Toonami

Toonami (/tuːˈnɑːmi/ too-NAH-mee) is an American late-night television programming block that broadcasts Japanese anime and American action animation on Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim. It was created by Sean Akins and Jason DeMarco and programmed by Williams Street (formerly Cartoon Network Productions), a subsidiary of The Cartoon Network, Inc. The name is a portmanteau of the words "cartoon" and "tsunami". The block currently airs every Saturday night from 12:00 to 4:00 a.m. ET/PT.

Toonami initially premiered as a weekday afternoon block on Cartoon Network proper in 1997. It ran in this format until 2004, when it transitioned to a Saturday evening schedule. The block aired until its initial closure in 2008. During its original run (1997–2008), Toonami primarily targeted older children and adolescents aged 7–18. It became known for showcasing action-oriented programming, particularly Japanese anime, which gained widespread popularity with American audiences. The block was distinguished by its space-themed aesthetic, anime music videos, drum-and-bass-influenced soundtrack, and its robot host, T.O.M. (short for Toonami Operations Module).

On May 26, 2012, Toonami was relaunched as a late night block on Adult Swim. This iteration rebranded Adult Swim's Saturday night action block (originally inherited from Toonami's Midnight Run block), which primarily features anime deemed too mature for daytime programming.

On May 31, 2024, a new Friday afternoon block called Toonami Rewind debuted. It aired from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET/PT and showcased classic anime series. Toonami Rewind complemented Checkered Past, a Monday–Thursday block featuring older Cartoon Network series. Toonami Rewind ceased broadcasting on December 27, 2024.