Daria turns 25 (Sigh)

In March 1997, Daria Morgendorffer broke away from Beavis and Butthead and got her own, much deserved animated show on MTV.

During it’s five year run, Daria gained legions of fans who related to the main character’s self-mocking and cynical take on teenage life. 

Daria Morgendorffer first appeared on the iconic Mike Judge creation Beavis and Butthead at a time when MTV was desperate to attract more young females to the show and the network. 

The bespectacled, combat boot-wearing misfit appeared in 20 episodes alongside the music video obsessed metal heads before getting her own show.

Judge gave his blessing but had nothing to do with spin-off which was created by Susie Lewis Lynn and Glenn Eichler who today writes for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

MTV granted the pair free reign to do what they wanted with Daria and they built her a world that included a unique circle of friends and family.  But her number one was BFF Jane Lane.  Together they rejected the social mores of life at Lawndale High School. 

Jane’s brother the wannabe rocker Trent, was another favorite character. He was was based on Dave Navarro and named after Trent Reznor.

It took 9 months to create each episode from scripts, and voice acting to storyboarding and overseas animation.  35 animation artists were required to develop the bold, geometric look of the show which was a far cry from the bleached-out look of Beavis and Butthead.

But what really made the show standout was Daria herself.  With her smart-alec disdain of everyone and everything she became a heroine of sorts for teen girls and anyone for that matter who identified as an outsider. 

Daria went on to become MTV’s longest running animated series and for some one of the best shows about teenagers and teenage life. 

Storylines ranged from the usual high school problems to the wacky and weird.  And like any good show it also included a musical episode.

Music was a big deal on Daria.  From the theme song, “You’re Standing on My Neck” by Splendora to the first season soundtrack which featured major artists like Radiohead, The Spice Girls, LL Cool J, and Celine Dion, as well as lesser-known ones like Kula Shaker, Livin' Joy, Dishwalla, and Dis-n-Dat.

Because of licensing issues you won’t hear any of those songs if you watch the show now either on DVD or Paramount+ where it’s streaming. The original songs have been swapped out for stock songs.

But there is some good news for fans of the show – a new Daria spin-off is in the works.  Jodie will follow Jodie Landon, a fan favorite of the original series, as she enters the workplace after graduating from college. 

Jodie will be voiced by Tracey Ellis Ross from Blackish who is also Executive Producer on the new MTV series.  No word on whether Daria will make an appearance. She might be too busy watching Sick Sad World with Jane.