Argosy Avenue

Argosytoons (also known as Cartoon Carnivals, Boomertoons, CineMation, Color Melodies, and Color Classics, among several other names) is an American animated comedy series produced by Argosy Pictures from 1933 to 1973 during the golden age of American animation, with a revival series running from 1990 to the present day. It was known for introducing Gussy Goat, Ginny Goat, Catnip Cat, Fiona Cat, Rocky Raccoon, David Duck, Franky Frog, Freddy Fox, Harold Horse, Zachary Zebra, Gandy Goose, Quackula the Vampire Duck, Buzzy the Crow, Deputy Dawg, Adelbert Pig, and several other cartoon characters. Influenced by Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse/Silly Symphonies, Warner Bros' Looney Tunes, and Dora Wilson’s Dreamtoons, Aldo Boomer decided to start producing a theatrical cartoon series. Due to the monster success of the shorts, Argosy later started a franchise that includes characters that are part of the Argosytoons.

The studio that produced the series is Aldo Boomer Cartoon Studios.

In 1973, Argosy’s parent company at the time, Hughes+Coleman, announced that Argosytoons would no longer have theatrical short films due to them focusing more on cartoons for television. Because of this, Aldo Boomer Cartoon Studios was renamed Argosy Animation Studios and moved to a new location in Argosy Heights, Seattle, Washington State. Some of the Aldo Boomer Cartoon Studios staff went on to join Argosy Animation Studios. Argosytoons has since evolved into a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television series, feature films, comic books, music albums, video games, and amusement park rides, as well as serving as one of Argosy's most popular franchises, and one of the most popular cartoon series behind Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes, Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse, Max Fleischer's Popeye the Sailor, MGM's Tom and Jerry, AoFM’s Daniel and Cindy (now also owned by Argosy), and DreamWorks’ Dreamtoons. Many of the characters have made and continue to make cameo appearances in various other television shows, films, and advertisements. The most famous Argosytoons character, Gussy Goat, is regarded as a cultural icon and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Several Argosytoons films are considered among the greatest animated cartoons of all time, and six have won Academy Awards.

In 1990, Argosy Media and MTM Enterprises (then owned by TVS Entertainment) launched a series of new shorts. Most of these shorts first aired in first-run syndication starting in April 11, 1990, while some have received a theatrical release. As of 2016, the series is currently produced mostly for television and the internet, particularly on YouTube and VidSpace, occasionally theatrical shorts and film festivals.

Whenever aired on TV, the series is rated TV-G.

Criticism
A handful of Argosytoons shorts are no longer aired on American television, nor are they available for sale by ArgosyMTM Group, because of racial and ethnic stereotypes of black people, American Indians, Asians such as the Japanese (especially during World War II), Chinese, Germans, Italians and Mexicans. Eleven cartoons were withdrawn from distribution in 1968 that prominently featured stereotypical black characters.

Trivia

 * While not as popular as Disney's Mickey Mouse/Silly Symphonies or Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies, Argosytoons still is considered pretty popular.
 * Unlike the tamer Mickey Mouse/Silly Symphonies and even more so than Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies, Universal's Woody Woodpecker and Hanna-Barbera's Tom and Jerry, most of its shorts are notable for featuring a zanier, darker and sadistic style of humor.
 * The theme song of the series is “Alabama Jubilee”.