Parents' Guide to

Jake and the Never Land Pirates

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Fun-filled series teaches social lessons to young mateys.

TV Disney Channel Kids' Animation 2011
Jake and the Never Land Pirates Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Jake and the Never Land Pirates TV Show: Scene #1
  • Jake and the Never Land Pirates TV Show: Scene #2
  • Jake and the Never Land Pirates TV Show: Scene #3
  • Jake and the Never Land Pirates TV Show: Scene #4

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age 6+

Based on 14 parent reviews

Laura H.
Laura H. Parent
October 24, 2015
age 5+

Disappointing Female Role Model

Typically, there's just one 'token' female character, among crews of male characters. In the start of each show, as they embark on their daily adventure, Jake has his sword, Cubby has his map (tools, to get them out of trouble), but Izzy has her "pixie dust" -- given to her by the pixies for whenever they're *really* in a bind. The subliminal message here is that boys use tools, but girls need to be *gifted* magical "pixie dust" to pitch in and help out. It's not even her magical skills. It was gifted to her. Like she wouldn't have a contribution, otherwise. Why couldn't Izzy use some skills of her own? The crew does team up, and there's lots of friendship, and they do everything they can to get out of the binds they find themselves in, but in the end, they always need some magic. And then they're rewarded with money!? It's so commercial. I don't get why this show is considered educational, except for the counting. Having said that, my 6 year old daughter does love it. I wish there were stronger characteristics for her to admire in the one girl. And more girl characters in general, for that matter.
1 person found this helpful.
Lebron45James6
Lebron45James6 Adult
August 17, 2022
age 18+

They really made Peter Pan look like he plays Tag With Ryan :(

See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The tropical paradise of Pirate Island is the perfect place for the adventures of young scallywags in JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES. Jake (voiced by Colin Ford), Izzy (Madison Pettis), and Cubby (Jonathan Morgan Heit) embark on fun-filled escapades on their trusty ship, Bucky. Unfortunately their travels bring them into the path of Captain Hook (Corey Burton) and his sidekick, Mr. Smee (Jeff Bennett), and the troublesome pair never lacks ideas for disrupting the kids' plans and capturing their treasures. It takes the kids' ingenuity and teamwork to outwit their rivals and return safely to their secret hideout on the island, but this quick-thinking trio -- along with their parrot friend, Skully (David Arquette) -- is up to the challenge.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14):
Kids say (34):

Preschoolers will be drawn to this series because of its colorful characters and sense of adventure, while its humor and interactive style will sweep them away on imaginative journeys. For parents, the real treasure can be found in how Jake and the Never Land Pirates blends positive social messages about getting along with others and solving problems into the stories. No interaction -- not even those between the kids and the meddlesome Captain Hook -- is wasted, as each one exemplifies respect and kindness, and the importance of teamwork to achieve a goal is the dominant theme.

What's more, kids are encouraged to take an active role in each story, from singing along with the pirate band to tallying the doubloons the characters earn with each problem solved. They're made to feel part of the team, complete with a sense of accomplishment about a job well done at the end -- and you'll feel good knowing that the messages they're getting from this show are happy ones.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about friendship. How do Jake, Izzy, and Cubby treat each other in Jake and the Never Land Pirates? How can you tell that they're friends? Do they act differently around Captain Hook? Why or why not? How do these characters compare to those you see in other series?

  • How did the pirates demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength? What talents or skills does each friend bring to the group? What are your special talents? How do they set you apart from your friends? What talents do you admire in your friends?

  • Kids: What do you treasure? Why are these things important to you? Besides tangible objects, what do you love? How would you feel if you lost a precious item?

TV Details

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.

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