History FranchiseZombie / WesternAnimation

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' suffered quite badly from this, as the show was cancelled ''three times'' by Nickelodeon, only [[{{Uncancelled}} to be brought back]] on the strength of reruns, each time adding a [[CousinOliver new character]] to try to keep the show fresh. Many people were displeased when Poof was created in the ''Fairly [=OddBaby=]'' special, but due him providing a new perspective on Timmy, Cosmo & Wanda as a surrogate son for the trio, [[FranchiseOriginalSin he was tolerated and not widely hated]]. When [[TheScrappy loathed characters Sparky]] & [[ParodySue Chloe]], however, both of whom were far more irritating and pointless additions to the show, were made, many fans felt the series long overstayed its welcome. The fact that Sparky [[ShooOutTheNewGuy was removed]] in Season 10 to be replaced by Chloe certainly didn't help matters, as it felt as if the creators were just adding new characters to cover up a lack of ideas. When the series was finally canceled for good in 2017, most fans considered it a MercyKill of a show that had [[SeasonalRot/TheFairlyOddParents long since become a shadow of its former self]]... Which didn't stop a new [[Series/TheFairlyOddParentsFairlyOdder live-action series]] from being made in 2022.

** In 2020, it was announced that Creator/TheCW was working on a live-action [[DarkerAndEdgier adult]] show titled ''Script/{{Powerpuff}}''; after controversy surrounding both the show's overall concept and a leaked script of its first episode, ''Powerpuff'' ended up in DevelopmentHell until it was announced it was shelved in 2023. In an aversion in 2022, another announcement stated that [=McCracken=] would be working on a third animated series, this time with a more story-driven approach, in direct contrast to the 1998 and 2016 series.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' was created by a four-man group called Creator/ManOfActionStudios. After the series ended, the creative team continued the franchise with ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce Alien Force]]'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien Ultimate Alien]]'', both spearheaded by Glen Murakami and Creator/DwayneMcDuffie. Man of Action were also involved in the production of the two series, but when the franchise was expected to end with ''Ultimate Alien'', Man of Action left to focus on working ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'', Creator/CartoonNetwork continued with the LighterAndSofter ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse Omniverse]]'', spearheaded by Derrick J. Wyatt, without the creators' involvement although the first two episodes were the last written by [=McDuffie=] before his death; [[FanonDiscontinuity fans seemed to dislike it]]. In 2016 an even [[WesternAnimation/Ben102016 softer reboot]] began airing, which was at least produced by Man of Action this time around.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Creator/SethMacFarlane was asked about this in [[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44880176/ns/today-entertainment/#.TpdkHt4r27t an October 2011 interview]] (the question was if he planned the show to be as long as the ''The Simpsons''). [=MacFarlane=] said that he didn't want ''Family Guy'' to be that long, and that he wanted to end the show in a high note before it became stale. This is pointed out in the third episode of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' parody mini-series "[[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuyPresentsLaughItUpFuzzball Laugh It Up, Fuzzball]]", where the opening crawl starts out and then suddenly cuts in with "Okay, you know what, we don't care. We were thinking of not doing this one. [[BitingTheHandHumor FOX made us do it.]]"

** Original creator Creator/CraigMcCracken wanted to end the [[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998 1998 series]] after its fourth season (including ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie''). The Creator/CartoonNetwork executives at the time said that no one would watch the reruns, so the series continued for two more seasons. The executives actually wanted even more than that, but the new showrunner Creator/ChrisSavino shot down the idea after agreeing with [=McCracken=] to end the series on Season 6.

* Creator/JDSalinger [[DefiedTrope defies]] this in ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' on his wildly popular ''Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things? Let's Find Out!'', by canceling the show after just one season. His reasoning? "I told the story I wanted to tell." Not unreasonable... except that this is a ''[[InsaneTrollLogic trivia game show.]]''

* Creator/JDSalinger [[DefiedTrope defies]] this in ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' on his wildly popular ''[[OverlyLongTitle Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things? Let's Find Out!]]'', by canceling the show after just one season. His reasoning? "I told the story I wanted to tell." Not unreasonable... except that this is a ''[[InsaneTrollLogic trivia game show.]]''

!!Real life:

!!In-universe:

* The ''Franchise/TheLoudHouse'' franchise has a variant in that while creator Creator/ChrisSavino didn't outright state how long he wanted [[WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse the main animated series]] to air, he said that he wanted it to end with an episode in which the character Lori Loud moves away to start college. After Savino was fired from the series' production in 2017, the fifth season that began in late 2020 involved a one-year time skip with its premiere ("Schooled!") having Lori do as aforementioned. The franchise has continued to run since then, with the creation of various spin-off media and the main series being currently on its sixth season (and having a seventh one to come).

** In 2020, it was announced that Creator/TheCW was working on a live-action [[DarkerAndEdgier adult]] show titled ''Powerpuff''; after controversy surrounding both the show's overall concept and a leaked script of its first episode, ''Powerpuff'' ended up in DevelopmentHell until it was announced it was shelved in 2023. In an aversion in 2022, another announcement stated that [=McCracken=] would be working on a third animated series, this time with a more story-driven approach, in direct contrast to the 1998 and 2016 series.

* Creator/JDSalinger [[DefiedTrope defies]] this in ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' on his wildly popular ''[[OverlyLongTitle Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities What Do They Know? Do They Know Things? Let's Find Out!]]'', by canceling the show after just one season. His reasoning? "I told the story I wanted to tell." Not unreasonable... except that this is a ''[[InsaneTrollLogic trivia game show.]]''

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Creator/SethMacFarlane was asked about this in [[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44880176/ns/today-entertainment/#.TpdkHt4r27t an October 2011 interview]] (the question was if he planned the show to be as long as the ''The Simpsons''). [=MacFarlane=] said that he didn't want ''Family Guy'' to be that long, and that he wanted to end the show in a high note before it became stale. This is pointed out in the third episode of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' parody mini-series "[[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuyPresentsLaughItUpFuzzball Laugh It Up, Fuzzball]]", where the opening crawl starts out and then suddenly cuts in with something to the effect of "You know what? Screw this. We didn't even want to do a third one. [[BitingTheHandHumor FOX is making us because the first two did so well.]]"

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' was supposed to end after the third season and TheMovie, but popular demand has kept it going since, even with creator Stephen Hillenburg being less involved with future seasons. Many complain over the [[Flanderization/SpongeBobSquarePants supposed deterioration of the main cast's personality traits]] and [[SeasonalRot the decline of writing quality/general aimlessness of the series these days]]; but, of course, if you asked any current young child (anybody born after 2004, when the Movie and the show were ''supposed'' to wrap it up), the series is absolutely fine enough to go on for many more years. And, of course, [=SpongeBob=] remains Nickelodeon's most popular cartoon, running [[LongRunners over 20 years straight]] now with that distinction. The show would eventually WinBackTheCrowd when Stephen Hillenburg returned to the show in 2015. [[OutlivedItsCreator After Hillenburg's death in 2018]], Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} pursued an aggressive push towards the production of multiple spin-off series alongside the main show.

** In 2020, it was announced that Creator/TheCW was working on a live-action [[DarkerAndEdgier adult]] show titled ''Powerpuff''; after controversy surrounding both the show's overall concept and a leaked script of its first episode, ''Powerpuff'' is currently in DevelopmentHell, and it's unknown when or if it will ever be aired. In an aversion in 2022, another announcement stated that [=McCracken=] would be working on a third animated series, this time with a more story-driven approach, in direct contrast to the 1998 and 2016 series.

* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' was originally scheduled to conclude in Season 10, before being renewed last minute in the spring of 2006 (the 11th season finale, explicitly designed as a ''series'' finale, was originally produced for it), then being renewed ''again'' during Season 11 for two more seasons. It finally ended in 2009, although four more episodes (which were skipped over by Fox to make room for ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'') aired on Creator/AdultSwim in 2010.
** In 2023, it was announced that ''Hulu'' would be rebooting King of the Hill once again.