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Cartoon Network Studios fans are angry after rumors surfaced of an alleged merger between the network and media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery––with many claiming this could be the end for the studio.
The rumors were sparked after Warner Bros. announced layoffs across the workforce, with 82 staffers receiving pink slips on Tuesday.
An announcement about the merger was allegedly made to staff via a company-wide memo from Warner Bros. TV Group chairman Channing Dungey, Variety reported.
The alleged memo stated that the layoffs were due to "restructuring and realignment" and announced upcoming changes to the company.
In the memo obtained by Variety, Dungey acknowledged that there will be shifts within the scripted and unscripted divisions, as well as a "streamlined structure" between Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios.
However, the memo stated that the consolidation is an "extension" of the cross-studio teams that already existed, which shared the same programming, casting, business and legal affairs, and artist relations teams.
After the merger of Warner Bros. Television Group and Discovery Inc. back in April, CEO David Zaslav announced plans to cut costs, including the recent cancellation of 'Batgirl' back in August.
Now, #CartoonNetwork is trending on Twitter, with thousands of users complaining about the alleged merger and how it could pose a threat to the network.
"Cartoon Network Studios, as you know it, is gone thanks to David Zaslav," @cartoonbrew tweeted Wednesday afternoon. "It consolidating into a single unit with Warner Bros. Animation, and this is HUGE news. It's also an ominous sign for the future of new, original Cartoon Network animation."
"I'm not being hyperbolic when I say the loss of Cartoon Network Studios, and all the other divisions and programs being shutdown by WB, is unquantifiable," @CarrieCnh12 tweeted.
"There's an entire generation of aspiring artists that went their entire childhood dreaming about working at Cartoon Network Studios," @ToonrificTariq tweeted. "And now they just can't. Devastating."
"Everyone focused on layoffs yesterday & missed the far bigger animation news: Cartoon Network Studios has been operationally folded into WB Animation. Now, CNS exists in name only. Here's what the realignment likely means: less original shows, more reboots/spinoffs of CN shows."
"Warner Bros. Discovery has to be the most catastrophically self-destructive merger I've ever seen," @RyanSilberman tweeted. "It's not enough that loads of shows and films are casually thrown away. We might just end up seeing the end of Cartoon Network entirely due to Zaslav's deliberate carelessness."
But as the claims reached the masses online, many users said it is harmful to believe the rumors without verification from either Cartoon Network or Warner Bros. Discovery.
"Hey if you've seen an article floating around by Cartoon Brew that Cartoon Network is ending I would definitely reconsider taking it at face value," @amphajack tweeted. "They don't have a stellar track record when it comes to reporting news as highlighted by Alex Hirsch."
"For those freaking out about what's happening with Cartoon Network Studios, take a deep breath because what you've heard was GREATLY exaggerated," @AniMat505 tweeted. "There may be some changes ahead, but it looks like CNS and the people working there are currently fine."
"I am waiting for a real confirmation from Cartoon Network themselves cause there is a lot of misinformation spreading around that CN is dead or all their future projects are now scrapped," @Crimson_Mayhem_ tweeted.
Newsweek reached out to Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery for comment.
About the writer
Samantha Berlin is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on trends and human-interest stories. Samantha ... Read more