The Arrow era was the fifth era of Cartoon Network in European territories (United Kingdom and Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, CEE, RSEE, Nordic, Netherlands and Turkey). It began on May 24, 2007 (exactly one year before the CW4Kids debuted in the USA), replacing the City era. Two years later, this era was also debuted on April 14, 2009 for RSEE and Turkey feeds, with the different branding and bumpers. It ended on September 27, 2010 with the CHECK it look replacing it in the United Kingdom, and two months later, on the rest of the countries using it.

Oddly enough, the idents (produced by Pesky, who made The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers) normally had nothing to do with the arrows theme and were essentially just short sketches that formed the logo. These included:

1. Dentist: A dentist notices a girl has broken teeth, fixes them with a drill, turning them normal (and looking like the CN logo)

2. Jack in the Box: 2 funny creatures pop out of a jack in the box, they get tangled and the boxes fall over, forming the logo

3. Bunnies: A black bunny and white bunny bash themselves with a mallet in a squash and stretch manner, This gets faster untill they turn into the logo, (with the iconic dizzy/birds flying over head gag thrown in for good measure)

4. Parachute: 2 skydiving daredevil’s parachute forms the logo (one of the daredevils fall to the ground, the other lands perfectly)

5. Transformers: 2 fighting mech robots turn into the logo

6. Moon: A man on the moon plants seeds, hoping for trees, but gets the logo instead

7. Cliff: 2 flying jets fly past a cliff with the logo carved into it

8. Balloons: 2 monkeys bounce on a inflater, behind then a baloon with the logo inflates and bursts, leaving them humiliated

Surrounding Pres: The surrounding pres actually used arrows, The idents actually started using arrows in 2010, I’ve noticed a lot of the original idents use slapstick/humiliation humor (with 5 and 7 being exceptions)
The Arrow era of Cartoon Network in European territories was marked by a shift in branding and presentation style, beginning on May 24, 2007, and ending on September 27, 2010, when it was replaced by the CHECK it look. This era was characterized by its unique idents created by Pesky, known for humorous and creative sketches that would creatively form the network’s logo. Despite being labeled the “Arrow” era, the idents didn’t typically incorporate arrows. Instead, they relied heavily on slapstick and humor, often involving unexpected transformations or humorous situations, as evidenced by scenarios like dentist mishaps, Jack in the Box antics, and playful interactions between cartoonish characters like bunnies and monkeys.

The idents were brief, entertaining, and carried the playful spirit associated with Cartoon Network, though they subtly included the network’s branding by forming the CN logo creatively within each sketch. While the surrounding presentation may have involved arrows, the core idents primarily relied on creative visual humor and character-driven sketches to engage viewers.
Write a alternate universe where the US adopted it on May 17 2008 (the exact same day a certain SatAM block closed down)
In an alternate universe, as the clock struck midnight on May 17, 2008, Cartoon Network in the United States transformed with the introduction of the Arrow era. Coincidentally, this was the same day that the iconic Saturday morning animation (SatAM) block, Kids’ WB, aired its final broadcast. As the dust settled on the end of an era for Saturday morning cartoons, the dawn of a new era in animation had begun.

The Arrow era in the US mirrored its European counterpart, focusing on fresh, creative idents filled with slapstick humor and vibrant sketches. Although the branding was titled “Arrow,” the actual idents deviated from this theme, much like their European predecessors. The energy of this era was characterized by short, humorous sketches seamlessly forming the CN logo, enchanting audiences with their novelty and charm.

### Highlights of the Arrow era in the US:

1. National Dentist’s Day: During a premiere event celebrating National Dentist’s Day, a special ident aired where the notorious dentist character tries to fix a kid’s teeth and accidentally forms the CN logo—a quirky nod to the slapstick humor central to this era.

2. Jack in the Box Surprise Marathon: A marathon of classic Cartoon Network shows interrupted by the Jack in the Box ident, where two creatures amusingly pop out, got entangled, and eventually turned into the CN logo. Fans tuned in to revisit old favorites with a new, unexpected twist.

3. Bunny Bash-O-Rama: A interstitial event that featured the Bunny ident multiple times throughout the day, adding snippets of new adventures involving the mischievous bunnies, culminating in them inadvertently forming the CN logo in increasingly creative ways with each airing.

4. Parachuting Adventures: Evoking the thrill of adventure, the Parachute ident, where daredevils morphed their parachutes into the CN logo, was tied into an extreme sports weekend, appealing to kids’ love for adrenaline-filled escapades.

5. Mecha Mayhem Week: Celebrating iconic robot-themed programming, the network unleashed the Transformers ident, leading into episodes of “Transformers Animated” and other mecha-themed shows, accentuating the excitement with robotic transformations into the CN logo.

6. Lunar Landing Special: In a nod to the anniversary of the moon landing, the Moon ident kicked off celebrations, featuring a gardener who plants seeds on the lunar soil, only to grow the CN logo instead of trees, delighting both space enthusiasts and animation lovers.

7. Cliffhanger Countdown: Building up suspense with classic cliffhangers across their programming, Cartoon Network aired the Cliff ident regularly throughout the countdown, with jets dramatically flying by the animated cliffside and forming the iconic CN logo.

8. Balloon Bonanza: Marking celebratory moments, the Balloons ident became synonymous with party-themed cartoon marathons, as balloon logos humorously burst during transitions between shows.

### Reception and Impact:

The Arrow era quickly became beloved in the US, as audiences embraced the playful mix of traditional animation charm with modern sensibilities. The idents were celebrated for their inventive use of humor and animation, capturing the imagination of viewers both young and young at heart. By seamlessly integrating these memorable sketches into their lineup, Cartoon Network not only honored the legacy of Kids’ WB but also propelled themselves into a new age of animated entertainment, marked by creativity and laughter.

This strategic introduction of the Arrow era on such a pivotal date underscored Cartoon Network’s commitment to innovation and their understanding of American audiences’ evolving tastes, ensuring the network remained at the forefront of animated children’s programming well into the CHECK it era that would succeed it.
Write a forum conversation asking what ident is used before comedic shows (e.g Johnny Test)