The contenders:
American Dragon: Jake Long
Disney Channel, premiered January 21, 2005
Main Character: Jake Long, pre-teen descendant of long line of shape-shifting dragons
Supernatural responsibility: Protect New York City from supernatural menaces
Supernatural power: Can turn into a flying dragon
Mentor: Grandfather Luong Lao Shi; can also turn into a dragon
Sibling: annoying 8 year-old sister Haley; can also turn into a dragon
Pet: 600 year-old talking Shar Pei ‘Fu Dog’
and in this corner:
The Life and Times of Juniper Lee
Cartoon Network, premiered May 30, 2005
Main Character: Juniper Lee, pre-teen descendant of family charged with maintaining the balance between the human and spirit worlds
Supernatural responsibility: Protect 'Orchid Bay City' (i.e., San Francisco) from supernatural menaces
Supernatural powers: Super strength, speed and agility
Mentor: Grandmother Jasmine
Siblings: annoying 8 year-old brother Ray Ray (also, 14 year-old brother Dennis)
Pet: Monroe – Centuries-old talking pug (speaks with a Scottish accent)
The winnah:
Jake by a (very long) dragon’s neck. Not only did he get on the air first, he can turn into a dragon; how cool is that?
Me conscience is bothering me...
I’m being unfair, Juniper Long and Jake Lee are completely different shows: Monroe has a Scottish accent and Fu Dog doesn’t…
Joe Strike has written about animation for numerous publications. He is the author of Furry Nation: The True Story of America's Most Misunderstood Subculture.
