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Generations of America’s children have squandered their youths parked in front of television sets, while their parents worked to afford said television sets, since those are still cheaper than actual nannies. Regardless, it seems inappropriate to use the word “squandered” when talking about Looney Tunes — or Merrie Melodies which, for all intents and purposes, were the same fucking thing — perhaps the most benevolently violent caretakers I ever had.

I cherished those 15 minute blocks of time with Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner — if “cherished” can be considered sitting wide-eyed, motionless, with drool dangling perilously from my bottom lip. And Foghorn Leghorn was always a sure bet, but my absolute favorite, no doubt propelling me into the depths of dorkdom at my most impressionable age, was the retro sci-fi-inspired cartoon featuring Daffy Duck and Marvin the Martian — Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century.

Despite its futuristic setting, the cartoon first appeared in 1953. Its first (and only true) sequel, Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century was released in 1980, and it’s amazing how the two seem plucked from the exact same time period. Amazinger, I suppose, is the fact that all Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons seem to exist in a kind of limbo. They are impervious to time. Perhaps that just speaks to the classic nature of these cartoons — they are everlasting, ever-relate-able. 300 pound triple OGs can be seen wearing leather jackets embossed with Daffy Duck’s image in the Bronx, and meanwhile, NASA put Duck Dodgers on mission patches for 2003’s Mars Exploration Rover missions.

Not saying both groups of people would be able to sit down and have a conversation that made any amount of sense, but the timelessness of these cartoons is undeniable. In all likelihood, our children will sit, wide-eyed, motionless, with drool dangling perilously from their bottom lips in front of Duck Dodgers, just like we did. Assuming we don’t follow his lead and blow up the planet first.