The only thing constant in the world is change. However, change can either be for the better or for the worse. Cartoons have certainly changed from what they were in the 1980's to what they are today. Sadly most of the changes are for the worse. Let us examine the differences.
Despite modern technology improving animation, many cartoons now are drawn very crudely and look like they were drawn by preschoolers. Compare the animation of Voltron, Mask, Thundercats and Transformers to Spongebob Squarepants, Ed, Edd and Eddy and Cow and Chicken. The people back then were drawn in detail and looked like real people not look like bugs or deformed human beings.
Cartoons back then were more violent. Look at G.I. Joe and Transformers. Plenty of weapons and firepower displayed in the cartoons. Also, He-Man, Bravestarr and She-Ra had plenty of fight scenes. Cartoons nowadays unless they are superhero cartoons have minimal violence.
Cartoons such as He-Man, She-Ra and Bravestarr taught moral values and these were reinforced at the end of each episode. The hero discusses what they have learned during the episode. Cartoons nowadays seldomly teach people any moral values. What do your kids learn out of watching Cow and Chicken eat pork butts and taters? What do your kids learn by watching Spongebob and Patrick act like a bunch of homosexual men? What do your kids learn by seeing Johnny Bravo treat women like sex objects?
Cartoons back then told a real story. They told stories of friendship, heroism, love, pursuit of knowledge. Most cartoons now are practically pointless. I mean you have you have the protagonist of the show, Johnny Bravo act macho and narcissistic and ends up being rejected by women. You have Spongebob frying burgers and chasing jellyfish. You have Ed, Edd and Eddy act retarded and get into trouble.