OMG, first Cartoon Network had Naruto first, and now DISNEY. What the hell is going on?


"Naruto Shippuden' to Disney XD"
Viz-owned animated series to bow in October

By David Ward from "The Hollywood Reporter"

Sept 10, 2009, 01:09 PM ET


SAN DIEGO -- Disney has struck a deal with Viz Media to bring the anime series "Naruto Shippuden" to the Disney XD network beginning next month.

"Shippuden" is the sequel to the popular Japanese import and picks up with the ninja lead characters now in their teens. The original "Naruto" series has been airing on Cartoon Network since 2005.

�We�re thrilled to be working with Disney,� Bill Germain, media director of programming sales at the San Francisco-based animation and licensing company. �We know Disney XD has been tracking really well since it launched in February and we think our top brand matches well with that audience.�

While it may be new to the Disney audience, Naruto has already proven to be a strong license in gaming and online. Subtitled episodes of "Shippuden" were among the top streams on both Hulu and Joost earlier this year.

�Disney XD is a growing destination for our key demographic, boys 6-14, and we're looking forward to bringing the adventures of 'Naruto Shippuden' to our lineup," said Tracy McAndrew, director, acquisitions and co-productions, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group.

Laura Yoshioka, director of consumer software for Tomy, which owns the "Naruto" game rights for all Nintendo platforms, said, �'Naruto' has always had a large installed base so the games did well even without a TV series for support."

But with Tomy releasing two new titles in the series, including the Nintendo DS game "Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2" next week, Yoshioka suggested the new TV deal could end up broadening the audience for the video games as well. �Having Disney as the broadcast partner we feel really pushes the brand to the next level,� she added.

COME ON PEOPLE, PUT IT BACK ON CARTOON NETWORK, DAMN IT.

Cartoon Network doesn't want it. They didn't even bid for it. Disney XD was the only network that went after the show and apparently they overbid for it.

Cartoon Network hasn't run Naruto for nearly a year now. They're done with the property. The show did well for them but Cartoon Network issued Viz an ultimatum: "Give us more control over the property and more merchandise profits or we won't run it anymore". For obvious reasons Viz said no.

So Naruto will not be seen on Cartoon Network again. That's the way it is.

For what it is worth, the commercials and sneak peeks DXD has been giving Shippuden shows that Shippuden will have the same TV rating as the first series: TV-PG-V. That means it won't be scissored any more than the first series was.

I doubt that a show like that would, putting TV-PG-V on a Disney Channel is clearly in violation of their programing. There's only TV-G and TV-Y7:FV -or TV-PG for movies, but not for an extreme anime like Naruto.

Haha hope 12-13 year old kids that don't know that dubs are the way to go enjoy their filler. Viz has been upping dubbed episodes on their site, if they do this on DDisney, I'd watch it just to support Japanese dubs on English broadcast channels.

At least we're GETTING Naruto Shippuden over here, right?

I couldn't see a place for it on Cartoon Network now. It really only belonged on Toonami, and since it's gone...

(lets it linger)

But, Disney XD? Of all channels? I don't mind that at all, but that's DEFINITELY something I never saw coming!!

jeff, wtf did you just say?

also:

extreme anime like Naruto.

rofl rofl rofl

Haha I hope 12-13 year old kids, that don't know that Japanese subbed episodes are the way to go, enjoy their filler. Naruto Shippuden is rife with filler episodes. Viz has been uploading subbed episodes of shippuden on their site, if they do this on Disney, I'd watch it just to support Japanese subbed episodes on English broadcast channels.

Thar I was hella tired when I wrote this.

gyah, I don't even know wth disnet xd is........i think from now on i'll just d/l naruto instead

gyah, I don't even know wth disnet xd is........i think from now on i'll just d/l naruto instead

I think it's what Toon Disney used to be. At first TD was a pretty cool guy, eh plays both old and new Disney cartoons and doesn't afraid of anything. But then they started airing "original" programing, mainly D grade anime and terrible Canadian CGI all the while cutting back on the actual Disney Toons. The saddest yet most awesome thing that happend was when there entire prime time block consisted of the Fox Kids saturday moring block: X-Men, Spider-man, Batman, & The Tick animated series were all aired back to back with Gargoyles on at the end.

And if you turned on adult swim they were airing Fox's sunday night line up with Futurama, Family Guy & later King of the Hill.

As of right now I think you can only get the network with premium cable or satellite so unless you have any of that you'll probably be better off just downloading them.

Who cares? Naruto is shit

And Disney XD used to be Jetix, which used to be fox kids.

You'll notice it has some of the shows Jetix did.