Santiago of the Seas – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Santiago of the Seas

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2020

84%

WISE Score

6.5

IMDb

Bilingual pirate adventures that teach Spanish and celebrate Caribbean culture without the usual pillaging and plundering.

6.5/10

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Santiago of the Seas

show

TV-Y, 2020

84%

WISE Score

6.5

IMDb

Bilingual pirate adventures that teach Spanish and celebrate Caribbean culture without the usual pillaging and plundering.

6.5

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Screenwise Verdict

This is what preschool TV should look like in 2025: culturally rich, bilingual, and focused on prosocial values without being boring about it. Santiago manages to make pirates wholesome, which is no small feat.

The Spanish integration is genuine and natural, not just throwing in random words for show. Parents rave about their kids picking up vocabulary and dancing to the music. The Latino-Caribbean cultural elements—from the music to the references—feel authentic and celebratory.

Is it groundbreaking television? No. It's a preschool show with predictable plots and gentle pacing. But it does exactly what it sets out to do with charm and intention. If you've got a 3-6 year old and you're tired of the same old Nick Jr. rotation, this is a solid choice that brings something different to the table.

Age Fit

Squarely aimed at the 3-6 year old preschool crowd, with Common Sense Media pegging it at 4+. The bilingual element and cultural content make it especially valuable for families wanting Spanish exposure, but by age 7 most kids will have moved on to more complex stories.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models kindness, courage, and cooperation through an 8-year-old pirate protagonist who focuses on rescues and helping others rather than typical pirate violence. Parent reviews consistently praise positive messages and age-appropriate tone. The show emphasizes teamwork and problem-solving with gentle pacing suitable for preschoolers.

Imaginative

Pirate adventures with treasure hunts and Caribbean exploration offer solid imaginative play potential. The blend of Latino-Caribbean culture and Spanish language adds educational creativity, but the preschool format keeps storylines fairly formulaic and predictable. Vibrant animation supports engagement, though it doesn't push creative boundaries in groundbreaking ways.

Safe

IMDb parents guide shows mild violence/gore and mild frightening scenes, typical for preschool adventure content. Common Sense Media rates it for age 4+, and parent reviews note that some adventurous scenes might be intense for the youngest viewers but nothing genuinely concerning. Kids mode available on platform. No inappropriate content, scary elements are minimal and age-appropriate.

Enriching

Intentionally educational with Spanish language integration and Latino-Caribbean cultural curriculum woven throughout. Teaches problem-solving, empathy, and cultural awareness. Common Sense Media calls it 'exceptional' for celebrating kindness and courage. The bilingual element and cultural representation provide meaningful enrichment beyond pure entertainment, though it's still fundamentally a preschool show with limited depth.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely integrates Spanish language and Latino-Caribbean culture into every episode—not just tokenism
An 8-year-old pirate who rescues people instead of stealing from them is a refreshing twist on the genre
Parent reviews consistently mention kids being 'obsessed' with it, so the entertainment factor is real
Models kindness, courage, and teamwork without being preachy about it
The cultural representation is meaningful for Latino families and educational for everyone else

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What to Watch For

Some adventure scenes might be a touch intense for sensitive 3-year-olds—pirates do encounter mild conflict
It's a preschool show, so older siblings will be bored out of their minds
The educational curriculum is woven in, which some kids love and others tune out

Conversation Starters

"What Spanish words did you learn from Santiago today?"
"If you were a pirate like Santiago, what would you want to rescue or find?"
"Why do you think Santiago helps people instead of taking treasure for himself?"
"What do you notice about the music and colors in the show? How is it different from other cartoons?"

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