#RIPCartoonNetwork has been trending on X (formerly known as Twitter) amid reports that the channel is shutting down. The trend started when a X account “Animation Workers Ignited” shared an animation claiming that “Cartoon Network is essentially dead.” The post also suggested that other animation studios are facing similar challenges, particularly due to layoffs in the industry.
The animation stated, “Cartoon Network is essentially dead and other big animation studios are not far behind. What happened to all the animation workers?
Many are unemployed in record numbers, with some jobless for over a year, despite carrying the industry during the pandemic. 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. But studios repaid them by cancelling projects, outssourcing jobs, and laying off artists en masse.”
The video attributed these issues to greed, claiming that big studios improved their financials by reducing spending and cutting staff, allowing CEOs and executives to reap the benefits. It urged viewers to spread the word by posting about their favourite Cartoon Network shows with the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork and to follow the account for more ways to support the cause.
The clip quickly went viral, garnering over three million views in less than four hours. Social media users initially shared their favourite cartoons using the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork.
As the hashtag gained traction, rumours began to circulate that Cartoon Network was shutting down permanently. However, these claims are false. The account “Animation Workers Ignited,” associated with the animators’ union, is using the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork to highlight the challenges faced by industry workers. The channel itself is not shutting down.
