Somethings bugging me about American Dragon.

[I.R Joey]

And for once it has nothing to do with The Disney Channel not knowing what continuity means.

Okay after seeing the episode Dragon Sumit we learn that every country when it comes of age gets a dragon to watch over it. Right? And we learn that Jake is the newest member of the group. The Australian Dragon was the "new kid" before Jake was. But if I'm not mistaken Australia actually became a sovreign country (free from the British crown) after the United States did. So did Mexico I believe, and we saw a Mexican Dragon in there somewhere.

Which lead me to think that the dragons actually guarded the territorys for many years before the countries we know of today existed. But then I noticed that the Australian Dragon was of European descent rather than being an Aborginie. And for that matter if that were true Jake should have been a Deleware or Iriqouis or a member of some other kind of North Eastern American Indian nation rather then Asian American. So that theory went out the window. So now I don't know how this Dragon selection process is suppouse to work. Can anyone fill me in. Kzanth? You'd know, can you tell me how this is suppouse to work?

[Wolfcruiser]

So did Mexico I believe, and we saw a Mexican Dragon in there somewhere.

Um...Mexico wasn't controlled by Britain, the French wanted to take it over but they lost at the battle of Puebla, May 5th.

Hmmm...very interesting. I just barely caught the end of that episode. I see Jake is still using out his slang.

[CookieS]

Yeah, but couldn't there be multiple dragons for each country? Like a president or king is...one steps down, another takes his/her place? Maybe the last American dragon just stepped down or passed away, and Jake is the newest one. Considering they're all humans and probably not enteral (afterall, the grandfather ages), then this probably happens all the time.

[I.R Joey]

Um...Mexico wasn't controlled by Britain, the French wanted to take it over but they lost at the battle of Puebla, May 5th.

Hmmm...very interesting. I just barely caught the end of that episode. I see Jake is still using out his slang.
Sorry I meant to say that Mexico became a sovreign nation after the U.S did. If I'm not mistaken.

[kzanth]

Yes, this is a conundrum. I poised this question early on: Jake is a combo- Chinese/ American (European). Would that mean that ALL the dragons around the world had to have Asian descent? No, according to our loose rules. The outward 'race' of a dragon can be anything (and usually influences their dragon form).

Also, there was some talk of making Fred Nerk aboriginal, but for some reason that I can't recall at the moment, that idea was shot down. I wouldn't be surprised if it was because Disney tends to get nervous if the antagonist characters are of color. If anything, Fred could be mix Aboriginal/ Eurpoean, although it's certainly not addressed in his character design (other than maybe his 'curly' hair).

According to the mythos we set up, though, Jake IS supposed to be the very first AMERICAN dragon...at least in the U.S. Why Australia and Mexico (and there's a Canadian Dragon in there, too) got one's before us is beyond me.

And one final plea about the 'slang': It was always meant to be annoying. I was just talking to the writers about this the other day. The slang was always supposed to be a 'sign' of Jake being overconfident and too full of himself. He THINKS that's what being cool sounds like. Then he gets knocked down a peg. Then when he's actually serious or humble, he talks normally.

I've tried to explain this before, but no one seems to listen. We thought we were being obvious about it. Why does no one get it?

[dreamofdragon]

I've tried to explain this before, but no one seems to listen. We thought we were being obvious about it. Why does no one get it? [Kzanth]

Wow!!!!...interesting thread. I can't say much for now as I am in a hurry. But from the above quote, if you ask me.....modern day audiences are not likely to notice these characterisation. It is my theory that if writers want audiences to notice these little subtlelities, they have to make it, like, really obvious.Short of simply just telling them instead of trying to show them. Which is a pity as the ability to show, as opposed to simply telling, saparates the men from the boys. There is a world of difference between showing love through gestures, expressions (cupid eyes, carefull batting eyelids, seductive carress...) and simply saying 'I Love U'

Act 4 Scene 15 did a really good job in showing the love/enmity between Jake and Rose by choosing Anthony and Cleopatra as a comparison. The effect cannot be expressed in words.

[MRWU]

Has anyone out there been around urban skateboard loving kids in their teens. They are constantly using "slang". You even hear white kids calling each other "My N**ger". The slang Jake uses does not bother me. As a matter of fact I recall how my grandfather had to tolerate my slang of the Rock and Roll era. This is an interesting aspect of the show. Watching Grandpa deal with it is nostalgic.

[I.R Joey]

Yes, this is a conundrum. I poised this question early on: Jake is a combo- Chinese/ American (European). Would that mean that ALL the dragons around the world had to have Asian descent? No, according to our loose rules. The outward 'race' of a dragon can be anything (and usually influences their dragon form). It can be anything? But since Jake is Biracial you'd think that he'd look the way he does (genetically) and that his dragon form would manifest itself at puberty. Or do the dragons choose their human form volintarily?


Also, there was some talk of making Fred Nerk aboriginal, but for some reason that I can't recall at the moment, that idea was shot down. I wouldn't be surprised if it was because Disney tends to get nervous if the antagonist characters are of color. If anything, Fred could be mix Aboriginal/ Eurpoean, although it's certainly not addressed in his character design (other than maybe his 'curly' hair). That's kinda silly but in this world where everything has to be considered a racially insensitive remark I can understand their caution. It explains the hunts clan anyway. But given the identity of the spy within the Dragon guild you have to wonder if it's just about being "non white". Anyway, when I first saw Nerk I thought he was some kind of "Dream time" creature so I half expected him to be Aborigonal.


According to the mythos we set up, though, Jake IS supposed to be the very first AMERICAN dragon...at least in the U.S. Why Australia and Mexico (and there's a Canadian Dragon in there, too) got one's before us is beyond me. That brings up an interesting question. How many Dragon's (other then the ones protecting their countries) are there around the world?


And one final plea about the 'slang': It was always meant to be annoying. I was just talking to the writers about this the other day. The slang was always supposed to be a 'sign' of Jake being overconfident and too full of himself. He THINKS that's what being cool sounds like. Then he gets knocked down a peg. Then when he's actually serious or humble, he talks normally. I've tried to explain this before, but no one seems to listen. We thought we were being obvious about it. Why does no one get it?Just keep working at it man. I understand what you're aiming for but alot of us find it more annoying than charecter building. If you underlined it just a little more in the coming season (and used it more sparingly) I think it'll come off better.

[90'sCartoonMan]

According to the mythos we set up, though, Jake IS supposed to be the very first AMERICAN dragon...at least in the U.S. Why Australia and Mexico (and there's a Canadian Dragon in there, too) got one's before us is beyond me.
I just figured that the magic that creates/choses whatever dragon comes from the country itself and can choose anyone born there. Maybe America didn't need a dragon until recently because the magical creatures didn't set up shop/need protection yet.


And one final plea about the 'slang': It was always meant to be annoying. I was just talking to the writers about this the other day. The slang was always supposed to be a 'sign' of Jake being overconfident and too full of himself. He THINKS that's what being cool sounds like. Then he gets knocked down a peg. Then when he's actually serious or humble, he talks normally.

I've tried to explain this before, but no one seems to listen. We thought we were being obvious about it. Why does no one get it?
I noticed Jake talking more normal when he was in a serious situation, but I didn't know he thinks that's how being cool sounds like (although the thought did cross my mind when he was asking for dates to the dance...wow, talk about masking your insecurities). So you're trying to make the slang annoying and this isn't Disney making a character that appeals to kids by having him sound like what they think kids sound like? Wow, thanks kzanth, I have a higher opinion of the show now.

[kzanth]

So you're trying to make the slang annoying and this isn't Disney making a character that appeals to kids by having him sound like what they think kids sound like?

No, you're right in a way. They did want a kid that spoke in the 'hip-hop' slang they think kids speak nowadays. We just tried to do it in a way that we'd be comfortable with, that made sense to us.