The “Animation Workers Ignited” account, linked to the animators’ union, used the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork to bring attention to the industry’s challenges.
The hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork has been trending on X (formerly Twitter) following claims that the beloved channel is shutting down. This trend began when the account “Animation Workers Ignited” posted an animation stating that “Cartoon Network is dead?!?!” The post also highlighted the broader struggles faced by the animation industry, particularly layoffs affecting various studios.
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Origin of the #RIPCartoonNetwork Trend
The animation video claimed, “Cartoon Network is essentially dead and other big animation studios are not far behind. What happened to all the animation workers? Many are unemployed in record numbers, with some jobless for over a year, despite carrying the industry during the pandemic. When Covid first hit, animation was able to operate completely remotely, making it one of the only forms of entertainment that could continue production uninterrupted. But studios repaid them by cancelling projects, outsourcing jobs, and laying off artists en masse.”
The video attributed these issues to corporate greed, alleging that big studios cut costs and laid off staff to boost their financial performance, benefiting CEOs and executives. It encouraged viewers to share their favorite Cartoon Network shows using the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork and follow the account for more ways to support animation workers.
Public Reactions
The video quickly went viral, amassing over three million views in under four hours. Users on social media began posting about their favorite cartoons with the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork. One user wrote, “Courage The Cowardly Dog will always be a favorite! It’s very sad to hear that the animators were treated so poorly, and hopefully, they can find work soon!”
Another tweeted, “it’s the end of an era, Cartoon Network has officially shut down 😢 here are all the shows that made our childhood #RIPCartoonNetwork.”
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Is Cartoon Network really shutting down?
As the hashtag gained momentum, rumors spread that Cartoon Network was permanently closing. However, these claims are not true. The “Animation Workers Ignited” account, linked to the animators’ union, used the hashtag #RIPCartoonNetwork to bring attention to the industry’s challenges. Despite the alarming trend, the channel itself is not shutting down.