April 23rd: One Piece Setting Sail For Nicktoons?

One Piece has been on "hiatus" from the Toonami line-up since mid-March, and FUNimation initially assured fans that it was definitely coming back. However, they have since changed their tune a bit and stated recently at the New York Comic Con that they are not sure when - or if - it will be back. The seas sure are starting to look stormy. There is a rumor going around that Nicktoons Network is interested in airing One Piece. That may hold about as much water as Luffy after he's been drained by Crocodile's moisture absorbing power, but given recent events such as Jetix picking up Batman, Superman and Pinky and the Brain, I've learned not to jump to the conclusion that something is downright impossible - no matter how unlikely it may sound. It is entirely plausible that, after saving it from an untimely death at the hands of 4Kids Entertainment, Cartoon Network has decided to cut One Piece loose. THat or Toei and CN have had a disagreement of some sort...but I've been told how much the Toonami crew (especially Sean Akins and Jason DeMarco) love One Piece, so I'm sure they'd fight for it. If it truly is leaving CN for Nicktoons Network, then there are going to be some very disappointed folks working in Atlanta this year.

Nicktoons recently acquired the rights to premiere the new X-Men and Iron Man animated series in spring of 2009, so it is clear they are trying to build up their action-animation slate. It has become rather apparent that Nicktoons is trying to be more like the Cartoon Network we knew and loved. Gathering a quality batch of action cartoons is a key element in recreating what CN once was. Getting X-Men and Iron Man was the first step towards taking some potential programming away from CN, but getting One Piece is just stealing from CN territory. Though it isn't really stealing if CN doesn't want to air the show anymore. Until that can be determined, I'll choose to believe CN (or at least various people that work at CN) do not want to give up One Piece.

Toei may have other ideas, however. After all, when the Nickelodeon company makes you an offer you would have to be pretty foolish not to take them up on it. Toei has always made deals with companies they feel will best market their cartoons to children, and if they are banking on kids ages 6-14 (and boys especially) then currently you can't do better than Nickelodeon. Nicktoons doesn't have nearly the exposure of Nick proper or even CN, but it does make it onto more family tier satellite packages than CN does.

For now, this is just a rumor. I repeat, JUST A RUMOR. But, as it would make for some big changes, I'm going to take the time to discuss the possibilities that would follow if One Piece did end up on Nicktoons Network.

With X-Men and Iron Man coming in spring of 2009 and the new Speed Racer series from Animation Collective airing on weekends in May, it would seem that Nicktoons is building up a possible action franchise of their own, or at the very least a favorable selection of action animation to air throughout the network in the years to come. One Piece is one of the most successful franchises in Japan right now, and even with its rocky start in America Viacom might see the potential for a winner in the series. They may even be hoping to do with One Piece what CN did with Dragonball Z. In my opinion that would be nothing more than the icing on the cake, when Nick's own series Avatar has already accomplished that for them in recent years. Even so, you can never have too many strong performers.

If Nicktoons actually ends up airing One Piece and it proves successful there, then it could be the catalyst that the anime industry is in dire need of for revival. If Toei offers it as a packaged deal with some of their other series, such as Beet the Vandal Buster and Pretty Cure, which have not aired in the US yet,then they could open the door to future Toei animation exclusives. If One Piece on Nicktoons puts the network in FUNimation's favor, then we may see several of their titles finally get on the air. Tsubasa Chronicles would be hard pressed to find a home on CN, and is not edgy enough for IFC, but it would make for a good pairing with Avatar on Nicktoons. I would go as far as to say that Yu Yu Hakusho and Dragonball might find their way on to Nicktoons (probably the same edited dubs that previously ran on CN), and I'd be as bold as to suggest the likes of Kodocha or even Case Closed finally getting marketed to the appropriate audience (by that I mean older children and teens). Nicktoons may have some standards issues that CN does not, though, and that could certainly be a problem. But for now I'm going to remain optimistic that if Nicktoons did air anime that they would do so with as much content left in as on CN.

With Naruto setting the bar, there is no reason to subject youth-targeted anime to the old Y7-FV restrictions that kept anime on the chopping block for years. It's not the '90s anymore, guys...though Bakugan and Blue Dragon aren't doing much to prove we are beyond those days, to say nothing of some of the dubs still on Saturday morning blocks. But I digress. Nicktoons airing One Piece could open up a wealth of possibilities for the anime industry, so part of me actually wants to see Nicktoons make that move - even if it means my favorite show will no longer be "only on Toonami".

One Piece on Nicktoons Network could potentially give the anime industry a much-needed kick into gear, but what about Toonami? I must admit, I am getting a great deal more concerned about our favorite block in light of this rumor. Without One Piece, Toonami only has one show left… That would of course be Naruto, and it's not going anywhere (actually I'm not ruling out it moving to another network as well - it does air on Jetix in some countries, but that's only if CN lets their contract expire, as Viz doesn't pull licenses like Toei's US branch does). There is that dark horse: Moribito. But even with Samurai Jack airing it does not seem like the current Toonami could possibly air something with little action and more emphasis on drama and storytelling. I certainly hope they air it, but Adult Swim is the only block that I know will be getting another anime this year, so it really is a 50/50 chance.

Even so, with just two shows Toonami does not have much going for it. In my opinion, it would probably be better to include Naruto and any other anime better fit for prime time on CN's Friday night fantasy/adventure block coming this fall, whether or not that block is actually Toonami by name. I do not know what they would do with Saturday night, but leaving the schedule mostly as it is, with Naruto and possibly Moribito between 9PM and 11PM on that night, does not seem wise. They would probably do okay but they would look very weak compared to the Friday night block. And when a block shows weakness, CN is quick to get rid of it. These may truly be Toonami's last days, or possibly a complete rebirth like the move to Saturday was in 2004. Only time will tell.

While I said I'd like to see Nicktoons show One Piece, I can't deny that I'd rather see One Piece's new dub continue on Toonami. I'm sure that would help the block stay afloat, especially along-side Naruto and other anime. But if Toonami is on the way out, then I guess One Piece might be better off on a network that could potentially give it the respect it deserves.

This is still just a rumor. You may now continue going about your usual business.

 

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