Fans of Cartoon Network were shocked on Monday amid speculation that the channel is shutting down. Several took to social media, especially X, to share their surprise and nostalgia for their childhood favourite channel. But here's the thing: Cartoon Network is not shutting down.
The hashtag “#RIPCartoonNetwork” began to trend on X after a post from the account "Animation Workers Ignited" featuring a video titled “Cartoon Network is dead?!” went viral.The post was meant to highlight the challenges faced by animators within the industry, such as layoffs and financial instability in other studios. The video claimed that several animators have been unemployed for over a year amid unprecedented job losses.
It also stated that while the animation industry thrived during the pandemic due to its ability to operate remotely, studios have since cancelled projects, outsourced jobs, and laid off artists in large numbers.“When COVID first hit, animation was able to operate completely remotely, making it one of the only forms of entertainment that could continue production uninterrupted. However, studios decided to repay this resilience by cutting costs, outsourcing jobs, and laying off artists .The video further sought help from social media users to spread the word on these challenges. "You can help by spreading the word. Post about your favourite Cartoon Network shows you wish were still around using #RIPCartoonNetwork," it stated.
Meanwhile, Cartoon Network has not issued any statement regarding the rumours of its shutdown.
