Animated series
Crusader Rabbit aired on television from 1950 to 1959. It stands as the first animated series ever broadcast in that format. Before this moment, animation lived primarily inside movie theaters as short films. These early theatrical shorts included The Newlyweds and Travelaughs during the years 1913 through 1923. Studios like Hanna-Barbera later produced The Flintstones between 1960 and 1966. That show became the first animated sitcom. It paved the way for other comedy series like Top Cat and The Jetsons. Wait Till Your Father Gets Home arrived in 1972 with an adult-oriented style similar to All in the Family.
Television networks schedule these shows daily or on specific days of the week. Saturday-morning cartoons filled weekend slots while prime time cartoons occupied evening hours. Late night anime found its home after traditional programming ended. A standard episode traditionally runs half an hour or nearly that duration. Many modern productions shrink this to ten or eleven minutes. These shorter segments combine to fill a set time period. Advertising often reduces the actual cartoon content to fifteen or twenty minutes within that block. Streaming services like Netflix remove commercials entirely from their versions. Some Japanese animations now feature episodes lasting only five minutes. Local stations adjust time slots based on regional broadcasting rules.
The 1980s and 1990s marked a renaissance for both children and adult audiences. Networks began creating channels specifically designed for animation. Shows like The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy expanded beyond primary child demographics. The Ren & Stimpy Show and Rocko's Modern Life targeted older viewers. Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill followed suit. Canadian computer-animated series ReBoot started as a child-friendly show. It shifted its target group to ages twelve and up by the late 1990s. This change resulted in a darker and more mature storyline. Animation Magazine noted this shift in September 1997 when discussing Mainframe technology reaching adolescence.
Japanese OVA series emerged as a distinct distribution method outside traditional television. The science fiction drama Dallos launched between 1983 and 1985 as the first example. Almost all hentai or pornographic anime series release directly to video formats. These releases bypass broadcast censorship and scheduling constraints. They allow creators to explore themes unsuitable for standard airtime. Direct-to-video models provide flexibility for niche audiences. Studios can produce content without network interference. This format supports experimental storytelling techniques unavailable on TV.
Animated web series now design themselves for websites and streaming platforms. Happy Tree Friends began production in 1999 and continues today. Homestar Runner started in 2000 and remains active. Eddsworld launched in 2003 with ongoing episodes. Too Cool! Cartoons ran from 2013 to 2014 before ending. RWBY debuted in 2013 and persists as a long-running project. Jaiden Animations appeared in 2014 and continues its run. The King's Avatar arrived in 2017 and maintains an audience. These productions rely on online video platforms rather than broadcast networks. Independent creators find new opportunities through digital distribution channels.
Common questions
When did Crusader Rabbit air on television?
Crusader Rabbit aired on television from 1950 to 1959. It stands as the first animated series ever broadcast in that format.
What was the first animated sitcom and when did it run?
The Flintstones became the first animated sitcom between 1960 and 1966. That show paved the way for other comedy series like Top Cat and The Jetsons.
How long do standard animated episodes traditionally run?
A standard episode traditionally runs half an hour or nearly that duration. Many modern productions shrink this to ten or eleven minutes.
Which Japanese OVA series launched between 1983 and 1985?
The science fiction drama Dallos launched between 1983 and 1985 as the first example of a distinct distribution method outside traditional television.
When did Happy Tree Friends begin production and does it continue today?
Happy Tree Friends began production in 1999 and continues today. Animated web series now design themselves for websites and streaming platforms.