Jane and the dragon

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!