Ah, summer break. That stretch of seemingly endless days between school years, a time supposedly for relaxation but often fraught with its own unique anxieties – boredom, unwanted social obligations, and the dawning realization that maybe freedom isn't all it's cracked up to be. Few pieces of animation captured that specific teenage ennui quite like Daria, and its first feature-length outing, Is It Fall Yet? (2000), bottles that feeling perfectly, offering a surprisingly nuanced look at the lives orbiting Lawndale High during the hazy, humid months. Arriving between the show's fourth and fifth seasons, this wasn't just filler; it felt like a vital exhale, a chance for the characters, and us viewers, to process the shifts that had rippled through Daria's world.
### Summer of Discontent (and Growth?)
The premise is simple enough: school's out, and our beloved cast scatters into various summer scenarios. Daria Morgendorffer (Tracy Grandstaff, whose monotone delivery remains iconic) finds herself reluctantly volunteering at Mr. O'Neill's "Okay To Cry" summer camp alongside the perpetually insecure Quinn (Wendy Hoopes, pulling triple duty voicing Helen and Jane too). Jane Lane (also Hoopes), meanwhile, heads off to an art colony, grappling with her feelings about Daria dating her ex, Tom Sloane. And Tom? Well, he's navigating the awkwardness of his new relationship while trying not to be, well, Tom.
What elevates Is It Fall Yet? beyond a typical extended episode is how writers Glenn Eichler (the show's co-creator) and Peggy Nicoll use the summer setting to push these characters into slightly uncomfortable, but ultimately fertile, new ground. It wasn't just about sarcastic quips anymore; the film delves deeper into the emotional undercurrents that the series often hinted at. Daria, forced to interact with genuinely vulnerable children, finds her cynical armor pierced, however slightly. She connects, almost despite herself, with Link, a troubled, perpetually sarcastic kid voiced by Carson Daly (yes, that Carson Daly – a little piece of turn-of-the-millennium casting trivia for you!). This interaction forces her to confront the limitations of her own detached worldview. Could it be that relentless cynicism isn't always the answer?
### Beyond the Monotone
The voice acting, always a strength of the series, shines here. Grandstaff subtly infuses Daria’s voice with flickers of empathy and uncertainty beneath the usual deadpan, making her internal struggles feel authentic. Wendy Hoopes showcases incredible range, shifting seamlessly between Jane’s artistic angst, Quinn’s vapid pronouncements, and Helen’s maternal exasperation. And Julián Rebolledo as Jake Morgendorffer provides his trademark blend of simmering rage and bewildered affection, particularly in a subplot involving his attempts to bond with Kevin Thompson over dubious self-help techniques. It’s a performance that captures the quiet desperation of middle-aged suburban fatherhood with hilarious, and sometimes poignant, accuracy.
Interestingly, the film was directed by Karen Disher and Guy Moore, both veterans of the main series, ensuring a consistency in visual style and tone. While the animation retains its characteristic flatness – part of the show's deliberate anti-style – there's a sense of expanded scope here. The art colony scenes, in particular, offer a welcome change of scenery, allowing Jane’s artistic frustrations and budding connection with a pretentious older artist (voiced with suitable smarm by Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame – another fun bit of stunt casting!) to breathe. This wasn't a huge budget production, naturally, being made for MTV, but the team used their resources effectively to tell a character-focused story.
### A Bridge Between Eras
Is It Fall Yet? serves a crucial narrative function, bridging the gap left by the Season 4 finale's dramatic upheaval – namely, Daria and Tom getting together, fracturing her friendship with Jane. The movie doesn't shy away from this tension. Jane’s resentment and Daria’s guilt are palpable, handled with a maturity often lacking in teen dramas, animated or otherwise. Their eventual, tentative reconciliation feels earned, not rushed. It acknowledges that repairing friendships takes time and effort, a lesson that resonates beyond the confines of high school corridors.
Watching it now, there's a distinct late-90s/early-2000s vibe – the dial-up modem sounds, the specific anxieties about college applications lurking just over the horizon, the general pre-9/11 cultural atmosphere. I remember catching this when it first aired on MTV, probably squeezed between music videos and episodes of The Real World. It felt significant then, a sign that this cult animated series was being given room to explore more complex emotional territory. It wasn't just a collection of jokes; it was a thoughtful character study disguised as a cartoon. It arrived on VHS and DVD later, becoming a tangible piece of the Daria experience for fans wanting to revisit Lawndale outside of broadcast schedules. It even paved the way for the second TV movie, Is It College Yet? (2002), which served as the series finale.
### The Verdict
This film is more than just an extended episode; it's a vital chapter in the Daria saga. It showcases the series' sharp writing, unique voice, and willingness to treat its teenage characters' internal lives with respect and nuance. It tackles themes of friendship, burgeoning adulthood, and the uncomfortable process of self-discovery with intelligence and dry wit. While firmly rooted in its time, the core emotional struggles remain remarkably relatable. Does it possess the laugh-a-minute density of some classic episodes? Perhaps not, but its quiet depth offers a different, equally valuable kind of satisfaction.
Rating: 8/10
The score reflects its success as both a satisfying continuation of the Daria narrative and a standalone piece that captures the specific melancholy of teenage summers. It deepened the characters we loved, tackled complex emotions head-on, and did it all with that signature deadpan humor. What lingers most isn't just the sarcasm, but the surprisingly tender moments of connection found amidst the angst – a reminder that even for someone like Daria, summer break could be a season of unexpected growth.