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A Proposal to Bring Back Sym-Bionic Titan
Draft 01 / Work in Progress


Dear Turner Broadcasting System, Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network Studios and others that it may concern,

We the community write to you today about the cancellation of Sym-Bionic Titan, an action packed story driven show about two teenagers, their bio-cybernetic companion and the ability to stop terrorizing monsters from harming the people of Earth. As I'm sure you are aware Sym-Bionic Titan is a Cartoon Network Studios production co-created by Genndy Tartakovsky, Paul Rudish and Bryan Andrews. The show originally aired on September 17th, 2010 and finished it's first season run on April 9th, 2011. It was not until the Fall line-up reveal that the Sym-Bionic Titan community learned that the show would not return for another season. It is the belief of the Sym-Bionic Titan community that the show was unfaithfully canceled due to several reasons even though it had a clear and present future in front of it, it is also believed the show is ready for a return.

The reaction of the community to the sudden cancellation of Sym-Bionic Titan was a mixed bag of emotions. The community was crushed as well as outraged seeing another show created by Genndy Tartakovsky receive an unexpected cancellation. Fans were confused as to the reason why Sym-Bionic Titan was canceled as it was well received among critics and viewers. On various sites the show received an 8.3 out of 10 on IMBD [1], 8.5 out of 10 in MetaCritic [2] and an 8.8 out of 10 on TV.com [3]. The show also received two nominations for Stephen DeStefano's “Character Design in an Animated Television Production” [4] and Scott Wills' “Production Design in an Animated Television Production” [5] at the 38th annual AnnieWards. Sym-Bionic Titan was even surpassing long running Generator Rex and nearing the same viewing numbers of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, two other action shows in the same time block [6]. But surely a show would not be cancellation without reason, those reasons however need to be justified.

Sym-Bionic Titan was canceled due to several facts that are clear and transparent from the Cartoon Network. The lesser reason for the shows cancellation was it time slot change from Friday nights at 8:00 pm on the action block to Wednesday. What was strange about this move was the show's solid numbers and the microscopic impact on the other actions shows during the same block, why was the show moved? The reason most likely stems from the second reason Sym-Bionic Titan was canceled, the lack of a toy line partnership. Both CN Representatives and Genndy Tartakovsky mention this in separate instances. A CN Representatives stated:

Quote1… Titan got competitive ratings with other action shows, but what shut it down was it didn't have enough toys connected to it. If you don't have the, the studios don't want to renew for another season."Quote2
―CN Representative [7]

Genndy Tartakovsky also mention at a ComicCon panel about Hotel Transulvania

Quote1I was proud of all the work we did on it but... you know, we just couldn’t get a toy line and they did not want to support use… it was just one of those things that got away.Quote2
―Genndy Tartakovsky

This is just another series to receive the same fate due to the lack of a toy line, other shows include Young Justice (8.6 / 10 IMBD), Megas XLR (8.3 / 10 IMBD) & Samurai Jack (8.3 / 10 IMBD) who also scored respectable user/critics ratings comparable to Sym-Bionic Titan in the same “action adventure” genre. The real question is whether the show had a future and is a toy line even needed?

When Sym-Bionic first air it was designed to be a twelve episode season, however, quickly into the first season it was decided to transform it into a 20 ~ 26 episode season, only 20 of those episode were aired. The first 20 episodes were designed to give rich back drop for the rest of the show while continuing to engage viewers with plot advancements. It is fair to say that the show was slow moving but it was setting-up for a long run. While the demographic for this show was aimed at K-12 the further the show ran the more we started to see a mature audience grow. This is supported even more by the fact that the show is currently doing very well on it's second run on Adult Swim/Toonami at 5:30am getting around 566,000 views, which is a time block that is aimed for a more mature audience [8], however, it's first run on Toonami at 3:30am was getting 721,000 views [9]. It's by this assessment that a toyline is irreverent as viewers at that age don't generally care about toys unless they are collectors. As well on the Toonami block we can see another animation medium that is similar to Sym-Bionic Titan, anime.

You can see the inspiration that Tartaksoky took from anime when directing Sym-Bionic Titan, from the fight scenes and moments of characters to the way the plot advanced. You can even see the influences in his earlier shows, like Samurai Jack. Anime is a unique medium because unlike western animation it does not have a stigma around it in terms of the viewing age. Anime is expected to be viewed at any age and because of this they know a show targeted at an older demographic don't generally care about a toyline. Expecting a toyline to supported a show at an audience that will the majority of the time not care about toys is backwards thinking. Why is it then that only western animation need a toyline to survive and don't rely on the viewing numbers and critic scores? If Turner Broadcasting System, Cartoon Network and Cartoon Network Studios expect to survive and flourish as much as the Japanese animation scene has they need to change their view on what support a show, toys or the audience. The major question everyone is asking themselves is if the show can return.

Sym-Bionic Titan and all the shows on Cartoon Network/Adult Swim/Toonami are classified as entertainment. We the community need to stop thinking with the ideology that Cartoon Network owes use a second season, this is childish and narrow minded. Entertainment is not something you need to survive and no one owes you anything if they don't follow up on your demands, however, this does not dismiss the fact that the show should return. Turner Broadcasting System, Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network Studios should bring back Sym-Bionic Titan because its missing a golden opportunity. Cartoon Network already has a story, voice actors, animators, music composers and everything needed to create the show. Even more compelling was when a user asked Mr. Tartakovsky if more episodes were in the pipeline on a Reddit AMA and he responded with

Quote1YES!! We wrote 10 more episodes for SYM-BIONIC TITAN that were better than the first 20. It was tragic for me to not have a chance to do that.Quote2
―Genndy Tartakovsky Reddit AMA [10]

. These are essentially episodes half way completed and while this is an appealing reasons for the show to come back there is even a better reason, the fan base. With a pre-established fan base you already have a large audience you know will watch the show, buy merchandise (like BluRays/DVDs) and spread the word about how great the show is. Turner Broadcasting System, Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network Studios are missing an opportunity that is just waiting for them to take advantage.

So please Cartoon Network take advantage of the communities continued love of Sym-Bionic Titan since its cancellation four years ago. Bring Sym-Bionic Titan back for another season and take advantage of what you already have, it would be a waste not too.

Cited[]

References
  1. IMBD Rating [1]
  2. MetaCritic Rating [2]
  3. TV.com [3]
  4. 38th Annie Awards Program Guide Page 20 File:38thAnnieAwardsProgram.pdf
  5. 38th Annie Awards Program Guide Page 22 File:38thAnnieAwardsProgram.pdf
  6. Zap 2 It Viewership numbers [4], [5], [6]
  7. CN Represenative about cancellation about SBT [7]
  8. SBT on it's 2nd Toonami run getting 566,000 views at 5:30am [8]
  9. SBT on it's 1st Toonami run getting 721,000 views at 3:30am [9]
  10. Reddit AMA [10], Web Archieve.org back-up [11]
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