Toonturama

Children's programming block on UniMás


title: "Toonturama" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["unimás-original-programming", "television-programming-blocks-in-the-united-states", "2002-american-television-series-debuts"] description: "Children's programming block on UniMás" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonturama" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Children's programming block on UniMás ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox programming block"]

FieldValue
nameToonturama
image_size300px
premiered{{plainlist
* <ref name"cartoonsontelefutura"
* <ref name"cartoonsontelefutura"/
closed{{plainlist
* <ref name"mitele"
channelUniMás
countryUnited States
parentTelevisaUnivision USA
(formerly known as Univision Communications)
formatSaturday and Sunday morning children's cartoon/E/I block
runtime4 hours
website
languageSpanish
::

| name = Toonturama | image = | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption = | formerly_known = | premiered = {{plainlist|

  • (Mi Tele)
  • (Toonturama and Toonturama Junior) | closed = {{plainlist|
  • (Mi Tele)
  • (Toonturama Junior) | channel = UniMás | division = | country = United States | key_people = | headquarters = | major_contracts = | parent = TelevisaUnivision USA (formerly known as Univision Communications) | sister = | format = Saturday and Sunday morning children's cartoon/E/I block | runtime = 4 hours | website = | language = Spanish | footnotes =

Toonturama is an American children's programming block that airs on the Spanish-language television network UniMás (formerly known as Telefutura Network) which debuted on January 15, 2002 ("Mi Tele") and January 19, 2002 ("Toonturama" and "Toonturama Junior"). The four-hour block—which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and Pacific Time—features live action and animated series aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 14. It was the network's attempt to have a Saturday morning block.

Programs featured on the block consist of a mixture of series originally produced in Spanish and dubbed versions of series that were originally produced and broadcast in English. All shows featured on Toonturama are designed to meet federally mandated educational programming guidelines defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) via the Children's Television Act.

History

Main article: Children's programming on UniMás

Mi Tele

On December 15, 2001, UniMás (then known as Telefutura) announced that it would launch three children's programming blocks that would eventually premiere on January 15 ("Mi Tele") and January 19, 2002 respectively ("Toonturama" and "Toonturama Junior"), one day after the network was launched on January 14. The blocks featured live-action and animated series aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 14.

The first block, "Mi Tele" ("My TV"), a two-hour animation block on weekday mornings featuring a mix of imported Spanish-language cartoons such as Fantaghiro and El Nuevo Mundo de los Gnomos ("The New World of the Gnomes"), as well as two animated series originally produced in English, Mr. Bogus and Anatole all premiering on January 15, 2002. The block's run would be short lived as on March 15, 2002, the Mi Tele block was discontinued. The following week on Monday, the block started airing youth-targeted telenovelas such as Carrusel, Luz Clarita, Gotita de Amor and Rayito de Luz as part of the updated programming lineup.

Though the block was intended to air on weekday mornings on the holidays some of the years. However, some of the youth-targeted novelas aired on Mi Tele block weekday morning or Toonturama weekend morning cartoon block will delayed in order next week and full schedule on Sunday due to the network will picking line-up with all of the holidays and family movies marathon with the attempt of animated movies by Warner Bros. Telefutura had also acquired the rights to air animated TV series and films produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC Comics and Hanna-Barbera.

On December 24, 2002, Telefutura Network acquired the rights to the popular Warner Bros. Animation television cartoon series, Animaniacs, and it was partly why some of Telefutura's most popular programs (most notably Animaniacs) were mainly not included as part of the "Mi Tele" nor "Toonturama" blocks, especially during the more open-formatted cartoon block era.

On August 7, 2007, Mi Tele ended its run, its last program being Mujeres Engañadas were discontinued. Telefutura kept some of the programming on the second children's cartoon block Toonturama until September 30, 2012.

Toonturama

On January 19, 2002, Telefutura Network (now UniMás) was a two separate known as occupied by the children's programming blocks named, "Toonturama" and "Toonturama Junior" were launched. – It was first four hours of the secondary weekend schedule which features some programs compliant with Federal Communications Commission and educational programming requirements – on the airs for four-hours each Saturday and Sunday mornings at 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time, the other remaining weekend time periods are filled with Informercials. The introduced a new logo with font text (Rat Fink Heavy) with different colors (red and black with the extruded font, and white text for "Toonturama") alongside bumpers and promos with the CGI computer-animated and controlled by TelevisaUnivision USA (formerly Univision Communications; same as the block was launched as "Planeta U" on September 15, 2001, which is designer along with the 3D computer-animated with bumpers and promos on Univision), where was tasked with overhauling Univision, Telefutura and Galavisión's Saturday and Sunday morning lineup in order to compete against the arch-rival network, Telemundo weekend children's block, "Telemundo Kids".

The block included a four-hour lineup that consisted mainly of dubbed versions of American, Canadian, and European animated series. The network opted to fully program the block with shows acquired from various programming production companies and distributors. After the network premiered on January 14, 2002, in the next day, Telefutura entered into a programming three-year agreement with the Canada-based animated studio Nelvana (owned by Corus Entertainment) to program the "Mi Tele" and "Toonturama" block for the first US network deal with the Spanish-dubbed aired on the block has originally produced in English including Anatole, Ned's Newt, Stickin' Around, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Mythic Warriors, Tales from the Cryptkeeper and The Dumb Bunnies, as well as the Japanese anime series (such as Lost Universe, Tenchi Universe, and Red Baron) as part of its inaugural lineup.

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs and Tales from the Cryptkeeper, was the only exception that two cartoons series are previously aired with the original English predecessor premiered on September 18, 1993, from the both networks, CBS and ABC's children block on Saturday morning cartoons. On February 8, 2002, Telefutura began discussions and partnership with the Madrid-based animation studio BRB Internacional to have the company program a daily two-hour children's block for the network, segment line-up scheduled from the series featured in the block produced in Spain (such as "Super Models" and "Yolanda: Daughter of the Black Corsair"). Later in 11 days, Telefutura will be including the changing time zone on the program scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eastern/Pacific Time Zone in update, including the three former Mi Tele cartoon shows were moved to Toonturama including The New World of the Gnomes, Mr. Bogus and Anatole (after week on the first block, Mi Tele with cartoon were ended in March 15) will be offer date premiered on March 23, 2002, until December 29, 2002.

On February 25, 2002, Telefutura acquired the rights to Zodiac Entertainment (via Carlton; which is previously cartoons are executive production in the UK), was the new block featured several first-run dubbed versions of original series from production by Zodiac and Calico (owned by World Events Productions, was the first-time previously aired on the originally Univision's block such as Voltron: Defender of the Universe and Denver, the Last Dinosaur), during the addition of the cartoon series and featured archived content from the programming library such as Mr. Bogus and Widget the World Watcher. Both cartoon programs originally ran on the network until 2003. On October 6, 2002, Telefutura was completely removed from the Madrid-based BRB Internacional's two cartoon series such as "The New World of the Gnomes" and "Super Models", ahead of the expiry of Telefutura's program supply deal with BRB Internacional for the passed ten-months, due to sale was brokered by Miami's Venevision International (now Cisneros Media). Venevision International inked a two-year deal to rep BRB's catalog in North America and Latin America outside Mexico. The network was changed the schedule and replaced by two Nelvana cartoon series (including "Cadillacs and Dinosaurs" and "Tales from the Cryptkeeper") briefly which premiered as rerun in the following week. However, Telefutura was carrying over the BRB Internacional-produced shows to the block offer next year.

In January 2003, Telefutura acquired the rights and plans to contract with North Hollywood-based Film Roman, and added its first time in nearly two-years of the former Univision children's cartoon program as part of the block, "¡De Cabeza!" three cartoon shows. Univision subsequently moved forward to produce a Saturday and Sunday morning cartoon block, Toonturama (the network previously aired the three Film Roman-produced series from 2000 to 2001), for Univision's sister-network, Telefutura, which would premiere a two years afterward. Featuring based on Felix the Cat characters from the popular television animated series, The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat. The second line-up cartoon starring Bruce Willis, a character voice from the series, Bruno the Kid, as well as based on the popular video game franchise series by Midway Games as Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm. The three cartoon series aired briefly on January 4, 2003, when it was added as educational children's series, Plaza Sésamo within Toonturama Junior block premiered in May 3 of the year.

On August 2, 2003, Telefutura under the contract with HIT Entertainment in UK, Junior and EM.TV & Merchandising AG in Germany, premiered as a one-hour block for many of which came from the block as the preschool television series, Bob the Builder, Fairy Tale Police Department and Mummy Nanny. Later on September 6, the block introduced animated cartoon program with entered into an agreement with Toadbag Productions, including the new popular children's animated series, Toad Patrol (also known in Spanish as "Patrulla de Sapitos"), replacing Bruno the Kid and the Japanese-anime series, Red Baron. The series was an exception to the dubbing as it needed to use an English dub to fix translation issues. Toad Patrol was originally aired and it was almost exclusively carried for the animated series as it ran from September 6, 2003, to March 11, 2012.

As of January 8, 2005, Telefutura removed from the Canada-based Nelvana shows (including "Ned's Newt", "The Dumb Bunnies" and Tales from the Cryptkeeper"), due to the network changing the schedule listing update to being dropped from the lineup block. However, the rival network, Telemundo's children's block, "Telemundo Kids" added Jacob Two-Two has previously aired with its Spanish dub premiered on January 9, 2005, before Telemundo was under contract with Nelvana. "Jacob Two-Two" was the only carried over to the block's direct successor and transition to Telemundo's Qubo block ("Qubo en Telemundo"; along with NBC and Ion Television) debut on September 9, 2006, included a three-hour Saturday and Sunday morning block on the network in 90-minute blocks.

In September 2005, Telefutura added the four cartoon shows for each Saturday morning schedule was pulling and it was acquired the rights to Australian-based children's media production, Australian Children's Television Foundation line-up such as Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers and the one CINAR (now WildBrain) series, Flight Squad. In Sunday morning, including the popular Universal Cartoon Studios cartoon series, Problem Child, was based on the 1990 film by Universal Pictures and "Zipi y Zape". In 2007, Telefutura reached a deal with National Geographic, as of remain added with the brand nature television series, Really Wild Animals. It was the network changed the name, and renamed as "Toonturama Presenta: La Vida Animal" (in English, "Toonturama Present: Animal Life"), were the last "Toonturama" cartoon series to be added to the block on November 4, 2007.

The block aired for the final time and ended its run on September 30, 2012, without any announcement of its closure, and it was quietly replaced by the children's live-action documentary and nature series, while the network was carried of the preschool children's Spanish-language adaptation, Plaza Sésamo until 2016, when it was following week on October 7, 2012. As a result, Telefutura discontinued airing animated programming, making it the network not to air cartoon series within its children's program lineup. On September 9, 2018, in an agreement with Animaccord Animation Studio in Russia, the network launched the popular Russian cartoon Masha and the Bear, airing it every Sunday morning.

Toonturama Junior

The two-hour companion block that preceded it on Saturday and Sunday mornings within "Toonturama" sub-block, "Toonturama Junior", was launched on January 19, 2002. The sub-block was featuring programs aimed at preschoolers that fulfilled educational programming requirements defined by the Federal Communications Commission's Children's Television Act (the block aired with including originally distributors by Venevisión in Venezuela such as El Club de Los Tigritos, as well as Rugemania, and Televisa in Mexico including El Espacio de Tatiana and El Cubo de Donalú).

The sub-block was the preschool-age children like its competitors with Univision's sister-network, Galavisión's live-action preschool block, "Galamiguitos". Among the programs featured preschool children series on "Toonturama Junior" was Plaza Sésamo ("City Square Sesame"), Televisa and Sesame Workshop's Spanish-language adaptation of Sesame Street featuring a mix of original segments featuring characters based on its U.S.-based parent series and dubbed interstitials from the aforementioned originating program, which had aired on Univision since 1995 (ahead to the original "Planeta U" block since 2001 to 2003) after a seven-year run and passed on the U.S. television rights to Telefutura at its launch.

Programming

Scheduling variances and pre-emptions

All of the programs aired within the block featured content compliant with educational programming requirements as mandated by the Children's Television Act. Though the block was intended to air on weekday mornings and Saturday and Sunday mornings, some UniMás affiliates deferred certain programs aired within the block to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, including tape delayed the entire block in order to accommodate local weekend morning newscasts, "Miami Ahora" (which is simulcast of the Univision's owned-and-operated, WLTV-23 in Fort Lauderdale/Miami) or other programs of local interest (for example, then-affiliate KTFQ in Albuquerque, New Mexico, – now owned-and-operated by Entravision – aired the Toonturama block from timeslot at 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Monday to Friday afternoons due to select national sports broadcasts (especially in the case of 2002 FIFA World Cup and/or 2006 FIFA World Cup soccer tournaments) or the network airing with the consisted of feature films including all of the Hollywood movies earlier attempt daytime or all of the animated holiday movies produced by Warner Bros. (via Warner Bros. Animation, DC Comics and Hanna-Barbera) and MGM scheduled in earlier timeslots to comply with the E/I regulations. Alleviating stations carrying UniMás network programming via that feed from the responsibility of purchasing the local rights to such as paid programs.

- Indicates that the program ran on Univision prior to the block/program moved to "Toonturama" block within Saturday and Sunday mornings.

- Indicates that the original Univision's "¡De Cabeza!" block program moved to Telefutura for its series premieres.

Current programming

::data[format=table title=""]

TitlePremiere dateEnd dateSource(s)
El Mundo es TuyoE/IMay 7, 2018present
*Ranger Rob*E/IOctober 2, 2022present
El Que Sabe, SabeE/IDecember 1, 2024presenttitle=Sabbatical Entertainment Estrenará "El Que Sabe, Sabe" en UniMás
::

Former programming

::data[format=table title=""]

TitlePremiere dateEnd dateSource(s)Mi TeleToonturamaToonturama Junior
FantaghiròJanuary 15, 2002March 15, 2002title=Telefutura pick-ups for BRB toonsurl=https://www.c21media.net/news/telefutura-pick-ups-for-brb-toonsauthor=Ed Wallerwebsite=c21media.net
Mr. Bogus April 27, 2003
The New World of the Gnomes October 6, 2002
*Anatole*E/I
Carrusel March 18, 2002December 6, 2002
Luz Clarita July 5, 2002title=TeleFutura Adding More Novelas from Mexicourl=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2002-03-13-0203120345-story.htmlauthor=Magaly Morales on Latin Televisionwebsite=sun-sentinel.compublisher=Sun-Sentinel
Gotita de Amor July 8, 2002October 25, 2002
Rayito de LuzDecember 9, 2002January 10, 2003
Super ModelsJanuary 19, 2002October 6, 2002
Yolanda: Daughter of the Black CorsairMarch 17, 2002
*Ned's Newt*E/IJanuary 8, 2005
Stickin' AroundMarch 17, 2002
Cadillacs and DinosaursJuly 27, 2003
Mythic WarriorsDecember 29, 2002
Tales from the CryptkeeperJanuary 8, 2005
Lost Universe March 17, 2002
Football StoriesApril 20, 2002July 7, 2002
Tenchi Universe
*The Dumb Bunnies*E/INovember 2, 2002January 8, 2005
*Widget the World Watcher*E/IJuly 27, 2003
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat January 4, 2003April 27, 2003
Bruno the Kid August 31, 2003
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm April 27, 2003
Red Baron August 31, 2003
Marcelino Pan y VinoAugust 2, 2003January 1, 2006
Fairy Tale Police DepartmentJuly 1, 2006title=US Junior block for EM.TVurl=https://www.c21media.net/news/us-junior-block-for-em-tvpublisher=c21Mediadate=October 10, 2003}}
Mummy Nanny
*Toad Patrol*E/ISeptember 6, 2003March 11, 2012url=http://www.runforthetoad.com/faq.htmlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407195434/http://www.runforthetoad.com/faq.htmlurl-status=deadarchive-date=April 7, 2005
Gladiator AcademyMay 22, 2005
Li'l Elvis and the TruckstoppersSeptember 10, 2005October 21, 2007
Flight SquadSeptember 4, 2010
Problem ChildSeptember 11, 2005March 23, 2008
Zipi y ZapeJanuary 28, 2007
*Toonturama Presenta: La Vida Animal*E/INovember 4, 2007September 30, 2012
*El Club de Los Tigritos*E/I January 19, 2002April 27, 2003
RugemaníaE/I March 23, 2002October 6, 2002
*El Abuelo y Yo*E/I May 3, 2003January 29, 2005
El Espacio de TatianaE/I July 25, 2004
*Plaza Sésamo*E/I May 7, 2016
*Bob the Builder*E/IAugust 2, 2003September 4, 2005
El Cubo de DonalúE/IJuly 31, 2004March 27, 2005
*El Niño Que Vino del Mar*E/I August 1, 2004October 2, 2005
::

Acquired programming

::data[format=table title=""]

TitlePremiere dateEnd dateSource(s)
Chespirito March 18, 2002October 4, 2002
María BelénDecember 17, 2006
Mega Match March 23, 2002October 11, 2003
María Mercedes October 7, 2002February 28, 2003
El Diario de DanielaApril 2, 2005March 12, 2006
*Animal Atlas*E/ISeptember 10, 2005June 9, 2018
Carita de ÁngelMarch 18, 2006December 15, 2007
Betty ToonsJuly 8, 2006December 28, 2008
Zoo CluesE/IOctober 7, 2012April 29, 2018
Super GeniosE/IMay 14, 2016July 25, 2021
Pokémon: Black & WhiteNovember 15, 2017February 16, 2018
*Masha and the Bear*E/ISeptember 9, 2018December 29, 2019
Animal FanpediaE/IAugust 2, 2020June 25, 2023
The Wonder GangE/IDecember 26, 2021November 24, 2024
::

Animated movies programming

::data[format=table title=""]

TitleInitial broadcast dateEnd timeSource(s)
Scooby-Doo on Zombie IslandMay 27, 2002December 22, 2003
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's GhostMay 27, 2002
Daffy Duck's Fantastic IslandJune 16, 2002May 26, 2003
Twice Upon a TimeJune 23, 2002December 31, 2003
Rover DangerfieldJune 23, 2002
The Nutcracker PrinceJune 29, 2002
Katy La OrugaJuly 4, 2002
Animaniacs: Wakko's WishDecember 24, 2002September 5, 2005
Scooby-Doo and the Alien InvadersDecember 24, 2003
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZeroDecember 25, 2002May 31, 2004
Batman: Mask of the PhantasmJuly 5, 2004
The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny MovieDecember 25, 2002
The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner MovieJanuary 1, 2003June 28, 2003
Batman Beyond: Return of the JokerJanuary 1, 2005
Jetsons: The MovieMay 26, 2003December 23, 2004
Tweety's High-Flying AdventureJuly 1, 2007
Cats Don't DanceJuly 4, 2003December 31, 2003
Gay Purr-eeJuly 5, 2004
Tom and Jerry: The MovieSeptember 1, 2003
All Dogs Go to HeavenSeptember 1, 2003May 31, 2004
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2December 22, 2003
Muppets from SpaceDecember 31, 2003September 6, 2004
The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandJanuary 1, 2004December 20, 2004
Pokémon 3: The MovieDecember 25, 2004January 1, 2007
Tom and Jerry: The Magic RingDecember 19, 2004August 31, 2008
Scooby-Doo and the Cyber ChaseMay 27, 2007
Who Framed Roger RabbitMarch 22, 2009August 16, 2012
::

Notes

References

References

  1. (December 15, 2001). "Cartoons For Children On TeleFutura". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  2. (August 6, 2007). "TeleFutura Schedules on August 7, 2007/Mi Tele Final Aired in 2007". Univision Communications.
  3. (January 14, 2002). "TeleFutura's Counter Play". BPI Publications.
  4. (December 14, 2001). "TeleFutura Day!". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  5. (January 11, 2002). "TeleFutura Sets It's Mark With Younger Audiences". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  6. Steve McClellan. (January 20, 2002). "Telefutura is Now". Broadcasting & Cable.
  7. Ken Liebeskind. (January 14, 2002). "Hola TeleFutura". MediaPost Communications.
  8. (June 1, 2002). "TeleFutura Summer & 4th Of July Line-up". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  9. "Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish En Español aired on TeleFutura on New Years Day". Save Animaniacs News.
  10. Leigh Godfrey. (March 5, 2002). "BRB Internacional Providing Slate Of Animated Programs To Latin American Markets". Animation World Network.
  11. (February 19, 2002). "TeleFutura Expands Programming". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  12. Ed Waller. (February 25, 2002). "US Hispanic deal for Carlton toons". C21 Media.
  13. (December 24, 2004). "Telemundo Expands Kids Segment.". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  14. (December 10, 2004). "Telemundo Expands Kids Entertainment". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  15. Animaccord, International licensing Company and Studio. (September 7, 2018). "Animaccord Extends the Masha and the Bear Media Presence in the USA".
  16. Sam Thielman. (December 10, 2012). "Hispanic Networks Rebrand en Masse". [[Guggenheim Partners]].
  17. Señal News. (November 21, 2024). "Sabbatical Entertainment Estrenará "El Que Sabe, Sabe" en UniMás". Señal News.
  18. Ed Waller. (February 8, 2002). "Telefutura pick-ups for BRB toons". C21 Media.
  19. Variety Staff. (January 19, 2003). "Small fry lost in U.S. Hispanic duopoly's wake".
  20. Magaly Morales on Latin Television. (March 12, 2002). "TeleFutura Adding More Novelas from Mexico". Sun-Sentinel.
  21. (October 10, 2003). "US Junior block for EM.TV". c21Media.
  22. (April 7, 2005). "Run for the Toad: Frequently Asked Questions".
  23. (December 31, 2008). "FCC Form 398 --- Children's Television Programming Report". Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
  24. (June 30, 2007). "Media Bureau --- Children's Television Programming Report". Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
  25. (April 24, 2004). "TeleFutura 2004-2005". Hispanic Media Sales, Inc..
  26. (2016-05-11). "UniMás Announces Educational Series 'Súper Genios' Premiere Date". Latin Times.
  27. (14 November 2017). "Mega-Hit "Pokémon: The Series" is Coming to UniMás Network On Nov. 15".
  28. (27 July 2020). "Mobius.LAB Kids' 'AnimalFanPedia' To Air On UniMás In U.S.".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

unimás-original-programmingtelevision-programming-blocks-in-the-united-states2002-american-television-series-debuts