The Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block has now been functioning in more or less its current form for over a year -- and its ratings remain strong.  The mixed block of U.S. animated humor (Family Guy, Futurama) and anime adventure (Cowboy Bebop, Inu Yasha, Trigun, Lupin III etc.) continues to deliver a large audience, which features a healthy component of those elusive 18-24 year-old males who appear to be deserting regular nighttime network television. 

For the first week in January, ratings for the male 18-24 demographic were up 18% over last year, while ratings for adults 18-34 grew by 20%.  The importance of Adult Swim in popularizing anime can hardly be overstated. The stunning 2003 successes of the Inu Yasha and Trigun manga releases would be unthinkable without the properties' exposure on Adult Swim, while the continuing popularity of Cowboy Bebop, in spite of the lack of new anime episodes or manga releases is also inextricably tied to its continual showings on the Adult Swim block.

Meanwhile the second season launch of the Teen Titans animated series, based on the DC comic, scored a 15% gain among boys from 6-11 during its Saturday and Sunday evening showings.