Bionix
Encyclopedia
Bionix was a late night
anime
program block on the Canadian television channel YTV
. From September 2009
-February 7, 2010
, it aired on Friday nights around 4:00pm to 2:00am and Saturday mornings/afternoons from 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 12:00am to 3:00pm , beginning on September 13, 2009
.
's Toonami
block, the lineup itself bears more similarity to the action portion of Adult Swim
.
Although YTV had seen years of success with audiences under twelve, they had done very little to appeal to the older teen audience which, as a youth broadcaster, they were also obliged to cater to. Since YTV had become Canada's number one station for teens the year before, thanks mainly to the debut of InuYasha
, Bionix was launched on September 10, 2004 specifically for this older youth audience, along with special disclaimers aired after commercial breaks.
Generally the programming is animated with series intended for older teen audiences, with a fair portion being anime
. However, other programs are often included in order to ensure that Canadian content
regulations are met, including reruns of older Mainframe Entertainment
series, Beasties
, ReBoot
, and Shadow Raiders
. Live action YTV productions have also been previously infused into the block.
Since Saturday, July 19, 2008, Bionix has been moved from Fridays to its new timeslot on Saturdays from 8 pm to 10 pm. Starting March 7, 2009
, Bionix became a one-hour block, airing from 10-11pm on Saturdays. On May 16, 2009
, the block was pushed further back to midnight, as the "Viewer Discretion Is Advised" promos were switched from the Bionix version to YTV's generic version. But even though when Naruto
was added to Tuesdays-Fridays 4am, the "Viewer Discretion Is Advised" promos came from Bionix, even though the reruns aren't part of that block. In June of 2009, YTV's website removed their Bionix page, leading to speculation that the block will be canceled soon. However, links to Bionix On Demand, as well as the Bionix forums, still remain.
In September 2009 Bionix once again became a 2-hour block airing at midnight and featured two episodes of both Naruto
and Bleach
. The Bionix promos and bugs were removed from the final year of the block.
YTV pulled the Bionix block, with the final episodes being the back-to-back reruns of Bleach at 1am on February 7, 2010
. Bleach had been airing reruns since December 2009, after the finale of Naruto that month.
During its early years, the block ran Fridays from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.(and later 2 a.m.), however, Starting in 2008, the block aired Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.(and later 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.). It then aired Satudays (technically Sundays) from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. before even being taken off the air.
Late night television
Late night television in the United States is the block of television programming airing after 11:00 pm and usually through 2:00 am. Traditionally, this type of programming airs after the late local news and is most notable for being the daypart used for a particular genre of programming that falls...
anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
program block on the Canadian television channel YTV
YTV (Canadian TV channel)
YTV is a Canadian English-language Category A specialty channel aimed at youth, available nationwide through cable and satellite television. Presently it is wholly owned by Corus Entertainment and Shaw Media. The "YTV" name is thought by some viewers to be an abbreviation for "Youth Television",...
. From September 2009
2009 in Canadian television
- Events :- Debuts :- Ending this year :- Television shows :-1950s:*Hockey Night in Canada *The National -1960s:...
-February 7, 2010
2010 in Canadian television
- Events :- Debuts :Series currently listed here have been announced by their respective networks as scheduled to premiere in 2010. Note that shows may be delayed or cancelled by the network between now and their scheduled air dates.- Ending this year :...
, it aired on Friday nights around 4:00pm to 2:00am and Saturday mornings/afternoons from 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 12:00am to 3:00pm , beginning on September 13, 2009
2009 in Canadian television
- Events :- Debuts :- Ending this year :- Television shows :-1950s:*Hockey Night in Canada *The National -1960s:...
.
History
Bionix breaks away from YTV's "Keep It Weird" style and has a more technological feel to it in an effort to appeal to a teenage and older audience. While visually similar to Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
's Toonami
Toonami
Toonami was a registered trademark of Cartoon Network, used initially for action-oriented programming blocks on Cartoon Network television channels worldwide, mostly showing American cartoons and Japanese anime, originating in the United States on March 17, 1997 and ended on September 20, 2008.The...
block, the lineup itself bears more similarity to the action portion of Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
.
Although YTV had seen years of success with audiences under twelve, they had done very little to appeal to the older teen audience which, as a youth broadcaster, they were also obliged to cater to. Since YTV had become Canada's number one station for teens the year before, thanks mainly to the debut of InuYasha
InuYasha
, also known as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on November 13, 1996 and concluded on June 18, 2008...
, Bionix was launched on September 10, 2004 specifically for this older youth audience, along with special disclaimers aired after commercial breaks.
Generally the programming is animated with series intended for older teen audiences, with a fair portion being anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. However, other programs are often included in order to ensure that Canadian content
Canadian content
Canadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
regulations are met, including reruns of older Mainframe Entertainment
Mainframe Entertainment
Rainmaker Entertainment, Inc. is a Canadian computer animation and design company based in Vancouver, British Columbia and Los Angeles, California. It produces computer animation TV series and movies. They are best known for producing the first ever CGI animated series ReBoot, as well as the...
series, Beasties
Beast Wars
Transformers: Beast Wars is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro between 1995 and 2000, and a Daytime Emmy Award winning full-CG animated television series spawned by it that debuted in 1996...
, ReBoot
ReBoot
ReBoot is a Canadian CGI-animated action-adventure cartoon series that originally aired from 1994 to 2001. It was produced by Vancouver-based production company Mainframe Entertainment, Alliance Communications, BLT Productions and created by Gavin Blair, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell and John Grace,...
, and Shadow Raiders
Shadow Raiders
Shadow Raiders is an animated television series produced by Mainframe Entertainment that aired from 1998 to 1999. The show was loosely based on the Trendmasters toy line, War Planets. The original character designs were created by ReBoot designer, Brendan McCarthy...
. Live action YTV productions have also been previously infused into the block.
Since Saturday, July 19, 2008, Bionix has been moved from Fridays to its new timeslot on Saturdays from 8 pm to 10 pm. Starting March 7, 2009
2009 in Canadian television
- Events :- Debuts :- Ending this year :- Television shows :-1950s:*Hockey Night in Canada *The National -1960s:...
, Bionix became a one-hour block, airing from 10-11pm on Saturdays. On May 16, 2009
2009 in Canadian television
- Events :- Debuts :- Ending this year :- Television shows :-1950s:*Hockey Night in Canada *The National -1960s:...
, the block was pushed further back to midnight, as the "Viewer Discretion Is Advised" promos were switched from the Bionix version to YTV's generic version. But even though when Naruto
Naruto
is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
was added to Tuesdays-Fridays 4am, the "Viewer Discretion Is Advised" promos came from Bionix, even though the reruns aren't part of that block. In June of 2009, YTV's website removed their Bionix page, leading to speculation that the block will be canceled soon. However, links to Bionix On Demand, as well as the Bionix forums, still remain.
In September 2009 Bionix once again became a 2-hour block airing at midnight and featured two episodes of both Naruto
Naruto
is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
and Bleach
Bleach (manga)
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
. The Bionix promos and bugs were removed from the final year of the block.
YTV pulled the Bionix block, with the final episodes being the back-to-back reruns of Bleach at 1am on February 7, 2010
2010 in Canadian television
- Events :- Debuts :Series currently listed here have been announced by their respective networks as scheduled to premiere in 2010. Note that shows may be delayed or cancelled by the network between now and their scheduled air dates.- Ending this year :...
. Bleach had been airing reruns since December 2009, after the finale of Naruto that month.
During its early years, the block ran Fridays from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.(and later 2 a.m.), however, Starting in 2008, the block aired Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.(and later 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.). It then aired Satudays (technically Sundays) from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. before even being taken off the air.
Bionix series and movies
This is a list of series and movies that are airing, will air, or have aired on Bionix, with their Canadian TV content ratings.Current series
As of March 7, 2009:- BleachBleach (manga)is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
(14+) - NarutoNarutois an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
(PG)
Animated series
- .hack//Sign.hack//SIGN.hack//Sign is an anime television series directed by Kōichi Mashimo and produced by studio Bee Train and Bandai Visual, that makes up one of the four original storylines of the .hack franchise...
(14+) - Avatar: The Last AirbenderAvatar: The Last AirbenderAvatar: The Last Airbender is an American animated television series that aired for three seasons on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. The series was created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who served as executive producers along with Aaron Ehasz...
(C8) - Battle B-DamanBattle B-Damanis an anime and manga series by Eiji Inuki that first aired in January 2004 in Japan, replacing Beyblade in its timeslot. It premiered in the United States on April 2005. Like its predecessor, it is themed around an enhanced version of a children's schoolyard game – whereas Beyblade was based...
(C8) - BeastiesBeast WarsTransformers: Beast Wars is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro between 1995 and 2000, and a Daytime Emmy Award winning full-CG animated television series spawned by it that debuted in 1996...
(C8) - Beast MachinesBeast MachinesBeast Machines is an animated television series produced by Mainframe Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. Hasbro has the full distribution rights to the show as of 2011. It was a direct sequel to Beast Wars taking place within the continuity of the original Transformers series...
(C8) - BeybladeBeybladeis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takao Aoki. Originally serialized in CoroCoro Comic from 2000 to 2002, the individual chapters were collected and published in 14 tankōbon by Shogakukan...
(C8) - Blue Dragon (C8)
- Case ClosedCase ClosedCase Closed, known as in Japan, is a Japanese detective manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. The series is serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday since February 2, 1994, and has been collected in 73 tankōbon volumes as of September 2011...
(PG) - Death NoteDeath Noteis a manga created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and manga artist Takeshi Obata. The main character is Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook, the "Death Note", dropped on Earth by a god of death, or a shinigami, named Ryuk...
(14+) - Eureka SevenEureka SevenEureka Seven, known in Japan as , is a mecha anime TV series by Bones. Eureka Seven tells the story of Renton Thurston and the outlaw group Gekkostate, his relationship with the enigmatic mecha pilot Eureka, and the mystery of the Coralians....
(14+) - Fullmetal AlchemistFullmetal Alchemist, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The world of Fullmetal Alchemist is styled after the European Industrial Revolution...
(14+) - FuturamaFuturamaFuturama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
(PG) - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complexis an anime television series produced by Production I.G and based on Masamune Shirow's manga Ghost in the Shell. It was written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, with original character design by Hajime Shimomura and a soundtrack by Yoko Kanno...
(14+) - Gundam SEED (14+)
- Gundam SEED Destiny (14+)
- InuYashaInuYasha, also known as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on November 13, 1996 and concluded on June 18, 2008...
(PG) - Invader ZimInvader ZimInvader Zim is an American animated television series created by Jhonen Vasquez. It was produced by and subsequently aired on Nickelodeon. The series revolves around an extraterrestrial named Zim from the planet Irk, and his ongoing mission to conquer and destroy Earth...
(PG) - Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
(C8) - ReBootReBootReBoot is a Canadian CGI-animated action-adventure cartoon series that originally aired from 1994 to 2001. It was produced by Vancouver-based production company Mainframe Entertainment, Alliance Communications, BLT Productions and created by Gavin Blair, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell and John Grace,...
(C8) - Samurai JackSamurai JackSamurai Jack is an American animated television series created by animator Genndy Tartakovsky that aired on both Cartoon Network and Toonami from 2001 to 2004. It is noted for its highly detailed, outline-free, masking-based animation, as well as for its cinematic style and pacing...
(C8) - Shadow RaidersShadow RaidersShadow Raiders is an animated television series produced by Mainframe Entertainment that aired from 1998 to 1999. The show was loosely based on the Trendmasters toy line, War Planets. The original character designs were created by ReBoot designer, Brendan McCarthy...
(C8) - Spider-ManSpider-Man (1967 TV series)Spider-Man is an animated television series that ran from September 9, 1967 to June 14, 1970. It was jointly produced in Canada and the United States and was the first animated adaptation of the Spider-Man comic book series, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko...
(G) - Spider-Man: The New Animated SeriesSpider-Man: The New Animated SeriesSpider-Man: The New Animated Series is an animated series featuring the Marvel comic book superhero Spider-Man, which ran for one season, 13 episodes, starting on July 11, 2003...
(PG) - Storm HawksStorm HawksStorm Hawks is an animated television series created by Asaph "Ace" Fipke and made by Nerd Corps Entertainment in conjunction with Cartoon Network and YTV. It premiered on Cartoon Network on May 25, 2007. It started to air on YTV in September 2007. It started to air on Cartoon Network in the UK on...
(C8) - Witch Hunter RobinWitch Hunter Robinis a Japanese anime series created by Sunrise. It follows the STN-J, the Japanese branch of a secret global organization called "SOLOMON" or the "Solomon Toukatsu Nin'idantai" , abbreviated as "STN"....
(14+) - Xialon Showdown (C8)
- Yu-Gi-Oh (C8)
- Zatch Bell!Zatch Bell!Zatch Bell!, known in Japan as is a shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Raiku. It was published in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday...
(C8) - Zixx: Level ThreeZixxZixx is a Canadian television series that airs on YTV. This series was developed by Savi Media and The Nightingale Company with YTV Original Productions...
(C8)
Live-action series
- Dark OracleDark OracleDark Oracle is a Canadian produced TV series that premiered in 2004 on the popular Canadian channel YTV. It was created by Jana Sinyor , and co-developed by Heather Conkie...
(C8) - Monster WarriorsMonster WarriorsMonster Warriors is an original Canadian television series, which airs on YTV in Canada, and also on Jetix since April 2006 in the United Kingdom. It was created by Wilson Coneybeare and produced by Coneybeare Stories Inc...
(C8) - Zixx: Level ThreeZixxZixx is a Canadian television series that airs on YTV. This series was developed by Savi Media and The Nightingale Company with YTV Original Productions...
(C8)
Specials
- The Anti-Gravity RoomThe Anti-Gravity RoomThe Anti-Gravity Room was a weekly Canadian television program of the early- to mid-1990s, spotlighting comic books and video games, and hosted by Nick Scoullar and Phil Guerrero. It was produced by YTV in Canada, and was carried in the United States on the Sci-Fi Channel...
(C8) (aired on August 16, 2008) - DragonBall Z (PG) (aired on August 16, 2008)
- Dragon Ball GT (PG)
- Dragon BallDragon Ballis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995; later the 519 individual chapters were published into 42 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha. Dragon Ball was inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the...
(PG)
Movies
- InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across TimeInuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Timeis a 2001 anime film directed by Toshiya Shinohara and written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa. It is the first of four films released in the InuYasha movie series....
(PG) (aired on March 25, 2005 and August 30, 2008) - InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (PG) (aired on August 26, 2005)
- Ultimate AvengersUltimate AvengersUltimate Avengers is a direct-to-DVD animated film based on the Marvel comic book The Ultimates, and released by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The DVD was released on February 21, 2006 in America, and in Europe on October 2, 2006...
(G) (aired on September 1, 2006 and April 25, 2008) - InuYasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (14+) (aired on December 29, 2006)
- InuYasha the Movie 4: Fire on the Mystic Island (PG) (aired on June 22, 2007 and August 17, 2007)
- Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of ShamballaFullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballais a 2005 Japanese animated film directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Sho Aikawa, and acts as a continuation of the first Fullmetal Alchemist television series...
(14+) (aired on October 19, 2007 and June 22, 2007) - Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of SnowNaruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snowis a 2004 Japanese animated film directed by Tensai Okamura and written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa based on the popular anime and manga series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. It was released in Japan on August 21, 2004. The popularity of the series has spawned several sequels, beginning with Naruto the...
(PG; G in the second airing) (aired on November 16, 2007 and June 20, 2008) - Superman: DoomsdaySuperman: DoomsdaySuperman: Doomsday & Beyond is a licensed novel, published in 1993, set in the DC Comics universe, written by Louise Simonson, and with illustrations from Dan Jurgens and José Luis García-López. It is a young-adult version of The Death of Superman comics storyline from 1992...
(PG) (aired on March 7, 2008) - Justice League: The New Frontier (PG) (aired on October 4, 2008)
- Bleach: Memories of NobodyBleach: Memories of NobodyBleach: Memories of Nobody is a 2006 animated film adaptation of the anime and manga series Bleach. Directed by Noriyuki Abe and written by Masashi Sogo, the film was first released in Japanese theaters on December 16, 2006. The DVD was released in Japan on September 5, 2007...
(14+) (aired on November 8, 2008) - He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas SpecialHe-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas SpecialHe-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special is a Christmas television special based on the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and its spin-off She-Ra: Princess of Power, originally broadcast in December 1985...
(C8) (aired on December 13, 2008)