Launch as a strand on Cartoon Network Too (2006–2007)
Former logo with purple eyes, used from 2006 to 2018
On August 14, 2006, Turner Broadcasting System Europe announced they would launch a new pre-school-oriented strand for Cartoon Network Too known as Cartoonito, which would launch on 4 September 2006, running from 6 AM to 3 PM.[2]
Relaunch as a full channel (2007–2016)
Former logo with black eyes, used from 2018 to 2022
On 2 May 2007, Turner announced that they would expand Cartoonito to a full-time network on 24 May 2007. This allowed for Cartoon Network Too to merge and replace Toonami, allowing the full Cartoonito channel to launch in the ex-Cartoon Network Too slot.[3]
On 24 May 2007, at 3 AM, Cartoonito launched as a standalone channel on Sky channel 619, just after the old version of Cartoon Network Too closed at 7 PM the previous day. The channel ran between 3 AM and 7 PM and originally timeshared with Turner Classic Movies 2 (later became Turner Classic Movies +1 after 13 August 2013).[4]
On August 28, 2009, it was announced that a Cartoonito block would air on Boomerang from 9:00am-10:30am on school-term weekdays beginning in September. The aim of the block was to introduce the Cartoonito brand to viewers who had never seen the programmes the channel offered.[5]
On 25 March 2010, Cartoonito was added to Virgin Media.[6] For the launch, the channel's runtime was changed, now running from 4 AM to 8 PM. On 26 October 2013, Cartoonito was launched on BT TV, and Cartoonito launched on Plusnet in May 2015. On 15 December 2016, Cartoonito was added to TalkTalk.[7] Unlike Cartoon Network and Boomerang, which has a +1 and HD simulcasts, Cartoonito didn't have a +1 or HD simulcasts in the UK.[8]
Introduction of 24-hour service (2017–2022)
Cartoonito shifted its aspect ratio to 16:9 widescreen on 1 November 2017. The channel moved to a full 24-hour schedule on 15 January 2018.[9] On 2 March 2018, the channel was announced for a rebrand with an updated website. The logo remained the same, with the only difference being that the eyes were changed from purple to black.[10]
Rebrand and strand relaunch on Cartoon Network (2022–present)
On 1 February 2022, the channel rebranded with the new 2021 logo and bumpers.[11] Following the rebrand, a Cartoonito strand launched on its sister channel Cartoon Network, airing weekdays from 9 to 10 AM (was briefly extend to end at 11 AM from Spring until the Summer of 2022).[12]
