Cartoon Network leak exposes production files from decades of animated shows

Reported 200GB Cartoon Network leak includes storyboards, character designs and animation files from classic shows

A reported leak of more than 200GB of Cartoon Network production files has exposed behind-the-scenes animation material from shows spanning several decades, including The Powerpuff Girls and The Amazing World of Gumball.

The files were reportedly shared through a Google Drive folder, which Mashable accessed to independently confirm its contents.

Other affected productions include Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Looney Tunes Show, Duck Dodgers and Garfield.

The leak appears to have originated from an anonymous X account called “totallynotaburner”. The account also shared a Google Doc linking to files from other animated series, including Teen Titans, Dexter’s Laboratory, Robot Chicken and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.

Many of the links have since been taken down, with some removed following copyright complaints. Mashable said Warner Bros. and Paramount did not respond to requests for comment before publication.

The leaked material reportedly includes storyboards, pitch documents, character model sheets and digital puppet rigs.

Model sheets provide reference drawings to help animators maintain consistent character designs, while puppet rigs allow characters to be manipulated digitally rather than redrawn for every frame.

Although such files offer insight into professional animation production, their unauthorised distribution raises concerns about the use of artists’ work.

Production materials from older shows can also be difficult to preserve as studios restructure and digital archives become harder to access.

The leak emerged shortly after Skydance, led by David Ellison, completed its reported $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6. The combined company now controls Warner Bros., HBO, DC Studios, CNN, Paramount, CBS News and Cartoon Network.

Some social media users speculated that Paramount’s security could be connected to the leak, but no evidence has established that link. The source of the files and whether they predate the merger remain unclear.