Locomotion (TV channel)

Locomotion was a TV channel that aired in Latin America from fall 1996 [http://www.hearst.com/news/07_30_1996.html] until July 31, 2005. The network, whose corporate offices were based in Miami, Florida (though the network was not available in the United States aside from a few cable systems in southern Florida) was a joint venture between the US-based Hearst Corporation [http://www.hearstcorp.com/entertainment/property/ent_cable_locomotion.html] (50%) and the Venezuelan-based Cisneros Group (50%) [http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.6/articles/deneroffloco1.6.html] . In May 2002, Cisneros Group sold its shares in the network to Canadian-based Corus Entertainment. It was also broadcasted in Portugal (through Cabovisão) and Spain (by defunct satellite TV operator Vía Digital).

Initially, Locomotion was dedicated to classic animation, airing a mix of King Features animation titles like Phantom 2040, Popeye, and The Legend of Prince Valiant, shows like Galaxy Rangers, Felix the Cat, Lupin III. By 2000, they began airing more alternative and adult-oriented animation from the US, the United Kingdom, and Latin America. [http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.6/articles/deneroffloco1.6.html] [http://www.hearst.com/news/11_04_1996.html] As the network grew, most of their programming consisted of Japanese animation titles from the likes of ADV Films, Bandai, and others as well as adult shows like South Park, The Critic, Crapston Villas and Duckman.

Locomotion was also dedicated to showing works of experimental animation from all over the world throughout the day on-air and online. They aired experimental programming featuring video jockeys, artists who worked with video as a medium. Many fans of the programming, particularly fans of anime, felt that these interstitials were unnecessary and pointless to the programming.

"Loco"

One of Locomotion's VJ projects was a computer-rendered character known as "Loco." The character, which mostly appeared during commercial breaks, made humorous comments, and did nonsensical things entertaining the viewers. The mascot disappeared as the channel changed its image.

A final, yet brief reference of "Loco" when Animax replaced Locomotion, which is the part where the special agents sent to save Locomotion, they received a call from "Loco" before he gets killed.

TV Blocks

The Programming of this channel was divided in thematic blocks which are:

* "80s TV": A space dedicated to all cartoons that were a hit in the decade.

* "Anime Loving": As its name says, a space dedicated to anime lovers.

* "Japanimotion": A space dedicated to the better of Japanese animation

* "Animafilms": A space dedicated to the better of International animation

* "Fracto": A space dedicated to experimental animation and techno music.

* "Series": Eccentric series like South Park, Robin, Cuttlas and more.

* "Corto Locomotion": Short Films between each space of TV programs.

* "Love Vision": Short Films of animation and experimental music broadcasted between TV programs.

* "Replay": The best of the week.

* "Kapsula": Space dedicated to the best directors of experimental animation and where the people can send their works.

Acquisition, Shutdown and Aftermath

Locomotion was bought by Sony Pictures Entertainment Latin America on January 2005. During the time since the bought of the network and until the shutdown, they start to drop the non-anime shows from their programming and focus on anime shows. The network officially ceased to exist at 11:00 a.m. of July 31 of the same year (however, the broadcast of Locomotion stops on the night of July 30 and was replaced by a countdown clock). From then on, the network has been transformed into the Latin American branch of Animax. Of all the programming broadcast previously in Locomotion, only "Saber Marionette J", "Saber Marionette J to X", "Soul Hunter/Senkai-den Hōshin Engi", "Serial Experiments Lain", "Candidate for Goddess" and "Earth Girl Arjuna" were picked and broadcast by Animax on their early programming. As of February 2006, all those series were off the air.

The non-anime shows produced by MTV Networks and broadcast on Locomotion (like "South Park", "The Ren and Stimpy Show" and "Æon Flux") were picked and shown on a weekend animation block by MTV Latin America, but in November 2006, this block was replaced with "Animatosis" (a "Sic 'Em Friday"-alike block) and all the shows (with the exception of "South Park") were cancelled. "Bob and Margaret" is shown (as of January 2006) in the Latin American version of Adult Swim. "The Critic" is currently broadcast in the Latin American version of HBO Family. Other shows, like "Duckman" hasn't been show again on Latin America since the Locomotion shutdown.

List of Anime titles aired by Locomotion

*"Agent Aika"
*"Ah! My Mini-Goddesses"
*"Alexander Senki"
*"Blue Seed"
*"Boogiepop Phantom"
*"Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040"
*"Burn Up Excess"
*"Candidate for Goddess"
*"Cowboy Bebop"
*"Cybuster"
*"Cyber Team in Akihabara"
*"Earth Girl Arjuna"
*"Eat-Man and Eat-Man '98"
*"éX-Driver"
*"Gasaraki"
*"Gene Shaft"
*"G-Force (aired on Locomotion's early days)
*"If I See You In My Dreams"
*"Let's Dance with Papa"
*"Lupin III"
*"Neon Genesis Evangelion"
*"Neo Ranga"
*"Nightwalker"
*"Pet Shop of Horrors"
*"RahXephon
*"Ranma ½" (on Spain and Portugal)
*"Robotech"
*"Saber Marionette J"
*"Saber Marionette J to X"
*"Sakura Mail"
*"Serial Experiments Lain"
*"Silent Möbius"
*"Soul Hunter/Senkai-den Hōshin Engi"
*"The Red Baron"
*"Those Who Hunt Elves"

List of Anime movies and OAV's aired by Locomotion

*"Ah! My Goddess" (OAV)
*"Akira"
*"A Piece of Phantasmagoria"
*"Banner of Stars"
*"Birdy the Mighty"
*"Blue Submarine No. 6
*"Burn Up W"
*"Compiler"
*"Ellcia"
*"Ghost in the Shell"
*"Glassy Ocean"
*"Gunsmith Cats"
*"Jin-Roh"
*""
*"Nadesico - The Prince of Darkness"
*"Ninja Resurrection (Hell Spawn)"
*"Ninja Resurrection (Jubei's Revenge)"
*"Noiseman Soundinsect" - though it was shown as experimental animation
*""
*"Tenamonya Voyagers"
*"Saber Marionette R"
*"Saber Marionette J Again"
*"Shutendoji"
*"Suikoden Demon Century" - Based on the famous PSX and PS2 video games
*"Sukeban Deka"
*"The City Hunter" movies
*"The Dirty Pair" movies
*"Virgin Fleet"
*"Yakumo Tatsu"

List of non-anime shows aired by Locomotion

*"Æon Flux"
*"Bob and Margaret"
*"Captain Star"
*"Crapston Villas"
*"The Critic"
*"Cuttlas"
*"Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist"
*"Duckman"
*"The Head"
*"John Callahan's QUADS!"
*"The Maxx"
*"Pond Life"
*"Ren and Stimpy"
*"Rex the Runt"
*"South Park"
*"Stressed Eric"

The titles above belong mainly to British and American companies, most of them come from MTV Networks channels (like MTV and Comedy Central) and Channel 4 from Great Britain.

Locomotion also had an hour block called "Locotomia" where international experimental animations where aired.

The Wallace and Gromit movies where also aired along with other British animated short films.

About Locomotion's VJ and design projects

Locomotion was not only about adult animation and anime. On the last years of being on air, Locomotion seemed to be interest also in Graphic Design and techno music ("House" and "Lounge" or "Chill-Out").

Thanks to Locomotion, groups like "Boeing" and "Miranda!" began their career, today being recognized by "MTV".

Locomotion had a 30 min. block, called "Fracto", where they featured music and design experiments that could be considered as experimental animation.

About Animax Latin America

Being Sony's first attempt to offer a 24-hour anime channel in Latin America, it was planned to broadcast the series in two formats. The series containing 25 episodes or more (the majority, not all of them), would be aired at weekdays, whereas the series with a less last than 25 episodes would be shown at certain days of the week, much like it's done in Japan. In total, it is usual to find in one day a premiere episode of a series and as minimal 2 encores. Also, at the end of every series, the channel airs a section called "Animedia", which shows video clips of Japanese artists' songs, extra information about anime and other themes, summaries of events dedicated to anime and presentations about future series for the channel. As of January 2007, they air a segment called Animax Nius (Nius = News), a teaser that features news related to anime and other topics.

Feeds

Animax Latin America operates with two feeds: One in Venezuela, which is projected toward Spanish-speaking countries, and one in Brazil, which features its programming with Portuguese dubs for Brazilian audiences. These feeds are currently the only ones in the entire Americas.

Programming

The netwotk's initial lineup featured some series that were broadcast previously on Locomotion, including "Earth Girl Arjuna", the entire "Saber Marionette" series, "Soul Hunter" and "Serial Experiments Lain"; since then, newer anime series were premiered on the channel, including "Gantz", "Noir", "Twin Spica", "Mythical Sleuth Loki", "Samurai 7", "", "The Prince of Tennis", "Hunter x Hunter", "Vandread", "Burst Angel", "Saikano", "Excel Saga" and others. About Excel Saga, although its final episode was never aired in Japan due to content reasons, Animax did air it (unedited) across its two Latin American feeds.

Translation and dubbing teams

Several dubbing studios have participated in the translation of the aforementioned series for their premiere on Animax, and are located in key countries like Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. After Animax's arrival in 2005, numerous series have been translated and dubbed into Spanish and Portuguese languages, including "Blood+", "The Twelve Kingdoms", "Steel Angel Kurumi", "Noir", "Wolf's Rain", "Martian Successor Nadesico", "Galaxy Angel" and others.

External links

* [http://www.animax-la.com Animax]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.locomotion.com WebArchive.org] (old versions from WebArchive.org)