Cartoon Network (Continuity Bumpers)

Television Idents Continuity Bumpers

"Coming Up Next" Bumpers

1st Bumper (October 1, 1992-1995)

Visuals: The word "NEXT" appears in big bold letters in front of an animated checkerboard background. A clock appears in front of the text, which features heads of various CN characters. An animated transition wipe reveals the title of the show coming up, which is followed by another transition leading into the Cartoon Network logo superimposed over the animated background.

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: A catchy tune, commonly used in bumpers that aired during the time. The announcer making remarks about the show coming up.

Audio Variants: Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese variants exist.

Availability: This was usually seen right before the show's credits after the final commercial break.

2nd Bumper (1995-early 1997)

Visuals: Over a 3D-styled checkerboard background, letters hang from string that spell out the word "NEXT" as they dangle across the screen. Characters from a show are then shown doing certain movements, right before a 3D version of the Cartoon Network logo shows up in front of the checkerboarded pattern.

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: Usually a remixed version of the show's theme music, plus the announcer making remarks about the show coming up.

Audio Variants: Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese variants exist.

Availability: As the previous bumper, these too were shown right after the last commercial break, and right before the show's credits.

3rd Bumper (Early 1997-98)

Visuals: A spotlight shines over a blue curtain, with letters spelling out "NEXT" printed across, in the familiar "Powerhouse" styled font. The curtains open up, revealing more curtains until it concludes with a green checkerboard-styled curtain, revealing clips of the show coming up. A curtain falls down, whereas the Cartoon Network logo fades into it.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: Same as the previous bumper.

Audio Variants: Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese variants exist.

Availability: This was the last bumper to be played out after the last break and before the credits once the Powerhouse look was finally used.

4th Bumper (March 2, 1998-June 13, 2004)

Visuals: There is the word "NEXT", usually being the subject of certain cartoon violence scenes, which is followed by the names and times of shows that are coming up next.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: "Powerhouse" by Raymond Scott. Sometimes being re-arranged to fit the style of the bumper. Plus the announcer saying what's coming up next. In The Powerpuff Girls' case, the narrator (voiced by Tom Kenny) announces it. In 2003, the Powerhouse theme was replaced by various generic fanfares and themes. The "Sailboat" and "Fist" bumpers later used the opening theme for "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest", while the "Hypnotist" bump uses the first bit of "The Scooby-Doo Show" theme. However, Latin America and Brazil still used the original music.

Audio Variants: For Latin America: "En Instantes", and for Brazil: "Daqui a Pouco". The lineup is dubbed in their respective languages.

Stay Tuned Bumpers

1st Bumper (October 1, 1992-1998)

Visuals:

We'll be back: On a checkerboard background, the title card of the show appears. Then, the main characters from the respective show appear doing some actions (which is usually animation taken from the respective show). At the end, the Cartoon Network logo appears from somewhere.
Back to the Show: The logo plays in a reverse-like way. The Cartoon Network logo appears, then the characters and finally the title card of the respective show.

Technique: 2D computer animation combined with cel animation.

Audio: A re-arranged version of the respective show theme accompanied by an announcer saying things about it and then says: "[show name] will return/will be back" on we'll be back bumpers. On back to the show bumpers the announcer says: "[show name] is back." or "We now return to [show name] on Cartoon Network.".

Audio Variants: In the Latin American, Brazilian and Japanese feed versions, the announcer says the lines in Spanish, Portuguese or Japanese.

Availability: It was seen before/after commercial breaks between shows like Johnny Quest, Godzilla, Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones and other shows.

2nd Bumper (July 1997-December 31, 2004)

Visuals: The screen zooms in into a different place, like someone is running. Then, the CN logo appears on a yellow, green, blue, purple, or red background.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The Powerhouse music accompanied by someone saying either "We'll be right back after these messages", "And now back to our show" or "You're watching Cartoon Network". On Latin America, Brazil and Japan, the announcer would say the lines in Spanish, Portuguese or Japanese. These placeholder bumpers were used frequently along with the 1992 bumpers until 1998, when the 1998 bumpers were introduced. They were still used in Latin America until December 31, 2004.

3rd Bumper (1998-September 2005)

Visuals: The Cartoon Network logo appears implicated in an action and gets hit or thrown up by something. After this the words "We'll be right back" or "Back to the show" would appear.

Variations:

The background was yellow (during every weekday morning; yellow was one of the last four colors left in the Powerhouse era from January until May 2003), green (during every weekday afternoon; green was one of the last four colors left in the Powerhouse era from January until May 2003), blue (during every weekend morning and afternoon, and every evening; blue was one of the last four colors left in the Powerhouse era from 2003 until 2004), black (during every midnight until 2001, when Adult Swim began broadcasting), dark blue (also during every midnight until 2003, when Adult Swim began broadcasting), red (rarely used, and broadcast during every midnight; it was eventually discontinued and replaced with black and dark blue, as most TV sets couldn't withstand red that much), orange (used for Halloween 1998 and 1999), red-orange (used for Thanksgiving 1998 and 1999), light blue and white (used for Christmas 1998 and 1999) and purple (during action; purple was one of the last four colors left in the Powerhouse era from 2003 until 2004).
We'll be back bumpers:
- The Cartoon Network logo falls in several clothes until it gets thrown back by a pink robe.
- A bunch of ants singing the powerhouse music are taking the food from a picnic. The camera zooms in on an ant holding a mustard jar with the Cartoon Network logo on it.
- The Cartoon Network logo is walking on a railway board, but it runs back from a train.
- The Cartoon Network logo appears on a banner above a block of flats in the night. After a few seconds the logo turns into a robot and throws lasers on the screen.
- The Cartoon Network logo is falling. It stops to let a yellow or blue bird fly. Then, it continues to fall until it hits by the land.
- Two Cartoon Network logos are chasing each other. Finally, there is a mouth-biting transition with the logo appearing. The "We'll be right back" disclaimer does not appear at all.
Back to the show bumpers:
- The Cartoon Network logo gets fried by a pan and throws by the ceiling
- Parts from the Cartoon Network logo are shaped like cars. One of them gets hit by a bridge. The "Back to the show" disclaimer does not appear at all.
- The Cartoon Network logo is seen on the top of a tree. The tree gets squashed which causes it to fall. The logo remains intact!
- Above the logo is a flea. A hammer tries to beat the flea but instead it hits the logo.
- Cartoon Network is undressing and is revealed as a lady.
On the Latin American version of the bumpers, it's the same logo but instead of "We'll be right back" or "Back to the show", the words read "Ya Volvemos" or "Estamos de Vuelta" (in Spanish), "Voltamos Já" or "Estamos de Volta" (in Portuguese). Same goes with the Japanese variant.

Technique: 2D computer animation by Primal Screen.

Audio: The famous Powerhouse theme written by Raymond Scott, accompanied by an announcer saying "The show will be right back" or "The show is back". When appearing after the opening of the show for Logo Chase, the announcer says "You're watching Cartoon Network".

Audio Variants:

On the Latin American version of the bumpers, the announcer says his line in either Spanish or Portuguese. Same goes with the Japan version.
On one showing of the "Clothes" and "Frying Pan" bumpers, the logo plays with a re-arranged version of the Ed, Edd n Eddy theme.
In 2003, the "Powerhouse" music was taken out of the bumpers and was replaced with a series of generic fanfares and themes. However, the "Powerhouse" music remained on the bumpers in Latin America until the City look started in Latin America on January 1, 2005.

Availability: The bumpers usually appeared on shows which didn't have their own Powerhouse bumpers like The Mask and Pinky and the Brain.

Halloween-themed bumpers:

Note: These bumpers were used during Halloween. The "We'll be right back" or "Back to the show" disclaimer wasn't seen at all.

Visuals: There are two idents so far.

A skeleton gets out from the grave and dances until it breaks in bones.
There are white doors opening and then there are white stairs.

Thanksgiving-themed bumpers:

Note: These bumpers were used during Thanksgiving. The "We'll be right back" or "Back to the show" disclaimer wasn't seen at all.

Visuals: There are two idents so far.

There is a sign saying "TURKEY SEASON". A turkey comes and replaces "TURKEY" with "PILGRIM" and laughs until a bunch of pilgrims come and shoot it. When the CN logo appears, he is seen in a pot.
A lady puts so many spices in a turkey until it explodes.

Christmas-themed bumpers:

Note: These bumpers were used during winter. Only most of the bumpers included the "We'll be right back" or "Back to the show" disclaimer.

'We'll be back bumpers:

There is a bird on a sign that with CN logo on it. Some snowballs are falling but does not shoot the bird. Then, the bird throws some snowballs in the screen.
There is a present. A man opens it and it appears to be a sponge cake. The man tries to cut it but he can't. Then he tries everything to cut the cake and finally puts a bomb which explodes. The cake is still safe.

Back to the show bumpers:

There is the logo frozen. The ice is melting.

Other:

There is a boy sleeping. He is dreaming of toys and sweets.
The camera goes inside a chimney. When the logo appears, there is a shadow of Santa riding his sleigh.
A man tries to install the Christmas tree but the power goes out and everything goes black. The CN logo appears.

Other Bumpers:

Visuals:

We'll be back bumpers: One or more characters from the respective show does an action and then the screen usually blends on another screen with the respective character(s) and on the upper-left corner is the name of the respective show in big letters in either orange or blue. At the end, the Cartoon Network logo appears from the screen. Like on the general bumpers, the background was yellow (during weekday mornings until January 19, 2003), green (during weekday afternoons until January 19, 2003), blue (during weekday evenings and all day on Saturdays and Sundays), black/dark blue (during all midnights until January 12, 2003), red (originally used for all midnights, but it was discontinued and replaced with black/dark blue, as most TV sets couldn't withstand red that much) and purple (during the action shows on weekdays and all midnights).
Back to the show bumpers: Similar to the We'll be back bumpers but after the character(s) do the action, the character(s) appear near the CN logo without the screen. Like on the We'll be back bumpers, the background was yellow (during weekday mornings until January 19, 2003), green (during weekday afternoons until January 19, 2003), blue (during weekday evenings and all day on Saturdays and Sundays), black/dark blue (during all midnights until January 12, 2003), red (originally used for all midnights, but it was discontinued and replaced with black/dark blue, as most TV sets couldn't withstand red that much), orange (used for Halloween 1998, 1999 and 2000 only), red-orange (used for Thanksgiving 1998, 1999 and 2000 only), light blue and white (used for Christmas 1998, 1999 and 2000 only) and purple (during the action shows on weekdays and all midnights).

Promo variant: This variant appeared at the end of some promos of the times. It's just a still variant of the We'll be back bumper with the show name screen and a still image of the respective character(s). Below the screen is the date and the hour when the respective show would be seen.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A cross between the re-arranged version of the show's respective theme song and the Powerhouse music written by Raymond Scott accompanied by an announcer saying something about the respective show and then he says "[show name] we'll be right back on Cartoon Network." or "[show name] is back on Cartoon Network". When appearing after the opening of the show, the announcer says "You're watching [show name] on Cartoon Network".

Audio Variants:

Starting in mid-2003, the Powerhouse music was gone and the music of the bumpers were re-done, just like on the general bumpers. The original music of the respective show plays over the bumper. Also, a different announcer is heard and then he says "we'll be right back with [show name]." or "And now back to [show name]".
On the Latin American version, the announcer says his lines in Spanish or Portuguese. Same goes with the Japanese version.

Availability: It appeared before/after commercial breaks between shows like Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Batman: The Animated Series, Ed Edd 'n Eddy, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons Adventures, Bugs and Daffy, Garfield and Friends, Beetlejuice, The Powerpuff Girls, Rocky and Bullwinkle and Dexter's Laboratory, among others. These bumpers were still in regular use in Latin American until December 31, 2004 and in Asia and Australia until September 2005.

Final Note

Starting with the City era on June 14, 2004 (America), on January 1, 2005 (Latin America), and in September 2005 (Asia and Australia), the channel used the station ID's instead of regular "We'll be back/Back to the show" bumpers.