BURBANK, Calif.–July 14, 2020–Preschoolers will set sail for swashbuckling adventures in
, premiering Friday, Oct. 9, at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum, the action-adventure series (20 episodes) follows 8-year-old Santiago “Santi” Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe in a fantastical Caribbean world. Following the U.S. launch,
will roll out on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels internationally.
In the series, Santiago’s (Kevin Chacon) steadfast and loyal crew consists of: Tomás (Justice Quiroz), his clumsy energetic cousin whose magical guitar can be used to harness the wind; and Lorelai (Alyssa Cheatham), a knowledgeable mermaid who can speak to sea creatures and transform into a young human girl. Together, Santi and his best mates sail the seas on the majestic ship El Bravo, using their smarts, pirate skills and moral compasses to guard their home of Isla Encanto from villains like the nefarious pirate Bonnie Bones (Kyndra Sanchez) and her Palm Crow sidekick Sir Butterscotch (John Leguizamo).
In the
Santiago of the Seas series premiere, “The Legend of Capitán Calavera,” Santiago and his friends become the new pirate protectors of Isla Encanto after discovering the lost treasure of the legendary Capitán Calavera. Following the premiere,
NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App will feature original short-form content and full-length episodes. Episodes will also be available on Nick Jr. On Demand and Download-To-Own services.
Santiago of the Seas is created by Niki López, Leslie Valdes and Valerie Walsh Valdes. Valdes and Walsh Valdes (
Dora the Explorer) serve as executive producers with López co-executive producing.
Santiago of the Seas is produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, Calif., with production overseen by Eryk Casemiro, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon Preschool.
Nickelodeon, now in its 41st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit
http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).
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CAST BIOS & CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONSKevin Chacon as Santiago MontesKevin Chacon is the voice of Santiago “Santi” Montes, a brave and kind-hearted, 8-year-old pirate who sets sail on amazing adventures, searches for hidden treasure, always stands by his best mates and keeps the high seas safe from villains as the pirate protector of Isla Encanto.
Chacon discovered his passion for the arts at nine years old while taking acting classes at Rybin Studio of Drama. He later went on to appear in a variety of theatre, commercial and TV projects, including Marvel’s critically acclaimed
Jessica Jones on Netflix as “Vido;’’ the lead role in the renowned bilingual stage adaption of
The Little Prince; and Nickelodeon promos for
Double Dare,
Hispanic Heritage Month and
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Chacon is of Costa Rican heritage and a recipient of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) and Association of Critics of Entertainment (ACE) Awards for Emerging Artist of the Year. He loves spending time with his family, playing basketball, skateboarding, swimming, dancing and singing.
Justice Quiroz as Tomás GaviotaJustice Quiroz is the voice of Tomás Gaviota, Santiago’s cousin and first mate. He plays a magical Calavera cuatro guitar that can be used to harness the wind as he sails the high seas with Santiago. A little clumsy and full of energy, Tomás is a loveable comedic sidekick whose loyalty for his cousin helps him overcome his many fears.
Quiroz began acting at the age of seven and his professional television credits include appearances on
Billions (Showtime) and
Pinkalicious & Peterrific (PBS), where he lends his voice to multiple characters.
In his spare time, he likes to dance, sing, play sports, hang out with his beloved French Bulldog, Prince, and eat his favorite Dominican and Chinese foods.
Alyssa Cheatham as LorelaiAlyssa Cheatham is the voice of Lorelai, a 150-year-old mermaid who has a vast knowledge of the ocean and can speak to sea creatures. Her magical pearl bracelet allows her to transform into a young human girl so she can go on pirate adventures with Santiago and Tomás.
A passionate actress, model and recording artist, Cheatham began acting at three years old, landing her first film role in
Every Secret Thing and has appeared in 11 films to date. She is best known for playing Will Smith’s daughter Olivia in
Collateral Beauty (Warner Bros.). Cheatham can next be seen in a recurring role in the upcoming series
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max), which stars Kaley Cuoco and T.R. Knight, as well as the Alan Ritchson-directed film
Cicada 3301.
Also a singer, Cheatham has two singles “The Weekend” and “Like it Here” available on iTunes. When she’s not working, Cheatham enjoys hanging out with her family and friends, drawing, singing, dancing, making TikTok videos and traveling. She is currently writing her own movie script.
Kyndra Sanchez as Bonnie BonesKyndra Sanchez is the voice of Bonnie Bones, a nefarious pirate and Santiago’s archnemesis. Self-centered and very outspoken, she’s persistent in her pursuit of power and pirate booty, and nothing drives her crazier than Santiago’s do-gooder attitude and kind heart.
Sanchez is an actress, model, singer, musician and athlete. She has appeared on
Sesame Street (PBS) and lent her voice to several series and projects, including
Butterbean’s Café (Nickelodeon),
A Bug’s Life (Amazon),
Dora and Friends: Into the City! (Nickelodeon),
Super Wings (Little Airplane Productions) and
A Very Grammy Christmas (CBS). Sanchez has also been featured in multiple commercials, as well as national and international print ads for brands like Target, Timberland and Justice. She can next be seen in a supporting role in Netflix’s upcoming feature film,
Finding Ohana.
An animal lover, Sanchez likes to sing, dance, swim, do gymnastics, play the guitar and piano, and volunteer in her community.
John Leguizamo as Sir ButterscotchJohn Leguizamo is the voice of Sir Butterscotch, Bonnie’s Palm Crow sidekick. Although loyal to Bonnie, he is quite the chatterbox and truth teller, so when he’s impressed by Santiago’s swashbuckling skills, he’ll announce it for all to hear.
A multifaceted performer and Emmy Award-winner, Leguizamo’s work in film, theatre, television and literature spans a variety of genres. He was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his work on Netflix’s
When They See Us, as well as Paramount Network’s
WACO. Leguizamo’s successful one-man show on Broadway
Latin History for Morons was turned into a Netflix special and he also starred in the third season of Netflix’s critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated series,
Bloodline.
Leguizamo’s professional film credits include:
Playing with Fire (Paramount Pictures),
The Infiltrator (Broad Green Pictures),
Sisters (Universal Pictures),
American Ultra (Lionsgate),
The Hollow Point (Atlas Independent),
Chef (Open Road Films),
Ride Along (Universal Pictures) and
John Wick 2 (Lionsgate).
He can next be seen in Barry Levinson’s upcoming feature film
Harry Haft alongside Danny DeVito and Ben Foster. Leguizamo will make his directorial debut later this year with the theatrical film
Critical Thinking in which he also stars.
CREATOR BIOSNiki LópezCreator and Co-Executive Producer, Santiago of the SeasNiki López is creator and co-executive producer of Nickelodeon’s new animated preschool series,
Santiago of the Seas. Infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum, the action-adventure series follows 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe from villains like the nefarious pirate Bonnie Bones in a fantastical Caribbean world.
Prior to López fulfilling her dream of creating her own series, her journey at Nickelodeon began as an intern in 2010. Most recently, she served as a color stylist on Nick’s animated series
Glitch Techs, an adventure-comedy following two newly recruited kids as they battle video game monsters that come to life in the real world. She previously worked as a production assistant on Nick’s
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and as a color stylist on
The Fairly OddParents and
Harvey Beaks, following a brief stint in advertising and as a freelance comic artist in Puerto Rico.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, López’s childhood was fueled by adventure and an imagination cultivated by her tropical backdrop. Inspired to seek out visual arts and storytelling as a creative outlet, she graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Ringling College of Arts & Design in Sarasota, Fla.
Leslie ValdesCreator and Executive Producer, Santiago of the SeasLeslie Valdes is creator and executive producer of Nickelodeon’s new animated preschool series,
Santiago of the Seas. Infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum, the action-adventure series follows 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe from villains like the nefarious pirate Bonnie Bones in a fantastical Caribbean world. Valdes also voices
Santiago’s abuelo, Antonio Gaviota, in the series.
Valdes served as a staff writer from the inception of the global phenomenon
Dora the Explorer and later went on to co-develop and serve as head writer and producer for Disney Junior’s hit preschool series,
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He has written for numerous hit animated series such as the
The Backyardigans and Handy Manny and developed TV pilots for Nickelodeon and Playhouse Disney. A former ABC/Disney Writing Fellow, Valdes also worked as a staff writer on ABC’s hit drama,
Castle.
Born in Cuba, Valdes came to the U.S. when he was five years old. After attending the prestigious Boston Latin High School, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English & American Literature from Brandeis University. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film, with a concentration in screenwriting from Columbia University. Valdes lives in New York City with his wife Valerie Walsh Valdes and their two daughters.
Valerie Walsh ValdesCreator and Executive Producer, Santiago of the SeasValerie Walsh Valdes is creator and executive producer of Nickelodeon’s new animated preschool series,
Santiago of the Seas. Infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum, the action-adventure series follows 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe from villains like the nefarious pirate Bonnie Bones in a fantastical Caribbean world.
Walsh Valdes began her career in kids’ TV as an intern at Nickelodeon and later went on to co-create and executive produce the global phenomenon
Dora the Explorer, as well as the hit preschool series
Go, Diego, Go! and
Dora and Friends: Into the City! for the network. As a showrunner, she has produced numerous animated television programs seen in over 150 countries and translated into over 30 languages.
Highly acclaimed for fusing interactivity with narrative storytelling to create immersive, high-stakes adventures filled with heart and whimsy, Walsh Valdes is the recipient of the prestigious Peabody Award for Outstanding Children’s Programming, in addition to multiple Imagen Awards, NAACP Image Awards and Parents’ Choice Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards.
A graduate of New York University, Walsh Valdes earned a master’s degree in Film and Dramatic Writing, and a master’s degree in Education. She lives with her husband Leslie Valdes and their two daughters in New York City.
Notes:Lorelai-mermaid was the first approved design for model on Santiago of the Seas. Design by Rayner Alencar. Modeled in Zbrush:
More Nick:Nickelodeon Upfront 2020 Roundup!From HelloBeautiful:
‘Made By Maddie’ Tween Actress Alyssa Cheatham: ‘Black Girls Of All Shades Need To See Themselves On TV’
[...]
In Santiago of the Seas, tell me about your role of Lorelai and why is this role so important to you?
Lorelai is a Black singing mermaid who has the ability to transform into a pirate girl. She is a part of Santiago’s crew and she travels as they go on sea adventures, fight sea villains and solve problems along the way. This role was really important for me because I get to be a Black mermaid on TV. Growing up, I’ve never seen a Black mermaid on TV or in movies. I saw Ariel from The Little Mermaid but she didn’t look like me. It’s important to show diversity in the media because when kids can see it, they can dream it.
What does “diversity and representation” mean to you? How do you demonstrate this to young Black girls your age?
Diversity and representation means showing up for Black and brown kids. We come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. What’s so cool about the characters who get to voice on Santiago of The Seas and Made By Maddie is that the characters are browner than me and I think that’s important. A lot of times, we see shows where there is only one Black girl or boy in the entire cast and most times, they have lighter skin. I am beautiful and I love my skin, but my friends and family members with browner skin are equally beautiful.
How will you continue to be a role model and inspire others?
I don’t consider myself a superstar or anything, but I know I have a platform and I want to use it to help others. I am just doing what I normally do and I am not trying to be someone I am not, for social media. That’s too much pressure. I am sharing my life as it is, even with the mistakes, and hopefully it will inspire others. I have a lot of ideas about stuff I want to create. I know that with hard work, those things will happen. I want to write my own sitcom and star in it and I want to hire people that look like me. We need more people behind the scenes that look like me.
My third song will be out in a few weeks and it’s all about positivity and moving forward, even when the world tells you that you can’t. The song isn’t a response to the Made By Maddie controversy, though. The song was written last year and so it just happens to be a fit for what happened recently. I just want to use all my talents, however I can, to empower and inspire others.
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Swashbuckling with Santi: Nickelodeon Makes a Splash with ‘Santiago of the Seas’
***This article originally appeared in the November ’20 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 304)***
Ahoy, amigos. Get ready for a new swashbuckling hero as Nickelodeon’s new animated show Santiago of the Seas sets sail this month. Created by Niki López, along with Leslie Valdes and Valerie Walsh Valdes (the husband-and-wife team behind Dora the Explorer), the colorful show follows the adventures of eight-year-old Santiago Montes (voiced by Kevin Chacon), a kind and brave junior pirate who searches for treasures along with his friends. Of course, he also has to keep his Caribbean world safe from villains like Bonnie Bones (Kyndra Sanchez) and his Palm Crow sidekick Sir Butterscotch (John Leguizamo).
The origins of Santiago of the Seas go back several years, when Nickelodeon paired López with the Valdeses to develop the show, which highlights Spanish language and a Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum. López, who was one of Animation Magazine’s Rising Stars of 2020, says she is very pleased that her labor of love is finally making its debut. “I feel very lucky as a woman of color to have had this opportunity to have a project that is so authentically tied to my own background,” says the talented artist who was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “We need more women and people of color to share their worlds, and I think it’s exciting for the audience who share that background to see themselves and their culture represented in animation.”
The Valdeses also emphasize the value of creating a positive role model for young audiences. “When you create a hero for preschoolers, it’s a huge responsibility,” says Valerie Walsh Valdes. “You want them to develop an attachment to the characters. Kids can see our hero Santi as their best friend or a mirror of themselves, which is something everyone wants today. He is brave, but kind, and has many prosocial traits and empowers kids to do good in the world.”
One-of-a-Kind Characters
Leslie Valdes echoes his wife. “We have created some dynamic and unique characters, and each one of them is very distinct and individualistic,” he says. “We never patronize our audience and have these positive, aspirational characters. The most special aspect of this show is that we have these wonderful Latino and Caribbean characters and a voice cast that is really enveloped in that culture and storytelling. I have worked on shows before that we’ve had only one Latino character, and it’s not really about the culture. On Santiago, we have code-switching and characters transition easily from English to Spanish, and it’s not a big deal. It’s a very germane way to present the culture.”
While López is based in Los Angeles, the Valdeses work from their home in New York, and the animation is split between Nickelodeon’s Burbank studio and Malaysian studio Lemon Sky. The CG animation is done in Maya and composited with Nuke. The visuals were inspired by a variety of sources, including some of Lopez’s favorite anime shows, such as Sailor Moon and the works of Rumiko Takahashi.
“You can definitely notice the anime inspiration — the bigger eyes and the expressive characters and mannerisms,” says López, who began her career as an intern at Nickelodeon and worked on shows such as The Fairly OddParents and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
“We wanted to explore a few things and didn’t want the characters to feel like stiff, plastic toys. The backgrounds are not hyper realistic, and something about the way the buildings and the skies and clouds look has a little bit of an edge to it. I love the way our partner studio Lemon Sky worked with us. The culture within that studio is so collaborative and energetic. I had the opportunity to visit the studio, and they were such wonderful, compassionate people, and so excited about the project. They truly bumped up the quality tenfold.”
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| “Santi” character sketch and final design. |
The show’s writers are based both in New York and Los Angeles, and the voice recording is done in New York City. As the creators explain, post-COVID, everyone is pretty much used to working remotely from their homes. “We had the same model for Dora the Explorer, which used a writers’ room as well as freelancers. We gave the freelancers multiple episodes in order to immerse everyone in the world of Santiago. We have been working virtually from our homes for a very long time, even before the pandemic,” says Valerie.
Leslie notes, “I think it’s the best work we have done and that the show is really emotionally involving. The artists have really captured the spectrum of skin tones on the characters, and it’s truly beautiful. Growing up, I didn’t see that in live action or animation.”
High-Energy Heroes and Villains
According to the Valdeses, the show’s comedic tone is also a huge asset. “John Leguizamo is wonderful as Sir Butterscotch, and the way they’ve animated that character is hilarious,” says Valerie. “I really think our comic villainess Bonnie Bones is a standout, too. Because we are dealing with a preschool audience, we don’t want to alienate or scare them, but we were so relieved when our test audiences were captivated by the villains.”
Leslie adds, “Dora was a very different kind of show and had a gentle pace. We were aiming for a more energetic pace, something with dramatic high and low points. You can also lose kids if the action isn’t displayed and visualized clearly. We were so pleased to see how everything came together so beautifully. Animation is a marathon, and not a sprint. We had lots of twists and turns and challenges along the way, but in the end, it’s so great to see the vision that we had talked about over three years ago realized.”
López says she hopes young viewers will be inspired by Santiago’s engaging adventures. “I hope they all feel that they are tagging along with Santi and his friends. I want them to see that kindness is a strength and not a weakness and that they come away with a sense of community. That they learn that they should be looking after each other and always try to do what’s right. I also want the show to fill them up with energy, like a shot of adrenalin. So, they tell their parents, ‘Hey, I’m going to play with Santiago!’”
Santiago of the Seas premieres on October 9 at 12:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon.
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Niki Lopez & Kevin Chacon Talk About Their New Nick Jr. Series Santiago of the Seas [LRMOnline Exclusive Interview]
Since our little ones are very impressionable at a young age, we always appreciate there being programming that helps kids expand their vocabulary and sometimes in two languages. This is the case for the upcoming new Nickelodeon animated series, Santiago of the Seas, premiering October 9th, at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nick Jr.
In Santiago of the Seas, we will follow young Santiago Montes, a brave kind-hearted pirate. Kids will enjoy watching him embark on daring rescues, treasure hunts in a fantastical Caribbean world. He will be joined by his loyal crew members Tomas and Lorelai. This twenty-episode series will feature an infused Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum.
It was created by Niki Lopez, Leslie Valdez, and Valerie Walsh Valdes. Valdes and Walsh serve as executive producers with Lopez co-executive producing. Santiago by the Seas is produced by Nickelodeon Animation. Production is overseen by Eryk Casemiro, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon Preschool.
It’s a very bright fast-paced series that will keep kids on the edge of their seats as Santi and his crew take on many challenges on the sea. LRMOnline had the opportunity to speak with Niki Lopez ahead of its release. As well as the voice of the lead Santiago, Kevin Chacon. In the interview, we talk about Lopez’s feelings on going from intern to creator at Nickelodeon. What kids are going to love about Santiago, and the importance of kids learning dual languages. You can check out the interview below!
Santiago of the Seas, premiers October 9th, at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nick Jr.
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Bridgeport teen Kevin Chacon voices the lead, a pirate, in Nickelodeon’s new ‘Santiago of the Seas’
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| Bridgeport resident Kevin Chacon, 13, seen here in his home studio, voices Santiago Montes, a brave and kindhearted pirate who sets sail on amazing adventures in Nickelodeon’s new animated preschool series, “Santiago of the Seas.” The series debuts Oct. 9. Photo: Contributed photo |
When “Santiago of the Seas” debuts on Nickelodeon this month, kids will meet a brave and kind-hearted pirate — an adventurer who lives in a fantastical Caribbean world.
That animated character is voiced by Bridgeport teen Kevin Chacon, who landed the role in 2018. “I usually record my parts in New York, but since the pandemic I’ve been recording from a studio that was built in my room,” Chacon says.
Santiago Montes — also known as “Santi” — is an 8-year-old pirate in this new show for preschoolers. Nickelodeon says he “searches for hidden treasure, always stands by his best mates and keeps the high seas safe from villains,” as he protects his homeland.
“The series is already done,” says Chacon, 13. “What I’m recording now are little tweaks or fixes to the lines I recorded before.”
“Santiago of the Seas” is more than just another cartoon for children. The 20-episode series features Latino-Caribbean culture by highlighting such things as its music, language, cuisine, dances, architecture, customs and folklore.
Also, it seamlessly infuses English and Spanish, giving viewers a head start on learning the Spanish language. Each episode features a word or phrase that viewers are asked to repeat. And whenever characters speak Spanish, it’s done in a way that provides context to clarify the meaning, so viewers are easily able to understand and follow along.
Chacon, of Costa Rican heritage, was born in New Jersey. He discovered a passion for the arts when he was 9, while taking acting classes at Rybin Studio of Drama in New York City. Since then, he’s appeared in a variety of theater and television projects. He shared more in an email.
“My mom, dad, sister and brother have been the main ones in my life from my family,” he said. “I got into acting from watching my manager Susan on TV in an interview, but I’ve always wanted to be an actor.”
“Santiago of the Seas” premieres Friday, Oct. 9, at 12:30 p.m. Although Chacon is not captain of a pirate ship, he and Santi share some traits. “Things I would say I have in common with Santiago would be that we are both hard-working, we have perseverance and we like to help people out.”
Both are also adventurous. Aside from hanging out with his friends, Chacon says he likes to “do flips and skateboard.” In addition, he enjoys basketball, swimming, dancing and singing.
When asked about the challenging aspects of his voice work, the teen said, “To be honest, nothing is too hard about VO. There are some challenges like if something goes wrong with the audio you recorded, but a professional team always makes sure you have a backup so you’re good.”
Chacon is a recipient of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) and Association of Critics of Entertainment (ACE) Awards for Emerging Artist of the Year. “What I hope viewers get from this show would be to be able to talk a little Spanish or vice versa with English,” he says.
Some projects in which Chacon has already appeared include Marvel’s “Jessica Jones,” on Netflix; he played the cool kid, Vido Arocho. He also had the lead role in a renowned bilingual stage adaption of “The Little Prince,” and was in Nickelodeon promos for “Double Dare,” Hispanic Heritage Month and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
Chacon said his hope for the future is “to be cast in an on-camera Nickelodeon show etc., but I’ll see where life takes me. What’s meant for me, is what’s meant for me.”
More about “Santiago of the Seas”
Santiago’s loyal crew includes Tomás (Justice Quiroz), his clumsy, energetic cousin whose magical guitar can be used to harness the wind, and Lorelai (Alyssa Cheatham), a mermaid who can speak to sea creatures and transform into a young human girl.
Their majestic ship is El Bravo. Santiago and his mates use “their smarts, pirate skills and moral compasses” to guard their home from villains such as Bonnie Bones (Kyndra Sanchez), a wicked pirate, and her sidekick, Sir Butterscotch (John Leguizamo).
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Niki López Honors Latinx & Caribbean Cultures in Debut Series: Santiago of the Seas
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Niki López is celebrating Latinx and Caribbean cultures through her debut animated series, Santiago of the Seas from Nickelodeon. Premiering on Friday, October 9th at 12:30 pm (ET/PT), join courageous kid pirate Santiago ‘Santi’ Montes as he explores and protects his home Isla Ecanto. The new animated series will feature Spanish-language instruction and ‘al son del Caribe’ learning activities where young viewers are invited to sing, dance, and help Santi on his high-stake adventures aboard his ship, El Bravo.
Santiago of the Seas premieres on October 9th on Nickelodeon at 12:30 pm (ET/PT).
“My hope is to influence young audiences by exposing them to different backgrounds and perspectives,” López explained. “Championing cultural diversity not only helps pave the way for little minds to evolve, but it makes a tremendous impact on their well-being to see someone who looks like them in the early years.”
When asked how animation and education come together to promote cultural change for Latinx and Caribbean cultural representation, López said “fostering understanding through animation is a creative tool to share cultural expressions with other people and teach respect for those cultures.”
Niki López began her career in television as an intern with Nickelodeon, working her way up to production assistant and color designer. Her breakthrough moment arrived at her first meet-and-greet with Nickelodeon’s executive development team members.
“Nickelodeon has an open-door policy when it comes to pitching ideas and I was advised to answer questions like: ‘What is important to our young viewers’ knowledge?’ and ‘What things did you enjoy when you were little?’ ” she said.
For López, her childhood in Puerto Rico was an immediate inspiration. Drawing upon its rich history, architecture, and the distinct lure of the island, she created Santiago Montes, better known as Santi, the friendly and fierce pirate protector of his home Isla Encanto. Young viewers will have the joy of meeting Santi’s best friends Tomas who plays the magical cuatro guitar and Lorelai, a mermaid who can turn into a human girl using a magical bracelet.
Grappling with what it means to be a woman of COLOR in 2020, López urges women to remain authentic in your vision for the future. “My hope is for women to take the helm in their quest or vision in life, to be paid equitably, to take care of each other, and for everyone to live in a more inclusive world.”
Don’t miss the premiere of Santiago of the Seas this Fall on October 9th on Nickelodeon at 12:30 pm (ET/PT).
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Kevin Chacon Talks Santiago Of The Seas – Exclusive Interview
We have been following Santiago Of The Seas on Nickelodeon for some time now and now that the show will be premiering Friday, October 9th, Nick Jr. we were lucky enough to get Kevin Chacon who voices the lead Santiago Montes to talk about the show and his career with us.
Kevin Chacon is the voice of Santiago “Santi” Montes, a brave and kind-hearted, 8-year-old pirate who sets sail on amazing adventures, searches for hidden treasure, always stands by his best mates and keeps the high seas safe from villains as the pirate protector of Isla Encanto.
BSCKids: This show has been on our radar for a while, tell us a bit about how you got the role of Santiago? What did you know about the show before heading into the interview?
Kevin Chacon: I auditioned in New York and after that audition I had about three more, which led to them choosing me for the role of Santiago. I knew that it was going to be a new show on Nick Jr. about pirates.
Do you find it harder to do voice acting or being in front of the camera? Is there anything special that you do before you do your work on Santiago of the Seas in the recording booth?
I think being in front of the camera is harder because it’s not only more nerve-racking, but one wrong move and you’ll have to redo the whole scene. The same goes with voice acting with one little noise, but it’s less nerve-racking to voice act. I normally warm up my voice before I go into the recording booth.
What does a regular day working on Santiago of the Seas look like? What is been the funniest or most entertaining thing that has happened behind the scenes of the show?
I travel to New York from Connecticut, arrive at the studio, get in the booth and start recording. I record for a couple hours and then head back home— it’s a long day. The funniest and most entertaining thing that has happened behind the scenes was when my voice coach and I created a little band called “Slit Shrimp,” and we just rhymed a bunch of lines together. It was so much fun.
We have been following Santiago Of The Seas on Nickelodeon for some time now and now that the show will be premiering Friday, October 9th, Nick Jr. we were lucky enough to get Kevin Chacon who voices the lead Santiago Montes to talk about the show and his career with us.
Kevin Chacon is the voice of Santiago “Santi” Montes, a brave and kind-hearted, 8-year-old pirate who sets sail on amazing adventures, searches for hidden treasure, always stands by his best mates and keeps the high seas safe from villains as the pirate protector of Isla Encanto.
BSCKids: This show has been on our radar for a while, tell us a bit about how you got the role of Santiago? What did you know about the show before heading into the interview?
Kevin Chacon: I auditioned in New York and after that audition I had about three more, which led to them choosing me for the role of Santiago. I knew that it was going to be a new show on Nick Jr. about pirates.
Do you find it harder to do voice acting or being in front of the camera? Is there anything special that you do before you do your work on Santiago of the Seas in the recording booth?
I think being in front of the camera is harder because it’s not only more nerve-racking, but one wrong move and you’ll have to redo the whole scene. The same goes with voice acting with one little noise, but it’s less nerve-racking to voice act. I normally warm up my voice before I go into the recording booth.
What does a regular day working on Santiago of the Seas look like? What is been the funniest or most entertaining thing that has happened behind the scenes of the show?
I travel to New York from Connecticut, arrive at the studio, get in the booth and start recording. I record for a couple hours and then head back home— it’s a long day. The funniest and most entertaining thing that has happened behind the scenes was when my voice coach and I created a little band called “Slit Shrimp,” and we just rhymed a bunch of lines together. It was so much fun.
What would you say you have learned while working on this series?
I have learned more about the Caribbean Hispanic culture along with some new Spanish words.
How did you feel after receiving your Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) and Association of Critics of Entertainment (ACE) Awards for Emerging Artist of the Year.
I felt blessed and grateful because I was able to see all the progress I’ve made throughout these years.
What would you say your favorite Nickelodeon show of all time is? (besides your own show of course) and if you could guest star on another Nick show that is currently running which one would it be and why?
My favorite Nickelodeon show of all time is Drake and Josh. If I could guest star on any Nick show that is currently running, it would be Danger Force or All That because I love action and comedy.
What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
I surprisingly draw well.
Have you been to the Caribbean? Did you know about pirates before the show?
Yes, I have been to the Caribbean. I knew about pirates before the show but only about the bad ones, not the good ones.
Tell us in a few words why every kid should be tuning in to watch Santiago of the Seas.
Every kid should tune into Santiago of the Seas because it will show you more about our Hispanic culture, teach you kindness and take you on many adventures.
Special thanks to Kevin Chacon and you can watch a trailer for Santiago of the Seas [above].
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Originally published: Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 15:17 BST.
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