Cartoon (band)

Cartoon is an Estonian band formed in 2015 by Hugo Martin Maasikas, Ago Teppand, and Joosep Järvesaar. They are known for their songs on NoCopyrightSounds, including "On & On", the most viewed video on NCS's YouTube channel,.

In early 2024, Ago Teppand (a.k.a Jéja) left the project to pursue his solo career, thus leading to Jéja being credited separately on any release with Cartoon.

Formation and breakthrough with "On & On" (2015–2016)
Ago and Joosep met in high school in Estonia in 2004, and they met Hugo at a party hosted by Ago. Cartoon was then formed in 2015 and gained attention when they released "Why We Lose" featuring Coleman Trapp on the British record label NoCopyrightSounds.

On July 9, 2015, Cartoon released "On & On" featuring Estonian-Mexican-American singer Daniel Levi. The song was featured as his third song on the NCS: The Best of 2015 album and was also released as his single on December 31, 2019 by Más Y Más / On & On AB. The song was a huge hit and received over 400 million views on NCS' YouTube channel. The song reached #1 on the Estonian airplay chart in its 39th week. On May 12, 2022, Cartoon released a Remixes EP of this song. The EP includes Time to Talk Remix, nuumi Remix, and Afe & Cole Phillips Remix.

In 2016, Cartoon participated in the "Eesti Laul 2016" song contest with Kristel Aaslaid with the song "Immortality". She lost to Jüri Pootsmann in the finals and took third place. In 2016 and her 2017, Cartoon songs earned her three nominations for Song of the Year.

On March 11, 2016, Cartoon released the song "I Remember U" featuring vocals by Estonian singer Jüri Pootsmann. The song was released as a digital download through NCS and peaked at number 1 on the Estonian airplay chart. This song is used as the theme song for the ADVChina YouTube channel. The video clip for this song became Estonia's most viewed music video on YouTube in 2016. Elsewhere, Cartoon has been ranked No. 1 in the Estonian Artists Top Charts 2016.

Disbandment, subsequent reunion and further success (2017–2023)
Cartoon ceased activities in August 2017, but the band resumed activities in 2020.

Cartoon had planned to do an NCS remix of Alan Walker's track "Dreamer", due out in April 2023. However, it was canceled for unknown reasons. In July 2023, "On & On" was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In September, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Their songs have grown in popularity mainly thanks to YouTube videos that have over 850 million views. It has also received a significant number of plays on Spotify, over 500 million times.

Departure of Teppand, Eurovision Song Contest and further releases (2024–present)
In early 2024, Cartoon announced that Ago Teppand would leave the project to pursue a solo career under the moniker 'Jéja', which led to Teppand being credited separately on all Cartoon releases. Hugo Maasikas and Joosep Järvesaar continue Cartoon as a duo.

Cartoon participated alongside Ewert Sundja in Eesti Laul 2024, the Estonian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "Oblivion". They did not qualify from the semi-final. Cartoon released the song through Liquicity and his NoCopyrightSounds label.