A Classic Chilean Cartoon in a mid-2000’s Nickelodeon Package

What:

Do you ever have nostalgia when you think about those old Nickelodeon cartoons like Recess or Hey Arnold!? If so, Diego y Glot is perfect for you.

Diego y Glot is a classic Chilean cartoon show centered on the middle class, everyday Plá Perez family with the teenage Diego Perez serving as our imaginative and often mischievous protagonist. He lives with his mother, father, older brother, and kooky grandmother.

The plots play out just like classic Nickelodeon shows from the USA. Diego and his trusty green mutt Glot get into various schemes and hijinks with their close friends Danilo, Ismael, and Violeta, who have each other’s backs through it all.

Why:

This show is super Chilean in all the best ways. I would describe its animation as “alternative” as the animators exaggerate physical features of characters to make them look almost misshapen at times.

The narrative is quick and the humor is irreverent, quirky, and at times dark. There are many colorful side and one-off characters who capture this era of Chilean society well, though I am sure there are references and likenesses I missed. Of course, this is a children’s cartoon, so everything should be taken with a generous grain of salt.

Overall, this is an excellent show for an intermediate learner. I recommend you make this your next watch.

How:

Diego y Glot has one season with 10 total episodes (23 minutes each) available for free via the production company El 13’s Youtube channel. A second season was released four years after the debut of the original; however, many viewers perceive season two as a false successor and do not recommend watching it.