CBS today announced the cancellation of the acclaimed Calvin and Hobbes animated series after two seasons, following poor ratings and tensions between the network and the comic strip’s creator Bill Watterson who had served as the show’s lead animator and writer. Reports of conflict between Watterson and the network have long been rumoured, particularly in regards to his perceived perfectionism and the lengthy casting process for voice actors. Watterson’s refusal to sanction licensing is believed to have further soured relations between himself and CBS.
While not a ratings success during its two-season run, Calvin and Hobbes developed a cult following for its artistic experimentation and often darkly humoured satirical take on the art world and popular culture. While the first season was a ratings disappointment for CBS, the show proved critically successful with several critics naming it in their end of year lists for 1996. Initially slated for cancellation after its first season, the critical success persuaded CBS to renew the show for another two seasons. Watterson’s decision to experiment further with the show’s animation style and storytelling won further critical acclaim, particularly for the episode “Examples of Suburban Postmodernism” whose story was told entirely without dialogue. The increased experimentalism of the show however did not improve ratings and after falling further behind, the show was moved to a different slot this summer, a decision which Watterson publicly criticised. While CBS has yet to issue a full statement over the show’s cancellation, it’s widely believed that Watterson’s public criticism of the network spurned the decision to cancel Calvin and Hobbes with a final season left to run. Increased production costs and its poor audience share are also believed to be factors in the decision.
Watterson has yet to comment on the cancellation directly but has denied the possibility of a further season on another network or an animated film, saying that he believes the time is right to retire the characters for good.