TOM (or "Toonami Operation Module") is a robot who hosts Toonami, an action block that once ran on Cartoon Network from 1997-2008 and now runs on Adult Swim since 2012.
TOM was originally a Beta-Droid that was chosen by Moltar to be the captain of the Ghost Planet Spaceship Absolution; alongside its A.I. SARA. However, this origin story has since been retconned. His responsibilities include maintaining the ship and broadcasting Toonami's signal to the world. TOM enjoys throwing one-liners and, like Moltar before him, gives sage advice to viewers about moral issues like chasing dreams and standing up for what's right. Frequently, he'll pass along video game reviews, interviews, movie teasers, and other various commentary.
History[]
TOM 1[]
Tenure: 1999 -2000 TOM's block host action shows like Samurai Jack and Dragon Ball Z. Moltar was the first host of Toonami, but he was replaced by TOM. The first TOM hosted the show aboard the Absolution for over a year until September 2000 when he was destroyed by The Intruder. Sara, the Absolution's AI, downloaded TOM 1's memory matrix into a new unit on the ship.
TOM 2[]
Tenure: 2000 -2003
The new TOM, dubbed TOM 2, saved the ship by separating the starboard engine, now almost fully consumed by The Intruder, by setting charges and blowing apart the connecting section of the engine. After bringing the Absolution to Startower for repairs, he continued to host the show for 3 years. In March 2003, Sara was stolen by a space pirate who made his way into the Absolution. TOM 2 went after him only to be killed during their encounter. Friendly robots found his remains in a scrap pile and repaired him into a new body, his most famous model, dubbed TOM 3.
TOM 3[]
Tenure: 2003 - 2007, 2012
TOM 3 was eventually able to save Sara and continued to host the show for exactly four years. He was unexplainably replaced with a newer version, dubbed TOM 4, and Sara was removed.
TOM 4[]
Tenure: 2007 - 2008
The only TOM to NEVER have been a direct continuation of a last model. He worked out of a base on the jungle planet Flowus 3 along with assistant Flash and D. Unlike the others, he had a human face and went back to the stubby design of TOM 1, just without the pot belly power core.
His era had The Month of Miyazaki, where each Saturday would show another of the man's movies. Half of his broadcasted shows were Ben 10 Alien Force and Samurai Jack near the end; Toonami had deceased to simply a two-hour block.
Fans notably disliked this TOM for his human face, feeling it wasn't cool anymore. This dislike contributed to ratings dropping and Toonami getting canceled after 11 years.
TOM 4 hosted the show until cancellation on September 20, 2008. His last words were "Until we meet again, stay gold...Bang."
Four years later... TOM 3.5[]
Tenure: 2012 - 2013
Nearly four years later, Toonami returned as an April Fools stunt on Adult Swim before its official return on May 26, 2012. This was done by popular demand. And TOM 3 returned as host. First host of the Adult Swim era of uncut but still censored anime. This TOM was used to bring old fans back to the programming block, as he was the last model to use the visor. He was the same TOM from the earlier era, just made HD to fit the times. He made contact with TOM 4 as a way to reveal to the audience that they weren't the same TOM; even making a subtle jab how they should explain things later.
His era uses the commercials break and Coming Up Next bumpers of the original TOM 3 era.
TOM 5[]
Tenure: 2013 - 2019
The second Adult Swim era host. Much like TOM 4, he did not have a Tie in Event to explain how he got his new body. His Absolution appears to be a heavily modified version of TOM 3.5's model.
He tussled with the Intruder a second time and spent quite a few years stranded at Shogo 162. In 2016 he got a message from Moltar, who would mock him after stating he was going to go back home and never come back, claiming to be a better Toonami host.
Eventually he escaped that planet and ended up on the Forge 2 years later, where Booger destroyed his body and left SARA to rebuild him again.
TOM 6[]
Tenure: 2019-present
The current TOM, much like TOM 2 he was created thanks to SARA downloading his mind into a new body; this time she custom made it to be combat ready. After killing the aliens in the Forge and sending the yellow TOMs off to safety, TOM remained trapped until 2022 when a rebuilt and upgraded Absolution arrived and rescued them.
Gallery[]
