Dragon Tales: the forgotten hit cartoon from PBS

[Surreal Kangaroo]

Holy moly, there's a Facebook group for Dragon Tales that has over 20,000 members...

This doesn’t really surprise me. I know of more than a few people who are a bit younger than me who said they watched the show as kids (I was like 10 when it premiered so it was after my time). I think the main reason why it doesn’t come up as much as other shows from that era is that it’s for a younger audience. In my experience at least, people seem to be more nostalgic over what they watched when they were grade school aged, not when they were three.

 

[CassieTheDragon]

Man, I love Dragon Tales! Though, it's definitely nowhere near forgotten. It was reran on PBS stations and PBS Kids Sprout until 2010 (unfortunately due to losing broadcast rights)

Also, it was available to stream on Netflix until 2016. Sesame Workshop had a falling with them due to the HBO deal, never understood why Dragon Tales was never on Max. Although, it is on Prime Video, so there might be some sort of exclusive deal there.

I've always considered it forgotten, at least compared to the PBS cartoons surrounding it. Like, it was just as popular as The Magic School Bus, Clifford and even Arthur back in 2002; nowadays all three of those are far more talked about than Dragon Tales. Which is, again, quite the fall from how popular it was in the 2000s.

 

[CassieTheDragon]

This doesn’t really surprise me. I know of more than a few people who are a bit younger than me who said they watched the show as kids (I was like 10 when it premiered so it was after my time). I think the main reason why it doesn’t come up as much as other shows from that era is that it’s for a younger audience. In my experience at least, people seem to be more nostalgic over what they watched when they were grade school aged, not when they were three.

I feel like people born after 1991 are far more nostalgic for Dragon Tales than people born in/before '91. They were just young enough to enjoy it I feel.

 

[CassieTheDragon]

Man, I love Dragon Tales! Though, it's definitely nowhere near forgotten. It was reran on PBS stations and PBS Kids Sprout until 2010 (unfortunately due to losing broadcast rights)

Also, it was available to stream on Netflix until 2016. Sesame Workshop had a falling with them due to the HBO deal, never understood why Dragon Tales was never on Max. Although, it is on Prime Video, so there might be some sort of exclusive deal there.

Not on Prime anymore, but it is on The Roku Channel. Granted, I doubt any Gen Alpha kids will ever be exposed to it, unfortunately.

 

[doglover44]

Not on Prime anymore, but it is on The Roku Channel. Granted, I doubt any Gen Alpha kids will ever be exposed to it, unfortunately.

I didnt know it was on Roku will have to check it out again cant wait to see my favorite characters again Zak and Wheezie and Ord.

 

[CNNickFan]

Not on Prime anymore, but it is on The Roku Channel. Granted, I doubt any Gen Alpha kids will ever be exposed to it, unfortunately.

Oh, sucks it's not on Prime anymore. Why was it removed, expired rights??? Roku Channel isn't a bad replacement for it, I guess? Wish it was on Netflix still

 

[CassieTheDragon]

Oh, sucks it's not on Prime anymore. Why was it removed, expired rights??? Roku Channel isn't a bad replacement for it, I guess? Wish it was on Netflix still

The Roku Channel is mostly filled with garbage, as I touched on a bit in a previous thread.

 

[SpecialColorfull]

The Roku Channel is mostly filled with garbage, as I touched on a bit in a previous thread.

Dragon Tales should run in some Nostalgia channel broadcast diginet. It could be a huge hit.

 

[CassieTheDragon]

I'm kind of surprised there hasn't been at least some sort of continuation of Dragon Tales in any form. It seems like every single other big PBS cartoon (or PBS show in general) from the same period as Dragon Tales has come back in some way.

 

[entransify]

I'm kind of surprised there hasn't been at least some sort of continuation of Dragon Tales in any form. It seems like every single other big PBS cartoon (or PBS show in general) from the same period as Dragon Tales has come back in some way.

Sony owns it, so not very likely to happen.

 

[CassieTheDragon]

Sony owns it, so not very likely to happen.

Do they just not care about their 90s animated shows?

 

[SpecialColorfull]

I'm kind of surprised there hasn't been at least some sort of continuation of Dragon Tales in any form. It seems like every single other big PBS cartoon (or PBS show in general) from the same period as Dragon Tales has come back in some way.

To be honest I dont want one, if there was it would have to be animated in low budget flash, which would be so heartbreaking to see. Dragon Tales had such great wamr animation.

 

[PrevueLovesAnimeTV]

Man, I love Dragon Tales! Though, it's definitely nowhere near forgotten. It was reran on PBS stations and PBS Kids Sprout until 2010 (unfortunately due to losing broadcast rights)

Also, it was available to stream on Netflix until 2016. Sesame Workshop had a falling with them due to the HBO deal, never understood why Dragon Tales was never on Max. Although, it is on Prime Video, so there might be some sort of exclusive deal there.

Since Sony co-produced the show with Sesame, they own the rights

 

[CassieTheDragon]

Since Sony co-produced the show with Sesame, they own the rights

Does Sesame own any rights though?

 

[entransify]

Does Sesame own any rights though?

No, that's why PBS no longer airs it. Getting the rights from Sony would be too expensive.

 

[PrevueLovesAnimeTV]

Does Sesame own any rights though?

no, according to kidscreen, sony owns the series

Sesame could't get it on (HBO) Max

Due to Sony owning the rights

 

[CassieTheDragon]

no, according to kidscreen, sony owns the series

Sesame could't get it on (HBO) Max

Due to Sony owning the rights

I think Sony only holds distribution rights, and Sesame Workshop holds non-distribution rights. Not sure about the rights issues.

 

[CassieTheDragon]

Happy very belated birthday to Dragon Tales. Now it's 25 years old.

 

[SpecialColorfull]

Happy very belated birthday to Dragon Tales. Now it's 25 years old.

Dragon Tales, Dragon Tales! Es hora ya de Dragon Tales!
(Time for Dragon Tales in Spanish)

 

[Jim Coane]

Read you history of "Dragon Tales" the forgotten hit cartoon from PBS and found it fun and informative to read. I was the creator of the series "Dragon Tales" based on Ron Roedecker's art work and also the Executive Producer of the first three seasons. To clarify a few things:

The bible was created by several writers including myself, Cliff and Elana Lesser and several Canadian writers, especially Peter Moss. All were very additive. Jeffery Scott is not credited on top sheet of original or final bible. Also, he did not write "I wish, I wish with all my heart" for the transition in-and-out of Dragon Land and credit should go to Cliff and Elana. Jeffery Scott made huge contributions to the series and was one of two writing supervisors for half the episodes along with Cliff and Elana. Other big credits should go to Marjorie Kalins and Nina Bamberger for CTW (Nina sadly died before the series was broadcast) and Sony's writer Jeff Kline and animation designer Richard Raynus.

If anyone would like more details please email me -- [email protected]

Jim Coane