Not on the xbox it isn't
The cartoons I grew up with were the greatest because I grew up with them! I look at the cartoons kids watch today and think how [censored] they are, then I realize that my parents probably thought the same thing about my cartoons. Though I will say that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0EEBxh7Xrg stands the test of time, mainly because it has the best intro music of all time!
There are some recent ones that are good, with complexity, continuity, and character development.
Avatar is a well known one, the http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976192/ (Stan Lee is listed as creator there, BTW), and Kim Possible is good, if you bear in mind that it is intended to be lightweight entertainment (well written and all that, but not dark and serious).
I'm not sure how much is better quality in programming or just the difference in how immature we were when we were younger.
I really have no interest in a lot of TV programming because I consider it beneath my intelligence to waste time watching it. That came from getting older and realizing how immature the target audience was.
When you're a kid, it's all good.
Try
Gargoyles. Lots of over-arching plots (especially in the second season), with depth that seems rare even in 'grown up' television, and Weisman loves his Shakespeare. A stand out episode for me was one where a main character gets shot, which leads to parallel storylines and has effects which carry on to the rest of the series. You may have to borrow it from a friend, though, since its hard to find. Ignore all of the third season, except the first episode. It was written at short notice by completely different people.