Cartoon Network to Merge With Warner Bros. Animation Following Company-Wide Layoffs

The hits keep coming for Warner Bros. Discovery, and the company’s most recent announcement is sending shockwaves across social media. After all, new reports have gone live confirming Cartoon Network Studios is about to undergo a special overhaul. The studio will be merging with Warner Bros. Animation as the pair’s parent company continues to restructure its various organizations.

According to Collider, the news was shared in a meme shared company-wide as employees learned Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation are merging. The two studios will consolidate their animation teams as part of a “strategic realignment” for Warner Bros. Discovery.

This latest news comes shortly after trades announces another round of major layoffs at Warner Bros. Television Group. The company laid off a total of 82 employees and confirmed that 43 vacant positions won’t be filled moving forward. These layoffs ranged from scripted to unscripted television as well as animation. And of course, the announcement was the latest of several lambasted moves by Warner Bros. Discovery regarding its animation catalog.

Back in August, the Internet revolted when it learned HBO Max was removing more than 30 animated series from its catalog including Infinity Train and other hit titles. These shows were removed in tandem with cancellations behind the scenes including Scoob: Holiday Haunt and Batgirl. Reports suggested the removed titles were being cut as part of cost-saving measures, and animation creators were quick to criticize Warner Bros. Discovery for the unprecedented move.

READ MORE: Warner Bros. Discovery Sued for Allegedly Deceiving Investors, Lying About HBO Max Subs

Now, it seems the company is merging its animation studios, but current reports suggest the consolidation will not impact the types of content the teams previously released. In light of alleged fearmongering, Cartoon Network art director David DePasquale addressed fans’ worries and assured them the worst-case scenario hasn’t come to pass. “These are decisions that affect real people, studios, & jobs,” the artist shared. “I work there. You can stand by whatever you’d like, but you sensationalizing it and guiding people to extrapolate that CNS is basically dead is really shitty, especially for those of us who still have a job there. Do better.”

What do you make of this latest behind-the-scenes shift? Is this the right move for Cartoon Network’s future or…? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.