Cartoonito is the preschool programming brand of Warner Bros. Discovery, launched in 2021 by WarnerMedia Kids & Family as a block on Cartoon Network and HBO Max. The brand was announced in February 2021 and debuted September 13, 2021, with a slate of 20 series built around a proprietary educational framework called Humancentric Learning. [1] [2]
Design and History
The Cartoonito name predates the 2021 launch. It was used for preschool blocks and channels in Europe and other regions beginning in 2006, before WarnerMedia consolidated the brand globally as its dedicated preschool offering. [3]
For the 2021 relaunch, WarnerMedia introduced four mascot hosts: Nito, Glob, Wedge, and Itty. According to the official press release, these characters “each have their own unique personalities and will star in playful interstitials that will encourage young viewers to embrace their uniqueness and interact with others with empathy, respect and fairness.” [4] The mascots were described as “the colorful faces of Cartoonito” in WarnerMedia’s promotional materials. [5]
In 2022, Cartoonito underwent an international rebrand. Italian media reported that the logo was “simplified and completely redesigned” from a volumetric form into “a simple, edge-free wordmark” to improve legibility, using “more decisive, primary and essential colors.” The new mark also incorporated one of the channel’s Cartoonitos characters. The rebrand rolled out on air and off air starting June 5, 2022, in Italy, as part of a broader international effort. [6] [7]
In Latin America, Cartoonito launched December 1, 2021, replacing the Boomerang channel entirely. The rollout took more than two years of preparation and included its own YouTube channel, websites, social media, and a space on HBO Max. [8]
Meaning and Symbolism
Cartoonito’s educational philosophy, Humancentric Learning, was developed in partnership with educational psychologist Dr. Laura Brown and is inspired by Positive Psychology and 21st Century Learning. The framework is built on four pillars: Creativity, Caring, Curiosity, and Courage. [1] [2]
The four mascot hosts embody this framework. Nito was described as “a magical box of joy bursting with imagination, surprise, and even other characters,” while Itty is “the baby of the group and is just learning to speak. Like the world’s happiest toddler.” [9] The mascots use gender-neutral they/them pronouns. [3]
Typography and Design
Documentation of the 2022 redesign states the logo was changed from a volumetric treatment to a “simple, edge-free wordmark” for improved legibility, with a more decisive, primary color palette. [6] Specific typeface names, exact color values, and designer attribution for the Cartoonito logo have not been publicly disclosed in official sources.
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