Do you remember Dragon Tales? The show took us to a magical world of dragons, where we learned about friendship, courage, and imagination. The show that made us sing along to catchy songs and laugh at funny jokes? The show that was part of our childhood and still holds a special place in our hearts?
If you do, then you are not alone. Dragon Tales was one of the most popular and beloved children's shows of its time, airing on PBS Kids from 1999 to 2005. It was created by Jim Coane and Ron Rodecker and produced by Sony Pictures Television, Sesame Workshop, Columbia TriStar Television, and Adelaide Production. It followed the adventures of two siblings, Emmy and Max, who discovered a dragon scale in their new home and used it to travel to Dragon Land, where they befriended six friendly dragons: Ord, Cassie, Zak, Wheezie, Quetzal, and Enrique.
Today, I want to pay tribute to this amazing show that shaped my childhood and many others. As usual, at Geezezone, we go back in time to the good old days when life was easier and shows were epic. While I was not really a child during the premier dragon tale airing, I was still fascinated by its plot and execution. There learned a lot from this show.
Background History of the Dragon Tales TV Show
If you are a fan of Dragon Tales, you might be curious about how this amazing show came to be. Who created it? When did it start? What inspired it? Let’s look briefly at the background history of the Dragon Tales TV show.
Dragon Tales was based on the characters created in 1978 by Ron Rodecker, a retired educator and artist from Laguna Beach, California. Rodecker was recovering from a heart surgery when he began sketching dragons as a way of symbolizing forces in life that were too big to control¹ He also wanted to create characters that would appeal to children and inspire them to learn and grow.
Rodecker's sketches caught the attention of Jim Coane, an executive producer at Columbia TriStar Television, who saw the potential of turning them into a children's show. Coane teamed up with Wesley Eure, Jeffrey Scott, Cliff Ruby, and Elana Lesser to develop the concept and the story of Dragon Tales¹ They also partnered with Sesame Workshop, Sony Pictures Television, and Adelaide Productions to produce the show.
Dragon Tales premiered on PBS Kids on September 6, 1999, and ran for three seasons until November 25, 2005. It was an animated educational fantasy show that followed the adventures of two siblings, Emmy and Max, who discovered a dragon scale in their new home and used it to travel to Dragon Land, where they befriended six friendly dragons: Ord, Cassie, Zak, Wheezie, Quetzal, and Enrique.
The show aimed to teach children valuable lessons about life, such as friendship, cooperation, empathy, courage, honesty, responsibility, diversity, creativity, and problem-solving. It also encouraged children to use their imagination and explore their curiosity. The show featured colorful animation and catchy songs that matched the themes and moods of the episodes.
Dragon Tales was one of the most popular and beloved children's shows of its time. It received critical acclaim and won several awards for its quality and educational value. It also had a loyal fan base that spanned across generations and cultures.
Dragon Tales was more than just a show. It was a vision of a world where dragons and humans could live together in harmony and learn from each other. It was a celebration of imagination and learning. It was a gift from Ron Rodecker and his team to all the children who watched it.
The Story and Setting of Dragon Tales: How It All Began
The series follows the adventures of Emmy and Max, two siblings who are human. When they move to their new home, they discover a magical dragon scale that can take them to Dragon Land, a wonderful fantasy world where colorful dragons live.
They make friends with four kind dragons who have different personalities - Ord, who is strong but scared; Cassie, who is sweet but shy; and Zak and Wheezie, who are twins that are very different from each other. The two kids often go to Dragon Land and help their friends with their quests and problems, and learn valuable lessons from their experiences in Dragon Land.
The dragons have badges that glow when they overcome their challenges. A new character named Enrique joined the show to teach preschoolers about Hispanic culture. Emmy and Max have adventures with their dragon friends and learn from them.
The program is a series on PBS that teaches kids both social and academic skills. It covers topics like shapes, words and letters in English and Spanish, numbers and math. It also teaches kids how to be good friends and teammates, how to deal with problems like jealousy or fear and how to get along with brothers and sisters.
Many of the show’s songs between scenes, called “Dragon Tunes,” also teach these things. For example, “Make It Fun” tells kids not to whine about boring tasks like doing dishes or helping parents make food, but instead find ways to enjoy them. And “Hum” tells kids who are scared of the dark or new things to hum quietly to calm themselves.
The program has three main goals for its education: to make kids want to try new things, to help kids face and learn from difficulties and to show kids that learning can happen even when they don’t do everything right.Even though two of the show’s human characters, Emmy and Enrique, are six years old, the show is meant for kids who are about four years old.
One of the main themes of the show is to help children express their feelings openly and honestly. In one episode, Cassie is jealous of her little brother, Finn, who gets all the attention when she brings him to school.
She talks to her friend, Emmy, and her teacher, Quetzal, and learns that it’s normal to feel jealous sometimes, but that she can also love her brother and feel loved by others. In another episode, Enrique misses his old home in Colombia when his birthday is different in Dragon Land. He talks to Quetzal, who tells him that it’s okay to cry, even though he thinks he’s too old for that. After crying, he feels better and has fun at his party.
About the Characters In Dragon Tales
Emmy (Andrea Libman) is a six-year-old girl who is the leader of the group. She is brave, smart, and kind. She loves to learn new things and help others. Emmy is a brunette girl who is one of the main protagonists of Dragon Tales. She is the older sister of Max and the best friend of Cassie. She is adventurous a
nd brave, and she loves to explore and learn new things in Dragon Land.Emmy is often the leader of the group and she likes to help others and solve problems. She is kind and caring, but she can also be bossy and impatient. She sometimes gets annoyed by her brother’s antics or by the dragons’ mistakes, but she always forgives them and apologizes for her own faults.
Emmy has a catchphrase “Definitely!” that she says whenever a good idea arises. She also likes to say “Love it! Love it! Love it!” when she is excited or happy. She enjoys playing games and having fun with her friends, especially Zak and Wheezie.
Max (Danny McKinnon) is Emmy’s four-year-old brother who is curious and playful. He sometimes gets scared or frustrated, but he always tries his best. He likes to make jokes and have fun.
Enrique (Aida Ortega) is a six-year-old boy who moved from Colombia to Emmy and Max’s neighborhood. He is shy and cautious, but he also has a big imagination and a sense of adventure. He joins Emmy and Max in their visits to Dragon Land.
Ord (Ty Olsson) is a large blue dragon who is very strong and loyal. He is afraid of many things, but he always overcomes his fears with the help of his friends. He loves to collect things and hug his friends.
Cassie (Chantal Strand) is a small pink dragon who is very sweet and gentle. She is often shy and timid, but she also has a lot of courage and wisdom. She loves to read books and learn new things.
Zak (Jason Michas) is a green dragon who is one of the twins. He is smart and logical, but he can also be stubborn and bossy. He likes to invent things and solve problems. He shares a body with his twin sister Wheezie. He controls the right side of their body, while Wheezie controls the left side. They often have different opinions and preferences, but they also love each other very much.
Zak is smart and logical, and he likes to invent things and solve problems. He is calm and rational, but he can also be stubborn and bossy. He sometimes thinks he knows better than others, which can make him seem arrogant or rude. Zak has a passion for science and he likes to experiment with different gadgets and tools. He also likes to play chess and other strategy games. He enjoys learning new things and challenging himself, especially with his friend Enrique.
Wheezie (Kathleen Barr)
She is a purple dragon who is the other twin. She is loud and energetic, but she can also be impulsive and reckless. She likes to sing, dance, and make noise.
Wheezie shares a body with her twin brother Zak. She controls the left side of their body, while Zak controls the right side. They often have different opinions and preferences, but they also love each other very much.Wheezie is loud and energetic, and she loves to sing, dance, and make noise. She is very friendly and cheerful, but she can also be impulsive and reckless. She sometimes acts without thinking, which can get her and her friends into trouble.
Wheezie has a passion for music and she plays a trumpet-like instrument called a squawker. She also likes to collect shiny things and keep them in her treasure chest. She enjoys playing games and having fun with her friends, especially Emmy and Max.
Quetzal (Eli Gabay)
He is an old yellow dragon who is the teacher and mentor of the group. He is wise and kind, and he always has a lesson or a story to share. He lives in the School in the Sky where he teaches the young dragons.
He is the teacher and mentor of the group. He came from Mexico and has been in Dragon Land for many centuries. He also has an identical twin brother named Fernando, who is rarely seen on the show.
Quetzal is wise and kind, and he always has a lesson or a story to share. He lives in the School in the Sky where he teaches the young dragons about Dragon Land, how to solve everyday problems and puzzles, and most importantly how to have fun.
Quetzal tries to encourage his students to find solutions to their problems on their own, but he is also a sounding board who offers stability and comfort, as well as sound advice. He cares deeply for his students and friends, especially Emmy and Max.
Why Dragon Tales is More Than Just a Show for Me
There are so many reasons why I love Dragon Tales, but here are some of the main ones:
It was fun and entertaining.
Dragon Tales was always full of excitement and humor. The characters had distinct personalities and quirks that made them lovable and relatable. The stories were creative and engaging, with different challenges and surprises in each episode. The animation was colorful and expressive, bringing Dragon Land to life. And the songs were catchy and memorable, with lyrics matching the episodes’ themes and moods.
It was educational and inspiring.
Dragon Tales was not just a show for entertainment. It also had a purpose: to teach children valuable lessons about life. Each episode had a moral or a message that the characters learned through their experiences in Dragon Land. Some of the topics covered were friendship, cooperation, empathy, courage, honesty, responsibility, diversity, creativity, and problem-solving. The show also encouraged children to use their imagination and explore their curiosity.
It was nostalgic and comforting.
Dragon Tales was a show that I grew up with. It was part of my daily routine as a kid. I would watch it every morning before school or every afternoon after school. It was like a friend that was always there for me. It made me happy when I was sad, calm when I was angry, and brave when I was scared. It reminded me of simpler times when all I needed was a dragon scale and a wish.
Dragon Tales: The Show that Shaped My Values and Skills
Dragon Tales taught me many things that have stayed with me until now. These include:
Friendship is precious. Dragon Tales showed me what true friendship means. It means caring for each other, supporting each other, respecting each other, having fun with each other, and being loyal to each other. It means accepting each other's differences and celebrating each other's strengths. It means being honest with each other and apologizing when you make mistakes. It means being there for each other through thick and thin.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Dragon Tales showed me that courage is not about being fearless. It is about facing your fears and overcoming them. It is about trying new things and taking risks. It is about standing up for what you believe in and what is right. It is about being yourself and expressing your feelings.
Imagination is powerful. Dragon Tales showed me that imagination is not just a way of escaping reality. It is also a way of creating reality. It is a way of exploring possibilities and discovering new things. It is a way of expressing yourself and your ideas. It is a way of learning and growing.
Final Thoughts
Dragon Tales was more than just a show for me. It was a source of joy, inspiration, and friendship. It taught me valuable lessons about life, such as how to overcome fears, how to cooperate with others, how to respect differences, and how to have fun. It also sparked my imagination and creativity and made me curious about the world around me. I will always cherish the memories of watching Dragon Tales with my family and friends and singing along to the catchy songs.
Dragon Tales was a magical part of my childhood, and I hope it will continue to enchant and educate new generations of children. Thank you, Dragon Tales, for taking me on amazing adventures and making me believe in dragons. I wish I could go to Dragon Land one more time. Definitely!
What are your memories of Dragon Tales?
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