Studios really can make some really ridiculous decisions. Many well-made animated shows have been cancelled for the strangest of reasons. Here are a few of the lot.
Spectacular Spider-Man – Disney Bought Marvel
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe bought various popular Marvel Superheroes to life, it was Spectacular Spider-Man that was at the forefront of TV Entertainment. Spider-Man was witty. There were tons of comic book references. Fans loved the show in its entirety. The show was at a sky-high level of popularity. And then Disney bought Marvel. That act sealed the fate of Spectacular Spider-Man. Disney’s merger with Fox pushed the TV rights to Spider-Man back to Sony. Spider-Man has struggled to maintain a viable TV presence ever since.
Justice League Unlimited – Lacked A Teenage Lead Character
We would all agree to the fact that Justice League and its sequel series Justice League Unlimited were some of the finest superhero animated shows to have been ever made. There were tons of DC heroes and the storylines were surprisingly mature for a teenage audience. Fans loved the show. But Warner Brothers was not pleased. It believed that they should migrate the shows towards a more teenage friendly audience. Justice League Unlimited and Batman The Animated Series were shows that lacked a teenage lead. They were axed to make way for shows like Static Shock and Batman beyond, who had younger lead characters.
Green Lantern The Animated Series – The 2012 Green Lantern Movie Bombed
This is the problem with Warner Brothers. They seriously need a complete overhaul of their decision making process. For starters, separate the TV and Movie apparatus altogether. Green lantern The Animated Series was a surprisingly well-made show. But it was cancelled only after its one season. The mysterious move was later revealed to be because of the 2012 Ryan Reynolds movie performing poorly at the Box Office. Why did the series suffer because of the movie failing in the theaters?
Samurai Jack – Too Much Violence
Back in those days, studios wrongly assumed that animated shows are only meant for teenagers and kids. What the Japanese anime industry figured out a long time ago, the western studios are only beginning to comprehend. the fact is – if mature enough, animated shows can be just as beloved by adult viewers as well. Samurai Jack, the story of a lone samurai who was forced to travel to the future, was a show way ahead of its time. It was deemed to be too violent for its target audience. The Studio failed to realize that thee show has another secret segment of adult viewers it failed to factor into the decision.
Young Justice – Target Audience Changed From Boys To Girls
Young Justice is another beloved show that was cancelled midway. It had completed its second season run when WB announced the show was being axed. The reason for doing so was even more peculiar than the timing. The show was made for an audience that was overwhelmingly teenage boys. After its second season run, WB found that the show’s target audience had drastically changed. It now mostly comprised of girls. The DC Show was then cancelled. But luckily the series was given a shot in the arm after Netflix took over the reins.
Ben 10 – Reason Unknown
Ben 10 was one of the most popular animated shows of the last decade. A young boy finds a mysterious device that allows him to transform into different alien beings. The show was cancelled but the studio never revealed the reason why. Fans thought it might be due to high production costs. Then the studio went back on its word and created some truly horrific sequel shows. We still do not know why a high performing show like Ben 10 was cancelled. We probably never will.
