Jane and the Dragon (2005–2006) User Reviews

i like it, actually

[mystical808 · 7/10 · 9 December 2006]

I babysit on the weekends, and I really enjoy when Jane and the Dragon comes on. The animation is not feature film quality, but it's a television show, on Qubo or PBS or something, and when I first saw it i was actually impressed with the quality. the expressions and movements of the characters are spot on for a kids show, and actually subtle sometimes. The plots are those of a basic kids program- morals, doing the right thing, what to say to a friend who's upset, that sort of thing. I'm not sure what ages it's aimed for, but it manages to keep a three year old and and eighteen year old amused for half an hour and must be doing something right.

And the theme song isn't that annoying, as the previous commenter claimed. It just really, really gets stuck in your head.

Delightful

[dbringen · 7/10 · 16 March 2007]

I'm not a big fan of CGI, but for me the real attraction in this show is the writing. The writers do not write down to their audience. The characters are well defined, and the stories well done and with good humor. There is also a hint of mysteries to unfold, with the dragon runes and Jane's sword. "Jane and the Dragon" is more mature than "Arthur" or "Clifford", closer maybe to "Wild Thornberrys" or "Avatar". Definitely not "Invader Zim" :-). But certainly above the average of most "cartoon" programming. The style and flavor may not be to everybody's taste, but it is worth your time investigating. I just wish the Qubo schedule made the show more accessible in my area.

Super piece of animation

[jak68 · 10/10 · 11 October 2006]

Caught this by accident while channel hopping and was blown away by its quality both in the animation and its humorous tone. The stories have a medieval setting based around a castle and Jane(her quest to train as a knight), the other kids in the castle and her best friend,who just happens to be a dragon. The dragon steals the show, as his mannerisms and sense of humour are just laugh-out-loud funny. The animation uses motion capture. I know that this is not the first time its been used in a cartoon(remake of Captain Scarlett)but nevertheless it adds quality and helps to lift this above the ordinary. The backgrounds appear to have been created to make them seem as if they were done in pencil;the subtle blend of this and the CGI work just gives this a fresh,different look.

Absolutely charming!

[tyger_lilee · 10/10 · 25 October 2006]

I discovered this show a few months ago and have been addicted to it ever since. I showed it to my husband, and even he was blown away. We've seen every single episode, and can't wait for more.

"Jane and the Dragon" showcases Weta's incredible animation techniques (also seen in such movies as "Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia"), which in this case combine lifelike movements--created through sophisticated motion capture technology--with artistic effects that give the show a delightfully unique visual style.

The characters are engaging and diverse, and all of them display both strengths and weaknesses--particularly Jane herself. It is refreshing to see a strong and charismatic heroine that also has clear weak points, and messes up frequently and often spectacularly. Of course, she always learns something by the end of each episode.

The plots are engaging and novel, masterfully juxtaposing delightful comedy with surprisingly compelling drama. Kids can learn along with Jane, gaining insight into important topics such as courage, integrity, and diverse aspects of friendship. Although the plots are always didactic, the show manages not to be boring or tedious for adults to watch.

The only audience I would not recommend "Jane and the Dragon" for (aside from those who have a problem with dung jokes) is very young children, purely for the reason that the show can be somewhat slow-moving compared to other children's shows, having extended scenes of fairly serious dialogue and long, beautiful shots of the fantastically animated scenery. Toddlers may lose interest, and get little out of the often very insightful dialogue. Otherwise, I recommend "Jane" for all ages. It is a pure delight--definitely worth watching. Sit down with your kids and enjoy!

It's The Best

[recessfreak1 · 10/10 · 12 October 2006]

I really think this series is one of the best CGI type programs I've seen in a long time. The details of the animators made every effort to make the characters real looking, right down to the fingernails, the way Jane's hair moves or Dragon's claws move with each individual toe. This series not only appeals to kids but adults as well, the crafted story lines and humor kids love and the lessons and role-model qualities the adults will love. The voices seem to be fit perfectly for the characters, the animation is up there with Dreamworks & Pixar (if not better). the scenery is so colorful and vibrant that it pops right off the screen. The team at Weta Studios should be proud of their work and even happier that they have made so many people happy! I've seen all 26 episodes many times and never get tired of the show, there is always something new you miss! Hopefully this will not be the end (even though they wrapped up production) another season is still possible!

If the animation doesn't bother you,you'll be okay

[KUAlum26 · 6 June 2008]

You might even come to get a warm,happy feeling from watching this. THe "boxcar" or anchor show of NBC's Qubo Saturday morning animation block,this Canadian/English offering follows the friendship of a tomboy-ish yet warm and loyal would-be-lay-in-waiting named Jane and the wry yet insightful dragon she befriends. It seems she would rather be a Knight,and the Dragon has agreed to help her become one. The messages of loyalty,honor,bravery,love,friendship,trust,kindness,patience,etc. are a bit heavy-handed,but the easy,playful nature of this show will appeal to kids of all ages. If you're not up to anything all morning on Saturdays and/or have kids to tend to during that period of time,this show is a definite recommend.

This show is so boring, it's Pointless!

[ian-1211 · 1/10 · 10 November 2006]

This show is the most tedious, badly done and most pointless show I had seen in ages! The creators of the show should be dragged out onto the streets and shot! First off, the story is so weak! It is just about a little, precocious medieval servant girl called Jane who lives in a medieval kingdom who's is friends with a chatty, ignorant and childish green dragon named Dragon (very imaginative) and the plots are just about them falling out, somebody running off or one of somebody's valuables goes missing. The plots are so lazy and boring. Second, the CGI 3-D Animation is terrible and backwards. It looks like it was made in '95 rather than '05. They needed to get in better computer animators to do the job. Third, the voice-acting is really annoying. The boys sound like they are practising for a Shakespeare play and the girls sound like they are six years old other than 13 to 19! Finally, the opening theme song is incredibly annoying and bad written. It just go "Hey now! Hey now! She and the Dragon are friends now!". The worst I have ever heard in a long time (apart from the Emperor's New School!). I don't think this show is worth that 20 minutes of your time! Poor, tedious and pointless. 1/10

I am 41 years old and I love this show!

[BERGDORF · 10/10 · 13 December 2006]

I happened to watch this one morning while my 6 year old was watching Qubo and I absolutely fell in love with Jane and the Dragon. So far I have only seen two episodes and but I am hooked. The computer graphics are fantastic. The characters eyes are so life-like, that it appears they are really making eye to eye contact when talking to another character. The accents are authentic, the movements are realistic, the stories are sweet, genuine and simplistic. I never want it to end. I wish they would not only put it out on disc, but make a full length feature length movie. It's just a real treat. I am glad to know that there is a quality "cartoon" out there on network television, like it used to be when I was a child. No gimmicks or nonsense like Sponge Bob, but a throwback to the legitimate fairy tale. Long live Jane and the Dragon.

Boring and the Borgan

[ThunderKing6 · 2/10 · 28 February 2021]

This show was boring.

I did not like it at all.

The premise was fine just the execution and Jane was crap.

What can be learned? Dragon should have ate Jane.

Verdict: it would have made the show better.

Hey Dragon...where are you??????????

[candyde93301 · 10/10 · 25 April 2009]

Hey, I'm 62 yrs old and stumbled onto this unique show Saturdays @ 8AM and now it's gone...where???? The movement of Jane's (and the other character's) hair is mesmerizing. Having no children or grandchildren, cartoons have passed me by and the newer mediums are so sophisticated. I grew up with the old-style flip page animation (sorry, not knowledgebale re: names of styles) which was pretty good compared to later stop-action stuff (boring) but this is hard to take your eyes off of. The subtle movements of real-life are captured and the writers are winners with the sarcasm of Dragon. It was a great way to start off Sats with a laugh (Dragon is a crack-up, reminds me of Alf). Good life lessons for youngsters too.

For a children's show, this is fairly fantastic.

[dragonlady1100 · 9/10 · 27 January 2007]

I stumbled across this show one Saturday morning, and was thoroughly impressed. It is something completely unique and refreshing that much of children's programming has been lacking of late. The main characters are far from flat or one-dimensional--they have history, issues, and deal with pretty serious moral or ethical issues that many young kids might face in their own lives. And yes, they do tend to come away unscathed, learning a lesson about doing the right thing, but there are moments of tension and gravity along the way, and the lessons are far from heavy-handed. The animation is a bit different than most of the other CGI shows around, but I like it--it looks like a page from a children's storybook brought to life. The music is upbeat but unobtrusive, and the dialogue is actually pretty funny--there are several jokes (especially from Dragon) that are really funny, even for adults. I highly recommend taking a look with your kids--you won't regret it!

Great stuff

[jemmo-1 · 10/10 · 14 January 2007]

At first look I thought this was going to be awful - the look of the animation is pretty much as you'd see in a computer game. However, within 2 minutes my 3 year old daughter and I were hooked. Motion capture techniques really bring the animation alive - it's done by Weta, who did the Lord of the Rings CGI so you know it's going to be expressive, though of course it's not got the LOTR budget, hence the computer game look.

The script is full of dry humour - especially Dragon - which makes this entertaining for parents as well as kids. The stories have morals of sorts, but not in a Disney-like "hit 'em over the head with it" way. The characters are diverse and well observed - the king winds me up, but I think he's kind of supposed to.

Check it out on Milkshake on C5, weekend mornings at the moment. I don't know if it will come out on DVD in the UK in the near future, if at all. However, go to the ABC Australia shop (google "Jane and the Dragon DVD" to find it) and you can buy there for the equivalent of about £13.50 per DVD of three episodes incl. postage. There are two available at the time of writing.

Fabulous and highly recommended, though I have to admit my wife loathes it!

WONDERFUL show for girls of all ages (and boys, too)

[fergusna · 10/10 · 17 July 2007]

This is a FABULOUS program! The animation style is unusual, but is faithful to the illustrations from the beloved original books. "Jane and the Dragon" is not attempting to look like "Finding Nemo" or "Cinderella"--it is a creative work with its own unique voice and unique look.

I absolutely love this series (and am 39 years old). So does my mom (who is 65 and usually has no use for animation). Little girls also love spunky, brave, imperfect, funny, and loyal Jane, who has developed a really close and loving friendship with Dragon. (Of course, little boys can also relate to the knights backdrop of all the stories and the idea of befriending a dragon, and the program teaches boys a valuable lesson about treating girls as equals and building friendships with girls, too.) This is not the program for someone who likes shoot-em-'up, superhero style animation. (It is also not a program for sexist adults or "no girls allowed"-type boys.) Instead, it is a thoughtful, well-written, character-driven program. Jane is a great role model for girls and boys. The plots are interesting and empowering, and generally revolve around the problems Jane and Dragon face in the kingdom. The episodes explore the relationships between the characters and the characters are challenged to grow and change, just as real children are.

I love "Jane and the Dragon", and I can't recommend it more highly to parents and lovers of good storytelling.

Gentle Amazement

[slapteeth · 9/10 · 4 December 2006]

Living in the UK I met the only other fan of Jane and the Dragon during a recent visit to Jamaica who watches it from the Caymen Islands. We shared an enthusiasm for the show and the family would marvel at our exchange.

I understand there are at least 26 episodes and I have not seen anywhere near that many so am looking forward to the repeats or investing in a DVD when one is available.

Dragon and Pepper are my favourites followed swiftly in no particular order by all the other characters.

I would have given JATD 10/10 but for the opening song which comes across as a bit smart brat.

Long live Jane and the Dragon. The world will soon yield to this best kept secret in the world.

Wonderful show!

[celeban · 10/10 · 17 September 2007]

I, too, found this show by happy accident and enjoyed it thoroughly - its story, animation, humor - all of it! Now, I've introduced my wife and children to it and they love it, too! My 3-year-old watches the DVR'ed episode three or four times a day! :)

A hearty "Thank you" to its entire team! (I'm looking for the series DVD even now!)

Seeing that WETA is not surprising given the quality and I'm certainly glad to see it. I'm also a big fan of Nelvana (and most Canadian productions) so I'll be treasuring every episode they can produce. Yeah, yeah - I'm sure my kids will, too... LOL!

At first I was put off by the animation, but it's brilliant!!

[gigi-zmail · 10/10 · 23 November 2011]

I live in the US and absolutely LOVE this series! I'm so happy that somehow I pick up the Qubo channel - secretly hoping 1 weekend they'll do a J&tD marathon! Sure the plots can be simple, and the theme song seems a bit annoying, but the characters & their relationships are great! What I'd LOVE to see is a prequel live movie to see how it *all* started. How the queen & king met, Jane starting out training to be a lady-in-waiting like her mom... the other kingdom inhabitants, Sir Theodore's past... per the theme song, we all know that the prince was snatched by Dragon at one point, but why *was* Cuthbert kidnapped? what really went on there? For all intents & purposes he should be afraid of Dragon, but they're reasonably cool with each other... hmm... Lavinia is by far my very favorite character-- She's so me when I was a kid! That's another thing - identifiability. It's all over the place with this series- love, friendship, loyalty, protection. Very strong. Well done!

What happened to Jane and the dragon on British channel 5 weekends 9:30?

[acecondoruk · 10/10 · 11 September 2007]

British TV had Jane and the Dragon on @ 9:30 both days of the weekend.. All of a sudden, without notice, they pulled it off, WHY? This is a very good, educational, brilliant for children in this day and age to get a good understanding of what is ethical and morally correct. If you look in your own feedback, seems like everyone admires this program..

So what happened to Jane and the Dragon here in the UK? Did the promotion run out? Did somebody cut the budget? Are the British to indirect aggressive (uppertiy and insolent) for their own good? They show crap to kids in this country, like the Tellitubbies who cause learning difficulties to all sorts of children according to the parents, now they take off a very good educational, warm, programme. Why? Any feedback on this?

Regards,

ACECONDORUK

Jane and the Dragon makes me happy!

[lelluriennian-1 · 10/10 · 11 November 2009]

I love this show! The animation is beautiful, and the way the backgrounds are done gives the show a "storybook" look. I love all of the characters. Everyone has a very distinct personality, and I enjoy watching Gunther struggle with being torn between loyalty to his father and doing what's right. The obvious (yet subtle) signs of affection expressed between Rake and Pepper are too cute! Dragon is hilarious (though sometimes dips into light potty humor). I am so happy to see a lovely, quality program that showcases dragons in a good light--they get the short end of the stick far too often. And of course there are morals/values taught within trials that the characters (usually Jane and Dragon) go through in each episode.

I wish they would make a thousand more episodes of this wonderful show. I'm 25 years old, and I watch Jane and the Dragon on Qubo every day.

Great show that is not all about gender roles

[kelly-camp-reyes · 10/10 · 17 May 2015]

I thoroughly love this show. The animation made me a little hesitant to watch it at first but once I saw an entire episode, I was hooked.

I love that this show flips the stereotypical gender roles and deals with real life issues. The characters are all well developed and they incorporate critical thinking skills for children.

The perspective of our societal norms, not only in the cartoon but also in real life, are challenged by Jane and the Dragon. It doesn't just have a heroine as the main character, it also has a beautifully singing blacksmith and a spoiled rotten prince.

I watch this show on Qubo, but I so wish they would bring it back and make more episodes!!

One of my favorite childhood TV shows!

[tiffanie_says_stay_in_your_lane · 10/10 · 30 July 2022]

I was never fascinated by the Middle Ages, so I didn't like movies or TV shows depicting that era - I'm still not actually - but I fell in love with this show as a kid! It's a story about a free spirited, adventurous teenage girl named Jane who lives in southern England during the Medieval time period. She's bored of being a lady-in-waiting and aspires to become a knight instead. A dragon kidnaps the prince and she rescues him. After bringing him back, the king grants her a knight apprenticeship. She develops a friendship with the dragon. The dragon talks, so that creates a lot of humor. Other characters are her friends: Jester, Jethro, Verbena (nicknamed Pepper), Drake, and Gunther, along with Prince Cuthbert and Princess Lavinia. The adult characters are Jane's parents, Milton and Adeline Turnkey, in addition to Magnus (Gunther's father), King Caradoc, Queen Gwendolyn, Sir Theodore Boarmaster (Jane's mentor), and Sir Ivon Mackay (Gunther's mentor). I wouldn't suggest this for little kids, since Jane and her friends are within the age range of 12 to 14. Plus the dragon might scare toddlers. I saw a review on here from someone who said they're 41 and love the show. I'm 29 and I plan to never stop watching this! For an animated show with a talking dragon, it has some philosophical moments. Also, I don't know the name of the animation that was used, but the characters look super realistic! So does the scenery of the surrounding English countryside. It's nice to see a tween program where the girl is resourceful, and she's not concerned about trying to get a boyfriend. I recommend this to parents who have daughters and want them to watch a show that has a strong female character.

Top stuff - great for little kids and grown up kids

[pcruisin-442-427469 · 10/10 · 5 August 2012]

Top show from WETA the Lord of the Rings CGI house. Plots are great for children, the dry wit very amusing for accompanying adults as well.

The eye contact between characters gives some idea of the level of graphics development, and that hair! Repeated viewings (as part of child minding) always impresses with attention to fine graphic detail. The appropriate mouth movement accompanying clearly spoken words is rare at this level of detailed animation.

The series is played free to air on the ABC (Australian BC) with no fanfare, resulting in chance viewings and many missed episodes. I applaud the organisation (Australian dictionary) and planning of one person who has DVR'd all 26 episodes for future viewing (even though the producers did not get to see a reward in this case).

Absolutely marvelous show for babysitting small children.

The DVD's are available via the ABC Shop in Australia for the true adherents. Being a local I don't know if they deliver OS.

So original . . .

[blkdimnd · 10/10 · 21 October 2018]

The animation alone is stunningly original, love the intellect wit and vulnerability of 🐉 Dragon, the unconventional ambition of Jane, her unwavering perseverance the trials tribulations and rewards . . .

Uncanny Valley

[cheyenneskinner-98961 · 10/10 · 29 July 2021]

Loved this show as a kid it was one of my favourites but it gave me borderline uncanny valley vibes.

Fantastic

[mercymaymbewe · 9/10 · 24 April 2020]

I first watched this show when I was 8 and I haven't forgotten it since, the theme song literally rings in my head from time to time. Jane is a great role model for girls. I think it's important that such shows exist to help young girls know that they can pursue any career path!