Another Top 10 Cartoons Canceled for Ridiculous Reasons
#10: “Mega Man” (1994-95)
Back when the Blue Bomber was at the height of his popularity, Capcom greenlit a series that would follow his adventures. While the show wasn’t the most complex or visually impressive, it still brought in solid ratings. Despite its viewership numbers, the series was cancelled after its second season. Lackluster toy sales and licensing issues were both blamed for Mega Man’s sudden downfall. Considering that each episode reportedly had a budget of $300,000, Capcom probably didn’t think the show was worth the financial risk. It’s a shame that this campy yet fun Mega Man iteration couldn’t get a second life.
#9: “SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron” (1993-95)
On “SWAT Kats,” two humanoid cats fought crime with futuristic vehicles. While the premise is guilty of being way too 90’s, it was also judged for its violence. The president of the show’s producing company, Ted Turner, publicly stated that he disliked violent cartoons. Since his statements were made in the early 90’s, we can assume he wasn’t a fan of “SWAT Kats” frequent weapon usage and property destruction. His stance would explain why the show didn’t get the best time slot or a big marketing push during its final season. Although it had a short run, fans loved “SWAT Kats” enough to fund a successful Kickstarter for a potential revival.
#8: “Transformers: Animated” (2007-09)
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In a franchise with a ton of adaptations, “Transformers: Animated” stood out. The show featured fan favorite characters with remixed backstories. It also paid homage to the original series and even had a Weird Al voice cameo. As the show hit its third season on Cartoon Network, “Transformers” parent company Hasbro made a deal to help Discovery create programming. When “Transformers: Animated” was cancelled despite plans for a fourth season, fans assumed that Hasbro wanted to avoid having multiple “Transformers” shows on competing networks. While Hasbro eventually brought new “Transformers” cartoons to Cartoon Network, “Transformers: Animated” remains a casualty of a big business deal.
#7: “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” (2002-06)
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The rise and fall of Nickelodeon’s boy genius was tied to the box office. Shortly after the first “Jimmy Neutron” movie became a box office smash, a full series premiered on Nick. While the show rode on a wave of critical success and awards, the show’s main animation studio, DNA Productions, struggled. Although DNA Productions was able to finish work on 2006’s “Ant Bully,” its box office failure made it impossible for the studio to recover. Without DNA Productions in its corner, “Jimmy Neutron’s” ratings alone couldn’t justify the cost of another season. Maybe if “Ant Bully” had performed better, we wouldn’t have been subjected to the lackluster “Planet Sheen” spinoff.
#6: “Samurai Jack” (2001-04, 2017)
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“Samurai Jack” chronicled the story of a skilled swordsman who tries to get back to the past after being trapped in the future. After four seasons of slick animation and emotional narratives, production on the show suddenly stopped. Series creator Genndy Tartakovsky later stated his commitment to a new “Star Wars” show and network changes didn’t give his creative team enough time to wrap up Jack’s tale. As a result, the show was placed on an “indefinite hiatus” for over a decade. It’s brutally ironic that a show about time travel was nearly left unfinished because the creators didn’t have enough time. Luckily, “Samurai Jack’” received a touching finale just under 13 years later.
#5: “Gargoyles” (1994-97)
90’s kids are still heartbroken over the cancellation of this dark cartoon. “Gargoyles” featured a group of winged creatures who secretly protected innocent lives. The show’s intricate storylines, literary allusions, and three-dimensional villains made it critically acclaimed and beloved by fans. Unfortunately, the winning formula suffered big changes after Season 2. After ABC took over, “Gargoyles” was renamed and several story aspects were drastically changed. The show also had to share a time slot with the smash hit “Power Rangers.” It didn’t take long before “Gargoyles” was put to sleep. But if Jordan Peele gets his way, the stone warriors may awaken once more.
#4: “Pinky and the Brain” (1995-98)
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One word doomed “Pinky and the Brain”: Elmyra. Pinky and the Brain were a duo of mice who spent each episode on a new plan for world domination. Their chemistry was so great that their adventures went from a short on “Animaniacs” to a full spinoff show. As the brilliantly funny cartoon reached its fourth season, network executives suggested that a third main character should be added to the show. And that’s where Elmyra came in. When the irritating and shrill character was added for the show’s retooling, the ratings nosedived. Elmyra's horrible introduction will hopefully remind executives not to mess with a good formula.
#3: “Kim Possible” (2002-07)
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Unlike other cancelled shows, “Kim Possible” got a satisfying ending. After three highly rated and well-regarded seasons, the series was scheduled to end with a TV movie. This was due to an unofficial Disney Channel rule that limited all its shows to 65 episodes, regardless of their performance. While shows like “That’s So Raven” broke that policy, great cartoons like “Lilo & Stitch: The Series” couldn’t overcome the rule. (*xref) When it came to “Kim Possible,” fans called and beeped Disney so relentlessly about a renewal that the channel greenlit a new season. While the creators were caught off guard, they ensured the last season was as great at the ones before it.
#2: “Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
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It’s hard to believe that this comedy staple ever struggled to stay on the air. But after its well-received first season, the show was moved to the same time slot as the popular “Frasier.” When ratings dipped, executives moved “Family Guy” to the crowd-pleasing “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire” time slot. After ratings fell again, FOX cancelled the show and brought it back a year later. Unfortunately for “Family Guy” fans, the revived show was placed in the same time slot as “Survivor” and the untouchable “Friends.” FOX’s poor scheduling decisions basically guaranteed its cancellations. Luckily, DVD sales and reruns ensured that the Griffin family came back for more cutaway gags and chicken fights. Before our top pick gets shut down, here are a few dishonorable mentions. “Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes” (2006-07) Airing Schedule Was a Nightmare “G.I. Joe: Renegades” (2010-11) Rumored Plot Was Too Similar to Live Action Movie “The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes” (2010-13) Replaced with New “Avengers” Series “Sym-Bionic Titan” (2010-11) Low Toy Sales “Static Shock” (2000-04) Toys Didn't Sell Well Enough
#1: “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14, 2019-)
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After the uneven “Star Wars Episode II” teased the clone wars, this animated spinoff fully dived into the conflict. The series gave us more time with popular characters like Yoda, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka Tano. By placing them in layered plots, we got more insight into their motivations and personalities. In 2013, fans were stunned when Lucasfilm announced the show was cancelled because they wanted a “new direction in animated programming.” However, Boba Fett voice actor Daniel Logan said that the cartoon was struck down because it was becoming too adult for its intended audience. Fortunately, audiences will get a chance to see if Logan was right when the series continues on Disney’s new streaming service.
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