After over 50 years of regular screentime Saturday morning cartoons will no longer be airing on any major American television networks as of Oct. 4.

As a kid, a Saturday morning for me meant getting up before anyone else in the house and firing up the TV with the volume nearly on mute in order to sneak in at least three episodes of Ducktales or Batman before my parents demanded my presence at the breakfast table. Cartoons weren’t just a pastime — they were an institution. It was from those stolen moments in front of the TV set that I developed an appreciation for storytelling and the seemingly magical power of animation.

Though most have us have long outgrown the days of happily waking up early on a weekend, it is hard not to feel nostalgic for a time when the most exciting part of the weekend was kicking back with a bowl of cereal and seeing what hijinks Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo were getting themselves into.

To think that in the not too distant future kids will be watching the same cartoons on their iPhone 8 seems unnatural. But rather than dwelling on their untimely end, let’s look back on the golden days of televised cartoons by shining a spotlight on the most beloved of the bunch.

One of the first cartoons that comes to mind is of course Recess. Produced by Disney, this modern classic follows the story of six elementary school students and their relationships with one another, their brushes with authority and their concept of playground hierarchy.

The characters in Recess represent some of the most cliché stereotypes of school-age children — T.J. the leader-prankster, Vince the jock, Gus the awkward new kid, Gretchen the nerd, Mikey the gentle giant and Spinelli the tomboy. This is the group that the viewer sympathizes with and feels a connection to. Then there are your background characters such as the Ashleys — who bear a creepy resemblance to the Heathers in the 1988 cult film of the same name — the Diggers, the Kindergarteners and the random nameless additions such as Swinger Girl and Upside-Down Girl.

The beauty of Recess lies in its strangely accurate portrayal of elementary school life. The cliques, the aversion to authority figures — Miss Finster is at one point described as a gargoyle in orthopaedic shoes — and the general struggle with self expression and identity. Everyone can look back on their own years in primary school and pick out a Vince, a Spinelli or a Mikey. Whether you are currently struggling to get through another day on the playground or have long since left that time behind you, Recess is a highly relatable and entertaining watch.

A late 80s and early 90s classic is Ducktales, also produced by Disney. This cartoon is centred around Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews Huey, Dewie and Louie. Being the greedy old miser that he is, Scrooge is always trying to protect his wealth from the shady villains that continue to try and snatch it away from him. The Beagle Boys and Magica de Spell are the most notable bad guys who are attempting to thwart Scrooge at every turn.

A silly and lighthearted adventure, Ducktales lets the viewer escape to a world of mischief and wonder. Charming in the special way that only Disney can be, it is without a doubt an endearing and amusing watch.

The truly timeless old-school favorites such as Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Looney Tunes and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continue to amuse us into adulthood.

When you’re sick and taking a day away from the university grind, lying on the couch watching one of these cartoons still has the same comforting effect as it did 10 years ago. Whether the villains are shaking their firsts and cursing “Those meddling kids!” using their ninjutsu skills to overtake the city or trying to drop anvils on Roadrunner, these 1960–70s cartoons — while undeniably cheesy — are perfect examples of trickster and fool tales of morality.

If these cartoons were invented with the secret purpose of instilling some sense of right and wrong into children’s minds, they certainly live up to the task. The trickster always outsmarts the bumbling villain and saves the day. Good triumphing evil is hopefully a message that will leave an impression on young viewers — that is, if they can overlook the gratuitous violence and the fact that Wile E. Coyote appears to be immortal.

Saturday morning cartoons may no longer be airing on TV, but for those who feel a twinge of nostalgia or have some time to kill on a lazy morning, the magic of beloved childhood shows can still be enjoyed through Netflix, DVD collections and online streaming.