Hubbry Logo
The CartoonstituteThe CartoonstituteMain
Open search
The Cartoonstitute
Community hub
The Cartoonstitute
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
The Cartoonstitute
The Cartoonstitute
from Wikipedia

The Cartoonstitute
Created byRob Sorcher
StarringVarious voice actors
ComposerVarious
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes14 (only 5 2/3 completed)
Production
Executive producers
ProducersJanet Dimon
Nate Funaro
Running time22 minutes (3x7 minutes)
Production companyCartoon Network Studios
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network Video
ReleaseMay 7, 2010 (2010-05-07)
Related

The Cartoonstitute is a Cartoon Network project created by Cartoon Network's executive Rob Sorcher that would have been a showcase for animated shorts created without the interference of network executives and focus testing. It was headed by Craig McCracken (creator of The Powerpuff Girls, and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends) and Rob Renzetti (creator of My Life as a Teenage Robot).[1][2] Thirty-nine shorts for the project were in development at Cartoon Network Studios, but only 14 of these were completed. Eventually, balancing 5 upcoming shows and adding another proved difficult and the project was scrapped.[3] Of the shorts that were made, only Regular Show and Uncle Grandpa got greenlit to become animated series.[4] On May 7, 2010, Cartoon Network released nearly all of the shorts to their website. The only shorts not released were Maruined, 3 Dog Band, and Joey to the World.[5]

History

[edit]

The series was first announced on April 3, 2008, at Cartoon Network's annual upfront in New York City. The project was to be similar to The Cartoon Cartoon Show (also known as the What a Cartoon! Show), which aired on the network more than a decade earlier and gave birth to some of the channel's first animated series, such as Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls and Cow and Chicken. The Cartoonstitute was to establish a think tank and create an environment in which animators can create characters and stories. A section of Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, was set aside exclusively for the project. The "Cartoonstitute" name came up by Lauren Faust, the wife of Craig McCracken. The first short to appear legally online via Vimeo was "3 Dog Band: Get It Together" on July 29, 2009.[6] On September 26, 2009, all 14 completed shorts were posted on YouTube and the account was deleted shortly after posting them.[7][8]

List of completed shorts

[edit]

All shorts of the project were developed and produced in 2009, despite their release in 2010.[9][10]

Title Created by Synopsis Voice Cast
"3 Dog Band: Get It Together" Paul Rudish A trio of dogs (that consists in a German-accented Afghan Hound interested in synth-pop named Stavros (a reference to german electronic music, and perhaps Kraftwerk), a cupcake-loving drummer, beagle named Loubie (dressed in clothes akin to golden era hip-hop artists) and a dachshund interested in funk named Sly, (named after music legend Sly Stone) prepare for a gig at an exclusive nightclub, with some minor difficulty along the way. Jeff Bennett as Stavros
Dee Bradley Baker as Loubie
Phil LaMarr as Sly
John DiMaggio as Mr. Pinkwater
"Baloobaloob's Fun Park" Aaron Springer Two teenage workers, Andy and Jeff, must help an alien that looks like a cow ballerina with a hamburger head named Baloobaloob come up with an extraordinary stage act in an attempt to prevent his amusement park from closing. Dee Bradley Baker as Andy, Baloobaloob, Narrator
Tom Kenny as Jeff, Male Audience Members
Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Linster, Male Audience Members
"Danger Planet" Derek Drymon When a arcade machine of the Danger Planet game and a forklift robot get stranded on a planet inhabited by carnivorous cyclops-like aliens that can shapeshift, they take it upon themselves to protect a human baby thanks to the spaceship captain who will make sure that they do not leave the planet on her watch.
Note: The short was re-released in 2016 with brighter colors.[11]
Dana Snyder as Danger Planet/DP
Tom Kenny as Forklift
Dee Bradley Baker as Baby
Maria Bamford as Captain
Gary Anthony Williams as Alien
"Joey to the World" Craig Kellman A immature kangaroo decides to left the house of his mother in Australia on his 35th birthday to the Alaskan wilderness.
Note: This is the only short that is written for teen/adult audience.
Mr. Lawrence as Joey, Radio Announcer
Estelle Harris as Joey's Mom
Tom Kenny as Snow Monster, Arcade Employee
"Le Door" Matt Danner A French-accented inter-dimensional adventurer named Le Door takes his young apprentice Frank on a tour through his old academy, only to enter a competition against his old sidekick-turned-rival Zee Window and his apprentice Zee Donut Hole.
Note: Le Door's character is a parody of Doraemon.
René Auberjonois as Le Door
Jayden Monick as Frank
Eric Bauza as Zee Window
Matt Danner as Zee Donut Hole
"Maruined" Genndy Tartakovsky Two siblings, a teenage girl and her hip-hop loving younger brother Zack, become trapped on a dangerous deserted island with a playful pig-like creature named Snortfacus.
Note: The short was planning to air in Cartoon Network Latin America in 2017, but the airing was cancelled due to technical problems. The short was later posted on YouTube.
Grey DeLisle as Girl
Maria Bamford as Zack
Tom Kenny as Ship servant
Frank Welker as Snortafus
"Meddlen Meadows" Chris Reccardi In a planet inhabited by primitive aliens who attempted to sacrifice a green sheep-like creature, a smooth-talking space adventurer named Bacculas has difficulty to escape after the power cell of his spaceship gets stolen by the primitives. Paul Rugg as Bacculas, Stick native
Dee Bradley Baker as Round Creature
Kevin Michael Richardson as Red Native, Bush Troll
"Regular Show" J. G. Quintel On their first day working at the park, Mordecai the blue jay and Rigby the raccoon compete against each other over Pops the lollipop's old chair by playing rock-paper-scissors, but it is revealed to be an evil game when they tie 100 times in a row, spawning a portal-absorbing monster intent on eating the couch.
Note: This short serves as the pilot to the show of the same name, Regular Show. The short was later retooled into the season 2 episode "First Day".
J. G. Quintel as Mordecai
William Salyers as Rigby
Sam Marin as Benson, Pops
Mark Hamill as Skips
Roger L. Jackson as the portal-absorbing monster
"Spleenstab" Mike Bell A barbarian attempts to become a kind and gentle person with the help of a forest elf. Mike Bell as Spleenstab
Jeff Bennett as Treewise and Twinkle
Tom Kenny as Brownie, Cake Troll
"Stockboys of the Apocalypse" Derek Drymon A teenage worker of the department store Hoggly Woggly falls into a time machine hide in a cardboard box where he is now a robot and meet his now-elderly best friend and the pig mascot who has been mutated Woggy. Alexander Polinsky as Stockboy 1
Steve Little as Stockboy 2
Dee Bradley Baker as Normal Woggy, Mutants
John DiMaggio as Mutant Woggy
"The Awesome Chronicles of Manny and Khan: Lava Ball! The Ashes of Heroes" Josh Lieberman and Joey Giardina (credited as "Josh and Joey") A German-accented leprechaun named Khan and a giant platypus named Manny attempt to retrieve a ball, pretending that the patch of grass surrounding it is lava. Keith Ferguson as Manny
Adam Paul as Khan
"The Borneos" Chris Staples The son of a family that works in a circus must undergo training to prevent the family title of the "Walla Walla Wildman" from being taken. Dee Bradley Baker as Jo, The Wildman, Walla Walla Weirdo, Squirrel, Teensy Tom
Candi Milo as Po
Maurice LaMarche as Unkle Pickle, Clown Host
Kari Wahlgren as Audience Member
"Uncle Grandpa" Pete Browngardt A strange man who is the uncle and grandfather of everyone in the world, simply Uncle Grandpa, must do battle with a gang of monsters from other dimension called Digustoids, after an attempt to gain the appreciation and love of a nerdy teenager named Ham Sandwich goes awry.
Note 1: This short later became the pilot to both Secret Mountain Fort Awesome, as well as the show of the same name, Uncle Grandpa.
Note 2: This short also had a nomination for the Emmy Awards in 2010.[12]
Pete Browngardt as Uncle Grandpa
Steve Blum as Ham Sandwich
Grey DeLisle as Judy Jones
"YES" David P. Smith (credited as Dave Smith) A merman enlists a family from the countryside to assist him in an effort to help people realize and fulfill their dreams. Tom Kenny as Edwin
Daran Norris as Bob
Grey DeLisle as Alastair, Mom, Gam Gams
Dave Smith as Robot Butler

Rejected/Unproduced

[edit]

While there are 25 unfinished shorts that remain unreleased, there are currently 6 known pitches/concepts for The Cartoonstitute that may or may not have had their pilot short produced (making a total of 18 remaining unknown pitches).

Title Created by Synopsis
"Dynamite Jones" Andy Suriano An Luke Cage-alike figure that tries to get back to fighting crimes with his son. Originally pitched to BET.
"When Nature Calls" Mike Milo A SpongeBob-alike show but with trees, where two dimwits named Woodrow and Mr. Flint who help Mother Nature set up the earth each day for humans.
"Thundermanns" Stephen DeStefano Synopsis unknown.
"The Sloppy Seconds" Greg Arya Synopsis unknown but some storyboards exist.
"The Brand New Super Crazies" Greg Miller Synopsis unknown.
"Star and the Forces of Evil" Daron Nefcy A 6th grader that doesn't have any friends gets sent far away from the galaxy to Earth to fight the forces of evil.
Note: This pitch was not picked up/rejected and later in 2015 became a Disney cartoon of the same name and concept, Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Cartoonstitute was a development initiative launched by in April 2008, designed as a creative "" to incubate original animated shorts and pilots by providing animators with an environment free from traditional network constraints. Spearheaded by Rob Sorcher, Cartoon Network's chief content officer at the time, the program was based at the network's and aimed to produce up to 150 pieces of programming over 20 months. It employed six full-time artists immediately, with plans to involve up to 30 additional in-house or freelance creators during production lulls to pitch and develop ideas. The initiative was led creatively by prominent animators , known for The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and , creator of My Life as a Teenage Robot. Although the program was discontinued as a distinct entity by the early , becoming a former iteration of Cartoon Network's broader shorts development efforts, it contributed to the network's success by spawning several acclaimed series, including , , and .

Overview

Concept and Purpose

The Cartoonstitute was a development program conceived by Rob Sorcher, Cartoon Network's chief content officer, aimed at fostering and identifying potential series for the network. Launched in 2008 shortly after Sorcher rejoined the company from AMC, it functioned as an internal and artists' colony at in Burbank, providing a dedicated space for creators to develop original ideas without traditional bureaucratic hurdles. The primary purpose was to accelerate the creation of original animated content, bypassing lengthy approval processes to test concepts quickly and nurture emerging talent. Supervised by animation veterans and , the initiative targeted the production of up to 150 pieces of programming over 20 months, including pilots and short segments, through a core team of six full-time artists supplemented by up to 30 external contributors. This approach emphasized creativity and over immediate commercial viability, allowing in-house and freelance animators to explore innovative and character designs that could evolve into full series. By prioritizing short-form experiments, the program sought to build a robust pipeline of potential hits, reflecting Cartoon Network's strategic shift toward expanding its slate of proprietary during the late 2000s.

Announcement

The Cartoonstitute was officially announced on April 3, 2008, during Cartoon Network's annual upfront presentation in , where the network unveiled its programming slate for the upcoming year. The initiative, spearheaded by Cartoon Network's chief content officer Rob Sorcher, was positioned as an artist-driven "think tank" to accelerate the development of new animated content, building on the network's legacy of fostering innovative shorts like those from What a Cartoon!. Sorcher emphasized the project's role in talent scouting and creative innovation, stating, "The Cartoonstitute will create an unprecedented swift development track for animated pilots," and noting that it would be run by artists to cultivate a new generation of showrunners while producing groundbreaking animation. The initial scope called for up to 150 pieces of programming over 20 months, primarily developed at under the guidance of executive producer —known for and —and supervising producer , creator of My Life as a Teenage Robot. This structure aimed to engage a core team of six full-time artists, supplemented by up to 30 additional contributors during production breaks, to scout and nurture emerging talent. Early hints of creator involvement included opportunities for up-and-coming animators to pitch and develop ideas. Network executives highlighted how such partnerships would enable of ideas, positioning The Cartoonstitute as a vital pipeline for fresh, experimental content to sustain Cartoon Network's reputation for animation innovation.

Production

Development Process

The Cartoonstitute operated as an in-house initiative at in , aimed at accelerating the creation of animated pilots and shorts through a collaborative "" model. Under the oversight of Rob Sorcher, Cartoon Network's chief content officer and , the program was led by Craig McCracken and supervising producer , who coordinated efforts to build an environment for artists to develop original characters and stories. This structure emphasized artist-driven content generation, with a core team of six full-time artists supplemented by up to 30 additional contributors pitching and refining ideas during production cycles. The creative workflow began with pitching sessions where in-house artists, directors, storyboarders, and writers submitted original concepts, fostering experimentation in styles and narratives. Approved pitches advanced to scripting, where writers outlined story structures, followed by storyboarding to visualize sequences, and then animation production utilizing studio resources for efficient turnaround. Key creators such as and Chris Reccardi participated in this process, contributing to the development of individual projects within the initiative. Resource allocation prioritized low budgets to promote innovative, low-risk experimentation amid the late 2000s economic challenges, enabling small, agile teams rather than large-scale productions. Launched in , the program targeted completion of 39 seven-minute shorts by 2010, but financial constraints from led to only 14 being fully realized before its wind-down.

Completed Shorts

The Cartoonstitute produced 14 completed animated shorts between 2008 and 2010, serving as a testing ground for new concepts and talent at . These shorts varied in length from approximately 2 to 7 minutes and utilized both traditional hand-drawn and digital techniques, allowing creators freedom to experiment with styles and storytelling. Several became pilots that were greenlit for full series, while others remained standalone pieces released online or screened internally. The following catalog lists the shorts alphabetically, including creator(s), runtime, plot summary, style, and outcome. 3 Dog Band: Get It Together was created by with a runtime of 2 minutes. The short follows a trio of musically diverse dogs preparing for a performance at an exclusive nightclub. It features a digital animation style with exaggerated expressions and musical sequences. The short was released as a standalone on Cartoon Network's website but did not lead to a series. Baloobaloob's Fun Park, created by , has a runtime of about 3 minutes. Two teenage workers help an alien manager named Baloobaloob create an extraordinary stage act to save the amusement park. It employs a hand-drawn style reminiscent of classic cartoon , with elastic physics and vibrant, whimsical backgrounds. The short was released standalone and did not spawn a series. Danger Planet, created by , lasts 4 minutes. An arcade machine and a protect a baby on an alien planet, leading to comedic adventures. The animation is digital with a gritty, retro aesthetic combining 2D and limited 3D elements. It remained a standalone release. Joey to the World, created by Craig Kellman, runs for 2 minutes. The plot depicts a 35-year-old kangaroo named Joey attempting to leave his overprotective mother's pouch and venture into the Alaskan wilderness for independence. It uses a simple digital animation style with minimalistic designs and dark humor. The short was not publicly uploaded but screened internally as a standalone. Le Door, created by Matt Danner, is 3 minutes long. A French-accented inter-dimensional adventurer competes in a tournament, guiding his apprentice through bizarre doors to unexpected worlds. The animation is hand-drawn with clean lines and colorful, portal-based visuals. It was released as a standalone short. Maruined, created by , has a runtime of 2 minutes. Two siblings, a teenage girl and her hip-hop loving younger brother, become trapped on a deserted island with a strange hippo/dog hybrid creature. It features Tartakovsky's signature hand-drawn style—sparse, expressive, and dynamic with high-contrast shading. It served as a standalone experimental piece. Meddlen Meddows, created by Chris Reccardi, runs for 4 minutes. A bug-like alien crashes on a primitive planet and must navigate its hostile inhabitants while repairing his ship, blending sci-fi and comedy. The animation is digital with detailed alien designs and lush, organic environments. The short was released standalone. Regular Show, created by , is a 6-minute pilot. It follows slacker groundskeepers and Rigby at a park, where their mundane jobs escalate into supernatural adventures, like a magical keyboard causing chaos on their first day. The style is hand-drawn with a clean, modern look influenced by cartoons. It was greenlit for a full series that premiered in September 2010 and ran for 8 seasons. Spleenstab, created by Mike Bell, runs for approximately 3 minutes. A named Spleenstab attempts to become kind and gentle with the help of a forest named Twinkle. It uses a hand-drawn style with exaggerated fantasy elements and comedic action. The short was released as a standalone. Stockboys of the Apocalypse, created by , lasts 3 minutes. A teenage stockboy encounters a time machine and must deal with mutants in a future supermarket apocalypse. It uses a hand-drawn style with quirky, exaggerated character proportions and chaotic action. The short remained standalone. The Awesome Chronicles of Manny and Khan, created by Josh Lieberman and Joey Giardina, runs for 5 minutes. A German-accented named Khan and a giant named Manny attempt to retrieve a magical ball in a vibrant, action-packed world. is digital with bold colors and dynamic camera work. It was released as a standalone. The Borneos, created by , runs for approximately 4 minutes. The sole normal child in a family of circus performers must undergo training to retain the family title of the "Walla Walla Wildman." It features hand-drawn animation with grotesque, gross-out humor and circus-themed visuals. The short was released standalone. Uncle Grandpa, created by , is a 5-minute pilot. Eccentric travels in his RV to help kids with bizarre problems using magical items, battling monsters in his first adventure. The style is hand-drawn with surreal, collage-like elements and bright, retro vibes. It led to a full series premiere in September 2013, as well as the spin-off . YES, created by David P. Smith, has a runtime of 2 minutes. A enlists a family from the countryside to assist in helping people realize and fulfill their dreams. It features a digital style with surreal elements and optimistic humor. It was released standalone. These shorts were primarily screened internally in June 2009 before most were uploaded to Cartoon Network's website in May 2010, showcasing the program's role in fostering innovative .

Unproduced and Abandoned Projects

Rejected Shorts

The Cartoonstitute program, initiated by executive Rob Sorcher, aimed to produce 39 animated shorts to foster new talent and ideas, but was canceled in after only 14 were completed, resulting in 25 unproduced or partially developed projects. These rejected shorts encompassed early-stage concepts pitched by emerging animators, with specific details on many remaining confidential and not publicly disclosed by the network. However, some projects have been documented in secondary sources and creator portfolios, including "Thundermanns" by Stephen DeStefano, "The Sloppy Seconds" by Greg Miller, and "Pinky" by Nick Edwards. The abrupt halt in production meant many ideas never progressed beyond initial brainstorming or preliminary artwork, limiting opportunities for creators to refine their visions under the program's think-tank model. One documented example of a rejected short is Thundermanns, an unproduced pilot with art direction provided by Stephen DeStefano, , and . Character designs were handled by DeStefano, with clean-up animation by Mike Collins, indicating some development had occurred before cancellation. No synopsis or plot details for Thundermanns have been released, but its involvement of high-profile figures like McCracken—known for —highlights the caliber of talent engaged in these early pitches. Reasons for its rejection align with the program's overall demise, including budget constraints amid the 2008 economic downturn and shifting priorities at toward established series. Surviving materials from the rejected shorts are minimal and largely confined to internal archives or occasional mentions in creator discussions. For instance, and storyboards from various pitches have surfaced sporadically in creator portfolios, but no complete scripts or animated sequences from the unproduced batch have been made available. Notable creators associated with these projects include up-and-coming talents who later found success elsewhere, such as those contributing to pilots that influenced shows like , though their specific rejected works underscore the high attrition rate in animated development. The lack of public access to these materials has fueled fan interest, with some elements occasionally referenced in retrospective analyses of Cartoon Network's experimental initiatives.

Reasons for Cancellation

The Cartoonstitute project was discontinued in 2009 after only 14 shorts were completed, far short of the initial plan to generate up to 150 programming bits over 20 months. This limited output, amid rising production costs and the , prompted Cartoon Network to reevaluate the incubator model's viability as a dedicated shorts program. The incomplete roster highlighted challenges in scaling artist-driven development during a period of fiscal constraint, leading executives to end the program. Following the 2009 cancellation, network leadership under president Stuart Snyder accelerated a strategic pivot in 2010 toward established intellectual properties, such as a reimagined The Looney Tunes Show, and international co-productions like Totally Spies! The Movie and The Amazing Spiez!, as a means to control expenses and expand global appeal. This shift was influenced by widespread budget reductions in the animation sector due to the economic downturn. Animation's high production costs, relative to alternatives, made expansive experimental initiatives like The Cartoonstitute increasingly untenable. Internally, Cartoon Network opted to repurpose standout shorts from the program into ongoing series rather than committing to a television shorts block, as articulated in executive announcements emphasizing efficient content pipelines. For instance, J.G. Quintel's Regular Show and Pete Browngardt's Secret Mountain Fort Awesome (which evolved into Uncle Grandpa) transitioned directly to full series development. This approach allowed the network to capitalize on promising concepts without the overhead of a standalone incubator. The emergence of digital platforms further supported this redirection, enabling the release of completed shorts online via YouTube in 2009, bypassing traditional broadcast constraints.

Release and Legacy

Online Distribution

The completed shorts from The Cartoonstitute were made available for free streaming on CartoonNetwork.com starting May 7, 2010, providing online access to nearly all 14 produced pilots without a dedicated broadcast block. Eleven shorts were uploaded initially, excluding "Maruined," "3 Dog Band," and "Joey to the World." While the project did not result in regular TV airings, select shorts appeared in occasional festival screenings, such as private viewings at events. Viewer engagement on the Cartoon Network Video platform included user comments and interactions, alongside broader fan discussions on communities, reflecting interest in the diverse creative styles showcased. By 2025, the official uploads have been removed from CartoonNetwork.com, but the shorts remain accessible via archival uploads on , where HD versions have accumulated tens of thousands of views collectively, and are preserved in vaults for potential remastering or future release.

Impact on Cartoon Network

The Cartoonstitute significantly influenced 's programming by serving as a launchpad for several flagship series that defined the network's output. Notably, J.G. Quintel's (2010–2017), which originated from a short produced under the program, became a signature hit, blending absurd humor and surreal storytelling to attract a dedicated audience and earn critical acclaim for its innovative approach to adult-oriented on a kids' network. Similarly, Peter Browngardt's (2013–2018), evolving from his Cartoonstitute short via the intermediary series , established itself as a quirky staple, winning an Emmy Award and contributing to Cartoon Network's reputation for boundary-pushing content. These spin-offs not only boosted viewership during a transitional period for the network but also demonstrated the value of short-form pilots in identifying viable series concepts. Beyond direct series, The Cartoonstitute cultivated a vital talent pipeline, propelling emerging creators into prominent roles within the animation industry. Quintel, previously known for student films, transitioned from his Cartoonstitute short to helm , marking his breakthrough as a and influencing subsequent projects through his distinctive comedic style. Browngardt's success with similarly elevated his profile, leading to further executive producing opportunities and underscoring the program's role in nurturing independent voices free from traditional network oversight. This emphasis on artist-driven development helped rebuild its creative roster post-2000s, fostering a generation of animators who prioritized originality over formulaic content. The initiative's legacy extended to reshaping Cartoon Network's development strategy, shifting the network toward short-form testing as a low-risk method for pilot evaluation. By bypassing executive interference and focus groups, The Cartoonstitute exemplified a creator-centric model that inspired later efforts, such as the 2021 relaunch of the Cartoon Cartoons shorts program, which explicitly built on its foundational approach to champion diverse voices and innovative storytelling. This evolution contributed to a broader industry trend of using digital shorts for audience gauging, enhancing Cartoon Network's adaptability in the streaming era. Critically, The Cartoonstitute received praise for its innovative intent to revive the spirit of early experiments like What a Cartoon!, though retrospectives note its underutilization due to early cancellation after only 14 shorts. As of 2025, analyses in animation histories, including celebrations of the network's 25-year milestone at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, highlight its enduring impact in launching era-defining shows and reinforcing 's commitment to .

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.