Ratings for the May sweeps period released by the Cartoon Network Press Department show that the network continues to gain ground, especially during the daily Toonami block from 5-7 p.m.  The Toonami block scored its best ever ratings with tweens (9-14), with a solid 36% increase over last year's totals.  The ratings for boys 9-14 were up a whopping 39%, while ratings for all kids from 2-11 grew 22% and kids 6-11 increased 26%.  The Cartoon Network will expand the Toonami block to three hours starting June 3.  While the Cartoon Network's numbers were up overall, the total day ratings for kids 6-11 rose only 5% in May, considerably less than the growth that Toonami enjoyed.

 

While not all the shows in the Toonami block are anime (Batman Beyond for example), the rising ratings are definite evidence of the steady growth in anime's popularity, and in the continuing popularity of the powerful Dragonball Z franchise, which is the backbone of the Toonami block.  The strong performance of the Toonami block with young viewers can only mean good things in the future for those who deal in Japanese animation.