Dora the Explorer | |
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![]() Franchise logo | |
Created by |
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Original work | Dora the Explorer TV series |
Owner | Nickelodeon (Paramount Global) |
Years | 2000–2019; 2023–present |
Print publications | |
Book(s) | 500+ (multiple publishers) |
Films and television | |
Film(s) | |
Television series | Untitled Dora the Explorer live-action TV series (upcoming) |
Animated series |
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Direct-to-video | List of Dora the Explorer home media releases |
Games | |
Video game(s) | Dora the Explorer video games |
Audio | |
Soundtrack(s) | The Soundtrack |
Miscellaneous | |
Toy(s) | 2000+ (multiple producers; including Mattel and Lego) |
Dora the Explorer is an American media franchise centered on an eponymous animated interactive fourth wall children's television series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes and Eric Weiner, produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and originally ran on Nickelodeon from August 14, 2000 to June 5, 2014, with the final six unaired episodes later airing from July 7 to August 9, 2019.[1] It has since spawned a spin-off television series (Go, Diego, Go!), a sequel television series (Dora and Friends: Into the City!) and a live-action feature film.[2]
The series is currently scheduled to receive several additional iterations through Paramount+, including a new version of the series animated in CGI and a live-action version for older viewers.[3][4][5]
Dora the Explorer | |
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Genre | Children's adventure |
Created by | Chris Gifford Valerie Walsh Valdes Eric Weiner |
Voices of |
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Theme music composer |
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Opening theme | Dora the Explorer Theme |
Ending theme | various closing themes |
Country of origin | United States |
Original languages |
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No. of seasons | 8 |
No. of episodes | 177 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | Chris Gifford |
Producer | Valerie Walsh Valdes |
Editors |
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Running time | 22 minutes (regular) 45 minutes (specials) |
Production company | Nickelodeon Animation Studio |
Original release | |
Network | Nickelodeon |
Release | August 14, 2000 August 9, 2019[2] | –
Related | |
The franchise has its roots from the television show of the same name which centers around Dora Márquez, a seven-year-old Latina girl, with a love of embarking on quests related to an activity that she wants to partake of or a place that she wants to go to, accompanied by her talking purple backpack and anthropomorphic monkey companion named Boots (named for his beloved pair of red boots). Each episode is based around a series of cyclical events that occur along the way during Dora's travels, along with obstacles that she and Boots are forced to overcome or puzzles that they have to solve (with "assistance" from the viewing audience) relating to riddles, the Spanish language, or counting. Common rituals may involve Dora's encounters with Swiper, a bipedal, anthropomorphic masked thieving fox whose theft of the possessions of others must be prevented through fourth-wall–breaking interaction with the viewer. To stop Swiper, Dora must say "Swiper no swiping" three times. However, on occasions where Swiper steals the belongings of other people, the viewer is presented with the challenge of helping Boots and Dora locate the stolen items. Another obstacle involves encounters with another one of the program's antagonists; the "Grumpy Old Troll" dwelling beneath a bridge that Dora and Boots must cross, who challenges them with a riddle that needs to be solved with the viewer's help before permitting them to pass. Known for the constant breaking of the fourth wall depicted in every episode, the audience is usually presented to two primary landmarks that must be passed before Dora can reach her destination, normally being challenged with games or puzzles along the way. The episode always ends with Dora successfully reaching the locale, singing the "We Did It!" song with Boots in triumph.
The eponymous series focuses on the adventures of a Latina girl named Dora and her monkey friend Boots, with a particular emphasis on the Spanish language. The show is presented in the style of both an interactive CD-ROM game and a point-and-click adventure game, with gimmicks such as title cards appearing in windows and Dora asking the viewer to help her by showing the current items in her inventory and asking the viewer which one is best for the current scenario.
Development of the show came out of Nickelodeon's desire to "come up with the next big hit" similar to its other hit preschool shows at the time; Little Bear and Blue's Clues. The creators sought to combine the format of both shows, with the narrative focus of Little Bear combined with the interactivity of Blue's Clues.[6] The creators further developed the concept by observing preschoolers with the creators coming to the conclusion that "they are little explorers."[6]
Dora is a Latina. According to a Nickelodeon spokesman, "she was developed to be pan-Latina to represent the diversity of Latino cultures".[7] Initially the character was not planned to be Latina although after an executive at Nickelodeon attended a conference about the lack of Latino representation, the creators were asked if they could include such elements. At first there was hesitancy, but eventually they realized that they had "a great opportunity" and the character's design remained.[6] Originally, Nickelodeon did not want Swiper, as researchers stated he was, "bad modeling and unsettling to kids". The creators felt strongly about the inclusion of the antagonist as an integral part of the series; he remained in the final show.[6]
On numerous occasions, television specials have been aired for the series in which the usual events of regular episodes are altered, threatened, or replaced. Usually said specials will present Dora with a bigger, more whimsical adventure than usual or with a magical task that must be fulfilled, or perhaps even offer a series of different adventures for Boots and Dora to travel through. They might be presented with an unusual, difficult task (such as assisting Swiper in his attempts to be erased from Santa Claus's Naughty List) that normally is not featured in average episodes, or challenge Dora with a goal that must be achieved (such as the emancipation of a trapped mermaid). Sometimes, the specials have involved the debut of new characters, such as the birth of Dora's superpowered twin baby siblings and the introduction of the enchanted anthropomorphic stars that accompany Dora on many of her quests.
On March 8, 2009, Mattel and Nickelodeon announced that Dora will receive a tweenage makeover, switching from a young age to a teenage attending middle school. Initially, it was announced that the new look would not be revealed until late 2009,[8] but after a short controversy, the tween Dora was unveiled on March 16, 2009.[9][10][11]
On 13 April 2012, a CGI opening sequence was created by Chicago-based Calabash Animation for the seventh season of the series.[12]
In 2009, Mattel and Nickelodeon introduced a preteen version of Dora, with four friends; named Naiya, Kate, Emma and Alana, who call themselves the Explorer Girls and were featured in Dora and Friends.[13]
Main article: List of Dora the Explorer episodes |
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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First aired | Last aired | |||
Pilot | June 12, 1999 | |||
1 | 25 | August 14, 2000 | October 29, 2001 | |
2 | 26 | February 13, 2002 | July 14, 2003 | |
3 | 21 | October 6, 2003 | June 14, 2004 | |
4 | 27 | September 24, 2004 | August 5, 2008 | |
5 | 22 | September 15, 2008 | November 18, 2010 | |
6 | 18 | November 5, 2010 | May 16, 2012 | |
7 | 18 | March 16, 2012 | January 16, 2013 | |
8 | 20 | March 18, 2013 | August 9, 2019 |
NOTE: The show's run ended on June 5, 2014, with 6 episodes,[1] however, those episodes did not air in the United States until August 9, 2019, with the premiere of Dora and the Lost City of Gold.[2]
Dora the Explorer has been produced in various other languages worldwide. It facilitates the learning of important foreign language words or phrases (mostly English), interspersed with a local language (e.g. Norwegian, Russian, Hindi, or German), with occasional use of Spanish (used in the Irish, Serbian, and Turkish versions) through its simplicity and use of repetition.
As shown in the list above, Spanish is the second language taught in the original English language version of the show (also broadcast for Malay speakers), in the Irish, Serbian, and trilingual Turkish versions, but for other versions of the show, the language being taught is English.
Two stage versions of the series toured North America, the first being "City of Lost Toys", and the second being "Dora's Pirate Adventure". Produced by Nickelodeon and LiveNation, these productions featured live actors portraying the roles of Dora and her friends, including Boots, Diego, Isa, and the Fiesta Trio. Many of the characters wore elaborate foam costumes designed to resemble the Dora characters. Each production featured a structure similar to an episode of the television series. City of Lost Toys featured Christina Bianco as Dora while Dora's Pirate Adventure featured Danay Ferrer of the band Innosense in the role of Dora and Frankie Grande as Boots. Both productions featured a version of the popular Gloria Estefan song "Get On Your Feet" as the final number of the show. Both productions were conceived by Chris Gifford, creator of the television show, and directed by Gip Hoppe.
There have been three Dora touring companies. The "City of Lost Toys" company and the "Pirate Adventure" company featured actors and crew that were members of Actor's Equity and IATSE, the respective unions for professional actors and stagehands in the United States. The third company performs a reduced version of "Pirate Adventure" and does not employ union personnel. This production is currently touring North America, and scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom and France.
Many action figures and playsets are available in many markets, along with cosmetics, hygiene products, ride-ons, books, board games, plush dolls, apparel, handbags, play tents, play kitchens, and more. Licensees include Mattel-owned Fisher-Price in the United States and Holland Publishing in the United Kingdom.
In 2004, Lego released four sets based on the characters of the TV series. These include 7330 Dora's Treasure Island, 7331 Diego's Rescue Truck, 7332 Dora and Boots at Play Park, and 7333 Dora and Diego's Animal Adventure.
In 2007, lead paint used by a contract toy manufacturer in China prompted Mattel to issue recalls for nearly a million toys, many of which featured Sesame Street and Nickelodeon characters - including Dora the Explorer. In response, Nickelodeon stated that they would introduce "third-party monitoring" of all manufacturers of products under its brands.[19][20][21]
Contains: Dora's picnic, Follow those feet, Dora in the deep sea, I love my Papi!, Say "Cheese"
Contains: Dora's Backpack, Little Star, Happy Birthday, Mami!, Meet Diego!, Dora Saves the Prince, Dora's Treasure Hunt, Good Night, Dora!
Contains: Dora's Book of Manners, Dora Goes to School, Dora's Fairy-Tale Adventure, Dora's Chilly Day, Show Me Your Smile!, Dora's Pirate Adventure, Big Sister Dora!
Main article: Dora the Explorer video games |
Video games based on the show were released. In Canada, Cheerios offered free Dora the Explorer the Game CD-ROMs in specially marked packages; however, packages sold in Quebec had only the French version. Dora the Explorer: Barnyard Buddies is the first video game based on the show for the home consoles as it was released for the PlayStation in the U.S. in 2003. It was not released in Europe until 2005 when it was one of the last games released on that platform in that territory as the PlayStation declined in production as well as all production on other PS1 games the following year.
Dora The Explorer | |
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Soundtrack album by Dora and Friends | |
Released | September 28, 2004 |
Genre | Soundtrack, Children's music |
Length | 42:03 |
Label | Nickelodeon Records |
Producer | Jed Becker |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Dora The Explorer Theme" | 0:43 |
2. | "Backpack, Backpack!" | 0:25 |
3. | "I'm The Map!" | 0:31 |
4. | "Travel Song Medley" | 1:35 |
5. | "Let's All Move Like The Animals Do!" | 0:53 |
6. | "I Love My Boots" | 0:39 |
7. | "Reach Up & Catch The Stars!" | 0:59 |
8. | "Fairytale Land" | 1:04 |
9. | "Popping Bubbles" | 0:28 |
10. | "When You Grow Up What Will You Be?" | 1:25 |
11. | "I'm The Grumpy Old Troll" | 0:54 |
12. | "Tenemos Amigos" | 0:58 |
13. | "Super Spies!" | 1:02 |
14. | "Hurry! Hurry!" | 1:16 |
15. | "Magic Music Box" | 1:33 |
16. | "The City of Lost Toys" | 2:07 |
17. | "Feliz Cumpleanos" | 1:04 |
18. | "Boots' Special Day" | 0:22 |
19. | "Un Dia Special" | 1:05 |
20. | "Bate Bate Chocolate" | 1:13 |
21. | "Do The Robot Walk" | 0:51 |
22. | "The Chicken Dance" | 0:55 |
23. | "Super Silly Fiesta" | 1:40 |
24. | "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" | 0:49 |
25. | "The Fix-It Machine" | 0:53 |
26. | "Boots The Monkey!" | 0:39 |
27. | "Mary Had A Little Lamb" | 0:31 |
28. | "Super Map!" | 0:33 |
29. | "Goin' On A Berry Hunt" | 0:56 |
30. | "Bouncy Ball" | 0:57 |
31. | "The Happy Song" | 1:42 |
32. | "Run, Dora, Run!" | 0:44 |
33. | "A Musician I Am" | 0:38 |
34. | "ABC (The Alphabet Song)" | 0:31 |
35. | "Baby Dino" | 0:58 |
36. | "Squeaky I Love You" | 0:30 |
37. | "Swiper No Swiping!" | 0:47 |
38. | "I'm Really Gonna Hit The Ball" | 0:49 |
39. | "Baseball, Baseball, Fun In The Sun" | 1:04 |
40. | "We Did It!" | 0:38 |
41. | "El Coqui" | 1:37 |
42. | "La Lechuza" | 1:09 |
43. | "Buenes Noches" | 0:35 |
44. | "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" | 0:29 |
Total length: | 42:03 |
Seasons of Dora the Explorer are available on a variety of streaming or direct-purchase video services.
Main article: List of Dora the Explorer home media releases |
Streaming service | Country availability[22] | Content | Launch date |
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10 Play | Australia | Season 7, Episodes 9–18[23] | |
Amazon Prime Video | Worldwide | Seasons 1 & 2[24] | |
Paramount+ | United States | Seasons 1–8[25] | December 9, 2020[26] |
Foxtel Now | Australia | Seasons 1–8[27] | |
SkyShowtime | Norway | Seasons 7 & 8 | September 20, 2022 |
Noggin (Paramount Streaming) | United States | Seasons 1–5[28] | September 1, 2017[29] |
Paramount+ | Australia | Seasons 1–8 | August 11, 2021 |
Vudu | United States | Seasons 1–8[30] |
Direct purchase service | Country availability | Content | Launch date |
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Apple TV+ | Worldwide |
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Google Play | Worldwide |
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Microsoft Store | Worldwide |
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Main article: Dora and Friends: Into the City! |
In 2013, Nickelodeon announced a development of a sequel to Dora the Explorer titled Dora and Friends: Into the City! and would star Dora as a 10-year-old who goes on city adventures with the Explorer Girls and is accompanied by a male friend named Pablo. The series ran for two seasons and 40 episodes on Nickelodeon from August 8, 2014, to February 5, 2017.[37][38][39][40][41][42]
Main article: Dora and the Lost City of Gold |
On October 23, 2017, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies announced a development of live-action film adaptation of the franchise at sister studio Paramount Players titled Dora and the Lost City of Gold for a scheduled summer 2019 release. It was filmed in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia at Village Roadshow Studios and directed by James Bobin[43] from a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller and Kristin Burr as producer.[44] The film was expected to follow the title character as a teenager unlike the TV series with the inclusion of her cousin Diego. On May 2, 2018, Isabela Moner was announced to portray the titular character.[45] The film was released in theaters/cinemas in the U.S. and Canada on August 9, 2019.[46]
On February 24, 2021, Paramount+ announced the development of a live-action series based on the franchise.[5] The following February, while announcing the development of a computer-animated reboot series,[4] Paramount+ further clarified that the live-action series would be aimed at tweens and take inspiration from the live-action film, Dora and the Lost City of Gold.[3]