Somewhere along the way, the van lost its cool. Its rich history of transportation, military combat, freak festivals, and chariots of the working man became replaced by the cultural equivalent of mom jeans.

Sure, the van still makes a great family vehicle. It’s perfect for transporting kids to soccer practice. However, it’s so much more than that. Vans can do just about everything that trucks can, plus they make extremely comfortable road trip accommodations.

So, if you’re stuck driving the family van, don’t be embarrassed. That ride is so much cooler than you’d think. That’s what this animated history of the van is all about. Check it out.