Giulia De Gresy in Senso '45 (2002) Senso '45 (2002) L'uomo che guarda (1994) See all 7 photos ». Also Known As: Black Angel See more ».
Locomotion | |
---|---|
Launched | November 1, 1996; 22 years ago |
Closed | 31 July 2005 |
Owned by | The Hearst Corporation(1996–2005) Claxson Interactive Group (1996–2002) Corus Entertainment(2002–2005) Pramer(2004-2005) Sony Pictures Television(2005) |
Picture format | 480i - 4:3 (SDTV) |
Slogan | Animation*young-adults*digital era(1999–2001) Mundo Locomotion 100% Happy(2001–2004) Animestation(2004–2005) |
Language | Spanish Portuguese |
Broadcast area | Latin America Spain Portugal |
Headquarters | Miami, United States Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Replaced by | Animax |
Website | www.locomotion.com |
Locomotion was a Latin Americanpay televisionchannel dedicated to anime and Western animation, broadcasting movies and TV series. It was launched on 1 November 1996 and was closed down on 31 July 2005.[1] It was also broadcast in Portugal through Cabovisão and TVCabo (now ZON Multimédia), and in Spain by satellite TV provider Vía Digital until 2003 due to administrative reasons with the TV operator.
Initially, Locomotion was a channel dedicated to classic animation for all ages, airing titles from King Features (which was Hearst's animation division) like Phantom 2040, Popeye, and The Legend of Prince Valiant, and shows like Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light, G.I. Joe, He-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Galaxy Rangers, Lupin III, and Dr. Katz. However, the channel did not want to face competition against the already-established Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, so the channel began removing the children's animation in favour for alternative animation, adult series, and anime by 1998, and by 2000, they began airing more alternative and adult-oriented animation from the US, the United Kingdom and Latin America, as well as anime series.[2][3]
As the network grew, most of their programming consisted of Japanese animation titles from the likes of ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment, & Geneon and others as well as adult shows like South Park, The Critic, Crapston Villas and Duckman. Locomotion was also dedicated to showing works of experimental animation from all over the world throughout the day on-air and online. They aired experimental programming featuring video jockeys, artists who worked with video as a medium.
The network, whose corporate offices were based in Miami, Florida (though the network was not available in the United States aside from a few cable systems in southern Florida) was a joint venture between the US-based Hearst Corporation,[4] (50%) and Claxson Interactive Group, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Venezuelan-based Cisneros Group) (50%).[5] In May 2002, Cisneros Group sold its shares in the network to Canadian-based Corus Entertainment.The channel was purchased by Sony in 2005 and was later rebranded as Animax.
Loco[edit]
One of Locomotion's VJ projects was a computer-rendered character known as Loco, produced by 'Modern Cartoons'. The character, which mostly appeared during commercial breaks, made humorous comments, and did nonsensical things entertaining the viewers. The mascot disappeared as the channel changed its image.
A final, yet brief reference of Loco when Animax replaced Locomotion, which is the part where the special agents sent to save Locomotion, they received a call from 'Loco' before he gets killed.
Logo history[edit]
Locomotion's first logo resembled a red head with a 'Loco' on its face (the 'O's being in where the eyes are, the 'L' being in where the left ear is, and the 'C' being in where the nose is) and a 'Motion' in its mouth. This was used since the launch of the channel and was phased out in 1999 as the channel began shifting towards alternative and adult animation series, such as South Park, as well as anime series.
Locomotion's second logo retained the head from the previous logo, although colored white and inside a gray circle and lacking the details the previous logo had. The 'Locomotion' was shown left of the 'circle' in an Italicized font. This was used from 1999 to May 2002.
Locomotion's third logo was the same as the previous logo, but the 'circle' now colored (most of the time red and blue) as opposed to gray and the logo was updated. This logo was used since Claxson's sale of their stake in the channel to Corus Entertainment, all the way until the closure of the channel.
A variation of the third logo had the words 'Animestation' below the 'Locomotion' of the logo since the channel ceased to broadcast in Spain and Portugal. It was used from 2004 until the closure of the channel in 2005.
TV blocks[edit]
The programming of this channel was divided in thematic blocks which are:
- 80's TV: A space dedicated to all cartoons that were a hit in the decade.
- Anime Loving: As its name says, a space dedicated to anime lovers.
- Japanimotion/JapanOK!: A space dedicated to better Japanese animation, hidden gems of anime, Anime films and anime series.
- Animafilms: A space dedicated to hidden International animation gems.
- Fracto: A space dedicated to experimental animation and techno music.
- Cortos Locomotion: Short films between each space of TV programs.
- Love Vision: Short animations and experimental music broadcast between TV programs.
- Replay: The best of the week.
- Kapsula: Space dedicated to the best directors of experimental animation and where the people can send their works.
Acquisition, shutdown and aftermath[edit]
Locomotion was bought by Sony Pictures Entertainment Latin America in January 2005 from Hearst Corporation and Corus Entertainment.[6] After the acquisition of the network and until its shutdown, the non-anime shows where dropped from their programming in order to focus more on an all anime line-up. The network officially ceased to exist at 11:00 a.m. on July 31 of the same year (however, the broadcast of Locomotion stopped on the night of July 30 and was replaced by a countdown clock). From then on, the network had been transformed into the Latin American branch of Animax.
Of all the programming broadcast previously on Locomotion, only Saber Marionette J, Saber Marionette J to X, Soul Hunter, Serial Experiments Lain, The Candidate for Goddess and Earth Girl Arjuna were picked and broadcast by Animax on their early programming. As of February 2006, all those series were off the air. Neon Genesis Evangelion, which had aired on Locomotion, had also aired on Animax, although 3 years after Locomotion's shutdown.
The non-anime shows produced by MTV Networks and broadcast on Locomotion (like South Park, Ren and Stimpy and Æon Flux) were picked and shown on a weekend animation block by MTV Latin America, but in November 2006, this block was replaced with Animatosis (a Sic 'Em Friday-alike block) and all the shows (with the exception of South Park) were cancelled, and South Park continues to air as of present day, and recently now airs on a localized version of its home network. Bob and Margaret is shown (as of January 2006) on the defunct-but-now-relaunched Latin American version of Adult Swim. The Critic broadcast on the Latin American version of HBO Family. Other shows, like Dr. Katz and Duckman hasn't been shown again in Latin America since the Locomotion shutdown.
List of anime titles aired by Locomotion[edit]
- Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 - Latinamerica only
- Cowboy Bebop - Latinamerica only
- Gasaraki- Latinamerica only
- Lupin III - also known as Cliffhanger - Latinamerica only
- Ranma ½ - Iberia only
- Red Baron- Latinamerica only
- Those Who Hunt Elves 1 y 2- Latinamerica only
List of OVAs[edit]
- Blue Submarine No. 6 (Aonorokugo)
List of non-anime shows aired by Locomotion[edit]
- Æon Flux - Latinamerica only
- Captain Star - Latinamerica only
- Duckman - Latinamerica only
- Home to Rent - Latinamerica only
- Journey to Infinity - Iberia only
- Ren and Stimpy - Latinamerica only
- Robin - By Magnus Carlsson
- The Critic - Latinamerica only
- The Head - Latinamerica only
- The Maxx - Latinamerica only
List of animated films[edit]
- Fallen Angels
- Flatworld and The Making of Flatworld
- Glassy Ocean
- Juego de niños
- La Vieille Dame et les Pigeons (Old Lady and the Pigeons)
- Megasónicos
- Rail of the Star
- Robert Creep
- The Tale of Shim Chung - Korean animated film
- Vampiros en la Habana - Cuban animated film.
- Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers'
The titles above belong mainly to British and American companies, most of them come from MTV Networks channels (like MTV and Comedy Central) and Channel 4 from Great Britain.
Locomotion also had an hour block called Locotomia where international experimental animations where aired.
The Wallace and Gromit movies and Flatworld were also aired along with other British animatedshort films.
List of titles that were not transmitted on Locomotion[edit]
- Golgo 13 (Film)
List of titles Locomotion was intending to broadcast[edit]
List of titles Locomotion picked up the rights to air, but couldn't broadcast because of its closure. These titles eventually aired on Animax Latin America:[7]
List of titles short experimental animation[edit]
- A Chairy Tale (1957)
- Abductees
- Alice in Plasmaland
- Anna and Bella
- Arnold Escapes From Church
- At The Ends Of The Earth
- Boogie Doodle
- Dada
- Dots
- El Egoísta
- Historia del Gato y la Luna
- Hen Hop
- How Wings Are Attached to the Backs of Angels
- I'm Your Man
- Jolly Roger
- La Leyenda de la Canoa Voladora
- Lennart's Top Tips
- Lupo the Butcher
- Mad Doctors of Borneo
- Manipulation
- Meat Love (1989)
- Mindscape
- Monkey Love
- Neighbours (1952)
- Next
- Opus Dei - By Cecile Noldus
- Os Salteadores
- Prelude to Eden
- Promethevs
- Screen Play (Takako and Naoki) - By Barry Purves (1993)
- Steel Life
- Street of Crocodiles
- The Balance
- The Cat Came Back
- The Fly
- The Monk and the Fish
- The Stain
- The Big Snit
About Locomotion's VJ and design projects[edit]
Locomotion was not only about adult animation and anime. On the last years of being on air, Locomotion seemed to be interest also in Graphic Design and techno music (House and Lounge or Chill-Out).
Thanks to Locomotion, groups like Boeing and Miranda! began their career, today being recognized by MTV.
Locomotion had a 30 min. block, called Fracto, where they featured music and design experiments that could be considered as experimental animation.
References[edit]
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2011-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.6/articles/deneroffloco1.6.html
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2011-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2011-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.6/articles/deneroffloco1.6.html
- ^'Silex-IT Client Case Studies' Animax Channel Client Profile: Sony CorporationArchived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine silex-it.com Retrieved on May 18, 2012
- ^Locomotion with new titles for 2005 | In portuguese
External links[edit]
- WebArchive.org (old versions from WebArchive.org)
- [1][permanent dead link] (article from argentinian newspaper Pagina12, in Spanish)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Locomotion_(TV_channel)&oldid=917279915'