Ask Jane’s Creator (Part XII)
What are those codes that Jane and Dragon are trying to solve?
-From Rose, 8, North Carolina, USA
The codes are dragon runes, or dragon language. Dragon has been collecting anything with runes on it in the hope that it will help him unlock the truth about dragons. He wants to know the full truth, not the stories he hears from shortlives. Most of all he wants to know what happened to dragons and he hopes the runes will help to reveal the past and solve all those mysteries.
Do Pepper, Rake, Smithy, and Jester have family members
that work at the castle?
There is now a lot of new information about the characters on the Meet the Cast page! It will tell you all about their families and where they live. For instance, Smithy is the son of a local pig farmer, and his family still live on a small pig farm not far from the castle.
Why does dragon talk to Jane so much?
-From Marquise, 9, Georgia, USA
For three hundred years, Dragon kept himself a secret from the world. He's spied on shortlives, learnt their languages, and tried to understand them. But the few times that he revealed himself he always got into trouble and was attacked...Then he met Jane! At last he found someone who wasn't scared of him and didn't want to kill him. Someone he could talk to. And he has three hundred years of talking to get out of his system!
Who is Jane's father? Will you ever show him on any of the episodes?
-From Julianne, 9, New Jersey, USA
Jane's father is the King's Chamberlain. He runs the castle staff and tries to keep the King's treasury from running out of money. He appears in several episodes, and one in particular where he gets so worried by something that happens to Jane that he gets right into the action himself.
Why is Jane's hair so fluffy?
It's just the way it grows! Her mother, The Lady-In-Waiting, wants Jane to use bows and clips to control it like a proper young lady of the Court. You can imagine what Jane thinks of that idea! So Jane likes it just the way it is, especially because it looks rather like a ball of dragon fire.
Is dragon able to perform magic? I know that some dragons who are older and wiser have that ability, but I do not know whether Dragon qualifies.
-From Muggle, 13, Michigan, USA
No, Dragon can't perform magic. His flying and fire-breathing seem like magic, but they are all due to the methane gas he builds up in his body from eating lots of vegetation. His scales and skin seem like magic because they are too strong for most weapons, but they are just very tough like slivers of bone. Unfortunately, a lot of shortlives in Jane's world used to believe that parts of a Dragon had special magical powers, so they would hunt Dragons for their teeth, claws, and scales.
I study dragons all the time and know dragon scales are hard to get. But why does Jane wear them on her skirt? You have to kill dragons to get their scales, right?
-Tuano, 10, Washington, USA
Well spotted, Tuano! The links on Jane's skirt of armor do look like dragon scales. But they are actually made of metal. They are part of a suit of special armor that was found in Dragon's cave. It's covered in dragon runes and dragon symbols, including the metal scales of the skirt.
Will Jane ever be in a combat?
Sir Theodore is teaching Jane all the skills of being a knight. The first rule is to keep the peace and avoid combat if possible. So Jane tries to use her brain to solve her problems. But she knows that one day she might need to use her skills in combat to defend her friends and the Royal Family. Keep watching, Ned, and you'll find out the answer to your question!
What inspired you to create the show the way you did?
-From Emanuel, 13, Nantucket, MA, USA
We wanted Jane to be a cartoon that wasn't like other cartoons. We have tried to create a world where the characters behave like real people in a real world but who look like drawings from a book. The hope was that we could make a world that looked like it had stepped right out of the pages of a children's book, rather than a normal TV cartoon. I like to think we succeeded...don't you?
Just where do Rake's affections lie? And why?
-From Allisen,13, Idaho, USA
Rake doesn't have a harsh word for anyone. He sees the best in people and has a great deal of affection for Jane and all their friends. But there is one special person who can bring a bit of color into his cheeks, and she does it without rubbing beetroot on his face...though Rake has done that himself once, to please Princess Lavinia!
Do Pepper, Smithy, and Rake play games together?
-From Justin, 10, Mississippi, USA
Yes, they do...they play Bandyball! It was a very popular sport throughout England in Jane's time. It was a team game and could be played with as few as two people on each side or with hundreds. Sometimes entire villages would play against each other! The game involved hitting a ball (made from a pig's bladder that was filled with dried seeds) towards the other team's goal, which could be a post, a wall or a building. It was played with curved sticks and was a bit like modern hockey, except players could kick, throw, and hit the ball.
Did you watch or read any other books to give you an inspiration for these characters?
-From Julianne, 10, San Jose, CA, USA
My inspiration comes from real people. The characters in Jane's world are based on friends I had when I was young, on my children and friends of my children. It's the same for the adult characters. For instance, the King is very much like a teacher I had when I was at school. He was always trying to please everyone and he wasn't as smart as the children he was trying to teach. But he was a kind man and so we were always polite to him even though he was a bit silly and boring.
Do you know a dragon, and are you real?
-From Macie, 10, Tennessee, USA
Yes, I do know Jane's Dragon! He's lived in my head for over twenty years and is always telling me about his adventures from the years before he met Jane. He has now asked me to ask Jane if she would write them down for him. I've promised to pass on the message!
And yes, Macie, I am real. This is not a computer making up replies to all the wonderful questions everyone sends in. My name is Martin Baynton and I wrote the Jane And The Dragon books and work as a producer and writer on the TV series. Sadly, there isn't enough space to answer every question that is sent in, but I read ALL of them and I want to thank you all so much for the kind words and emails of support. They mean a great deal to me and to the rest of the Jane team.
Who does the voices of Jane and Dragon?
-From Maddie, 7, Morristown, NJ, USA
Jane is voiced by a very talented 13-year-old Canadian actress named Tajja Isen. You might recognize her voice on TV as that of Betty from "Atomic Betty" and Jodie from "Time Warp Trio." She's also an accomplished singer -- she portrayed Young Nala in the Toronto production of "The Lion King" for nearly a year -- as well as a pianist and songwriter. I think Tajja has a bright future ahead of her...just like Jane!
The voice behind Dragon belongs to Adrian Truss, one of Canada's leading comedians. He has performed with the Second City comedy on stage and television, as well as with the improv troupe he co-founded, Illustrated Men. You can hear Adrian's voice in other animated series such as "Atomic Betty" and "Rolie Polie Olie." Adrian has also written and directed several plays for the stage. He's a truly multi-talented fellow and we're thrilled that he's helping us bring Dragon to life.
Where is Gunther's mother? Why is there no one to stand up for him against his father?
Gunther doesn't know where his mother is. His father refuses to talk about her and gets very angry if Gunther asks about her. He has a few memories of her and has collected bits of gossip here and there. One tale is that she was the daughter of a rich trader and that the Merchant only married her to get her father's business.
