Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Descendant of dragons fights dark magic in NYC.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say that this animated series is a beloved classic and a standout favorite among Disney shows, praised for its humor, character development, and moral lessons, particularly from Jake's Grandpa. However, some viewers express mixed feelings about Jake's personality traits and the show's occasional violent and culturally sensitive content.
- beloved classic
- humor and morals
- character development
- mixed reviews
- cultural sensitivity
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG is about an Asian-American boy, Jake Long (voiced by Dante Basco), who lives in New York City. A typical teenager who loves to skateboard, Jake is protecting a family secret: He is in fact a dragon, and it's his duty to protect the magical creatures that live in New York City.
Is It Any Good?
While kids will enjoy the pratfalls and goofy behavior of Jake and his crew, parents might cringe at the awkward portrayal of urban life in this show. Jake's posturing when talking to his grandfather, who happens to be his spiritual master, goes against the Chinese tradition of respect for one's elders. Also confusing is the "ghetto" speak of his African-American friends. It's true that cultural differences in urban living are very real; perhaps this show would be better off sticking to the action, rather than the social commentary.
The pace of the show is bouncy and entertaining, though some of the fight scenes can present scary dark forces that Jake must defeat. Some humorous moments come through, but the iffy aspects of the show outweigh the treats here. In other words, there are better programs out there for young martial arts aficionados to pursue.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it would be like to keep a secret about heritage the way Jake and his mom and sister withhold information from Mr. Long.
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 21, 2005
- Cast : Charlie Finn , Dante Basco , Mae Whitman
- Networks : Disney Channel , Disney XD
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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