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In 1994, Hanna-Barbara’s new division Cartoon Network Studios was founded and started production on What A Cartoon! (also known as World Premiere Tons). This show debuted in 1995, offering original animated shorts commissioned from Hanna-Barbara and various independent animators. 

The Network promoted the series as an attempt to return to the "classic days" of studio animation, offering full animator control, high budgets, and no limited animation. The project was spearheaded by several Cartoon Network executives, plus John Kroc false and Fred Heriberto. Kroc also was the creator of The Ran & Stumpy Show and served as an advisory to the Network, while Heriberto was formerly one of the driving forces behind Newtons and would go on to produce the similar animation anthology series Oh, Yeah Cartoons and Random Cartoons. Cartoon Network was able to assess the potential of certain shorts to serve as pilots for spin-off series and signed contracts with their creators to create ongoing series. Dexter’s Laboratory was the most popular short series according to a vote held in 1995 and eventually became the first spin-off of What A Cartoon! in 1996. 

Three more series based on shorts debuted in 1997: Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, and I Am Weasel (the latter two as segments of the same show; later, I Am Weasel was separated and got its own show). These were followed by The Power puff Girls in 1998 and concluded with Courage the Cowardly Dog and Mike, Lu & Orin 1999. The unrelated series Ed, Eddy n Eddy was also launched in 1999.