BBToons

**BBToons**, short for **Bear Bones Toons**, is an American children's entertainment programming service is both a cartoon programming block and channel, with the block version airing on Sony Channel, UniMás and Animax in January 30, 2014, and the channel version in 2017. The block and channel airs mainly programming from Bear Bones Productions and Sensation Animation while also airing select licensed content from other companies.

## History

### Formation

In late 2013, it was reported that Sony and Univision was in talks with Bear Bones Entertainment about a possible way of making a cartoon block for Sony Channel, UniMás and Animax.

In April 2016, Bear Bones Entertainment teamed up with select companies to launch a new block for Sony. After several discussions, Bear Bones announced plans to launch a new, multi-platform cartoons entertainment brand known as BBToons. A day before the release of *The Angry Birds Movie*, Bear Bones, UniMás, Sony Channel and Animax placed its first look in their Facebook account.

In October 2013, the first promo for the block aired on TV and was posted on YouTube with thousands and thousands likes. Bear Bones Productions and Sensation Animation had plans to create original series for the block. Thereby, *Slime!* was officially labeled as the first BBToons original series. In addition, other companies including studios outside of the U.S. would also produce original series for BBToons while also creating it for their own countries. Later in the same month, *Sonic Boom and Miraculous: Tales from Ladybug and Cat Noir* was confirmed to be moving from Cartoon Network and Boomerang to the block, as well as some shows from Toons.TV, such as *Angry Birds Toons*, *Angry Birds Stella*, *Wallace and Gromit: Cracking Contraptions*, *Oggy and the Cockroaches*, *Oscar's Oasis*, and *Scaredy Squirrel*, are also moving to the block.

A day before New Year's Day, a month before the block premiere, the full starting lineup for the block was confirmed. The next month, the block premiered.

### Launch of the block

The block was launched on January 30, 2014, with the premiere of weekend morning blocks on Sony Channel, UniMás and Animax. The launch sequence features Malachi and Purple Guy (both voiced by Mala Miles) discussing about who will launch the block. The camera then pans over to an animated version of Sid John (voiced by himself) drawing Pizzy and Fifi (voiced by Eric Bauza and Kari Wahlgren) in a notepad, coming thereafter to life, followed by a special event called *Riley's Guide to BBToons* hosted by Riley, launching the block. The first program to air was *Malachi and Friends.*

### Launch of the channel

Due to positive reviews, successful views and heavy fan demand, BBToons was confirmed to get its own 24/7 hour channel. All remaining programming from Bear Bones Channel were moved into the BBToons schedule, while BBToons will retain its channel position through cable, satellite, and antenna. The first program to air was *Sonic Boom.*

## Programming

*Main article: List of programs broadcast by BBToons*
## BBToons Originals

**BBToons Originals** is an in-name only production studio owned by Bear Bones (owned by Sony Pictures). It focuses on producing and developing original animated programs and shorts for BBToons, but sometimes also for Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Disney XD.

## Idents/Promos

*Main article: BBToons/Idents and promos transcripts*
## Pizzy and Fifi

Pizzy and Fifi are the network's mascots. They are cartoon animal characters that look similar to *Malachi Universal*, and are a dog and cat respectively. They first appeared in Bear Bonesshort, *Pizzy and Fifi: The Greatest Adventures Begin*.

## Content agreements

* Bear Bones Entertainment
	+ Bear Bones Productions
	+ Sensation Animation
	+ Maloing Entertainment
	+ Riverhood Entertainment
	+ BBToons Originals

* The Walt Disney Company
	+ Walt Disney Pictures (family films only)
	+ Walt Disney Animation Studios
	+ DisneyToon Studios
	+ Disney Television Animation
	+ 20th Century Fox (family films only)
	+ 20th Century Fox Television
	+ Blue Sky Studios

* Sony Pictures Entertainment
	+ Columbia Pictures (family films only)
	+ TriStar Pictures (family films only)
	+ Sony Pictures Television
	+ Sony Pictures Animation

* WarnerMedia
	+ Warner Bros. Entertainment
		- Warner Bros. Pictures (family films only)
		- Warner Animation Group (select films only)
		- Warner Bros. Animation
	+ Turner Broadcasting System
		- Turner Entertainment
		- Hanna-Barbera
		- Cartoon Network

* NBCUniversal
	+ Universal Studios (family films only)
	+ DreamWorks Animation
	+ Illumination Entertainment
	+ Universal Animation Studios
	+ DreamWorks Animation Television

* ViacomCBS
	+ Paramount Pictures (select films only)
	+ Paramount Animation
	+ Fleischer Studios/Famous Studios/Paramount Cartoon Studios
	+ Nickelodeon

* MGM Holdings
	+ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (family films only)
	+ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation

* Corus Entertainment (Nelvana)
* WildBrain
* 9 Story Media Group
* Rainbow S.r.l
* Splash Entertainment
* Sega
* Nintendo
* Hasbro
* Ánima Estudios
* The LEGO Group
* m4e AG

## International versions

### United Kingdom and Ireland

The United Kingdom version of the channel launched on November 2017 replacing Flava.

On January 4, 2021, the channel will be defunct and replaced by british version of NickMusic.

### France and Francophone Africa

The United Kingdom version of the channel launched on February 2018 replacing Animax.

On January 4, 2021, the channel will be defunct and replaced by french version of VH1.

### Spain

The Spain version of the channel launched on July 2018.

On January 4, 2021, the channel will be defunct and replaced by spanish version of NickMusic.

### Portugal and Lusophone Africa

The Spain version of the channel launched on October 2018.

On January 4, 2021, the channel will be defunct and replaced by portuguese version of NickMusic.

### Canada

A Canadian version of the block was launched in August 2017 on Global Television Network as a partnership between Global's parent company Corus Entertainment and Bear Bones Entertainment. In addition, Corus also launched a Canadian version of the channel in January 2018.

### Latin America and Brazil

The Latin American and Brazil version of the block was launched in June 2017 on Lifetime. The Latin American version of the channel was launched in January 2018.

### Asia

The Asian version of the channel was launched in March 2018. The channel was formerly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, but was sold to former Sony Pictures Television executives at KC Global Media in January 2020.

### India

The India version of the HD channel launched on April 18, 2017 replacing Animax HD. Animax ceased broadcasting in India on regular television and was replaced by Sony Yay on 18 April 2017.

### Korea

The Latin American version of the block was launched in August 2017 on Animax, closed block in 2020. The Korean version version of the channel premiered on March 2018, and has the Korean translation in the bottom of the normal BBToons logo.

### Japan

The Japanese version of the block was launched in December 2017 on Animax. The Japanese version of BBToons will premiere on December 2019.

## Schedule

*Main article: BBToons/Schedule*
And for the channel version of the schedule, click here: BBToons/Channel Schedule.

## TV rating

Note that most of the shows are rated TV-Y7 (and TV-Y7-FV), but there are a few shows that are rated TV-PG (select shows and films only).

* TV-Y (preschool shows)
* TV-Y7 (and TV-Y7-FV, most shows)
* TV-G (some shows and most theatrical films)
* TV-PG (some shows and most theatrical films)

## Slogan

* *The new place for cartoons!* (January 2014-December 2016; despite the slogan receiving favorable reviews)
* *Not just cartoons, We're BBToons!* (December 2016-March 2017)
* *We're ready for fun toons!* (March 2017-November 2018)
* *Totally, B-B-Toons!* (November 2018-present)
* *Isn't that Funny?* (comedy programming)
* *Power up!* (action programming)

## Reception

### Critical response

The block version received favorable reviews from critics. It was praised for its lineup, look and design, while the channel version received critical acclaim.

## Trivia

* BBToons is inspired by Warner Bros' Boomerang and WB Kids, The Walt Disney Company's Toon Disney/Disney Zoog and Viacom's Nicktoons, because it airs mainly cartoons.
* The lineup promo had the Powerhouse song.
* It is the first cartoon block since the now-defunct *NBC Kids*.
* The website link was www.bbtoons.com. There are games, videos, activities (including papercraft-like figures called *BBToons Craft-Toons*, coloring pages, crafts, etc.).

* The idents are similar to ones from Nicktoons from 2002 to 2004, Cartoon Network from 1998-2004, and Toon Disney from 2005 to 2009, but both the block and the channel use Powerhouse-like bumpers by Renegade Animation.
* In the *Looney Tunes*/*Merrie Melodies* 1949 cartoon *Often an Orphan*, starring Porky Pig, a scene where Charlie Dog explains Porky about his rough life at the city is cut out due to Charlie's quote "*Look! It's the towers!! THEY'RE FALLING!!!*" being a reference to 9/11 attack, a terrorist attack that happened 52 years after this cartoon, which could traumatize 9/11 victims with memories.
* The opening sequence was inspired by Kids' WB opening.
* Due to its popularity, the channel spawns into a variety of stuff: radio, a magazine, a series of crossover comic books, a soundtrack, video games, online, and an app.