Santiago of the Seas
Exceptional preschool series celebrates kindness, courage.
Santiago of the Seas
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Santiago of the Seas is a preschool series that incorporates elements of the Spanish language and Latino-Caribbean culture in energetic stories about pint-size pirates. The protagonist is an eight-year-old who feels a deep attachment to his heritage in an island town with a pirate legacy, and he is inspired by positive qualities like loyalty, compassion, kindness, and courage. The story's villain is young as well and skilled at cheating and stealing to achieve her goals, but Santiago's and his friends' altruistic efforts always manage to overcome her selfish ones. This visually appealing series is fun to watch, and its characters' personalities and dedication to working as a team to help others make for feel-good viewing.
Community Reviews
Great for young Spanish learners!
Report this review
Simple kids show with environmentally friendly tilt.
Report this review
What's the Story?
In SANTIAGO OF THE SEAS, Isla Encanto gets a new pirate protector when eight-year-old Santiago (voiced by Kevin Chacon) discovers the buried treasure of the island's legendary swashbuckler and inherits his magic compass. Together with his crew -- his musical cousin, Tomas (Justice Quiroz), and their mermaid friend, Lorelai (Alyssa Cheatham) -- Santiago takes the helm of the powerful ship, El Bravo, and follows the compass to find treasure and to help those in need. But when nemeses like Bonnie Bones (Kyndra Sanchez) come around, it takes every bit of Santiago's team's smarts to spoil the designs she has on the peaceful island and its residents.
Is It Any Good?
Adventure on the high seas got a lot more fun when Santiago and his friends stepped into their new swashbuckling gig. With little touches of magic to keep things really interesting, Santiago, Lorelei, and Tomas take their fearlessness and compassion wherever the fates take them and find big and small ways to help those they encounter. As Santiago is inspired by brave and true pirates who came before him, he lets their example guide him to be a good person as well.
Santiago of the Seas incorporates many aspects of Latino-Caribbean culture in this fantastical setting and in its characterizations, but none more so than elements of the Spanish language. The characters often alternate between Spanish and English, sticking to the latter for most conversations but including some common Spanish words and phrases, often heard several times in an episode for emphasis. It's a seamless bilingual transition that exposes preschoolers to the Spanish language through useful terms that are easily learned in the context of this vibrant and well-rounded series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Santiago and his friends work together to solve problems in Santiago of the Seas. How does cooperation make the task easier? What are some of the challenges in working with other people toward a common goal?
Santiago is driven by compassion and a desire to help others. What work do you see done in your community that achieves this same thing? How does it feel to do something nice for someone else? How does doing so help you?
Kids: Are Santiago and his crew mates friendly pirates? Have you seen other shows or read stories about pirates who aren't so friendly? What does that say about the importance of getting to know someone before judging him?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 9, 2020
- Cast: Kevin Chacon, Justice Quiroz, Alyssa Cheatham
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Adventures, Great Boy Role Models, Pirates
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 26, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
Jake and the Never Land Pirates
Fun-filled series teaches social lessons to young mateys.
-
Dora the Explorer
Preschoolers will love Dora's ongoing adventures.
-
Go, Diego, Go
Dora's cousin rescues animals and delights kids.
For kids who love Latinx culture
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate