I would NOT watch Dragon Tales because of the Creepy Funding Credits.
Rhombus M's Childish Dad Series inspired this Scratch project. Here's the story of how I discovered the infamous funding credits: This Scratch project wouldn’t exist without the spark ignited by Rhombus M’s legendary “Childish Dad Series.” One particular episode, which introduced me to a quirky—and, as I soon discovered, infamous—television moment, became the starting point: the mysterious Dragon Tales funding credits. My introduction to these notorious credits happened when I watched Rhombus M’s video titled “Catherine Pranks Childish Dad by Playing the Dragon Tales Funding While He’s Sleeping [13+].” At the time, I had no clue why anyone would call the Dragon Tales funding credits "infamous." That quickly changed. In the episode, the character Catherine explains their notoriety: every time the funding audio plays, Dave (the Childish Dad) is sent into a comically over-the-top fright, launching into a tantrum. Until witnessing this gag, I only recognized the later, more generic PBS funding credits—those cheerful ones from 2001 to 2003, with vividly colored backgrounds and children lost in imaginative thinking bubbles. But Rhombus M’s video introduced me to something different: the 1999–2004 original funding audio. When I first heard, “Dragon Tales is funded in part by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through funds from the US Department of Education,” chills ran down my spine. This wasn’t the familiar version with, “This program is funded in part by... A Ready to Learn grant, from the US Department of Education... through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.” Realizing there were two distinct versions of the credits—and that I’d never seen the original, only ever heard snippets—I got pulled into the quest to uncover the "scary" sequence for myself. A little about who I am: I was born on November 2nd, 2007, and received an autism diagnosis when I was about three and a half. Throughout most of my childhood—when I was nonverbal, up until about age seven—Dragon Tales just wasn’t on my radar. My universe was Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. I did love PBS staples like Super Why, Curious George, Caillou, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Clifford the Big Red Dog, The Magic School Bus, and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! But Dragon Tales? It remained a mystery to me, except for its later PBS funding credits found on DVD releases, which only fed my curiosity. Fast forward to 2024: I started recognizing signs of ADHD—like getting hyper-focused on special interests (WhaZoodle, for one!) and losing focus on certain things. That’s when I expanded my PBS universe to include classics like Sid the Science Kid, Cyberchase, Maya and Miguel, Arthur, and yes, finally, Dragon Tales. But even then, all versions I found used the 2001–2003 PBS generic credits. In 2025, I finally managed to watch a handful of Dragon Tales episodes and DVDs. Still, those "infamous" original credits remained just out of reach… until my research phased into obsession. As I continued researching, I kept running into fans who described their childhood terror when those 1999–2004 credits aired. Some recalled having to leave the room, turn off the TV, or even mute the TV whenever they rolled. It fascinated me how something as simple as a funding message could become so deeply etched into people’s early memories as “scary.” I mean, it's just the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Logo with the US Department of Education Seal, what's wrong with that! Just the seal and background colors were very, very creepy! Inspired by both the widespread reactions and the comedic world of the Childish Dad series, I knew I had to bring this cult moment to life in my own Scratch Cat Skits. The Scratch Cat, true to form, would face the same comedic chills and jitters generations of viewers experienced—turning something spooky and infamous into a playful, interactive experience. My deep-dive research went from an online rabbit hole to a project with a creative twist. This quirky, twisted journey—from learning about a random funding credit, to understanding a long-standing internet in-joke, to channeling it all into a Scratch project—shows just how fascinating, funny, and downright strange TV history can be. Along the way, I learned about childhood fears, internet culture, and even a bit more about myself. I hope, as you explore my Scratch project, you find the same mix of fun, nostalgia, and light-hearted chills I experienced while making it. Enjoy your trip into the unexpected world of Dragon Tales and its infamous credits!
