I’m asking this in a deadly serious tone, the pilot episode for the upcoming Cartoon Network series Steven Universe slipped online the other day, but was quickly yanked before anyone really knew what was going on. The episode itself (notto tease you any further) looks extremely promising with some lovely animation in addition to a superb cast of characters.
Why CN Should Know Better
The reason I pose this question is because Cartoon Network (of all networks) should know what wonders can be worked when a short is posted online in advance of the main series. The reason is simple, they’ve been here before with Adventure Time.
Yes, the original Random! Cartoons short was posted online after being broadcast on Nickelodeon. While many felt the short was too weird for a proper series, viewers disagreed and the numbers quickly racked up into the millions. Naturally this gave serious weight to the notion that there was demand for a full series and Cartoon Network dutifully picked it up after Nickelodeon’s exclusivity clause lapsed.
Needless to say, the show is one of the most popular animated TV shows of the past five years and has been the cornerstone of Cartoon Network’s audience growth.
Why Steven Universe is a Case of Deja Vu
So beside the obvious reason why a short would leak online (hint: people like to watch stuff), why would CN pull it ever so quickly? While they naturally want to keep things under wraps as long as possible, that’s pretty much gone to seed now that the cat is out of the bag so to speak.
If anything, Adventure Time proves that keeping a short online only adds to audience anticipation for the full series. Now as a network executive, wouldn’t you rather have a large audience waiting in rapt anticipation than to have to pay for advertising and marketing to accomplish the same result?
Steven Universe ought to be available online, even if it differs from the final product. It never hurt Adventure Time and it is unlike to hurt this show. Quite simply, Cartoon Network have to realise that they are in competition with web series now as well. Bravest Warriors is surely proof of that, and by hiding content away, they are doing themselves no favours at all.
Wasn’t the video posted on Bob Sugar’s channel and wasn’t HE the one who deleted it, not CN??
I’m not sure. Cartoon Brew links to Cartoon Network’s official website, but the page is now a 404. Either way, the short lives on through the magic of YouTube!
You mean Rob? He didn’t upload anything.
yes he did. I watched the pilot on his channel
I posted a better copy of the pilot after it was posted by CN. When they asked to have it taken down, I complied immediately. It is their property and they can choose how and when to launch the series. Actually they posted ALL the new pilots on the page, including a few that weren’t picked up.They were up on the CN site for one day.
My guess is that they put them up to make them eligible for an awards submission, or some similar entrance requirement. CN posted all of the pilots on a page with no external links to the page. For some reason they must have thought that no one would find it, but they underestimated the furious attention of fans on the Interweb, and the way that roving ‘bots find content.
Would I love to put Rebecca’s pilot back up? Would I like to post the demo of the song she recorded? You bet. But not until I have permission, no matter how ubiquitous the leaked copies become.
Thanks for the clarification Robert 🙂
I’ve read reports stating that the CN website is/was notoriously leaky and that it wasn’t too difficult to find upcoming episodes that hadn’t even aired yet. In that context, it isn’t surprising that fans were able to find the page you mention.
God bless you
you are doing God’s work son
No problem i love this show and it took awhile to find it but i did not stop!
http://zizibutik.tumblr.com/post/52250039210/steven-universe-pilot-for-those-who-are-lazy-to-scroll
I wanted to watch it because i couldn’t find the full serie online. I just caught on.