DefunctTV: The History of Dragon Tales

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In thie episode of DefunctTV, Kevin explores the history of the PBS Kids animated series, Dragon Tales.
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[@loveandcupcakes100]

"...becoming PBS's number one Preschool program..." *Me, a kid who watched it well into junior high:* Only the cowards stop watching it at preschool.

[@KhayJayArt]

Lol

[@Lostinmyhead23]

Lazy C lmao fr! I used to watch it when they added shows like Martha Speaks and that dinosaur show

[@slightlyuncomfortable]

@@Lostinmyhead23 martha speaks was the shit

[@scarebear1265]

Preach dude!

[@alia7750]

Lazy C it was a really good show.

[@ShootingStarNeo]

>Dragon designs were based off his golden retriever. I'm gonna fucking cry that's so sweet.

[@headphonic8]

Watching mine play fight right now, I can see why he used them as inspiration hahahah

[@CoercedJab]

Get a grip. The show was trying to teach y’all to manage emotions not pander them

[@N.S0]

@@CoercedJab and clearly you learned nothing

[@poggersuni9637]

@@N.S0 emotions are a powerful thing, both good and bad. They can be easily swayed, both by yourself and others. What you do with said emotions is up to you.

[@benjim8462]

@@CoercedJab I hope whatever made you this cold and unfeeling changes I wish you the best in your life and hope you can find joy in the little things like we do have a good day

[@war2theren227]

This show was my childhood, as poor kid with no cable PBS Kids was amazing

[@CanadianBear47]

cbc bunny ears? did u have bunny ears? cable is a luxury

[@jessicapearson9479]

Contrary to what you believe. Cable use to be free for all the same channels you could get with bunny ears. It wasn't until the tv industry became monopolized that you had to pay for cable and they made it so you couldn't use bunny ears. They they first started charging money for cable it wasn't contract only like now and it was very low. So poor families could afford it. Now they have jacked the prices up. I only have DVDs because the cost of tv is so much. I have my phone though. It is prepaid and you can get smartphones now for extremely cheap as well as second hand (which is what I did). Most people including poor people can have access to fee entertainment (Thanks for KZbin, free apps and more.) Without having to pay for tv now. Soon people will no longer have TVs as our phones take their place just like satellite TV took cable's place which too the place of bunny ears. Also, keep in mind that back when this show was made. Our money had more value and things cost less. They were made to last and the economy was all about making things affordable to everyone regardless of their financial situation. By the way, being poor doesn't mean you have no money. It means you don't make as much as low class, who doesn't make as much as middle class who doesn't make as much as first class. Anyone who makes less that 30k a year is considered poor. You should read up on how things actually work. It might surprise you, but the poor image you are picturing in your head is not realistic and you most likely got that image from (ironically) TV and movies. In short you can afford anything even while poor if you take care to pay attention to the valu6of money and budget and save according.

[@squigglez_420]

Channel 6 for PBS. Channel 3 for the N64.

[@avah4455]

Oh, same. We loved, loved, loved this show. I’ll STILL watch it with children if I can manage to get THEM to watch it hahah. My little sister said it was “too old”

[@bestcity0979]

Quba CBS kids PBS EspanolA 😢suck sweet memories

[@IsAbElGoNzAlEz9829]

“Brought to viewers like you; Thank you” actually made me so fucking emotional. I remember hearing that whenever you watched any PBS show. Damn the nostalgia hit me HARD

[@bestcity0979]

PBS be hosting weather advisory’s 😢

[@elmerescobar881]

Ikr

[@zay_thegentleman288]

That's a childhood trauma for me LowKey. Nostalgic, yet terrifying to relive. Was always eerie because it felt that voice was watching mE and my sister 💀👀👀. I was a weird kid 👍👍

[@robbiesmoonmusic]

Right? Soooo nostalgic

[@01afj]

I felt so bad I couldn't contribute even though I was 7 years old 😔

[@SaltpeterTaffy]

"and in most episodes, her disability was irrelevant to the plot" THAT is how you normalize it! Good stuff.

[@somedude172]

honestly! i completely forgot that character was disabled until watching this video, same for the hispanic culture. but now that i look back, it definitely changed my perspective as a kid

[@kellieangotti1049]

I didn't even know that character was a girl! I always assumed she was a boy. xD

[@spencerpetunia8268]

@@kellieangotti1049 Yeah, I'm also like "Dorcas was a GIRL?!?!?"

[@Neville60001]

Much like another Columbia/Tri-Star show airing in the late '90's, _Extreme Ghostbusters_ (the character of Garret was wheelchair bound, but what he was wheelchair bound for was never a factor, and he even used to play basketball sometimes.)

[@UltraSwordKirby1]

Honestly, how could they do it so well in the early 2000s yet people act like it's hard nowadays?

[@Shenaldrac]

"...and viewers like you." God, it's like I'm 10 years old again and watching PBS.

[@madelinegarber7860]

Shenaldrac omg I know! I’m tearing up a little remembering. Especially the dragon badges.

[@KidSnivy69]

Don't forget the: Thank You!

[@thereal_SEV]

I remember playing with the VHS boxes

[@Shenaldrac]

@@TreeBranchStudios GOD. It's in my head now too.

[@ronellestanton3976]

So true

[@Verlisify]

"Demographic between 2 and 7" 10 year old me feels personally attacked

[@dragontales1999]

There's 20 year olds that still watch it...

[@nignamedmutt7270]

lol I never got a chance to watch it until well after I graduated high school because it was only ever on when I was in school. I recall loving it as a kid(the 2-3 episodes I saw in the dentists office), when I was finally an adult and watched a few episodes all I could think was "fuck I wish I could have watched it when I was younger.... oh well" and changed the channel lol

[@melissalittle2443]

I watched it from like 4-11

[@jaymartin8273]

Same here! I never knew or cared that it was for preschoolers. I was a simple tween, it had dragons, I'm watching :=)

[@aliciamoon9816]

Likewise haha.

[@lydia.b.philips]

Knowing Ron passed away in 2021 makes seeing all of his art so bittersweet. He was a truly talented creator

[@tfordham13]

He drew good but the show was awful

[@Supersquigi]

He passed away with a small legacy, AND was able to make something of himself after his near death experience. He did a great job with what opportunities he had.

[@thatswhatshesaid2777]

How dare you say such blasphemy!!!!!

[@davidb5205]

All the PBS Kids whose parents couldn't afford cable TV got recommended this video.

[@UTwasHere]

Im in this and i dont like it

[@also_arles]

+theodd1sout

[@emanuelsosa6037]

Bruh PBS is all I ever watched

[@bobblehead7732]

David Boucard aye that was me never had cable till I was 12 but by then i was put on Netflix and hulu and amazon so there wasn’t no need for cable

[@kindle9597]

Shout out to channel 18

[@PatchworkFiction]

Dragon Tales, Arthur and Cyberchase basically raised me. 😭

[@ydoomenaud]

That's actually not a bad selection of influences on a kid.

[@ThatCoolKidYouKnow]

I'm 25 I watched those as a kid

[@infiniteoctopaw]

Rachel Hart *right in the nostalgia*

[@haitianprincess718]

Rachel Hart and Between the Lions!!!

[@nicoleraheem1195]

Oh no I forgot about cyberchase😩 I loved that show

[@loverlei79]

When I was 23 I was in a horrific wreck that left me paralyzed. Dragontales got me through 2 years of hospitalization. I wouldn't have emotionally made it without Dragontales.

[@KylieOhLovely]

I’m so happy you are okay

[@jamiesmith2724]

❤

[@alecwhatshisname5170]

Dang. In America? How much was the bill?

[@loverlei79]

@@alecwhatshisname5170 i paid nothing. Disability covers everything.

[@alecwhatshisname5170]

@@loverlei79 thank the lord. Glad you got a little silver lining. Have a good life. 🤜

[@gjmguy7994]

I have fond memories of me and my sister wishing on the soap bar as if it were a dragon scale and pretending we were going to Dragon Land.

[@divvydooby]

Me and my sister did the same thing😊

[@lunamoth7044]

I tried to do that too,.but with a big stone.

[@andiflores4638]

That’s so cute 🥺

[@melissadavis9714]

That is absolutely adorable.

[@WittyOriginalUsername]

My mom made me a “dragon scale” out of cardboard, and some glue and glitter

[@dezzydream]

I love that they included a disabled character and didn't make the disability the focus of that character. It represents that us disabled folk are just like you and we can enjoy the same things you enjoy.

[@AlexMiloYaron]

Iris I love that they showed that even with dragons not all of them can fly, like Zak and Weezy, and not all of them could walk too

[@Stereo6400]

The fact that it’s never focused on is really nice, because typically when I go out my wheelchair/brace seems to be what everyone sees first, then me. It can make you feel terrible. Sometimes it makes you feel so horrible you almost feel less than human. But the fact that there are people willing to look past the braces and the wheelchairs and the medical equipment and to the person that is inside is really comforting.

[@subduedreader5627]

And then there's a third approach with Extreme Ghostbusters, make the disabled guy a jerk jock.

[@shanksswife]

Idk why this made me smile..:,)

[@kc_9970]

@Robbie Morgan Well... you should see how Sesame Street did their representation of autism with Julia.

[@druscilladarkwa2988]

This video pulled a repressed memory out of my head and beat me to death with it

[@itzpeanut9904]

that had to hurt

[@sonic23233]

This show was weird

[@actual.lizard7804]

Yo same. When those dragons peeled off the wall I just :O

[@jacobnavarro2442]

I actually forget about this show before this video.

[@crocus8080]

Same

[@NAPSninja]

Wasn't expecting to get teary eyed this morning listening to a dragon tails video but that ending really hit me.

[@notaburneraccount]

The ending really got me too. It's amazing how deeply connected and special someone's art can be to others.

[@Randomjarofmarmarlad]

Ngl, I teared up by the end of the video I miss this show

[@ferninthewild8584]

Same 😭

[@Noawarenes]

"...Dragons can engender fear and hopelessness. Or challenge growth and risk" His friend met death with child-like enthusiasm.

[@sandkitten16]

Same, did not expect it but still loved it.

[@benreinicke560]

"Dragons are with us in one form or another, but we have the choice with how we live with them. They can engender fear and helplessness, or challenge growth and risk. I choose to view and portray them as the latter" Oh that's a beautiful message that makes me happy to have grown up with the show!

[@wisesquirrel4986]

I am proud to admit that for me it has been the former for most of my life until now :D I am unconventional, I better start going for the latter though.

[@jasminejordan]

y❤nL😊

[@AnakinDramaticSkywalker]

"the show was for pre-schoolers" when it came on i was like 12, and i fcking loved it

[@schris3]

At the time I thought I was the only 12 years old on Earth who liked the show.

[@Ian16545]

Well, I was 11 when they turned up on PBS-but I didn't get into the show until a few months later while we visiting my grandparents (on Dad's side) outside Washington, D.C.

[@haumea4518]

I didn’t see the original run, but my mom worked at Ikea and whenever we ate lunch there the kids area always had dragon tales running on the little tv embedded in the wall. I watched it constantly every time we visited her at work.

[@RB01.10]

I watched it from around 5 to 8. 8 was when I felt myself getting too old for it.

[@bswtsp21]

I'm 24 and I'd still watch it.

[@jessg5280]

that theme song was a semi truck full of nostalgia that destroyed me

[@RKidd-ex3rh]

it was a full blown freight train for me...…..

[@shadowbug1811]

Don’t forget the awesome background pictures in the credits. Those I remember quite vividly.

[@thatpedanticcommenter5847]

*ROAD ROLLA DA!*

[@JoeMama._.]

Same

[@whatsuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu]

Didnt evem remember the theme til i watched this. great kids show but its obvious why i forgot the theme. Its completely forgettable

[@annak8604]

I met Wesley Eure in 2019 and he was extremely proud of Dragon Tales. I told him how much the show had meant to me as a kid and we sang the theme song together. A lot of really great kind people worked on this beautiful show.

[@beardlessdragon]

That is one of the most wholesome things I've ever heard

[@princessthyemis]

Awww!!!

[@davidrangeljr_]

My earliest memory is watching Dragon Tales and eating macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. I described this to my mom along with my surroundings and she concluded I was 3 years old. I’m 22 now. Man does time fly.

[@erickstaehnke]

That was a good show. I’m 21. Yes, Time does indeed fly. All of these kids shows today are just getting worse.

[@ddplayerfromgodknowswhere7492]

I think the closest memory I had of watching Dragon Tales was I was in the living room eating pancakes and sausages with my mom and brother and I’m guessing it was on the TV. I would say I remember the theme song more than I remember watching the actual show to be honest. I need to start paying more attention to it when the kid that I babysit is watching it in the living room

[@wisesquirrel4986]

"I’m 22 now." I read that as "I was 22 back then. " and assumed it was a punchline XD

[@108wee]

I’m 24 and I have a super vauge memory of dragon tales. I must have watched it when I was 3 to 5 years old because there’s no way I had access to it when I turned 6. The place I was living at the time didn’t have pbs on tv, just Cartoon Network.

[@tfordham13]

Especially with dragons

[@BugsyFoga]

Who else grew up with this PBS kids classic?

[@richieosborn2639]

Nathaniel Foga me

[@itskevinjustkevin]

Me

[@myrandomchannel871]

I did

[@Brad.M.]

I did! Such a good show. So many happy memories from just watching it.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

Me

[@36inc]

ME: no way is this one gonna make me cry. Defunctland: "Im fading into that picture" ME:*sobbing

[@amandawilliams8433]

Rose Erin I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO CRIED WATCHING THIS

[@masterluisYTV]

@@amandawilliams8433 same..tears

[@TackyRackyComixNEO]

Way to gut me right at the end

[@misterpizzaplease245]

I cried and I’m not afraid to admit it!

[@NewfieMan98]

Man, I almost cried when they said the rhyme.

[@kankrivantas5536]

This show really helped me a lot, growing up with neglectful parents and all that. This show taught me a lot of stuff that the adults around me wouldn't. Thank you, Ron. You could have died that day, never having been an artist, but because you didn't a whole generation of children grew up with your beautiful show and wonderful writing. You are now in your own dragon land, but you are even still effecting so many children and adults alike on earth. Thank you.

[@Guineapigsreadingbooks]

Beautiful comment, brought tears to my eyes

[@thenerdbeast7375]

Even though I was above the targeted demographic at the time (I think I was nine or ten) but because of my autism I had trouble socializing with kids closer to my age emotionally. I think Dragon Tales genuinely helped me better socialize with other kids.

[@benjiest]

I had a similar experience

[@AlexReynard]

Pleasantly refreshing to hear that the behind-the-scenes of a calm and nice TV show was... pretty much calm and nice.

[@DMTInfinity]

*Agreed..!* 💜

[@amyshoemaker8430]

Yup

[@NyanCatHerder]

A surprise, to be sure, but an outdated meme can't express how welcome it is.

[@kurtchristensen3016]

I worked on that show. There are so many of my designs featured in this it almost freaked me out. Three of the main characters as well as Captain Scallywag, Dr Booboogone, the butterfly fairy, pirate costumes, various toys, and a few other things are all designs I did for this show. I also worked on Jumanji and Project Geeker. In fact just in the brief clip from Project Geeker alone there are close to ten designs I did of Geeker transforming into random (very random) things. That was a fun time for me!

[@Juichi]

That's amazing. The animation industry is so fascinating to me, but surprisingly I never bothered with it. I did watch the Jumanji show and it's nostalgic to hear about it again.

[@kurtchristensen3016]

@@Juichi Thanks for commenting Juichi. I loved animation from the time I was very small and I always wanted to work in that industry. Stop-motion was always my big thing, but those are hard gigs to get.

[@ShaDHP23]

You did good. You really did

[@SlavTiger]

Thank you for those parts of my childhood.

[@proudnerd3]

Wow! I know this is weird, but I have a very good memory and I remember seeing your name in the credits. Thanks for your work!

[@samrakita4279]

I'm fairly certain that this show was some of the first exposure to disibilties I ever got as a child. I remember the way that Lorca would get through the forest by swinging on the vines in spots he couldn't use his chair. As a kid that was genuinly game changing. I remember seeing that and sudenly understanding that Lorca (and by extention people) could have the same fun as the others, he just sometimes had to do it in a diferent way. Thank you Dragon Tales.

[@SRMkay]

Dragon Tales premiered when I was hospitalized as a kid. I had a special, if brief, connection with it. Hearing that Ron Rodecker was inspired to create his Dragon Land universe after his own hospital stay makes it feel even more special somehow.

[@Little1Cave]

And here I am realizing that Quetzal’s name is short for Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent of Mesoamerican mythology who used its wisdom to teach the arts and sciences to early man. Extraordinary. ❤️

[@gregbaker2377]

The name quetzal is from Nahuatl quetzalli [keˈt͡salːi], "large brilliant tail feather" (American Audubon Dictionary) or "tail coverts of the quetzal" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary), from the Nahuatl root quetz = "stand up" used to refer to an upstanding plume of feathers. The word entered English through Spanish. The word quetzal was originally used for just the resplendent quetzal, the long-tailed quetzal of Guatemala,

[@thomaslamson299]

(Stunned Silence...) "ITS BRILLIANT"

[@XIIxMysticxIIX]

DUDE same

[@hzzzzz1]

Yup! As a child coming from Aztec and Mayan descendants and my mother and grandma speaks Nahuatl this was a joy. Little things like this made me feel safe from the hardships of public schools.

[@Little1Cave]

@@hzzzzz1 That’s wonderful to hear! While I’m FAR from any expert, I did have a phase in grade school where I was passionately learning about Mesoamerican history/culture (was one of my autistic interests). I found out the Maya from an adventure game based on Nancy Drew, got to go to the ruins of Uxmal in summer vacation, and even built a diorama of the city for a grade school project. Those were good, fun times. ^-^

[@elliswomack5234]

"Each show featured an original song" "Funny I don't remember that." -ten seconds later' "Humma, Humma, Humma, Humma, c'mon le the here ya hum."

[@AshtenPassion]

I’m tempted to look up all the songs now because I *know* that I knew them all by heart but I don’t remember any of them now, idk if I’ll be able to emotionally handle the nostalgia though lol

[@thereal_SEV]

Same

[@themackshack9140]

I will always remember the one that went “Get up on your feet, and to everyone you meet, say hello, hello, hello, hello”

[@linrogers8602]

i started tearing up :'0

[@abbie_joan]

it's weird...that song is the only one I remember

[@_Chlorophyllis]

I remember in Pre-K trying to explain to my teacher that kangaroos were not the only animals that had pouches as dragons also had pouches. It was the first time I ever got a wrong answer and made Quetzal out of yellow snapping block we used for math to help me feel better.

[@ashisgod]

Dragon Tales is probably the biggest reason why so many kids love dragons. I feel old now curse you nostalgia

[@TheHManShow]

Ron Rodecker passed away on January 25th 2021 at the age of 90. He lived a long life and helped many children including me develop social skills. He has now faded into the picture of the dragon holding a child’s hand walking into a sunny valley

[@RB01.10]

90 is a blessed age to make it to.

[@ItsJade17]

Dang a day before my birthday.

[@alakazamlover4908]

damn....at least he didn't die in the dark days of 2020 or they would've blame dhis death on Covid

[@pbscraze]

Yeah…..

[@SaiacDraws]

F

[@lonepinata]

“You speak Spanish?!” “Sí, I came from Mexico.” I don’t know what but that was hilarious

[@StarlightPrism]

It just raises some questions. Like, is he from real world Mexico? Or does Dragonland have its own Mexico?

[@KrishnaDasLessons]

K T "Si, soy de México." I think in Dragon Tales, there is an alerternative version of the world where he United States colonizes everything. The United States then forces American accents and English down everyone's throats. Also, they make robotic dragons to maintain children, as everyone's parents died.

[@GiovanniCloud]

@@StarlightPrism I thought the same thing!

[@sinfulrose1822]

He’s named after an Aztec dragon , that’s why 😅

[@crystalwolcott4744]

@@sinfulrose1822 I didn't know that, what a great fact!

[@SMA2343]

As a child, I loved dragon tales. And when they brought Enrique into the show. I loved it. As a Latino, I never saw any representation in cartoons or shows for children, not including Sesame Street, it filled me with joy. Because I saw someone like me on TV. Thank you DragonTales.

[@jairosoto1324]

You right about that..besides Dora the explorer...Dragon tales was one of the few cartoons that had Latinos in it.I'm Mexicano and I remember I could connect more to this show because of it

[@ricochet0928]

Y'know I'm pretty sure this show started my lifelong love of dragons 🐉

[@echinaceapetals4143]

"I'm fading into that picture." Ok I did not expect to cry on my lunch break today but here we are.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

bruh moment

[@TonyMontana-tc8np]

Same here as well, stranger from the past

[@ShaudaySmith]

A year later... that finishing line clobbered my ice cold heart to pieces.

[@pifilixxiv3192]

Same here *Ohh good lord*

[@emmazone2403]

1.1k like

[@danielsauers7783]

Request: The History of Clifford the Big Red Dog

[@zachdavis5854]

That would be really cool

[@iHeartsNostalgiaPit]

why doesn't he do all the PBS Kids cartoons from the late 90s to early 2000s while we wait for season 3 then?

[@iancooperman8970]

Just in time for the reboot.

[@iHeartsNostalgiaPit]

I know a live action movie is coming but I didn't know a CtBRD reboot was coming.

[@samdance7388]

Ans Barney and Friends

[@Monii4251]

I love that the focus was emotional readiness. You pick up more than you think as a kid.

[@1theredrooster]

May Ron rest in eternal peace. His creations have helped thousands of kids all over the world.

[@akiraeatsguitarpicks491]

It’s kinda sad that shows like this (aka shows that started as just passion projects) are getting rarer and rarer :(

[@natedog69420]

Weird thinking the same shows from when we were kids dont play anymore

[@akiraeatsguitarpicks491]

@@natedog69420 yeah but some of them get cool reboots like she-ra!

[@narancia1203]

Bro what about coco melon 😳 lmaoooo

[@afkfromawake]

Helluva boss might prove to break the mold

[@akiraeatsguitarpicks491]

@@afkfromawake hopefully!! Love that little demon show

[@zacharykim295]

I remember at one point Zack and Weezy split into two. Blew my mind as a kid.

[@planetfall5056]

Holyshit I forgot about that, but as soon as i read your comment i remember that sceen clear as day.

[@freshcupofangst]

That's like the only episode I remember super clearly

[@leahtheanimationfan40]

@@freshcupofangst I don't remember exactly how it happened but it's literally the only episode I remember. This was one of my favorite shows when I was really little

[@earlyworm9442]

@@leahtheanimationfan40 The only episode I remember is when they have to cartwheel across a bridge

[@freshcupofangst]

@@leahtheanimationfan40 I think they were building like a...music themed playground? With a slide that may or may not have been a xylophone that like, led to two bouncy drum looking things? Idk

[@FreakingFerret]

I remember as a child wishing with my whole soul that I had a dragon scale. All I wanted was to to go to Dragon Land, a safe world with friends. It was also the first show I ever saw with Mexican characters, which also meant the world (my parents couldn’t afford Nickelodeon). Between the Lions and Dragon Tales were the only shows I was interested in watching as a toddler.

[@sadlystuckinreality]

God, I loved this show as a kid. It's definitely a classic.

[@volespirit247]

“I wish I wish, with all my heart to fly with dragons in a land apart..”

[@cooperminion825]

When I was a kid I always thought that it was "in a land of heart"

[@volespirit247]

Close.

[@CrystalArtest]

Cooper Minion me too.

[@alphayun7401]

is it bad i want to see a parody of this show?

[@jessehilton1337]

Cooper Minion I like your version better 😁

[@Yanolala]

Oh man, when he said "Between the Lions" my memory got flooded... "Cliff hanger, hanging from a cliff...and THAT'S why he's called cliff hanger!"

[@OTownNews]

Can’t. Hold. On. Much. *LONGER!*

[@Sahiyena11]

Oh yeah. My favorite was that hippie-ass dad lion

[@copernicusepoch7574]

God, I remember Between the Lions! Augh, so many memories... ;w;

[@arbitrarylib]

Ugh

[@ronalddufour2757]

@Jack Black I had a idea where Heath finds a girlfriend they get married and Have a baby

[@nicktauro1839]

Ron Rodecker art is so good, the way he does foreground to background just by changing the texture is ao simple but effective.

[@Evelyn_Okay]

This show taught me how to use my thumb and index fingers to make an L and find left vs right. It taught me how to tie the two ends of a rope together. And it taught me how to tie ribbons and bows on presents. Good times!

[@girl1213]

I still use that technique to this day and I'm in my 30s now.

[@princessthyemis]

That's awesome! I only learned how to finally remember left and right due to a random Twitter comment just a few months ago😅😅😅

[@ThatAzureFluff]

"I'm fading into that picture" hits a lot harder today...

[@cameronminor8690]

Indeed, it does. RIP Ron. Your contribution to so many people's childhoods will never be forgotten.

[@Kafj302]

That line actually made be cry.....

[@rowandonovan3869]

@@Kafj302 it came out of fucking no where and i started tearing up lmfao

[@blayke.6488]

that shit BROUGHT ME BACK

[@ReidGarwin]

And here i am just 😭😭

[@YourCrazyOverlord]

"I'm fading into that picture..." You didn't need to hurt me like that, man.

[@emmacopeland7105]

Thank you for this, from the bottom of my heart, this just... completed me. I had an Ord plushie as a kid and planned to dress up as Zack and Wheezy with my twin for Halloween one year. If you're treating us PBS-raised 90s kids to a trip down memory lane, can I please please please request Maya & Miguel? So much of it sticks in my brain for some reason!

[@erickstaehnke]

Zack and Weezy are my favorite characters! They are so inspiring!

[@mottthetatertot2488]

I also had an ord plushie growing up! I think he came with cookie and would make eating noises when you put it in his mouth

[@dracoarton94]

Maya and Miguel? Didn't that have a very similar animation style to Total Drama Island? Also, I NEED that Ord plushie!

[@tezcamcfakename4328]

@@dracoarton94 I saw both shows and i don't remember TDI having a similar style to Maya and Miguel, i could be wrong though since its been years

[@bendynamic2150]

Man I wish I could go back in time and just be a kid again watching shows like this and playing by the creek. Most children's Entertainment today is not nearly as good as what we grew up on.

[@UnconditionalSurrenderG]

“You speak Spanish?” “Sí, I came from Mexico” I know the show was trying to include Hispanic culture, but of all the fantasy lands a dragon could have come from, this one came from Mexico! I find this hilarious. Btw, I’m Mexican, too

[@imagen1966]

Quetzal always reminded me of my uncle. I think it's really nice they included the character.

[@jg708257]

So he's an Aztec dragon.

[@moebiusjdx7288]

All these years later I realize Quetzal, the school teacher dragon, was based on the Aztec dragon god Quetzalcoatl who was the patron god of knowledge and learning. That's a real nice touch...

[@Flowtail]

@@jg708257 ooooh, that's why he's so old

[@latosimosplace]

Me too too also!

[@GERMANAITOR]

"He's wasn't the only one." That ending was very ominous. Are you okay Defunctland?

[@ashleyshim2078]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@russianboss0378]

here comes kevin back at it with the grim endings

[@alphayun7401]

it didnt seem very ominous it seemed very sad honestly

[@monstaxxiv7163]

I think he was referring to people's childhoods :(

[@Commander_Shepard.]

Somebody's gonna die.....

[@celinepope]

The textures and aesthetics that were shown just captured my imagination as a child. I recently rewatched some episodes when I was sick and wow, it held up.

[@openwide000]

This was a very wholesome video. I was born in the mid 90s and didnt have cable so I grew up on dragon tales but haven't thought about it in ages. I somehow still remembered the words to the dragon tales theme song when you started playing it. I used to love watching this and between the lions

[@philismenko]

"How the hiatus of dragon tales caused 9/11 an 11 page essay"

[@irlporygon-z6929]

a 9-to-11 page essay

[@Commander_Shepard.]

Dragon fire can't melt steel beams...

[@Juichi]

I mean Sony did edit out the twin towers for the DVD cover of the Spider-Man movie. I'm sure that could thrown into the conspiracy mix.

[@crypticcorgi8280]

I give it a 9 out of 11.

[@fallingpetunias9046]

Coincidence? I think NOT!

[@samhyde8536]

DragonTales was the best introduction to the Fantasy genre I could've had, man.

[@oracle_8947]

Sam Hyde Same

[@violetthebat8810]

Sam Hyde Indeed!~

[@jackiej8615]

Same here

[@Topknot]

Hear, hear!

[@CaptainFrisby]

Hyde, the bomb you planted in my daughter's elementary school was not a fantasy.

[@hannahbeckley5415]

This was one of my favorite shows as a kid. My dad helped me understand long trips by saying how many Dragon Tales episodes it would take to make the drive.

[@ebomb1133]

10:25 "The creators wanted Lorica and her disability to not be the focus of her character" I wish modern Hollywood would get this concept for new characters. They are not defined by their disability, sexuality, race, beliefs, and so on.

[@Ansible100]

I’m so happy that Ron’s time on the show was a positive experience. I was so worried this would be a case of an artist in it for his passion would have all his energy and creative rights sapped away by a giant corporation. So glad that wasn’t the case.

[@disneyboy3030]

Whatever happened to him.

[@kimberly_5682]

@@disneyboy3030 according to Google he is still alive, just retired.

[@Nightman221k]

I was genuinely bracing myself for the part in the video where the corporation took control of his idea and muscled him out of it. I'm thanking God right now that it was the opposite of that and he's had positive things that came out of making a beloved preschool show with his beautiful and comforting artwork.

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

I love how no one, including me, ever questioned that Quetzal, a DRAGON, from the land of DRAGONS...was somehow from Mexico.

[@TuberoseKisser]

I think the dragons originate from the different lands but live in dragonland.

[@sharktenko267]

quetzal is a Quetzalcoatl a Aztec dragon

[@jacobluna305]

😂

[@purplehorseneigh]

He's from MEXICAN dragon land....the one we see in the show is american dragon land

[@ShakespearsCyst]

@@purplehorseneigh So there was a dragon land for each country? O.O That's amazecrazeballs.

[@flavtown6409]

I like to think I'm a emotionally balanced individual because of this show. They really didn't just give you answers on how to sole ur problems, they showed you ways that you could solve it on your own

[@JXAChambers]

I was waiting for some dark 'gotcha', but this was all just a tale of a sweet man who made a wonderful show. Thank you for making this.

[@yuyaricachimuel555]

Would you really expect that from something like Dragon Tales?

[@babitferreira]

For kids 2 to 7?? I watched it way into my pre-adolescence lol

[@deathpixie777]

Me too 😂

[@MeAuntieNora]

That's the great thing about target demographics... the content may be *designed* to appeal to a certain group, but anyone else can still enjoy it!

[@BakaTheStruggler]

I watched it well into my early teens. I think it was just my obsession with anything that had dragons in general that helped keep my interest, lol.

[@princess_ama]

I just turned 18 and I binged watch it a few days ago 😂😂😂

[@callanightshade8079]

I still watch the episodes I find here on KZbin lol

[@ChoomOfDoom]

Zoboomafoo, Between the Lions, and now Dragon Tales. You're just gut punching me with nostalgia

[@MikeJr9284]

Same. That’s my childhood right there.

[@DisKorruptd]

well, that is the function of DefunctTV

[@CoaTravelNut]

This used to be the stuff growing up for me as a kid!

[@thatpedanticcommenter5847]

OW! Right in the childhood feels!

[@LukusCannon]

It hurts so good I'm crying just came from Mr. Rogers video

[@anthonywhite2228]

I absolutely loved this show growing up. I also really enjoy how PBS was ahead of the curve by making shows to showcase different ethnic backgrounds, before it was something "trendy" or to check a box. Shows like these really helped me connect with characters, and garner more empathy towards others.

[@nevercanyoucant]

what a touching story. I love when people are motivated to create art that helps other people grow and deal with the difficult parts of life.

[@aufowithwificoverage3328]

“I came from Mexico” -says the dragon Gosh it just kills me 🤣🤣🤣

[@alexiscervantes5774]

There's mexican mythology involving dragons, most notably quetzel's namesake, the Aztec deity quetzelcoatl

[@TheAwakeOrangutang]

@@alexiscervantes5774 Who in Aztec culture was the patron of learning and the arts and apparently one of the oldest gods in that mythos, so.... Quetzal surprisingly lore accurate.

[@darken2417]

Been to Mexico numerous amounts of time. And can confirm that Mexico is indeed the homeland of the dragons however they were all forced out when the Dragonborn returned which explains why only the oldest dragon knows Spanish. : p

[@SirBlackReeds]

@@alexiscervantes5774 Technically, Quetzalcoatl isn't a dragon.

[@thejman5683]

I find it funny that quetzal and Lucoa from Miss Kobayashi’s dragon maid we’re inspired by the same being from mythology

[@Slame333]

Do Fetch with Ruff Ruffman. The most underrated PBS Kids show of all time.

[@amandamclellann]

Fetch was one of my shows when I was younger!!!! Yessss

[@emilyemiranda]

Was going to comment the same thing!! I wanted to go on the show so badly as a kid 😂

[@sirmonticus4319]

I actually think PBS Kids still airs re-runs of Fetch, or maybe still new seasons?

[@sewerbrawl]

finally taste

[@angelamartinez4551]

I see you are a man of culture..

[@marcusblackwell2372]

"I wish, I wish with all my heart--to fly with dragons in a land of heart"

[@ddplayerfromgodknowswhere7492]

❤️

[@summertime69]

You played the opening song at about 8 minute and I felt it deep in my bones. This show

[@mantlemoky5744]

Crying while all you can hear is,”this video is sponsored by nordvpn”

[@jameson1239]

And viewers like you thank you

[@KairuSan1]

It would be a lot worse if he just went "THIS VIDEO IS SPONSORED BY RAID SHADOW LEGENDS! IF YOU DOWNLOAD NOW YOU WILL GET 10000 FREE SILVER AND A NEW CHAMPION, whatever that means HAAZUUUUUU!!!!!". XD

[@Katastr0phic_Katicorn]

I read this only a minute before it happened...Now I'm cry-laughing and very confused x,D

[@JoKaiGonZo]

Wow, never expected to be hit with a truckload of nostalgia while browsing through my subscriptions.

[@zachdavis5854]

This is why I want him to do a video on wishbone! Lol

[@CriticalBrony]

I know. I grew up with Playhouse Disney, so I would love to see "Out of the Box" or "Rolie Polie Ollie". Those were my childhood.

[@davidbosco652]

@@zachdavis5854 What about Zoom?

[@playtimeallthetimecbeebies2272]

@@davidbosco652 YES PLEASE!!!

[@DanielGonzalez-gf6oi]

Thank you Ron Rodecker, you gave us the creation of your vision of dragons and humans in humility, which in turn, became part of our childhoods we will never forget. You may rest in peace. Ron Rodecker (1930-2021) 💔 😔 ❤️ 🙏

[@callenroeder3784]

Dude I feel bad for new generations we had it lit.

[@KOS_Nova]

Its so cool how Ron followed his dream to be an artist and then was able to use his art to help create a show that many kids learned from!

[@BattleAxe1345]

Don't think he could've asked for a better legacy.

[@prototypealpha3237]

“I’m fading... into that picture “ I think my heart shattered when hearing that. Amazing video dude!

[@victoriousone4867]

Another childhood fan of Dragon Tales here! It was such a fun show, and I still get the theme song stuck in my head *regularly.* Side note: I realized as soon as I heard Emmy pronounce "dragons" that she was the same voice actor for Pinkie Pie/Fluttershy in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic...she's got a very specific way she says it!

[@woodfur00]

I always noticed that but thought it was just like, a Canadian thing or something I never imagined it was the exact same person Also of note is that Wheezie and Trixie have the same actor

[@Dragore94123]

i loved this show as a kid. i never stopped loving it. that show was the best kids show to me. finding out as a kid the voice actress for cassie was in gundam seed and gundam 00 blew my mind. as well as ords voice actor getting a minor role in supernatural also blew my mind

[@thatblindgamer726]

Request: DefunctlandTV: The History of Clifford the Big Red Dog

[@xXxakurokuxXx123]

Aspen Karch YES YES

[@MattOsborn98]

It’s actually coming back this fall! (Granted in a reboot but still exciting!)

[@1Soniccool]

This show is coming back as a reboot of it.

[@TheForeverRanger]

@@1Soniccool Guess I better set my DVR then because you are never too old for nostalgia.

[@touko_nanami]

Emily-Elizabeth was getting it from her dog

[@itsjustkay7251]

Hearing the theme song really just melted my heart. I didn’t even realize how pure this was and how it probably helped me so much growing up in a chaotic childhood.

[@RB01.10]

And helped me get interested in dragons 🐉.

[@dreadlocdfairy]

Exactly

[@jcbentleyalley154]

Yep it sure was was especially when I by myself not wit my sibs

[@sammysweetheart8600]

Yep I teared up a little 😪

[@jakesanchez6621]

Yeah, I was not ready for that wave of nostalgia and feels.

[@LaRana2315]

As a kid, Quetzal was my favourite because of how much he reminded me of my own mexican grandfather. I grew up across the world from him, so I didn't get to see him as much as I would've growing up, so Quetzal gave me a bit of comfort in that regard. He was a retired architect, not a teacher, but he loved sharing his knowledge and loved hearing about new things we learned. He also, ironically, LOVED teaching us about mexican folklore and mesoamerican history. One of his favourite gods was Quetzalcoatl : )

[@maxordman4100]

This is an incredible cartoon series! I remember watching it a lot when I was in middle school and it actually made a powerful impression on me despite the fact that I was a little older than the demographic. The characters were so likable and easy to connect with and the theme song was delightfully catchy. This cartoon always brings a smile to my face. I also really liked Enrique because he was such a unique character in a PBS series! RIP to the creator! I have lots of wonderful memories of this show!

[@itdobesuckin]

hearing that there was no fallout from the creator of the dragons and producers of the show, that it all ended on a good note is extremely heartwarming

[@pinkfeiry]

This show had a Mexican dragon grandpa? I completely forgot that.

[@mitchfletcher2386]

You mean Quetzal? Nice!

[@roquemainecoon8046]

To be perfectly honest with you I thought the kids were Asian

[@ydoomenaud]

He's Quetzalcoatl.

[@Peppermon22]

The kids were Mexican right? I loved that part of the show. I grew up in a farming community so it was nice seeing the Hispanic eliment.

[@mattrare4459]

I remembered him, but forgot he was Mexican lmao

[@MichellaneousMe]

I can’t believe I still know the lyrics to the theme song and I have trouble remembering my neighbors name haha

[@squeak3rzthesquigglysquid688]

I teared up at the end. I'm so happy this wasn't a fever dream. My sister and I adored this show so much.

[@ashley-uj7vf]

The story about Ron’s friend passing really hit me hard. Catch me crying over Dragontales

[@NightLordfan]

Yeah that hit me hard as well, just kinda the acceptance of death is beautiful in a way.

[@mafiousbj]

It was beatiful...i was left pondering...but suddenly got interrupted by the Nord VPN ad... damn sponsored content! (Still very touching)

[@Jaqhnun]

I was familiar with the show, but I NEVER knew about the artist behind the whole thing... and the ending with his friend passing away, feeling comforted by that picture, has me tearing up. Ron seems like such a humble and genuine person, and his artwork is so lovely and sweet-- I'm so glad this is a happy story for him, where he found success and was able to touch so many people with his artwork. It's so great when good people who deserve good things actually get them.

[@lilyoz7090]

That ending had me tearing up and I didn’t even know of the guy until this video. Bless his kind soul 😭😭😭

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

The friend saying he was fading into that picture choked me up as well.

[@LocalTorchwoodIntern]

I didn't think I'll be crying through the entire video but Dragon Tales was my childhood, as an undiagnosed autistic kid in the 2000s, this what helped me fall in love with dragons. It's sad to hear Rod pass in January of 2021, All he loved was drawing his dragons.

[@ddplayerfromgodknowswhere7492]

I love dragons❤️🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉

[@ddplayerfromgodknowswhere7492]

I’m 23 and I still roll play dragons like I’m 7 and I even found a group of friends who like to do the same

[@Supasmartguy]

This is a show that Robot Chicken could absolutely tear to pieces.

[@SkippyLucky7]

Remember that time when Zach and Wheezie finally got their own bodies. It was weird seeing them seperarted.

[@pchound5962]

Reverse fusion

[@ashleyshim2078]

Lol ikr

[@XJIcequeen]

Yep

[@yeahokbuddy2510]

watching this show on Acid is amazing

[@thejman5683]

I remember this episode vividly

[@kristintaylor7317]

"I am fading into that picture." IM NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING

[@MrOtakuNE]

YOU'RE RIGHT!

[@KairuSan1]

”This video is sponsored by nordvpn”

[@PongoXBongo]

@@KairuSan1 For when you want your journey to the other side to be protected from judgment. 😉

[@soshiangel90]

I think I was a little older than the intended audience when stumbled onto this show, but I remember liking it. I didn't stick around long - since again, I was older than the preschool audience - but it's great to see that they continued doing well and had such a profound impact on so many people.

[@hanktank45]

This was one of my favorite shows as a kid. It was comforting yet interesting, I appreciate the subtle lessons and ideas that were included.

[@monikaradzaj7407]

I never realized that Dragon Tales had such a deep backstory behind its creation. R.I.P. Ron Rodecker's friend. That actually made me cry. 😢

[@logannelson577]

“Wow this Ron Rodecker guy has some amazing art, let’s see what he’s doing these days” *unimaginable sadness ensues*

[@satmtca]

“I am fading into that picture” those were deep last words

[@Official_IzumiYukiRose]

Man the fucking.memories... I'm legit shedding tears like crazy man this show was my childhood and was one of my top favorite.