Parents' Guide to

American Dragon: Jake Long

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Descendant of dragons fights dark magic in NYC.

TV Disney Channel , Disney XD Kids' Animation 2005
American Dragon: Jake Long Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Kevin Steele
Kevin Steele Adult
March 14, 2021
age 6+

S2 Animation was awful

I was born in 1994 and I really enjoyed season 1 as a kid and as an adult. But changing the animation in season 2 completely ruined it for me. The animation is horrible, really makes me cringe. Disney fucked up and the second writer should be out of a job.
MrWiseGuy
MrWiseGuy Adult
July 12, 2018
age 5+

Greatest Cartoon Series Ever!

This show really moved me when I watched it. Especially the plot between Jake and Rose. They really teach the meaning of true love, and really show that anything is possible. I watched it again 3 days ago, and man, did it bring back some really good memories and nostalgia! But be warned, if you get attached to the characters, you will suffer heart-ache like I did!

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See all 6 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (15 ):

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

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