The ‘Keep The Rabbits Out’ Kid Is Back And He Hasn’t Learnt A Thing

After 17 years, Telstra have brought back Dan, AKA the kid who thought the Great Wall of China was built to keep the rabbits out.

In case you have no idea what we’re talking about, Dan was a little fella back in 2005 whose old man provided him with the incorrect information for his school assignment.

After telling his son the fictitious ‘Emperor Nasi Goreng’ built the Great Wall to solve China’s rabbit problem, the ad ends with Dan about to make a presentation on China to his class. With the nation’s parents adequately guilt-tripped, the advert then called on parents to get the right answers for their kids by getting broadband.

Still quoted to this day, it is one of the most iconic Australian ads ever made, up there with Big Ad and Sic ’em Rex.

Let’s re-live the magic shall we?

You see, 2005 was a simpler time. Dial-up was on its way out, no one had heard of the NBN, and family computers everywhere were rooted by Limewire just so their eldest daughter could hear the new Kisschasy single. Occasionally, children relied on their parents’ knowledge to complete school assignments. While Dan’s dad these days would be accused of spreading fake news, back then his son had no choice but to take him on his word.

Nowadays, kids have the internet on tap, something that Telstra makes clear in their new ad.

Young Dan returns as a grown man, in fact, he’s the one behind the steering wheel, giving his nephew incorrect history facts just like his father before him. Only Dan’s little nephew is not the trustworthy dunce his uncle was and immediately fact-checks these claims on his iPad, using Telstra free WiFi.

The ad ends with Dan’s nephew receiving an ovation for his presentation while a disembodied voice says ‘Great presentation. Well done’.

While the new ad is nothing on the charming original, it is great to see young Dan getting a gig again. Especially as the actor that plays Dan has the tragically unGoogleable name of Brandon Fraser.

I also love the detail that Dan’s nephew goes to the same school Dan did (clock the same jumper). The head bobbing dashboard dog is also a nice touch.

Additionally, it’s great to see that Dan has learnt the true reason the Great Wall of China was built. Possibly he learnt it through tears after a humiliating experience in front of his classmates. Or maybe his dad ended up getting that broadband? Either way, it’s great to see that he’s doing well now.

Perhaps this ad will start a trend of Australian advertising sequels. Maybe we’ll find out if Jan has ever managed to hold down a job after the Yellow Pages faded into obscurity. Maybe the Mocha Kenya lady in the fella from Shropshire really hit it off in the end?