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This seems like a good time to mention Captain Disillusion. A filmmaker and video editor, Alan Melikdjanian, started a YouTube channel back in 2007. He debunks
by jw1224 9y ago
This seems like a good time to mention Captain Disillusion.
A filmmaker and video editor, Alan Melikdjanian, started a YouTube channel back in 2007. He debunks viral videos and adverts, whilst performing in character as the rather surreal "Captain Disillision".
Don't let the bizarre performance scare you off - his production values are simply outstanding, especially considering he does this all pretty-much singlehandedly, and has done so with hardly any recognition for the past 10 years. I think his channel only hit 100k subscribers last year, so it looks like he might finally be getting some well-deserved recognition.
Here's a few links to some of his best stuff. You'll probably be thinking "WTF is this?" when you first start watching, but trust me and stick with it:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_slT5YpBok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_slT5YpBok
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbgvSi35n6o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbgvSi35n6o
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXCtgI2lkFw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXCtgI2lkFw
- idm 9y agoCaptain Disillusion has been way ahead of his time for so many years. I think his time has finally come.
- gus_massa 9y agoI agree. I recommend also another of his videos (that may not be so related to this subject, but is amazing) "BEAKMALLUSION: Free Energy Devices" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT_bTnkwLuE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT_bTnkwLuE If you watched 'Beakman's World' when you were young, this episode includes Beakman himself.
- rossta 9y agoThank you for sharing. This is the best thing I've seen on HN in a long time.
- itsmemattchung 9y agoI just went down what I called the "YouTube Blackhole", watching video after video produced by Alan Melikdjanian. Although I spend a considerable amount (for a 30 year old) of time watching YouTube, I find myself absolutely floored with the quality of his content.
- rosstex 9y agoCame here to post about this guy. So awesome he's finally getting the attention he deserves.
- tekmate 9y agowhat i found interesting about the channel when i noticed it 2 years ago was that the oldest videos, despite their lackluster video quality, already follow the same procedures and conventions he's still using to this day.
- amelius 9y agoThis is very cool. I wish there was a channel like this debunking real magic tricks (not video ones).
- Recursing 9y agoIn his (great) video on Will Tsai https://youtu.be/_dSp_f0f9gE https://youtu.be/_dSp_f0f9gE he talks about why he doesn't analyze magic tricks, and mentions "The Masked Magician" whose videos sadly aren't even close to the quality of Alan's
- skinnymuch 9y ago> I think his channel only hit 100k subscribers last year, so it looks like he might finally be getting some well-deserved recognition. No kidding. Even if he hit 100K subscriber 2 years ago or at the beginning of 2015, he is at 500K subscribers now. If his growth hasn't slowed too much, he could be looking at [close] to a million subscribers before this decade is done. His videos are pretty cool so far. Happy he is able to do this for a living.
- coryl 9y agoHe is financially supported by crowd funding (https://www.patreon.com/CaptainDisillusion https://www.patreon.com/CaptainDisillusion) and makes videos full time.
- skinnymuch 9y agoHe has 500K subscribers and growing rapidly. I assume he makes a decent chunk of change from YouTube itself too?