Channel series The Famous Jett Jackson.-Plot:...
, and Up, Up, and Away
Up, Up, and Away (2000 film)
-Plot:The movie tells the story of Scott Marshall , the son of two great superheroes, Bronze Eagle and Warrior Woman. All of his family members are gifted with superpowers. His father, Bronze Eagle , has the gift of flight. His mother, Warrior Woman , has the power of superhuman strength and...
, both of which had minimal exposure on Disney Channel around their Toon Disney airtimes. The theatrical films Max Keeble's Big Move
Max Keeble's Big Move
Max Keeble's Big Move is a 2001 Disney live-action teen comedy film directed by Tim Hill, written by David L. Watts, James Greer, Jonathan Bernstein, and Mark Blackwell, and starring Alex D. Linz as the title character. The film is set in University Place, Washington. It was released in North...
, Snow Dogs
Snow Dogs
Snow Dogs is a 2002 American live-action comedy film that was released in the United States on January 18, 2002 by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Brian Levant, and stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and James Coburn...
and Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded is a 2005 American comedy film directed by Angela Robinson and produced by Robert Simonds for Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Lindsay Lohan as the youngest member of an automobile-racing family, Michael Keaton as her father, Matt Dillon as a competing racer, Breckin Meyer as...
also aired toward the network's closure. Toon Disney contained more than 10 short segments includes video/slideshow format. The short series Check This Kid Out aired randomly during the commercial breaks between July 7, 2008 and February 13, 2009. On September 7, 2008, one of Disney's only live-action short films Frankenweenie aired on Toon Disney. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody is an American sitcom created by Danny Kallis and Jim Geoghan. The series premiered on Disney Channel on March 18, 2005 with 4 million viewers, making it the most successful premiere for Disney Channel in 2005. It was one of their first five shows available on the...
aired on the network in late 2008, but this was likely part of the transition to Disney XD as the announcement had already been made.
Programming blocks
Toon Disney frequently aired groups of series in blocks; over the course of Toon Disney's broadcast history, it had several programming blocks that featured at least two of their shows.- 12 Days Of Christmas (1998–2008): Aired around Christmas, showing Christmas-themed programming.
- Screaming Meanies (1998–2003): Aired around Halloween and showed Halloween-themed episodes of shows.
- Chillin' With The Villains (2000–2004): Two-hour marathon of a certain show presented on Sunday afternoons, focusing on a certain villain from the featured series.
- The Princess Power Hour (2000–2007): One-hour block featuring episodes of Aladdin and The Little MermaidThe Little Mermaid (TV series)The Little Mermaid is an American animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation based on the 1989 Disney film of the same name. It features the adventures of Ariel as a mermaid prior to the events of the film. This series is the first Disney television series to be spun...
. The block ended up airing only on weekend afternoons, and was replaced by The Great Toon Weekend Getaway.
- Toons In The House (2000–2002): Four-hour weekday-afternoon block similar to The Disney Afternoon.
- Magical World Of Toons (2000–2003): Four-hour nightly block that aired from Sunday to Thursday, consisting of three-hour marathons of certain shows like 101 Dalmatians, TaleSpinTaleSpinTaleSpin is a half-hour American animated television series based in the fictional city of Cape Suzette, that first aired in 1990 as part of The Disney Afternoon, with characters adapted from Disney's 1967 animated feature The Jungle Book. The name of the show is a play on "tailspin", the rapid,...
, Timon & Pumbaa, Toon Disney DoodlesWalt Disney Cartoon ClassicsWalt Disney Cartoon Classics was a series of cartoon compilations from Disney. It was their first attempt to put cartoons on home video. The first 14 volumes, from 1983–1986, came with 6 or 7 cartoons and ran from 30–60 minutes...
, BonkersBonkers- Television :* Bonkers , a Disney animated series* Bonkers , an ITV comedy series* Bonkers!, a 1979 ATV variety show starring The Hudson Brothers* "Bonkers", a pricing game from The Price Is Right- Music :...
, Goof TroopGoof TroopDisney's Goof Troop is an American animated television series from The Walt Disney Company featuring Goofy as a father figure and bonding with his son Max.-Premise:...
, Quack PackQuack PackQuack Pack is an animated television series made by The Walt Disney Company, featuring Donald Duck and his nephews. The show debuted in September 1996 as a part of the Disney Afternoon weekday afternoon programming block. Unlike other Disney Afternoon shows, it was aimed at an older audience,...
, Darkwing DuckDarkwing DuckDarkWing Duck is an American animated television series produced by The Walt Disney Company that ran from 1991–1992 on both the syndicated programming block The Disney Afternoon and Saturday mornings on ABC. It featured the eponymous anthropomorphic duck superhero whose alter ego is mild-mannered...
, and AladdinAladdin (TV series)Aladdin is an animated television series made by Walt Disney Television which aired from 1994 to 1995, based on the original 1992 feature. Coming on the heels of the direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar, the series picked up where that installment left off, with Aladdin now living in the...
. It was replaced by The Power Pack in 2003.
- Double Feature Movie Show (2001–2004): Featured back-to-back movies that aired every Friday and repeated on Saturday.
- Hangin' With The Heroes (2001–2004): Aired on weekends, later on weekdays,and featured Aladdin, Gargoyles, and Hercules: The Animated Series.
- @Toon (2001–2004): Before each first commercial break for most of the shows, the block featured some viewer submissions and game high scores from the official websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
.
- The New For You Show! (2003–2004): Featured new episodes of Lloyd in SpaceLloyd in SpaceLloyd in Space is an animated television series, created by Joe Ansolabehere and Paul Germain , and released in 2001. The pilot was written by Ansolabehere, Germain and Mark Drop...
, House of MouseDisney's House of MouseDisney's House of Mouse is an American animated television series, produced by Walt Disney Television, that originally aired from 2001 to 2003-Premise:...
, The WeekendersThe WeekendersThe Weekenders is a Disney animated series about the weekend life of four diverse 7th graders: Tino Tonitini, Lorraine McQuarrie, Carver Descartes, and Petratishkovna Katsufrakis, voiced by veteran cartoon voice-actors: Jason Marsden, Grey DeLisle, Phil LaMarr, and Kath Soucie, respectively...
, Teamo SupremoTeamo SupremoTeamo Supremo is an animated television series created by Disney. Animated in the limited animation style pioneered by Jay Ward, predecessors which inspired its style, it tells of three superhero kids: Captain Crandall, Skate Lad, and Rope Girl...
, and Fillmore!Fillmore!Fillmore! is an American animated television series which was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The series was created by Scott M. Gimple...
every Friday and Saturday night.
- After Class Laughs And After Class Laugh Track (2004–2006): Two-hour block of "The Most Funny Shows" on Toon Disney, such as Lilo and Stitch: The Series, American Dragon: Jake LongAmerican Dragon: Jake LongAmerican Dragon: Jake Long is an American animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The show had premiered on January 21, 2005 and ended on September 1, 2007. The show currently airs on Disney XD in the United States...
, Disney's Recess, and Kim PossibleKim PossibleKim Possible is an American animated television series about a teenage crime fighter who has the task of dealing with worldwide, family, and school issues every day. The show is action-oriented, but also has a light-hearted atmosphere and often lampoons the conventions and clichés of the...
. It was later replaced by Mega Jam.
- Weekday Bonus Stacks And Superstar Bonus Stacks (2004–2006): Three two-hour marathons of three different shows. Everyday there were three shows different from the previous day, though many of these programs were already airing in other time slots. In September 2005, it was renamed Superstar Bonus Stacks, this time airing seven different shows for an hour each and on a more regular schedule. It went back to Bonus Stacks that October before being replaced by Play it Again, Jam!
- The Big Movie Show (2004–2009): Daily showing of films, usually animated Disney films, but rarely movies produced by another studio. It was often the subject of theme weeks, which usually heralded in the initial Toon Disney broadcast of a given film.
- JetixJetix (US)Jetix USA was a television programming brand running on Toon Disney, owned by The Walt Disney Company. It first officially began programming as a children's programming block on ABC Family in September 2002 as the ABC Family Action Block...
(2004–2009): Fourteen-hour block on weekdays and a seventeen hour block on weekends. It featured action shows, some of which were originally on FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
before Disney bought its children's shows. This block was what Fox KidsFox KidsFox Kids was the Fox Broadcasting Company's American children's programming division and brand name from September 8, 1990 until September 7, 2002. It was owned by Fox Television Entertainment airing programming on Monday–Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.Depending on the show, the...
eventually became in 2004; during its first two years on ABC FamilyABC FamilyABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
, it was called ABC Family Action Block. Originally the network's nightly block, it eventually took up more than half of the network's schedule.
- Play It Again Jam! (2006–2007): Replaced Bonus Stacks and featured three episodes of a given show in a row. Its name is a pun to the phrase, "Play it again, Sam!". It was replaced by Mega Jam.
- Super Stacked Weekdays (2007–2009): Consisted of a mini-marathon each weekday. On Friday, a show that wasn't aired often was broadcast. It started as Mega Movie Jam, later Mega Jam, then Toon Disney Treasure Cove, before its final renaming of Super Stacked Weekdays to coincide with Super Stacked Weekends.
- Super Stacks And Super Stacked Weekends (2007–2009): Three-hour weekend marathon of two random programs, one Saturday, and one Sunday.
- Toon Disney Wild Card Stack (2007–2009): Showed classic Disney cartoon series multiple times.
- The Great Toon Weekend Getaway (2007–2008): Five-hour weekend block featuring shows based on Disney movies, such as Aladdin, Timon and Pumbaa, The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New School, and Lilo and Stitch: The Series.
- The Brother Hood (2008–2009): One-hour block which aired two times a day. It showed The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Phineas and Ferb. The block still airs on Disney XD, but bumpers aren't used for it.
- Pumbaa Bowl (1999-2009): All-day marathon of Timon & Pumbaa that aired on Super Bowl Sunday each year.