Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat - TV-Y
TV Rating: TV-Y
Network: PBS Cast: Rick Jones, Holly Gauthier-Frankel, Oliver Grainger
Genre: Children, Cartoons, & Animation
Available on: 
DVD
Common Sense Note
Parents should know that this delightful show not only introduces a taste of Chinese language and culture, but it also often centers around Chinese moral lessons, such as respecting elders, making appropriate choices, acting honorably, and looking after the good of the whole. This series can be appreciated by all audiences.
Families can talk about what it means to act honorably, why respecting your elders is important, and how family is important everywhere, in every country throughout history. Families can also discuss the cultural details they see. How are the clothes and customs different?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Joly Herman
Not only is SAGWA THE CHINESE SIAMESE CAT a calming treat for the sensitive viewer, it also offers beautiful visuals down to the tiniest detail. Based on a book by Amy Tan, this program seeks to culturally enrich its viewers.
Set in an Imperial estate, we find Sagwa (voiced by Holly Gauthier-Frankel), the middle child in a family of cats. She plays with her siblings and sometimes verbally jousts with them, but she always takes care of her conflicts in a responsible way.
Sagwa's grandparents are held in the highest esteem and treasured as role models -- a relief from some shows for kids that seem to promote individuality through opposition. Instead, Sagwa's family manages to embrace individuality while encouraging family harmony. If only there were more shows like this one!
This series presents a thorough introduction to another culture. Chinese characters are shown, and Mandarin Chinese is sung and spoken. Mythological animals such as dragons are referred to; likewise, the food is Chinese, as are the dress and customs. Sagwa's best friend, Fu Fu (Rick Jones), is a bat whose name in Chinese means "lucky bat," and her grandfather (Neil Shee) is called "Yeh Yeh," which is an affectionate term for grandfather.
In other words, Sagwa doesn't attempt to appropriate another culture -- it actually immerses itself in it down to the tiniest details. The brief interlude between episodes -- called "What about you?" -- features real children discussing their interests and ideas. Such fortitude makes this program much more than yet another kids show -- it's one worth exploring with your kids.
If you enjoy Sagwa, you may also like family-focused shows like The Berenstain Bears and Charlie and Lola.
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|
|
|
Violence |
|
|
|
|
Language |
|
|
|
|
Message |
|
 |
|
|
Social BehaviorGentle, uplifting moral messages focus on family and making good choices. |
 |
 |
|
|
Commercialism |
 |
|
|
|
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
|
|
