Netflix recently landed a multi-year license agreement with Turner Broadcasting and Warner Brothers, which means that we can now view our favorite Cartoon Network and Adult Swim shows online.
What does multi-year mean?
This means that as shows and seasons become available for release, such as "Archer," "The Boondocks," "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "Robot Chicken," "Children's Hospital" and more are now available for viewing. Futurama has been on Netflix for some time now.
As for Cartoon Network shows, we'll see entire seasons of "Adventure Time," "Johnny Bravo," "Green Lantern: The Animated Series," "Regular Show," and "Ben 10" starting March 30. With headliners like this, I can only assume that other Cartoon Network shows are on the way. (Thundercats, ho.)
As for 'Toonami'Adult Swim recently renewed Cartoon Network's old "Toonami" block from the '90s, with great success. We have yet to see these shows (such as "Dragon Ball Z," "Sailor Moon" and "Inuyasha") yet, most probably due to licensing issues with Funimation and Toei Animation, which currently holds U.S. rights and licenses.
It should also be mentioned that with the release of "Dragon Ball Z Kai," we're probably less likely to see the original 1996 U.S. release of "Dragon Ball Z" any time soon. If anything, we'll get the bloodless version of DBZ on Netflix first.
There doesn't seem to be much movement in releasing the original '90s "Toonami" block, now part of Adult Swim, on Netflix because of licensing issues (almost all of those shows were Japanese imports), but for all we know, we could hear of a Toei Animation deal soon, which would give us access to not only U.S.-released shows such as "Cowboy Bebop," "Sailor Moon," "Dragon Ball Z," "Tenchi Muyo" and "Inuyasha," but also theatrical movies from Hayao Miyazaki such as "Ponyo," "My Neighbor Totoro," "The Secret World of Arrietty" and more.
One can only hope.
