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
GenreAnimation
Action-adventure
Superhero
Comedy
Fantasy
Children[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)
Composer(s)Kat Green (2005–06)
Billy Lincoln (2005–06)
Adam Berry (2006–07)
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes52 (6 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)Jeff Goode
Eddie Guzelian
Matt Negrete
Christian Roman
Producer(s)Larry Johnson (Line producer)
Editor(s)Dong Hun Oh
Running time22 minutes
Production company(s)Walt Disney Television Animation
DistributorBuena Vista Television (2005–07)
Disney–ABC Domestic Television (2007)
Release
Original networkDisney Channel
Picture format720p (HDTV)
Audio formatDolby Digital 5.1
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 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), a witty, blunt, and sharp-tongued girl who is usually the most logical and mature of the group; and Arthur P. "Spud" Spudinski (Charlie Finn), who appears to be slow-witted but is actually a genius. When Jake gets home, it is to an extended family: Jonathan (Jeff Bennett), a businessman dad originally from the Midwest who is unaware that he is married into a family of dragons from his Chinese wife named 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 younger sister Haley (Amy Bruckner) (a nascent dragon), and Grandpa's cynical sidekick who's also Jake's animal guardian and another best friend, a magical 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 14-year-old cool, laid-back skateboarder who talks in a 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. 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 a 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 at 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. All throughout his 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 P. "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 be that Spud's grandfather knew the magic word to sealing 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 who 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 Jonathon 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 dragons. She was born with a red birthmark on her arm resembling a Chinese dragon which lead to the result that she was forced to leave her own family to join the Huntsclan. After knowing about Jake's dragon form, she disappears. But there is a little chance of her being gone forever since she obviously has romantic feelings for Jake, regardless of him being a dragon. Ultimately, it is revealed that she was taken from her parents as a newborn due to the Chinese dragon-shaped birthmark, signifying her destiny as a dragon slayer. She also has an identical twin sister whose fate is unknown.
  • Professor Hans Rotwood (Paul Rugg): Jake's 47-year-old German schoolteacher with an obsessive interest in magical creatures, and a quest to find the dragon identity (which 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 word's most powerful sorcerer

Recurring and guest
  • Sun Park (Sandra Oh): Jake's home-ec schoolteacher, Haley's dragon mentor and a 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 fighting Maximus together.
  • Fred Nerk (Adam Wylie): An Australian dragon and Jake’s temporary rival.
  • 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): He is one of two of the Huntsman's new apprentices. According to Jeff, he is Rose's cousin and he is as hip-hop and arrogant as Jake, which ironically shows Jake how annoying he really is, He is one of two of the Huntsman's new apprentices. He is Rose's cousin and a complete nerd who does not know 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 about 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 second season.
  • Kara Oracle (Tara Strong): Sara's twin sister who is always in a bad mood, although she can only predicted good things.
  • Sara Oracle (Tara Strong): Kara's twin sister who is always happy, although she can only predicted bad things.
  • Veronica (Tara Strong): A half-human with 8 spider's leg who works at the Magus Bazaar.
  • Bertha the Giant (Tara Strong): a giant dim-witted female with a stinky foot.
  • Silver (Kari Wahlgren): a mermaid who is afraid of water
  • 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 later became Jake's graduation partner.
  • Hank Carter (Phil Morris): Trixie's Navy officer father
  • Olivia Mears (Liliana Mumy): a rival of archenemy Haley
  • Yan Yan (Tia Carrere): a archrival Fu Dog stole award contest, Sphynx cat also known as a Chinese Hairless, that pretends to belong to a young girl called Olivia Mears.

Voice Cast

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

Additional voices

Production

American Dragon: Jake Long was created by Jeff Goode. Disney Channel ordered an initial twenty-one 30 minute episodes for the first season, and the series premiered on January 21, 2005. 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 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.

  • Attack of the Dark Dragon (DS) — released October 12, 2006
  • Rise of the Huntsclan (GBA) — released October 12, 2006

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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