Captain Disillusion

Melikdjanian was born to Soviet-era circus performer parents of Armenian and Russian descent.{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2018 |title=Captain Disillusion's Escape From the USSR |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaDz0FCxzR8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618014224/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaDz0FCxzR8&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |work=H3 Podcast |publisher=h3h3productions |via=YouTube}} His father, Vilen, was a well-known performer. Alan toured the Soviet Union with his parents until he was six years old, after which he lived with his grandmother while attending school. During the summer, he would resume touring with his parents.{{Cite web |last=Thorp |first=Brandon K. |date=December 24, 2009 |title=South Florida superhero Captain Disillusion talks ghosts, superpowers, and skepticism |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/south-florida-superhero-captain-disillusion-talks-ghosts-superpowers-and-skepticism-6366184 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201180347/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2009-12-24/news/south-florida-superhero-captain-disillusion-talks-ghosts-superpowers-and-skepticism/ |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |newspaper=Miami New Times}} In his youth, Melikdjanian spent most of his free time trying to copy the styles of Disney animators.

His parents defected to the United States in the late 1980s; he joined them two years later, attending the William H. Turner Technical Arts High School in Miami, where he studied video production and 3D animation. He graduated from the International Fine Arts College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film production.{{Cite web |last=Melikdjanian |first=Alan |title=About Amelik |url=http://amelik.com/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219120017/http://amelik.com/about/ |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |publisher=Amelik.com}}

Melikdjanian is co-founder and was creative director of FilmNet.com,[http://www.filmnet.com/users/FilmNet/ourteam/ Our Team] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213012922/http://www.filmnet.com/users/FilmNet/ourteam/ |date=December 13, 2013 }}, FilmNet.com and is co-founder and was chief creative officer of Openfilm. Both were intended as alternatives to popular video-sharing site YouTube, but for serious amateur filmmakers who "don't want to place their work alongside YouTube's mediocrities."{{Cite news |last=Gil |first=Billy |date=January 29, 2009 |title=Openfilm Gives Cash Reward to Filmmakers |url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/electronic-delivery/openfilm-gives-cash-reward-filmmakers-14452 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065538/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/electronic-delivery/openfilm-gives-cash-reward-filmmakers-14452 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=April 2, 2016 |work=Home Media Magazine |df=mdy-all}}{{Cite news |last=Lewin |first=Elizabeth |date=January 29, 2009 |title=Openfilm Rewarding $500 to Indie Filmmakers |url=http://www.podcastingnews.com/content/2009/01/openfilm-offers-500-prize-to-filmmakers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211211417/http://www.podcastingnews.com/content/2009/01/openfilm-offers-500-prize-to-filmmakers/ |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |publisher=Podcasting News}} Openfilm closed in August 2015.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-18 |title=Open Film {{!}} Online Video Platform for Filmmakers & Film Festivals. Short films contests |url=http://www.openfilm.com/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20150818011438/http://www.openfilm.com/ |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |access-date=2024-01-28}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| genre = {{hlist|Education|comedy}}

| creator = Alan Melikdjanian

| writer =

| presenter = Alan Melikdjanian

| voices = Alan Melikdjanian

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_episodes =

| list_episodes =

| editor = Alan Melikdjanian

| runtime = Varies

| channel = YouTube

| first_aired = {{start date|2007}}

| last_aired = present

| related =

}}

The "Captain Disillusion" channel has approximately 2.52 million subscribers and 272 million views ({{as of|2025|May|lc=yes}}).{{Cite web |title=Captain Disillusion: About |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/CaptainDisillusion/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623150416/https://www.youtube.com/user/CaptainDisillusion/about |archive-date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=January 8, 2017 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite journal |last=Walters |first=Christian |date=September 2012 |title=Skepticism in the Video Box |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |pages=34}} On the channel, he debunks viral and paranormal "hoax" videos, among others, with a heavy focus on visual effects.{{Cite web |last=Farley |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Farley |date=November 2009 |title=Skepticism via YouTube |url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/skepticism_via_youtube |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065711/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/skepticism_via_youtube/ |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |publisher=Skeptical Inquirer}} He edits his videos using software including Avid Media Composer, Adobe After Effects, Blender, and DaVinci Resolve.{{Cite web |last=Captain Disillusion |date=October 30, 2016 |title=Heroic Feats of YouTube Debunkery – Live at QED 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQrzcwsGYy8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103020324/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQrzcwsGYy8 |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |access-date=November 1, 2016 |via=YouTube}}

In his videos, Melikdjanian wears a vintage 1980s tracksuit, with the bottom half of his face covered in metallic paint. He uses a wristband gifted to him by James Randi.{{Cite podcast |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-477-10dec2017 |title=The Skeptic Zone #477 |publisher=The Skeptic Zone |last=Saunders |first=Richard |date=December 10, 2017 |url-status=live |accessdate=February 1, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117131428/http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-477-10dec2017 |archivedate=January 17, 2018}}

Melikdjanian described how he designed his superhero costume:

{{Quote

|When it came time to visualize him I just thought what do I have at hand? What can grab people's attention? And really, because it's supposed to be a superhero, what haven't we seen before? What do I have at my disposal that I can actually pull off in terms of attire and make-up? And that's what I had. I got some of this chrome colored make-up at the local party store and I had all those clothes and I would've done my whole face but it's too much work. It works out in terms of illusion revealing reality, and... which one's the reality?{{Cite podcast |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the_skeptic_zone_95_13_aug_2010 |title=The Skeptic Zone #95 |publisher=The Skeptic Zone |last=Saunders |first=Richard |date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=live |accessdate=January 14, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202170936/http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the_skeptic_zone_95_13_aug_2010 |archivedate=February 2, 2014}}

}}

He reviews videos which are "too good to be true," using his expertise in digital editing to break down the video and show how the result was accomplished, sometimes recreating effects from the videos he debunks. His videos contain the motto "Love with your heart. Use your head for everything else."

In 2011, Melikdjanian released a DVD of his Captain Disillusion series, entitled Captain Disillusion – Fame Curve Collection. It contains the first 16 episodes remastered with optional commentary and additional bonus features. He debuted it at TAM9, and later made it available for purchase online.{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2011 |title=Captain Disillusion: Fame Curve Collection |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2009442/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211190344/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2009442/ |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |publisher=IMDb}}

Melikdjanian's work has gained recognition from The Huffington Post,{{Cite news |last=Barness |first=Sarah |date=November 8, 2013 |title=Watch Captain Disillusion Debunk The Viral Ping Pong Knife Act |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/miss-pong-debunked_n_4241909.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116071704/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/miss-pong-debunked_n_4241909.html |archive-date=November 16, 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |work=The Huffington Post}} Kotaku,{{Cite news |last=Luke |first=Plunkett |date=November 8, 2013 |title=Surprise, Viral YouTube Smash Is A Total Fake |url=http://kotaku.com/surprise-viral-youtube-smash-is-a-total-fake-1460513114 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205065348/http://kotaku.com/surprise-viral-youtube-smash-is-a-total-fake-1460513114 |archive-date=February 5, 2014 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |publisher=Kotaku.com}} Russian TV International, Phil Plait,{{Cite news |last=Plait |first=Phil |date=June 19, 2009 |title=Captain Disillusion is Amazing |url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/06/19/captain-disillusion-is-amazing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020042033/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/06/19/captain-disillusion-is-amazing/ |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |work=Bad Astronomy |publisher=Discover |authorlink=Phil Plait}} the James Randi Educational Foundation,{{Cite news |last=Wagg |first=Jeff |date=February 28, 2008 |title=Captain Disillusion – Fire Angel Debunk |url=http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/168-captain-disillusion-fire-angel-debunk.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109002409/http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/168-captain-disillusion-fire-angel-debunk.html |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |work=Latest JREF news |publisher=James Randi Educational Foundation}} Fortean Times,{{Cite news |title=Captain Disillusion. |url=http://www.forteantimes.com/community/links/1314/captain_disillusion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121175504/http://www.forteantimes.com/community/links/1314/captain_disillusion.html |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |publisher=Fortean Times}} Home Media Magazine, and Sun Sentinel,{{Cite news |last=Ratterman |first=David |date=January 23, 2002 |title=Soviet Block Party |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-01-23/lifestyle/0201220384_1_soviet-republics-soviet-people-russian/2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915015346/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-01-23/lifestyle/0201220384_1_soviet-republics-soviet-people-russian/2 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |publisher=Sun Sentinel}} among others. He has received thanks from people for debunking videos they had shared.

File:QED 20161015 057.jpg 2016]]

In 2008, during an interview for The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, Melikdjanian describes Captain Disillusion as a YouTube web series that tackles paranormal and illusion videos uploaded by others on YouTube.{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2008 |title=Captain Disillusion – Skeptic's Guide #160 |url=http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/160 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222114127/http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/160 |archive-date=December 22, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |publisher=The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe}} He started this effort as a blog entry on Myspace but later saw these items as ready made scripts for short videos. He notes that Penn & Teller were instrumental to his current interest and eventually found the skeptical movement involved in similar work. He finds that his followers like to learn about the illusions. It is not his intent to spoil legitimate entertainment or a current performer's work. His intent in showing how video illusions are created is to clear up misconceptions. Melikdjanian describes the basis for Openfilm briefly, saying it "was formed for film makers. The goal is to provide higher quality product and a group of serious content creators."

During an interview for The Skeptic Zone, in 2010, Melikdjanian describes Captain Disillusion as a superhero. And in a following 2011 interview, he describes that his work as Captain Disillusion is done "in the maximum fun way possible".{{Cite podcast |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-146-29-aug-2011 |title=The Skeptic Zone #146 |publisher=The Skeptic Zone |last=Saunders |first=Richard |date=August 6, 2011 |url-status=live |accessdate=January 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220124427/http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-146-29-aug-2011 |archivedate=February 20, 2014}} He describes his work with James Randi, Randi calling him to participate in The Amaz!ng Meeting and his video work with Randi in a later project. During an interview by Susan Gerbic for Skeptical Inquirer, he states "I think it's best to focus on what you know—something you're already an expert on outside of skepticism—and explore the ways in which it's connected to skepticism. With Captain Disillusion, I connected a random thing—visual effects—to skepticism in a way that people seem to find engaging. I'm sure that can be done with many other fields in different ways."{{Cite web |last=Gerbic |first=Susan |author-link=Susan Gerbic |date=July 18, 2016 |title=The Man Behind the Makeup: An Interview with Captain Disillusion – CSI |url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_man_behind_the_makeup_an_interview_with_captain_disillusion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719140429/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_man_behind_the_makeup_an_interview_with_captain_disillusion |archive-date=July 19, 2016 |access-date=July 20, 2016 |website=www.csicop.org |publisher=Skeptical Inquirer}}

In a 2017 interview with Richard Saunders from The Skeptic Zone, Melikdjanian described the video effects editing process, saying:{{Cite web |last=Saunders |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Saunders (skeptic) |date=December 10, 2017 |title=The Skeptic Zone #477 |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-477-10dec2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417062715/http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-477-10dec2017 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=April 17, 2018 |publisher=The Skeptic Zone |format=Podcast}}

{{Quote

|You know, the tools change but the methods really don't. It's all about making things look questionable and kinda crappy and low quality and then you can pretty much get away with anything." In replying to a follow-up question regarding believing what you see on the internet, he said, "When I started out, people just kinda believed everything. It was like shooting fish in a barrel, but these days, people are just really asking me 'is this fake?', 'is this fake?', 'is this fake?', and half the stuff they show me is just, you know, a juggler juggling a lot of balls. They can't conceive that that could be real. People just don't believe anything anymore. I guess that's good for me because I get to explain lots of stuff but I wish people could finally strike that balance where they're not too credulous but they also know not to just dismiss everything out of hand.

}}

• Still Life (2009) (short), steadicam operator
• The Shift (2013) (thanks), starring Danny Glover

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{{Wikiquote|Captain Disillusion}}

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• {{YouTube|c=UCEOXxzW2vU0P-0THehuIIeg}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Disillusion, Captain}}

Category:1980 births

Category:21st-century American composers

Category:American amateur film directors

Category:American male child actors

Category:American people of Armenian descent

Category:American people of Russian descent

Category:American comedy YouTubers

Category:Film people from Riga

Category:Latvian emigrants to the United States

Category:Living people

Category:Shorty Award winners

Category:American skeptics

Category:Soviet emigrants to the United States

Category:YouTube filmmakers