Cartoon Network Studios

Cartoon Network Studios Inc.
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Animation
Predecessor	Hanna-Barbera
Founded	1994
Headquarters	Burbank, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Sam Register (President)
Products	Animated television series and shorts
Owner	Warner Bros. Discovery
Parent	Warner Bros. Television Group

Cartoon Network Studios Inc. (commonly known as CNS or CN Studios) is an American animation studio operating under the ownership of the Warner Bros. Television Group, itself a segment of Warner Bros. Entertainment beneath the umbrella of Warner Bros. Discovery. Established in 1994 as a subdivision of Hanna-Barbera, the studio functions as the primary production unit for Cartoon Network.

Specializing in the creation and development of animated series and shorts, the studio mainly produces content for Cartoon Network and Cartoonito, while also contributing to Adult Swim and HBO Max. Its extensive catalog features acclaimed titles such as Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls (including its cinematic adaptation), Johnny Bravo, Samurai Jack, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Ben 10, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Steven Universe, We Bare Bears, and Craig of the Creek.

After Time Warner acquired the Turner Broadcasting System in 1996, Hanna-Barbera merged with Warner Bros. Animation by 1998. During this period, Cartoon Network Studios briefly shared facilities before Hanna-Barbera ceased operations in 2001. Since then, Warner Bros. Animation has overseen Hanna-Barbera’s intellectual properties.

In 1999, Cartoon Network secured its own headquarters in Burbank, California, marking Cartoon Network Studios’ emergence as an independent entity separate from Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. Animation, with a focus on original programming. The studio maintained operations at this location from May 2000 for more than twenty years.

Following recent corporate consolidations, Cartoon Network Studios was integrated into Warner Bros. Animation but remains a distinct division within the company. In August 2023, it moved to the Second Century Development complex in Burbank. Sam Register, who serves as president of both studios, also heads Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe based in London alongside Vanessa Brookman.

1990s

During the final decades of the 20th century, television animation experienced significant growth, with Hanna-Barbera dominating through popular shows like Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons. The expansion of cable TV in the 1980s, driven by entrepreneur Ted Turner, who established numerous cable networks and acquired vast film libraries, set the stage for new developments. In 1991, Turner’s enterprise purchased Hanna-Barbera, paving the way for Cartoon Network’s launch as a cable channel primarily broadcasting Hanna-Barbera reruns.

As Cartoon Network’s audience expanded, leadership sought to introduce original content to diversify their lineup. This move mirrored similar initiatives by competitors such as Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, which were also developing internal studios at that time.

Formed in 1994 as a division within Hanna-Barbera aimed at producing original shows for Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network Studios was located on Cahuenga Boulevard in Los Angeles, where Hanna-Barbera also kept its archives and animation art collections. Its initial project was the pilot anthology series What a Cartoon! (1995), followed by the successful launch of Dexter's Laboratory (1996).

In 1996, after the merger between Turner Broadcasting System and Time Warner, Hanna-Barbera shut down its Cahuenga facility and moved to Sherman Oaks Galleria near Warner Bros. Animation. During this period of change, new productions such as Johnny Bravo (1997) and The Powerpuff Girls (1998) were branded under Hanna-Barbera instead of Cartoon Network Studios temporarily.

2000s

Cartoon Network founded Cartoon Network Studios on July 21, 1999, to maintain its animation production after Hanna-Barbera was integrated into Warner Bros. Animation. After the passing of co-founder William Hanna in 2001, the studio assumed responsibility for Hanna-Barbera’s animation projects. The company secured a 43,000-square-foot facility in Burbank, California, investing approximately $1.2 million to refurbish it as its new headquarters. Senior leaders and creators such as Genndy Tartakovsky and Craig McCracken played a key role in designing the studio’s workspace.

By May 2000, production teams had relocated to the new offices, with animation advisor Joseph Barbera officially inaugurating the studio. Important appointments included Brian A. Miller and Jennifer Pelphrey to oversee operational management. Mike Lazzo, then head of programming and development, briefly displayed a pirate flag emblazoned with the channel’s logo atop the building as a symbol of the creative ethos. The studio quickly gained a reputation for fostering an inventive environment, with artists decorating the premises with murals and graffiti over the next twenty years. Initial productions from this site included Samurai Jack and Time Squad (both released in 2001). Lazzo likened the studio to "the Termite Terrace of today," emphasizing its groundbreaking business approach and significant industry impact.

In 2002, Cartoon Network Studios developed two pilots aimed at Adult Swim: Welcome to Eltingville and The Groovenians, neither of which advanced to series. That year also marked the release of The Powerpuff Girls Movie, the studio’s sole theatrical release to date; despite favorable critical reception, it did not perform well commercially. In 2006, CNS partnered with sister company Williams Street to produce the Adult Swim pilot Korgoth of Barbaria, which was ultimately not picked up.

The studio ventured into live-action content in 2007 with hybrid shows like Out of Jimmy's Head and fully live-action films such as Ben 10: Race Against Time and its sequel Ben 10: Alien Swarm. Additional pilots during this period included Locker 514, Siblings, and Stan the Man. The first fully live-action series, Tower Prep, premiered in 2010. To lead live-action efforts under CNS’ subsidiary Alive and Kicking, Inc., Mark Costa—formerly from New Line Television—was appointed. Despite limited success on Cartoon Network itself, live-action production persisted for Adult Swim through other affiliated entities rather than directly under Cartoon Network Studios.

2010s

On April 5, 2010, Adventure Time debuted on Cartoon Network after originating as a short on Nicktoons' Random! Cartoons. The network acquired the series and shifted production to Cartoon Network Studios. The show ran for ten seasons totaling 283 episodes until concluding in 2018. Although a film adaptation was announced in 2015, it never received official confirmation. In 2019, a follow-up titled Adventure Time: Distant Lands was announced for HBO Max, premiering in 2020. That same year saw the launch of The Cartoonstitute, an incubator series that introduced pilots such as Regular Show and Uncle Grandpa.

In 2014, CNS produced its inaugural miniseries, Over the Garden Wall, followed by Long Live the Royals in 2015. The studio also rebooted both The Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10 in 2016. Additionally, it premiered its first series based on internet shorts, titled Mighty Magiswords.

After earlier plans for a feature film fell through, CNS revived Samurai Jack in 2017 for a critically acclaimed fifth and final season on Adult Swim. That year also marked a collaboration with Studio T to produce the adult animated series Close Enough for TBS, created by J. G. Quintel of Regular Show fame.

In 2019, CNS launched its first full-length Adult Swim series: Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal. The initial five episodes were screened theatrically as Primal: Tales of Savagery. During this period, the studio increased content production for WarnerMedia’s streaming platform HBO Max, including continuing work on Adventure Time: Distant Lands. Following the unsuccessful launch of an animation block on TBS, Close Enough was transferred to HBO Max. Concurrently, CNS expanded beyond its original Burbank headquarters by leasing additional office space within the Burbank Media Center area.

2020s

In August 2020, Sam Register, then-president of WBA, took on the role of head at Cartoon Network Studios. Amy Friedman replaced Rob Sorcher as the programming chief for Cartoon Network after Sorcher moved to Warner Bros. Television Group to pursue a production agreement.

By 2021, Jason DeMarco was appointed Senior Vice President overseeing Anime and Action Series/Longform at both Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. That same year, CNS Europe underwent a rebranding, emerging as Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe in tribute to the original Hanna-Barbera heritage.

Following Tom Ascheim’s exit in May 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery reorganized its division dedicated to children and young adult content, placing studios such as CNS directly under Warner Bros. Television's management. In October 2022, the development and production teams of CNS and WBA were unified under Warner Bros. Television leadership—Audrey Diehl managing kids and family content, Peter Girardi overseeing adult animation, and Sammy Perlmutter directing animated long-form projects—while preserving distinct labels for original productions (CNS) and legacy franchises (WBA).

On July 9, 2023, Brian A. Miller announced plans to close the Cartoon Network Studios facility in Burbank by August 1. The studio’s operations were consolidated with Warner Bros. Animation as both entities relocated to the newly constructed Warner Bros. Second Century building—a state-of-the-art facility spanning over 800,000 square feet adjacent to the main Warner Bros. lot. By December 5, it was disclosed that the Hollywood Production Center had taken over the former CN Burbank premises, a property it had owned all along; Cartoon Network had occupied the space under a long-term leasing arrangement.

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1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

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