Mainstream Animated Content Isn't What It Used To Be

Mainstream media isn't producing animations or cartoons worth watching in theaters or streaming online, which has given me ample time for other activities. I've been revisiting old cartoons, from Jimmy Neutron to Inuyasha, to relive the nostalgic days of media. With my extra free time, I find myself reading more. Perhaps the decline in quality of modern media content is a positive development for creators and society.

Homer Simpson next to Rick Sanchez disguised as a regular Springfield citizen. - AI ART

In my younger years, I used to thoroughly enjoy almost everything I watched on TV, including cartoons and kids' movies. The 90s and early 2000s marked a beautiful era of animation, encompassing anime classics from the 70s and 80s to beloved shows like Spongebob and Jimmy Neutron. Let's not forget about Adult Swim and Toonami, special channels featuring content tailored for teenagers and adults, such as Inuyasha, Samurai Champloo, and more. These days, I don't find the content aimed at teens or kids to be of high quality. At least, that's my comparison between this new content and the nostalgia-inducing old content, analyzed through the lens of my adult brain.

Currently, the only noteworthy animated show is Rick and Morty, which emerged in the early to mid-2010s. The likes of Family Guy, The Simpsons, South Park, and now the return of Futurama, stand as dominant classic shows. Apart from Rick and Morty, nothing has come close to rivaling these classics.

Optimistically, considering that the new intellectual properties, TV shows, and franchises lack quality, I anticipate that these young viewers will possess the creativity to usher in a new golden age of cartoons and animated media. This sentiment reflects my optimistic bias; of course, outcomes could potentially turn out to be far from favorable. Who can say for sure?