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American Broadcast Television Anime Loses A Friend: Cartoon Network Head Jim Samples Resigns Date: 2/10/2007 |
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According to the Associated Press Cartoon Network general manager and executive vice president Jim Samples resigned Friday following a marketing stunt that caused a terrorism scare in Boston. Samples was with the network for 13 years and over this period, he personally oversaw and guided the great opening of the network to Japanese animation programming. The exposure has elevated anime awareness in North America to the all time high current level. To give an idea of the mindset within CN towards anime back in those days as opposed to what you can see in 2007 by flipping on the TV at any time day or night, in 1997 Mike Lazzo, vice president of programming for the channel gave the following quote to USA Today newspaper: "Japan animation is so different from what airs here. It's far edgier, adult and violent. Anime isn't very story-based and is driven by intense moments. The story is hard to follow." Anime News Service principle editor Jonah Morgan met personally with the CN head at the Tokyo Anime Fair in 2005, when the network made history announcing collaborations with Toei Animation to create an anime version of Powerpuff Girls and co-produce the IGPX television series with Production I.G. Jim Samples spoke at press conferences for both events and had a large role in bringing both ventures into reality. His commitment to anime and introducing obscure yet content rich foreign shows to a wider audience was genuine. If you happen to have discovered anime on CN over the past 10+ years, you owe alot to Mr. Jim Samples. |
| Source: Anime News Service |
