American Dragon: Jake Long

American Dragon: Jake Long is an American animated television series. It was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, created by Jeff Goode and co-developed by Eddie Guzelian and Matt Negrete. It premiered on Disney Channel on January 21, 2005, and ended on September 1, 2007.[2] 52 episodes were produced.[3]

This article is about the TV series and character. For other uses, see Jake Long (disambiguation).
American Dragon: Jake Long
GenreAnimated Series
Action-adventure
Superhero
Comedy
Fantasy
[1]
Created byJeff Goode
Based onAmerican Dragon books by Jeff Goode
Developed byEddie Guzelian
Matt Negrete
Written byBilly Lincoln
Kat Green
Michael Gurley
Directed by
Voices ofDante Basco
Keone Young
John DiMaggio
Amy Bruckner
Kittie
Charlie Finn
Jeff Bennett
Lauren Tom
Mae Whitman
Opening theme"The Chosen One" performed by
Mavin (2005–06)
Jonas Brothers (2006–07)
Ending theme"The Chosen One" (instrumental)(2005–06)
ComposersKat Green (2005–06)
Billy Lincoln (2005–06)
Adam Berry (2006–07)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes52 (55 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJeff Goode
Eddie Guzelian
Matt Negrete
Christian Roman
ProducerLarry Johnson (Line producer)
EditorDong Hun Oh
Running time22 minutes
Production companyWalt Disney Television Animation
DistributorBuena Vista Television (2005–07)
Disney–ABC Domestic Television (2007)
Release
Original networkDisney Channel
Original releaseJanuary 21, 2005 (2005-01-21) –
September 1, 2007 (2007-09-01)
External links
Website

Premise
The Huntsman and Huntsgirl in the second and final season.

Set in the New York City borough of Manhattan, this animated series tells the story of a Chinese-American Jake Long (voiced by Dante Basco), who must balance ordinary adolescence with the power and ability to change into a dragon. When he eventually unlocks his full potential and turns into the American Dragon, he has to overcome obstacles to protect the magical creatures living in the city, but as his ordinary self, Jake has issues with his deep crush on his schoolmate Rose (Mae Whitman) who, unbeknownst to Jake, has a dark, magical secret of her own: she is a natural dragon-slayer known as the Huntsgirl, a member of the Huntsclan that slays dragons and who Jake has fought consistently. The leader of the Huntsclan is the Huntsman (Jeff Bennett) who raised Rose.

Jake navigates the city with his two best friends – Trixie Carter (Miss Kittie) and Arthur P. "Spud" Spudinski (Charlie Finn). When Jake gets home, it is to an extended family who all live together: Jake, his sister, their parents, and Jake's grandfather (his mother's father.) Jonathan (Jeff Bennett), a businessman dad originally from the Midwest, is unaware that he is married into a family of dragons from his Chinese wife Susan (Lauren Tom) (who lacks any dragon abilities, as they skipped her generation). Jake's maternal grandfather Lao Shi (Keone Young) trains his grandson in the magical, mystical ways of the dragons. Other characters include Jake's overachieving, seemingly-perfect, and annoying younger sister Haley (Amy Bruckner) (a nascent dragon), and Grandpa's cynical sidekick who is also Jake's animal guardian and another best friend: a magical talking Shar-Pei named Fu Dog (John DiMaggio).

Episodes
Main article: List of American Dragon: Jake Long episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
121January 21, 2005 (2005-01-21)January 29, 2006 (2006-01-29)Disney Channel
SpecialJuly 1, 2005 (2005-07-01)
231June 10, 2006 (2006-06-10)September 1, 2007 (2007-09-01)

Characters

Main
  • Jacob Luke "Jake" Long (Dante Basco): a Chinese-American 13-year-old (14 years-old in the second season) cool, a laid-back skateboarder who talks in rapper slang. He has a keen awareness of the newest developments and styles, is self-assured, and likes video games, extreme sports, all sorts of music, and the occasional comic book. He had a crush on pretty blonde schoolmate Rose until he found out she was actually the Huntsgirl, but their dual identities are bound to stir up trouble. After numerous trials and tribulations over the course of the series, Jake and Rose finally get together in the final episode. A running gag involves the mention of his embarrassing secrets like having a teddy bear collection and sleeping with a nightlight to blemish his reputation. His dragon abilities include flight, fire breath, a prehensile tail, and sharp claws along with others.
  • Luong Lao Shi (Keone Young): Jake's grandpa and a Chinese dragon. He runs an electronic shop in Canal street with the slogan "Never have a customer, never have a sale" alongside his only friend is Fu Dog. His attempts at training Jake sometimes do more damage (to Jake's brain) than help. His name is a reference to the Chinese word for "teacher." In his youth in 1972, before his first encounter with the Dark Dragon, Jake's grandpa was known as Lucky Lao Shi.
  • Fu Dog (John DiMaggio): a 600-year-old Shar-Pei and Lao Shi's only companion. Throughout his entire life, he and a hairless talking cat have fought over Fu's family amulet (causing famous disasters along the way). He is more "hip" than Lao Shi.
  • Arthur Patrick "Spud" Spudinski (Charlie Finn): Jake's best friend, who is extremely loyal and somewhat slow. However, he comes up with intelligent things to say at random times. He also has the entire works of Shakespeare committed to memory. There is a chance that Spud is half-wizard (which was revealed in the episode with the enchanted goblet and the hint is where it happened to be that Spud's grandfather knew the magic word to seal the Djinn back into the goblet). He also has a crush on the head cheerleader Stacey who hates him until they start dating near the end of the second season.
  • Trixie Carter (Kittie): Jake's other best friend, who is just as cool as he is. A witty, blunt, and sharp-tongued girl, a hardcore fashionista but also the most logical and mature of the group.
  • Haley Kay Long (Amy Bruckner): Jake's seven-year-old intelligent but annoying little sister who also has dragon powers as well. She takes pride in her ability to expose all of Jake's secrets and highlight her own. But despite all of that, she admires Jake and sees him as a role model.
  • Susan Luong-Long (Lauren Tom): Jake and Haley's mother does not possess any natural dragon abilities like her family and children, having skipped her generation. She does all she can to keep her human husband Jonathan from discovering the existence of magic and her family being magical creatures.
  • Jonathan Long (Jeff Bennett): Jake and Haley's mortal father, and a businessman originally from the Midwest, who is unaware that he is married into a family of dragons. In the series finale, he is initially shocked at his wife's family secret but later comes to welcome it as he always knew there was something magical about them.
  • Rose/Huntsgirl (Mae Whitman): Jake's love interest (later girlfriend in the series finale) and a natural dragon slayer known as the Huntsgirl, a member of the Huntsclan that slays magical creatures, especially dragons. She was born with a red birthmark on her arm resembling a Chinese dragon, leading the Huntsclan to kidnap her from her parents. She also has an identical twin sister whose fate is unknown.
  • Professor Hans Rotwood (Paul Rugg): is Jake's 57-year-old German schoolteacher with an obsessive interest in magical creatures, and a quest to discover the American Dragon's identity (oblivious to the fact that it is Jake). Professor Rotwood styles himself as an expert on mythical creatures, but his knowledge is superficial and his expertise a fraud.

Main villains
  • The Huntsman (Jeff Bennett): The leader of the Huntsclan, thieves that hunt and steal magical creatures for profit. They are highly trained and use sophisticated weapons. Huntsclan members have a specific birthmark that resembles a dragon. His true name and face were never shown. The Huntsman is #4 of the 13 threats to the magic community.
  • The Dark Dragon (Clancy Brown), the secondary main antagonist of the show. He became the new villain after The Huntsman's death in the episode "Homecoming"
  • Bananas B (Adam Wylie): A monkey with a rapper style and Jake's temporary animal guardian who later betrayed him to become Councilor Chang's assistant.
  • Councilor Chang (Lauren Tom): A member of the Dragon Council and the Dark Dragon's assistant who has teamed up with Lao Shi back when he first fought the Dark Dragon.
  • Eli Excelsior Pandarus (Jonathan Freeman) A dark wizard who tries to be the world's most powerful sorcerer

Recurring and guest
  • Sun Park (Sandra Oh): Jake's home-ec schoolteacher, Haley's dragon mentor, and formerly The Korean Dragon.
  • Nigel Thrall (Adam Wylie) An exchange student from England who hides his identity as a wizard. And shared a temporal rivalry with Jake when they both ran for school president but end up defeating Maximus together.
  • Fred Nerk (Adam Wylie): An Australian dragon and Jake’s temporary rival at the dragon council games.
  • Jasmine (Lacey Chabert): Jake's first date, who turned out to be a soul-sucking creature called a Nix.
  • Huntsboy #88 and Huntsboy #89 (Kyle Massey & Nicholas Brendon): two of the Huntsman's new apprentices. Supposedly both cousins of Rose. 88 is as hip-hop and arrogant as Jake, which ironically shows Jake how annoying he really is. 89 is a complete nerd. Neither knows how to fight.
  • Brad Morton (Matt Nolan ): a 15-year-old jock at Jake’s school who likes to make fun of him and frequently hits on Rose.
  • Sigmund Brock (Corey Burton): Rotwood's former mentor who inspired him to research magical creatures. He is brought in to replace Rotwood as Principal of Fillmore Middle School when Jake gets Rotwood fired but takes it upon himself to discover the dragon’s identity causing Rotwood to team up with Jake and get him fired.
  • Stacey Wintergrin (Tara Strong): the school's cheerleader captain who is Spud's unrequited love interest until the near end of the second season.
  • Kara Oracle (Tara Strong): Sara's oracle twin sister is always in a bad mood, although she can only predict good things.
  • Sara Oracle (Tara Strong): Kara's oracle twin sister is always happy, although she can only predict bad things.
  • Veronica (Tara Strong): A half-human with eight spider legs who works at the Magus Bazaar.
  • Bertha the Giant (Tara Strong): a dim-witted female giant with a stinky foot.
  • Silver (Kari Wahlgren): a mermaid who is afraid of water and a medical science prodigy.
  • Ms. Dolores Derceto (Susanne Blakeslee): An undercover mermaid detective working as the principal of Jake's junior high who has a temporary romance with Lao Shi.
  • Danika Hunnicutt (Jessica DiCicco): Jake's second love interest after Rose went to Hong Kong and is the school's swim team captain. She gets mad and leaves him after he accuses her of being the siren. She later became Jake's graduation partner.
  • Hank Carter (Phil Morris): Trixie's father, who is a US Navy officer.
  • Olivia Mears (Liliana Mumy): Haley’s academic rival.
  • Yan Yan (Tia Carrere): A Sphynx cat, also known as a Chinese Hairless, who has been fighting with Fu Dog over his family’s amulet over centuries. She pretends to belong to a young girl called Olivia.

Voice cast

Main cast
  • Dante Basco – Jake Long, Evil Jake
  • Keone Young – Luong Lao Shi
  • John DiMaggio – Fu Dog, SJO Wortz Security Guard, Blonde Undercover Henchman, Herbert, Brownie #2, Dwarf, Messenger Fairy, Antique Dealer, Leprechaun, Ogre
  • Lauren Tom – Susan Long, Councilor Chang, Chorus Girl, Drill Sargent, Middle-Aged Woman, Nurse
  • Jeff Bennett – Jonathan Long, Councilor Kulde, Imp, The Huntsman, Leprechaun McBreen, Security Guard, Trick-or-Treatee, Huntsclan Academy Teacher
  • Miss Kittie – Shaniqua Chulavista, Trixie Carter, Origami Girl, Mrs. McGuire, Courtney,
  • Amy Bruckner – Haley Long, Millie Fillmore
  • Charlie Finn – Spud, Teenage Worker
  • Mae Whitman – Rose, Little Girl

Additional voices

Production

American Dragon: Jake Long was created by Jeff Goode.

It was initially developed as a Live action show for Fox, it would’ve also had special effects (Similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer). It also had a much darker story as it would’ve focused on the main character coping with the revelation of dragon slayers having murdered his parents. However, right before Goode was scheduled to go in for his pitch meeting with the network, the executive who expressed interest in the show left Fox.

The show was then pitched to Disney Channel executives as an Animated show between 2002 and 2003. The original story was also reworked to be more family-friendly, such as Jake’s Parents being alive

After being greenlit by Disney Channel, the pitch bible was then developed into its TV Adaptation with Executive Producers Matt Negrete (Previously a writer on Fillmore!) and Eddie Guzelian (A writer and story editor for Kim Possible) with Christian Roman serving as Director

Disney Channel ordered an initial twenty-one 30-minute episodes the first season, and the series premiered on January 21, 2005. It was initially scheduled for the fall of 2004 but was moved to January when Brandy & Mr. Whiskers was completed in time for September.

The theme song is performed by the band Mavin (previously known as Badge).

In 2006 Disney Channel renewed the for a second season. It had also been announced that Steve Loter, who had served as director of Disney Channel's Kim Possible, would be joining the show for its second season as director and executive producer alongside the current executive producer Matt Negrete and Eddie Guzelian. However, following Disney Channel's renewal of Kim Possible for a fourth season, Loter would resume his role as the director but still serve as an executive producer of Jake Long. Nick Filippi, who had also done some directorial work on Kim Possible, will be the new director of Jake Long. With Steve Loter joining the staff, the show had all of its characters and backgrounds re-designed with new animation upon request by both Loter and the executives as they had disdain for the previous seasons' designs.

The theme song for Season 2 was also re-recorded by the band The Jonas Brothers.

The show ended its run on September 1, 2007

After its cancellation, reruns continued to air from 2007 to 2010.

The series was syndicated to Toon Disney in February 2006. When Toon Disney was converted to Disney XD, the series was carried over and aired from its launch on February 13, 2009, to 2012.

Crossover with Lilo & Stitch

Jake Long and his allies come to Hawaii in an episode of Lilo & Stitch: The Series entitled "Morpholomew" to investigate one of Jumba's experiments, while Lilo enters a skateboarding competition in an attempt to impress her crush by winning a new skateboard for him while he's in Australia. Meanwhile, he and Stitch team up to stop Gantu and rescue the experiment.

Other media

Video games

Two video games based on the show were produced, one for the Nintendo DS and one for the Game Boy Advance.

Books

Jeff Goode has written two children's books about American Dragon which were released in 2004 - before the initial TV show started airing.

  • American Dragon Book 1: The Dragon Hunter, ISBN 0-7868-1926-X — released April 1, 2004
  • American Dragon Book 2: The Gnome Eater, ISBN 0-7868-1927-8 — released May 1, 2004

References
  1. American Dragon: Jake Long - Metacritic.com
  2. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 30. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  3. Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 124. ISBN 9781476672939.
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