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It’s been 24 years since Nickelodeon’s clever, bilingual heroine Dora the Explorer and her best monkey-pal Boots changed the preschool animation landscape forever. Created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes and Eric Weiner, the hugely influential show proved to be quite a cultural phenomenon, leading to spinoffs, a merchandising empire and even an aged-up live-action movie in 2019.
This week, a new CG-animated version of the franchise, titled Dora, introduces a whole new generation to the charming heroine. Dora (voiced by Diana Zermeño) and Boots (Asher Colton Spence) continue their epic adventures in a magical rainforest. Guided by trustworthy Map (Anairis Quiñones), Dora and her friends must work together to overcome many obstacles while being challenged by the sneakiest fox, Swiper (Marc Weiner). Kathleen Herles, the original voice of Dora the Explorer, returns to the new series as Mami, and Mike Smith Rivera joins the cast as Papi.
The show’s executive producer is none other than longtime Nickelodeon veteran Rich Magallanes. “Dora has always been a part of my upbringing at Nickelodeon,” he tells Animation Magazine. “I came on board just after the start of Season 1 production and immediately recognized that there were so many great reasons to get involved. In addition, I felt that now is the time to bring Dora back in new adventures and couldn’t wait to join the team.”
Magallanes points out that Dora is a legacy property — a worldwide brand that unites kids and families alike. “I’ve worked on several series based on iconic franchises in the past and always find them a challenge, but when it’s something like Dora it’s especially exciting because we’re infusing fun, culture, language and adventure.”
Claudia Spinelli, Nickelodeon’s VP of franchise animation development, adds, “Dora was a groundbreaking character as she was a bilingual little girl who went on these high-stakes adventures, but she was also very caring and inclusive of all her friends. There are lots of shows that offer interactivity with the viewers as Dora does, but with her you fall in love with her first and then you play along with her in her adventures.”
Although the spirit of the show is the same as the original Dora the Explorer, there are certain differences that immediately stand out. “We are bringing Dora into today’s world,” says Magallanes. “First of all, the new Dora is in CG animation — it’s a whole new look with brilliant colors and new locations. She still has all the confidence and relatability she’s always had, but our stories are now more character-driven, our adventures are more exciting, the comedy is bolder, our pacing is slightly quicker, and yet we have tons of heart. Hitting the reset button is all about keeping Dora’s integrity, interaction and language-learning skills with an elevated boost!”
Of course, the fact that the 2024 version of Dora and her world are CG-animated had its own share of challenges. “CG is a whole other level than traditional 2D,” says the exec producer. “We need to be aware of sets, characters and all the assets we build for every episode. It’s challenging, but it also creates a certain level of creativity in that we need to think differently in how we execute our stories.”
The series animation is produced by Pipeline Studios. As Luis Lopez, Pipeline’s CEO tells us, “Our animation and production team consist of top-tier talent from our global studios, with Dora being crafted at Pipeline Studios in Canada, Chile, Colombia and Spain. We bring a truly diverse and multicultural blend of world-class expertise, breathing life into the beloved world of Dora for a fresh generation.”
“Harnessing tools like Advanced Skeleton, Maya, Houdini, Anim Picker and Arnold, our artists meticulously sculpt each scene with finesse and creativity,” adds Lopez. “Coupled with the expertise of our dedicated developers building custom tools tailored for this project, we ensure an unparalleled standard of excellence and innovation in every frame.”
Magallanes says he has been blown away by the hugely enthusiastic responses of early test audiences of the show. “Kids would literally stare in awe at the show,” he recalls. “They smiled, danced and laughed throughout our sessions. Watching how engaged they were and seeing their level of happiness and interest was pure joy. To top it off, the parents were also thoroughly enjoying the show. They were thrilled and loving the fact Dora was back and with purpose, substance and meaning.”
So why does Magallanes think Dora is such a big hit with kids all over the world? “She is truly a hero with heart,” he says. “She cares and never forgets the audience is there on all her adventures. She’s confident but is also vulnerable — she may not have all the answers, but she’s willing to figure it out, and she always invites the viewer on that journey.”
Magallanes says it’s very difficult for him to pick his favorite episode of the first season of this new take on Dora. “Every week I have a new answer to that question,” he admits. “Seriously, it’s too hard to nail down one episode as the hits just keep coming. We have some really incredible songs and moments that I can’t reveal just yet, but the show literally gets stuck in your head, and you just can’t help but sing and/or think about some of the situations in the stories days later.”
Now that the show is ready to find its way to screens and hearts around the world, Magallanes says he has high hopes for this new take on Dora. “There are so many takeaways from cultural representation, to learning a new language, doing the right thing and trust and love in family and friends,” he says. “Bottom line, I hope the audience walks away fully entertained, feeling great and empowered with a warm heart to spread goodness in the world!”
As Dora might say, “Por supuesto que lo harán (Of course they will)!”
Produced by Nickelodeon Animation and featuring 26 CG-animated 11-minute episodes, Dora premieres today, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia. Twenty episodes premiered the same day on Paramount+ internationally (outside France and Japan). The series will also air on Nick Jr. internationally.
