The free Cartoon Network Video app sounds like a winning formula: A robust backlog of cartoon videos available for free sounds like a no-brainer purchase.
Unfortunately, the selection here focuses only on the Cartoon Network videos, and not the edgier “Adult Swim” content that runs later in the evenings on the network. Making matters worse, of the shows that are represented, including Scooby-Doo, The Superhero Squad Show, and Destroy Build Destroy, there simply aren’t very many clips to watch.
Each of the 20 or so shows boasts about two or three 1-minute clips. While that’s not terrible for a free app, it certainly is not on par with the full episodes promised in the iTunes App Store description.
It’s too bad about the selection, too, because the layout of Cartoon Network Video seems well constructed. Videos can be found either by show, latest added, or most popular. The layout for the “Shows” tab is a nice visual treat, using little banners for each show rather than straight text.
As a nice bonus, the app also includes a broadcast schedule for each day’s programming. While it’s frustrating that there’s no search option available, it’s still cool to browse and see what might be on tomorrow at 9 p.m. without having to consult your cable guide.
Cartoon Network Video is hardly a useless app, but the promise here is too great to simply give the app a pass. Users will likely be left unsatisfied by the offering, but with a few strong updates, there’s no reason Cartoon Network Video couldn’t be a great source of entertainment.
