How on Earth Did ‘Dan Vs.’ Work?

Beginning on New Years Day 2011, and ending in 2013, Dan Vs. isn’t that old of a show, but it was on my bucket list and I’m glad it was. The question really is how did this end up on a then-recent kids channel? It’s all about a disgruntled man picking fights and pulling devious schemes on everyone and everything. Doesn’t sound like it would have the best messages for kids or work for adults. But it was surprisingly able to do both with two important words- good. writing.

[@drrockstar4040]

Dan vs is kinda like regular show were you could mistake it for a adult show but kids can watch it

[@SUPRIzEi]

I thought it was an adult show before I noticed that no one was swearing

[@coolcatcastle8]

@@SUPRIzEi same that's why i was always scared to watch it when i was younger

[@worthybutter2004]

@@SUPRIzEi Well, there was this one episode where Mordecai said "pissed". And the show's pilot episode did, in fact, have a fair bit of swearing and mature themes.

[@raptorskilltor4554]

Tbh I like this show more than regular show maybe bc of how relatable it is rather than be completely randomness

[@MachineElf_Official]

I noticed as a kid that technically nothing in the show was raunchy like most adult cartoons, but it also did not feel like a kids show at all. I watched it and liked it, but my mom was not ok with me watching adult cartoons in general, and I wasn't sure about this one so I stopped watching it

[@kodomoshawn6729]

"It was impossible to market toys from the show to kids!" Bullshit, they easily could have sold Mr.Mumbles stuffed animals and demolition equipment with little Dan figures inside, like a bulldozer or wrecking ball. Hell, they could be like remote control cars that destroy stuff, kids love destruction. Dan figures with little sticks of dynamite, Chris with little sandwiches, Elise with her throwing stars and sword, video games where you help Dan with his schemes, c'mon Hasbro! It's not that difficult to think of toy ideas for this!

[@TheDutchGhost]

I definitely would have wanted a Mr Mumbles plush toy.

[@angrytheclown801]

My niece would have loved a figure of Dan that said Fire is the Cleanser! They needed to market any toys to the weird kids, which of course are the best kids.

[@illosovic]

Idk, what you're describing might get bought as a display set by fans of the show, but kids like toys that are a lot more interesting visually, think transformers or power rangers. Dan and Chris toys would look to kids like a couple of regular dudes, which would lend more towards a dollhouse style of play of girls (toys have to be marketed to one or the other). Video games would be a terrible idea if you actually think about how gameplay would be. It might work for a small flashgame or something, but for it to be a successful xbox or Playstation title to make the studio money, wouldn't work at all if you thought about how the gameplay would actually be for a few minutes. The mumbles plushy sure, but that's the only character that lends itself to plushy form, and there wouldn't be enough demand from that one product

[@MrDannymations54]

Yeah those are great ideas

[@sn3try]

The "Jerk" shirt would've been awesome, even the "kiss the jerk" cooking apron would've been an awesome thing to own and wear lol.

[@ItsDanbo]

When you learn that this show lasted 3 seasons, you realize it should’ve had more

[@samuelphillips2090]

Meanwhile we have crap shows that could keep going till the end of time even though they stopped being good long ago.

[@oldthief9898]

@@samuelphillips2090 Like Rick and Morty

[@samuelphillips2090]

@@oldthief9898 was thinking of The Simpsons but yea that too.

[@allthingsdanvs4239]

Well there are people trying to bring the show back, including the shows creators i know because i've seen certain people doing interview vids with co-creator Chris Pearson, just look up #DanVsRevival

[@Keeby219]

everytime i hear about this show i always assume it lasted only 2 seasons it feels a show that got cancelled before it got a 3rd season so knowing it has a season 3 was a pleasant suprise

[@FabschOblivion669]

One of my favorite Dan Vs. episodes has to be “Vs. Burgerphile” because it’s one of the few episode where Dan is 100% on the right and his revenge is justified.

[@charlieinator]

mine had to be vs animal shelter,. mr mumbles had to be my favorite character 😭

[@evilrabbid1019]

Mine would be Dan vs Identity theft they made Fake Dan annoying enough that I was routing for his down fall and glad he was stopped and I love the sequel to the episode

[@tag4464]

I love the joke that Canadians are half bear in Dan Vs. Canada. I reference it constantly though few people get the reference. It's a terribly underrated show.

[@bloofrozo]

That episode is hilarious

[@da1zed]

Im canadian and that episode was a little silly, my favourite joke from that ine ither than the bottle of syrup being labled" just ok"(because it is) was that everyone in canada has an axe murderer in their family. Gosh our ghost stories sure would sound like it sometimes

[@ikswezsal]

ah yes the classic that brought us "i don't care who the IRS sends, im not paying taxes" such a vibe

[@BrokeBot]

Dan when the show got cancelled: “HASBRO!!!!”

[@jnbplaysgames]

Dan vs. The Network

[@IronyNinja]

Dan Vs. is something more important that popular; it is unique and original. It's protagonist and solid writing do the heavy lifting (it's GENUINELY funny), but those two things are enough to carry it to the top imo.

[@Duval-In-The-Wall]

The main 3 characters have genuinely fantastic chemistry and yes the scenes are hilarious You wonder why the hell Chris and Elise even put up with Dan 😂

[@zorrgergaming]

i really wish theyd go back to adult swim and get dan vs picked up again. I feel like theyd do a great job sprinkling adult themes into the show without going overboard, just the right amount to hit home.

[@duglife2230]

It may have been a silly cartoon that at times blew things way out of proportion, but I think it was also a genius way to look at what different styles of "bad" parenting can do to people's psychology well into adulthood - whether the writers intended that or not. Dan is pretty obvious. He mentions multiple times throughout the show that his mother was neglectful and did stuff like "put him in front of the TV" to raise him. His home life is undeniably what turned him into the anti-social guy that he is. Chris, although we do not learn much about his past, had to have gotten his people-pleasing tendencies from somewhere. Poor Chris is a doormat to Dan and even Elise at times. Unclear again whether this came from the way he was raised, of course. Then finally there is Elise. Elise's parents get plenty of screen time that give us an idea of why Elise is the way she is. Honestly their behavior is more revolting to watch than Dan's at times. From a young age Elise tried to do her best at things, as evidenced by the plethora of trophies in her room during the Thanksgiving episode, but it was never enough for her parents. Nothing Elise or her brother ever did growing up was good enough for them, and they remain judgmental of their lives and Elise's marriage even as adults. In fact they still plot of ways to get her to live the life they wanted for her. I think that is why Elise strives for perfection in everything she does. At the same time her and Dan are somewhat alike. Elise lets her rage get the better of her at times. Never as often as Dan, but it shows more so in some episodes than others. Maybe this is just me looking for a bigger picture where there is not one, but those are my "deep" thoughts about the show. I did not watch it in its prime. It's been free on KZbin for a while and that is where I first watched it. And I must say, I really loved this show! There are rumors of a reboot, and if done right, I hope it comes to fruition!

[@nightigal]

Elise's brother did the opposite of Elise and just gave up. If he's never going to be good enough, why bother.

[@angrytheclown801]

I think it's Chris' shame being from a family of half bear yeti lovers. He acts really nice so no one asks about the yetis.

[@faithlessberserker5921]

Wtf? Dan vs and MLP had the same audience?! Well this was educational.

[@trixsomethingsomething2095]

Yeah it's pretty hilarious

[@nightigal]

Why are you guys surprised? The primary audience of MLP at the time were fully grown adult men.

[@chrishill9197]

Bruh, why does no one else mention that Transformers G1 and Prime also aired on The Hub???

[@JD842]

PONYYYS!!!! (Rainbow dash broke his car)

[@animal245533]

I discovered Dan vs randomly on Hulu and was surprised I never heard of it and it was a kids show. The voice actors was great choices! Dan's voice is instantly recognizable and Paget Brewster is always a solid choice.

[@OneKingX]

Dan being shipped with Pinkie Pie is one of the main things we got from this, and that isn't all bad.

[@OFFICALBREEMATIONSTATION]

'^' yes. :3

[@BBWahoo]

So that's how cupcakes happened...

[@HeldLikeAgrudge]

Even Dan couldn’t hate pinkie pie.. this might work

[@IdiotStinky02]

AYO NO

[@fatcat1414]

I loved this show when I was 11, and now I'm showing it to my little sisters. I find a lot of the humor is something you can really only *relate* to as an adult, but kid me and my little sisters seemed to enjoy the show for letting us engage with adult topics without being boring or crass in a way that we wouldn't be allowed to watch it.

[@babybell224]

I recently watched it for the first time and now trying to make my little sister like it but she HATES it😭

[@michaelbuehler3897]

The show was a rare gem.

[@hello-mt3be]

I feel sorry for the people who don’t know this amazing gem of a show even exists. My younger brother introduced this show to me when we were younger back in 2012 and I’m glad he did because this show is a big love of mine.

[@allthingsdanvs4239]

Dan Vs. was one of my all time favorite shows growing up! in fact there are some people out there trying to bring the show back even the creators themselves i know because i've watched podcast vids here on YT of people talking with Chris Pearson.

[@aiiiia9971]

I hope it comes back!

[@Babbleplay]

I know Nickelodeon is really rabid about demographic issues. Invader Zim was hugely popular, and they killed it because the audience it attracted was too old, and scared the kiddies.

[@newguy371]

It actually wasn't very popular at the time, and was constantly going over-budget. Nickelodeon cancelled it because it was essentially a money pit to them.

[@Ixmore]

3:25 Maybe not an action figure, but, I can see Dan vs. being made into a semi-successful board game. Edit: one player plays as Dan who has to go around the map to destroy various locations, meet certain conditions, and defeat the other players who happen to be people who Dan wants to get back at. Meanwhile the players have to work together to stop Dan and achieve their own goals in a loose Free for All.

[@logannottheonefrommarvel9917]

You know the best thing is that Dan isnt just the only one who hates things. Take the Anger Management episode for example, it showed we have at least a little Dan in all of us.

[@imjustjordan8057]

Finally getting the recognition it deserves

[@mamaluigi1438]

It's so well written I didn't even know it's a kids show

[@TheCommenterDragon]

I've heard many people say that Dan Vs is both an underrated gem and ahead of it's time. and on some level i agree with both of those statements a show like this is exactly what we need during the hard times that the world is currently still facing. I love this show through and through and even though the odds of it ever being brought back for more seasons are like probably 1 in a gazillion it's still a fun show to binge watch!

[@yoursoulessmate]

I agree with you! If it comes out during pandemic or very very late 2010 imagine the hype

[@boltthunder2061]

a lot of shows back in the day were ahead of its time but the only ones i watched were Static Shock, The Boondocks, and Dan VS

[@azazelgrigori9244]

Honestly, I remember watching this show. And as for how it was marketed to kids makes it better. It shows trust in kids. And as an adult, you tend to appreciate that.

[@lepreking]

Dan Vs. is a show where I thought it was okay as a kid, but is so funny on re-watch. Especially the Dan Vs. Dan episode

[@chrismoore488]

I so vaguely remember this show and I remember really liking it when I was like 7 or 8. I would’ve never thought of it again if it weren’t for random KZbin clips of it.

[@namelessdork2256]

Seen this on the Hub back in the day; it fit in right with the singing ponies and rockstar superheroes. It was just one of those random nuggets of gold that was just hilarious.

[@uva6969]

I always loved Dan VS. I rewatched it the whole series but with my sister and she loves it just as much

[@akdreamer6497]

Cartoon review channels: "This voice actor really nailed their character" *proceeds to not even show a single millisecond of that character speaking* seriously this happens every fucking time

[@aiiiia9971]

True... but I can attest that he does do amazing

[@akdreamer6497]

@@aiiiia9971 I know but it's annoying that it wasn't actually shown off in the review

[@KadenzJade6447]

I never watched the show personally and saw it at MLP brony related vids, I always assumed it was an adult show

[@TheCommenterDragon]

Many years ago that one Hub Network commercial where Pinkie Pie bedazzles Dan's car, inspired me to write a crossover fanfiction that i called "The Dan and Pinkie Pie Show"

[@ReaIHuman]

Didn't watch this as a kid, but if I knew it existed would of loved the show.

[@JesusMartinez-rr2ry]

It may come out of left field, but at 7:27 I now appreciate Dan Vs. more than ever thanks to their depiction of a railroad crossing signal. Complete with the X shaped sign, the flashing red lights and of course, the boom gate to keep cars away from being pulverized into scrap metal by the train. This has been way too underdepicted in animated media, and I would love to see that more often.

[@AwesomeLaggy]

I started watching this show last year and ended up watching every episode of the series and I love the show and I love Dan as a chaarcter! I always characterize Dan as a PG-13 version of Trevor from GTA 5 I even got myself Dan's jerk shirt!

[@danielcox7629]

Where did you find it?

[@aiiiia9971]

Same I got a JERK shirt too! It was a custom order by a friend, who got the right font and everything. It's my favourite shirt

[@siravyaverageyoutuber5802]

the fact that they got tom kenny to voice crunchy is absolutely amazing

[@PrettyPrincess6]

I love Dan vs. so much omg!!! I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves lol

[@comicbookguy7061]

Dan Vs. Is pure Nostalgia for me.👌😙

[@ShokieShoka]

I watched the entire show a while ago and I didn’t know it was for kids until I finished

[@angrytheclown801]

My niece cosplayed as Dan and met Curtis Armstrong. She called him Booger and I'm glad while she told him I was a fan to her Mom's amusement and his shock, she was able to tell him that's just what I said every time we watched the show together and that was it.

[@Guywithacamera13]

I honestly want back to watch the show recently and I want it back so badly .. if somehow it did then I wish it to be adult swim somehow and have Dan and Rick from Rick and morty meet somehow … that would be epicly interesting

[@aiiiia9971]

That _would_ be interesting...

[@chellastation]

It is hilarious how this show aired in the same network with MLP and Pet Shop. However, I am so glad it did not go to Adult Swim. It would have become another family guy trash in AS. Dav vs. is great, and Mr. Mumbles is best cat

[@cartooncottage2024]

I miss this show so much. I used to watch it a lot back when it was on. It was my favorite show on the network next to MLP.

[@Infernos94]

I watched this show as a young kid and I dont remember much about it but I know there was plenty of jokes that went over my head.

[@professorvader1109]

It would awesome if they restarted the show but actually aim it at adults this time with some heavily adult content.

[@arc8216]

I think the shows cancelation has something to do with the Hub network failing. It was a great channel but it didn't last long.

[@prageruwu69]

it was such a great show, man. fuckin sucks that it had to end so early.

[@mewtube47]

How tf do I still remember this show

[@karlajensen3708]

Love this show so much. It wasn't a show meant to cause people to "analyze" real life. I just enjoy the freedom Dan has to say what he really thinks. I am glad Tubi TV has it. Dan vs. Stupidity, George Washington, the DMV, Wild West Town and the Lemonade Gang are probably my all time favorites. I LOVED Dan Vs. Dancing and Traffic becomes more true every day. And the fact that Elise's parents are played by the mom and dad from Family Ties makes it even better

[@jaelynmoore1672]

Dan vs should have a reboot

[@ZaxFSO8083]

I understand this being sent to a more adult place to be watched but somewhere like Starz? Isn’t that a premium place of viewing, at least on the hub I could catch it whenever. Dan Vs. the beach is my all time favorite episode.

[@destinygentry421]

Man you learn something everyday I thought this was on adult swim who knew it was on the Hub channel 😮

[@kenyyaringano3548]

Nice vid! Loved this show

[@frankwest5388]

There is a reason why Dan as a character works. Which is that Dan is a very reactive person, not proactive. Meaning at his core, Dan is petty, not malicious. Because of this, his hatred tends to be very focused on whatever directly wronged him in the moment and never any “innocent bystanders” unless those are part of a wider collective that has wronged him and as such, from a narrative perspective “deserve it”. It’s like when the hero kills 1000 minions on the way to the bad guy. They don’t feel like characters, since they aren’t written as one and as such there isn’t much of an issue with them getting hurt. This means that when Dan buries half of Canada under a glacier, we go “yeah they had it coming” rather than “this is the biggest tragedy in mankind’s history. This also applies to his minor outbursts. They are always targeted at the cause of his pain, never an innocent bystander

[@JoaquinTazabi]

Excellent excellent excellent show, one of my favorites in the last 20 years

[@chickennuggets1384]

I would have bought a Dan action figure or plushie And put him in a jar

[@kid14346]

I will say the idea that modern art is only concerned about money disregards the fact that basically all art was made as an attempt to make money... the Mona Lisa was a paid commission.

[@leeroyjenkins7325]

There is a difference between caring about the money and caring about the money only.

[@eattherich5409]

cave paintings, art artists make for themselves, gifts between friends, etc. there are plenty of instances of art for the sake of art. Capitalism just makes every amount of energy spent slowly cripple you more and more until you have no time to do anything without needing money to live

[@kid14346]

Sorry if this all feels a bit ramble-y I have only gotten 3 hours of sleep and my ADHD medication is wearing off... @@leeroyjenkins7325 If you are doing anything for a monetary reward you are doing it for the money. Anything else is a lie you tell to comfort yourself, because the sad reality that you are basically a monkey doing circus acts for peanuts is depressing. The idea that modern artist 'only care about the money' is annoying because y'all sit around acting like other artists are doing it for the art itself and the money is just a nice thing on the side... Like you can be proud of your work, but the big question is, "Would I have made this if someone wasn't paying me to make it?" @Degradation Kink I do agree that capitalism is the issue, not art itself. Art is a form of self expression, but capitalism forces you into the decision of survival or expression. So with that in mind I would say that surrealist/modern art can fall under the concept of art for the sake of art when detached from commissions. Like they wanted to do the splatter paint/colored cubes/weird sculpture because there was something in them that really wanted to do it. I don't know how I feel about kind of vague commissions though, like when a museum or city says "here is $2,000 make whatever you want." because that feels more 'genuine', but at the same time it was only made because the person was getting paid so they will 'do a good job' in a hope to get paid again later... I dunno art is a hard topic to discuss, but i love Jacob Geller's video about modern art and how authoritarian governments regularly attack it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGanoqCKqaiDn7M

[@cooldud7071]

Modern art is literally used primarily for money laundering. There's a reason a guy can sell his shit smeared on the wall for a million bux. The mona lisa is mid AF tho. Dunno why people wank it off so much.

[@kid14346]

@@cooldud7071 I mean maybe the stuff in private collections are used to launder money, but when a museum or city pays for a modern art piece I don't think they are exactly trying to clean their ill gotten income (we have tax lawyers for that). The mona lisa is so popular mostly because it was made by Leonardo da Vinci. While the Mona Lisa itself is as you say, "mid", it is more of the prestige of who it is attached to. As far as things da Vinci is known for: "He made substantial discoveries in anatomy, civil engineering, hydrodynamics, geology, optics, and tribology". Basically it is a big brain smart boy who everyone thinks is pretty cool and 'oh look he also did this painting'.

[@animalbeast6564]

This show was awesome and should be re done for adults

[@4YrStasis]

Actually it was found in the adult comedy section on tubi

[@aiiiia9971]

Perhaps, although on an ironic note I liked that it had no cussing, sex, or gore, because I feel like it lead them to get more creative with their writing to achieve the same intensity.

[@lepreking]

I would have an "adult party cartoon" version of this show. Ren and Stimpy was entirely less funny going the route

[@KaliFlesh]

I loved this show when I was about 8!

[@snowcloudshinobi]

dan vs. was my favorite cartoon, his misanthropy was super relatable.

[@TheFarinsqarin]

Dan Vs. was so good . Loved the Spy friend

[@Livelaughandlaughmore]

I watched this show as a kid lol really great show and very underrated

[@MitchieDBBC]

I'll have to rewatch this. It's a classic show

[@kymboyle6555]

I loved that show, and yeah, it desrved more love. (And it still does!)

[@MKtheinstrumentalist]

anyone going to mention that magnificent mangling of "gym" at 11:10

[@UnlimitedProduction1]

I was part of that cult following at the time. Show was funny i love the concept of Dan going to war with pretty much anything like baseball or Canada lol

[@multifandom5942]

I like the show i am currently watching it on YT. Still on season 1 but it should've had more seasons. It's a good show i do hope it comes back.

[@9cross]

I've been surprised to find out this was a kids show

[@coolmariobros759]

Really a fun watch

[@lilyflower5576]

I loved Dan Vs. 😂😂😂

[@Thingsandstuff17]

Bro imagine if they actually brought it back for adult swim. That would be awsome.

[@mastergamer7120]

Wait this is a kids show?

[@Jdogg4089]

I loved thos show and I watched it when I was 11 years old!

[@mugtastic1143]

It was amazing

[@helixxmusic]

this would probably work better on adult swim

[@acedia2]

i love this show

[@darryljack6612]

Honestly should be continued on adult swim

[@ODST_Republic]

I need this on adult swim, but need it to be the same, but ever so slightly different, not enough to change the show and make it feel different

[@riatsila144]

Maybe you'll get to it in your retrospect, but I think this series was an excellent example of "limitation breeds creativity". Much like how so many of the classic WB cartoons of the 90s (including Batman) had to snake their way around the content, and it was funnier (or in Batman's case, more horrifying) for it. When watching Dan Vs. I just sat there wondering who the target audience was supposed to be. Personally, I thought it was generally hilarious. Some episodes were better than others, but having a character like this, but without all the blatant adult humor was honestly really refreshing, and it kept the writers on their toes to come up with great jokes, instead of just dropping an F-bomb and calling it a day. I've been derided for this opinion, but I much prefer smart and clever media, to crass content. I see it as the difference between something being "mature" and being "adult". This may have been produced with being child-friendly in mind, but it's usually not childish, so definitely more "mature" than many shows that are actually aimed at adults.

[@leafal5673]

What's that jingle at the end?

[@devontaejordan4644]

It’s 2023amd I’m watching it now I ran across it months ago for the 1st time

[@omalleycaboose5937]

I can say I was a kid at the time that I loved

[@sahilhossain8204]

Lore of How on Earth Did ‘Dan Vs.’ Work? Momentum 100

[@Bensonmuncher]

Im throwing up i love danvs so much

[@blazeburner4832]

Dan vs. Was awsome

[@beam_me_up_scotty69]

2:08 Probably because they were trying to market the show to an older audience and a show like Garfield and Friend (while being really really good) is technically a show made for younger audiences in mind

[@bobbycoleman-co7mc]

I was wondering why Dan’s voice sounded so familiar… then it finally click. That’s Snot from American Dad!

[@pouncelygrin6699]

hehe love this show

[@jarvisgamble6852]

Can you review Garfield and Friends

[@HeldLikeAgrudge]

I watched the whole series thinking it was an adult cartoon

[@beam_me_up_scotty69]

3:24 I'd totally buy those though

[@Lucios1995]

The woman at 8:02 reminds me of Ms. Harshwhinny

[@jamesflowers1295]

This was a show on that abc/fox family channel?

[@MR-SINISTER76]

I dont thi nk merchandising was the issue cause they did make actual copies of his signature JERK shirt and did release season 1 on dvd but never 2 or 3 but as to why the show worked i believe it was because dan is a nasty person when something angers him but thats just it he doesnt go out of his way to destroy something just because he waits until something else harms him first and also whenever he goes against something there a lot worse than he is and the show was also vary funny but i think the main reason it worked was because aside from the wedding it was always satisfying to see dan get even with something that does annoy a lot of people sometimes for the same reason

[@sueblue2464]

#danvsrevival

[@UltraAfroman]

It was similar to Regular Show.

[@larrylaffer3246]

The show's actually set in Albuquerque not LA. Otherwise great review.

[@Sean-bz8ri]

No its set in Tucson

[@newguy371]

It's actually set in San Diego, but who cares.

[@frankcruz8863]

The Weirdest Feeling The Imposter Dan Working With Elise And Christ To Put Him Prison🇺🇸💪🏻⚓️🪖🎖

[@Bensonmuncher]

DAN VS YAYYY

[@CartoonXystudiosAnimation]

We are a TV Network named CartoonXystudiosNetwork and We had Dan Vs. along with The Hub Network that They had from 2011-2013 we had 2011-2014 then we brought it back in later 2022 🏁🤗

[@cartmantv6465]

*Pinkie Pie Loves this Video.*

[@randommics]

at first I thought it was for adults when I heard about it