Captain Disillusion

Captain Disillusion is a fictional character created by Alan Melikdjanian created in 2007 for the YouTube channel, and show, of the same name. The focus of Captain Disillusion is to shed light on video hoaxes and visual effects in an entertaining manner. The show also includes recurring characters like Mr. Flare, Holly, and Alan himself.

Alan Melikdjanian as Captain Disillusion in 2011

Captain Disillusion

• Consider the possibility that the low resolution web video is simply not detailed enough to draw a solid conclusion.
  • Low Passing Plane Debunk (2008)
• If you're watching this in the year 2023, and I think you are, George W. Bush has been out of office as U.S. president for 15 years. But, I'll bet there are still people that believe in the Grey.
  • Grey Behind Bush Debunk (2008)
• But we're not here to profit off reposting the video. We're here to profit off a transformative work of criticism designed to educate, without detracting from the potential market for the original copyrighted work. *clears throat* In my professional opinion, the explanation in the title is wrong.
  • Static Helicopter Blades (2019)
• But you don't need to make stuff up to get some personal attention. Just leave the computer once in a while, and go hang out with a friend. Better yet, make new ones, like Mr. Flare.
  • Fire Angel Debunk (2008)

End quotes

• A studio in Los Angeles is about to desaturate all the greenscreens in the behind-the-scenes footage of their next blockbuster!
  • Orangutan Card Trick DEBUNK (2023)

Mr. Flare

• A recent survey has shown that 76 percent of people who can see color are morons!
  • Mr. Flare Explains: What Color The Dress Is (2015)
• What do you know, anyway? You're not big on details...
  • Mr. Flare Explains: The Virgin Mary (2018)

Holly

• I control the animals, the people, and everything else in the universe—even the random stuff.
  • Holly + Shark Surfer Debunk (2009)

Alan (character)

• You got this, Captain.
  • SNL VFX Mystery (2024)

Dialogue

Fire Angel Debunk (2009)

[Captain Disillusion introduces Mr. Flare.]

Captain Disillusion: He lives right here in the lamp and his name is Mr. Flare!

Mr. Flare: Heeey Captain, how you doing? Good to see you!

Captain Disillusion: You too, Mr. Flare.

Mr. Flare: Oh. Hello... children.

---

Mr. Flare: They don't want to give me my due credits. They'd rather believe I'm some paranormal orb, or ghost or angel! Well angel my big refracted a-

[Captain Disillusion turns off Mr. Flare.]

Captain Disillusion: Okay. Thank you Mr. Flare.

---

[End]

Captain Disillusion: But now I'm afraid it's time for us to go kids.

Mr. Flare: Yeah, an undergrad in California is about to take a picture of his family against a shiny metal wall!

Captain Disillusion: Remember, love with your heart, use your head for everything else!

Mr. Flare: And don't be such a freakin' idiot!

Captain Disillusion!

Mr. Flare: Mr. Flare!

Quotes about Captain Disillusion

• Captain Disillusion has earned a reputation on YouTube for debunking hoaxes and spreading a healthy sense of skepticism while having some of the highest production value on the platform and pretending to be some kind of inter-dimensional superhero.
  • Obsessively Explaining The Visual Effects In Flight Of The Navigator (2021), Hackaday

Quotes by Alan Melikdjanian

• Most experts agree that one... is a number, and so, I have done a number of talks like this before, but always "in-character", as the fabled YouTube superhero, Captain Disillusion, debunker of fake viral videos, explainer of visual effects, or sometimes as his adorably nervous intern, Alan.
  • The Unbearable Loneliness of Being Right on the Internet (2017)

External links

• Official channel
• Official website