Thread by @Clarknova1

So #toonami, the programming block i co-created and have lead for many years now, turns 25 years old today. It’s an anniversary I never even contemplated we would reach, frankly. TV blocks are not meant to last this long, and they almost never do.

I’m not normally very self-reflective about my work. I tend to just want to keep moving on to whatever the next project or idea is, I’m a bit restless that way. It’s why I’ve been involved in so many different creative endeavors and projects over the years.

But 25 years… that bears thinking about and taking a moment to appreciate, and take stock. So that’s what I’ll do here, if you’ll indulge me.

If I think about what we WANTED out of Toonami back then, it was mostly to create an environment where kids like I was- kids in broken or abusive or just neglectful homes- had a place to hang every day that felt welcoming. A place where they weren’t talked down to.

We always wanted TOM (and Sara, and Moltar) to feel like the cool older sibling who was putting you on to the good shit. For US, that was great anime and action, music, videogames, interesting people with fun jobs, and other things. We wanted to inspire kids if we could.

And even when we went off the air originally, we all made our peace with it. Even then, we knew 11 years was an incredible run and we had given our all. We left it all out on the floor, for sure.

But then a miracle happened- a combination of @stupidgill and I scheming, @richiebranson inspiring people with a great song, and most importantly Toonami fans expressing their love for our work. And a new Toonami was born, one for those kids who had grown up, and new generation.

And here we still are. Toonami has brought me so many opportunities, from all of the music I’ve been a part of- DOOM, Flylo, RTJ, all of it- to making anime with some of my favorite creators whose work has inspired me. I’m doing an effin LOTR movie, and it’s because of Toonami!

And when I say “it’s because of Toonami” I mean this- it’s because of the amazing work of so many talented co-workers, performers and collaborators over the years. Particularly my partner in crime @stupidgill. It’s also, most importantly, because of Toonami FANS.

We have always tried to engage with our fans directly and respect them like we did when they were kids. We try to be transparent and open to suggestion and change. We have our ups and downs, as project that’s 25 years old does. But we’re committed to tryin to be better if we can.

So really I just want to say, thank you to anyone who has watched, whether it was for a minute or 25 years. Thank you to you folks who trend #toonami every week. YOU made this happen just as much as we did. Whatever influence and impact we have, or had, is because of you.

Til the sun shines on a world without Toonami (again), we remain the FIRST. And STILL the best.

- oh and #toonami fans… keep your eyes peeled today, I think it’s fair to say you’ll have some stuff to talk about! 😏