Adult Swim

Adult Swim (sometimes styled as [adult swim])  is an American timeshare cable television network bundled with Cartoon Network, airing from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am in the United States. The programs featured on Adult Swim are geared toward teens and young adults. Broadcast since 2001, much of the network's general content is known for its risqué, unorthodox and often bizarre presentation, while many of the series' features are developed in stark contrast with traditional American television programs. The network was granted its own Nielsen ratings report due to differing target demographics, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. The block features stylistically varied animated and live-action shows including original programming, syndicated shows and Japanese anime, generally with minimal or no editing for content.

In the United States, Adult Swim has, over the course of its history, frequently cycled through and aired either recent or older features of adult animation, foreign anime, mockumentaries and sketch comedy, among many other programs consisting of pilots and their subsequent, short-lived series' and numerous spinoffs and shows that have sexual themes, frank sex talk, nudity, strong language and hard violence. While the network features trendy comedies and dramas of all types, many of its programs could be considered aesthetically experimental, transgressive, improvised and surreal in nature. Adult Swim has contracted with various studios such as Williams Street, Augenblick Studios and PFFR, all of which are notable for their productions in absurd and shock comedy. As of 2013, Aqua Teen Hunger Force is the longest running Adult Swim-made series on the network

Adult Swim grew out of Cartoon Network's previous attempts at airing content appropriate for teenagers and young adults who might be watching the channel after 11pm. The network began experimenting with its late-night programming by airing anthology shows like ToonHeads and Late Night Black and White, both of which presented uncensored classic cartoon shorts. Space Ghost Coast to Coast, one of Cartoon Network's first forays into original programming, was created in 1994 specifically for late-night audiences. The series was created by Ghost Planet Industries, which eventually became Williams Street Studios, the eventual producers and programmers of Adult Swim.

Adult Swim has an annual tradition of celebrating April Fools Day by tricking and fooling their audience by altering programs or airing different and obscure programs. It was one of these jokes that was responsible for bringing Cartoon Network's defunct Toonami block back to life. On April 1st, 2012 (April Fool's Day), at midnight, The Room began airing, as it had done the past couple of years, until it suddenly cut to The Absolution, where TOM introduced Toonami. Running classic Toonami series including; Dragon Ball Z, Tenchi Muyo, Gundam Wing, Outlaw Star, The Big O, and Yu Yu Hakusho. It also featured three series which had never been shown on Toonami Trigun, Astro Boy, and Gigantor. This joke caused the #BringBackToonami campaign on Twitter, and eventually led to Toonami's return, as announced by Adult Swim on May 16, 2012. Prior to airing Toonami, Adult Swim had been showing anime on Saturday nights from 12:00 AM to 6:00 AM in a similar block known as "Adult Swim Action" sometimes stylized as AcTN in it's bumpers.