HBO Max Quietly Drops More Titles, Animation Takes A Heavy Hit

The industry has a serious, serious problem with its treatment of animation. The Oscars incorrectly declared that animation was only something for children to enjoy and adults to endure during this year’s broadcast, Hollywood A-listers continue to take away opportunities from seasoned voice-over artists in animated features, and now streamers are sending animated series into a void of nothingness as a means to write them off on their taxes. The entire entertainment industry is treating the world of animation like a public school cutting out arts programs to make way for a new football field.

“Tig ‘n Seek” art director Levon Jihanian took to Twitter, imploring people to watch the show, saying this is probably the last chance. “Probably won’t stream anywhere else. Absolutely infuriating,” he wrote.

If you’re my friend and still havent gotten around to watching Tig N’ Seek, this is your last chance. Probably won’t stream anywhere else. Absolutely infuriating. https://t.co/EPHJsl5Teo

— Levon Jihanian (@ForkFrenzy) August 18, 2022

Marie Lum, a storyboard artist and revisionist on “Aquaman: King of Atlantis” and “Infinity Train” tweeted “please watch our cartoons before [they’re] removed this week. I see nearly my entire cartoon career being removed here on these lists, which is wild.” She finished her post with a heartfelt message: “thanks for watching and supporting the things we make with love.”

please watch our cartoons before theyre removed this week. i see nearly my entire cartoon career being removed here on these lists, which is wild. thanks for watching and supporting the things we make with love https://t.co/gwbKCLOdVY

— Marie Lum 林 ♿ (@PuccaNoodles) August 18, 2022

Perhaps most disheartening is that many of the HBO Max originals will not have a life after they are removed from the platform. The idea that Warner Bros. Discovery would allow one of their competitors to pick up a show like “Tig n’ Seek,” “Infinity Train,” or “Close Enough” is unlikely. Other shows like “Summer Camp Island” were ready to release a new season that will unfortunately now never see the light of day. 

Today is a bleak day for animators and fans of animation, and it’s hard not to think this could have been avoided if the industry had some respect for the people and projects that represent one of the most beloved mediums in all of entertainment.