My Lament for Saturday Morning Cartoons

In case you haven't heard the news and seen other laments about this event, the CW ended its Saturday morning animation program Vortexx, thereby bringing an end to Saturday morning cartoons on the major (meaning basic TV) networks. Leaving more room for educational programming about animals, which apparently we don't have enough of.

Daaawwww! Aren't they just the cute...Wait, what was my point again?

I realize I shouldn't feel upset by this. My weekend way-of-life hasn't depended upon Saturday morning cartoons in years. I do not have any kids of my own to watch cartoons with. Heck, most of the shows that were on Vortexx were shows that have been rerun over and over again since way back when I was watching those cartoons coming to Saturday mornings for the very first time.

At least I'll finally stop seeing these episodes being played for the hundredth time

Not to mention cartoons still exist on channels like Cartoon Network, Disney XD, and Nickelodeon. And kids these days can watch any cartoon TV series ever invented any time they wish thanks to DVDs, Netflix, and Hulu. And also not to mention I'M A GROWN MAN, WHY DO I CARE ABOUT CARTOONS ANYMORE?

I mean, cartoons are only just for kids, right?

Here's the thing though: A part of me is upset by this event, and I can't help it.

Why does this mean so much to me? After all, I've lived through this period of time where cartoons have slowly diminished from major networks, and yet there are still cartoons remaining accessible on cable/ HD TV. Well, the thing is, I didn't grow up with those cable channels. I only had basic TV, so on Saturday mornings I was switching back and forth between Fox and the WB to get my weekend fix of animation. I couldn't just turn the TV on at random on any given day and expect to find non-educational animated programs.

If I had wanted educational cartoons, I would've watched more PBS!

So while everyone else was able to catch Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Spongebob Squarepants, Rocket Power, Dexter's Laboratory, and Ed, Edd, n Eddy any old time during the week, I waited for those blissful mornings on Saturday to watch stuff like Digimon, Batman Beyond, Beast Wars, Static Shock, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. 

Where's this kid's live action movie btw?

Now, however, that opportunity is gone. That time to veg out in front of the TV on Saturdays is gone for basic TV watchers. Kids are gonna have to get that animation fix somewhere else. Which brings me to another point: the kids. And this kind of thing makes me want to say "Kids these days!",  though hopefully I don't sound like a crotchety old man sitting in a rocking chair.

You know, like this kind of guy

Kids today won't get to experience that intense excitement of waking up at 5am to turn that TV on and watch cartoons. They won't understand the thrill of finally seeing a new episode after waiting all week for it to come. They won't understand the peace of having one dedicated morning a week to justifiably sit in front of the TV for five-six hours. They won't take the same pleasure in watching the morning come to life during the breaks between shows.They won't understand that crushing feeling of knowing an all-new episode of their favorite cartoon is coming on the same morning they have a soccer game or they are on vacation. It doesn't matter that kids today have the capability to do these things, it's not the same because they live in a totally different world.

I think it's one of those things where becoming an adult means watching my way of life as a kid disappear. While kids today still have Saturday mornings free to do what they want and they can spend five-six hours every Saturday morning watching cartoons, it is a different way of life. There aren't animation classics on basic TV there to help kids kickstart the weekend. So, while I'm not going to cry and sob and break down in my lament for the fate of Saturday morning cartoons, I can get super nostalgic. I can look back at the fun and carefree Saturdays of my youth with happiness, rather than be focused on the jaded somberness of the present. And at least I have that.