Locomotion was a TV channel that aired in Latin America from fall 1996 [1] 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[2] (50%) and the Venezuelan-based Cisneros Group (50%) [3]. In May 2002, Cisneros Group sold its shares in the network to Canadian-based Corus Entertainment. It was also broadcast 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 Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light, 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.[4] [5] 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. Some fans of the programming, particularly fans of anime, felt that these interstitials were unnecessary and pointless to the programming; however, many other fans of the channel itself appreciated the style the channel brought upon airing.
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.
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