Turning the dial towards nostalgia, let’s nod to the sad demise of CartoonNetwork.com. This once vibrant corner of the internet was recently shuttered, spurring melancholy hues within millennials. As is the way with digital behemoths, Warner Bros. Discovery coldly herded Cartoon Network fans into adopting Max, their new TiVo. And to the shock of no one, this latest digital dominator has a burgeoning price tag to match its lofty aspirations. So, in memorial, let’s band together and say, “Auf Wiedersehen, CartoonNetwork.com.”

Streamlined and Packaged Indeed

Cartoon Network’s doorway into digital child’s play once bore full episodes and clips of animated gems such as Teen Titans GO!, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and scores more. It also offered mini-games that intricately wove users’ favorite Cartoon Network creations into memorable digital experiences. A testament to the late ’90s and early aughts, it painted a warm tableau of childhood spent glued to screens long before the hyperspeed of smartphones claimed our attentions full time. But alas, this has all gone the way of the VHS tape with the closure of Cartoon Network’s website.

Out with the Old

Now, visitors to CartoonNetwork.com are too soon greeted with a redirect to “https://www.max.com/channel/cartoon-network,” where a cheery banner reads, “Come on in! Spend some quality time with your kids’ favorites.” The site promotes its packages starting at $9.99/month, and helpful pop-ups remind us that opportunities still glitter within the confines of palatable consumption.

Those hungry for a hit of nostalgia in the shape of favorite Cartoon Network episodes can dig into the treasure troves of Max. Do sling that cable subscription aside, though; the digital times are beckoning. The once-playful and free orbit of CartoonNetwork.com is history, folks.

Singing the Same Tune

Warner Bros. Discovery’s elegiac play isn’t unique to the changing digital landscape. These iceberg-like companies have a habit of shutting down previously accessible websites in a brazenly monopolistic manner. Paramount Global recently packed up the MTV News archive and other sites in their own cost-cutting soiree, leading a dirge of public discontent. Tragically, piece by piece, we’re losing touch with our chaotic, uncategorized, and, dare I say, adventurous online legacy. So, here’s to you, Cartoon Network website: It’s been real, you rocked!