Dora Grows Up—Stops Exploring, Starts Shopping
Posted by Hannah Tennant-Moore at 4:00 PM on February 20, 2009
Yes, that toothpick-legged, sexy-haired silhouette to the right is the new Dora the Explorer. According to Nickelodeon, an older, more fashionable Dora line—“featuring fashion dolls and accessories” (sold separately)—will be released in the US in spring and marketed to tween girls.
The new Dora will go to middle school in the big city and have a “whole new fashionable look.” The keystone of the new doll will be online play, in which kids can change Dora’s clothes and accessories—and also solve a mystery if they feel like it.
It’s no mystery why Nickelodeon would team up with Mattel to expand Dora the Explorer (cha-ching!), but did they really have to shamelessly transform Dora from a fearless outdoorswoman whose best friends are talking animals into a materialistic fashionista? Tween girls are bombarded with enough worries about clothes and appearance as it is.
Considering most children’s obsession with “big kids,” I’m worried that even three- and four-year-old lovers of Dora will be turned on to this stereotypical fashion doll, rather than following Dora and Boots on bilingual humanitarian missions in the great outdoors.
What do you think about the new Dora line–sad makeover, or a way for kids to maintain their connection with a powerful female character?
Image: businesswire.com
Oh dear..one of the things I like about Dora is she doesn’t conform to typical ‘girly’ stereotypes-she’s autonomous, adventurous, doesn’t defer to males, and isn’t image obsessed in the least. This suck. I hope my 4 y.o won;t see it
I think a prime-time live-action/animated sci-fi teen drama could promote this toy line for The N, shot in HDV for Fall 2009 for the fall line-up and it could be “Red Dwarf”-ish. Like, “Red Dwarf”, but with no comedy at all. As Holly always says, “All right, dudes!”
I think parents that are having issues with this change are being ridiculous! All Nick and Mattel are trying to do is reach the “tweens” with this idea. I do believe this idea will fail because pre-teens could care less about Dora! So parents, relax! Really! It could be a lot worse. I’ve seen many parents let their pre-teens and teens wear outfits way more scandalous then Teen Dora’s outfit! Heaven forbid Dora grows up all girly! Gosh! This is just plain stupid complaining from parents!
I like it!!!!!.send me a video please!!!.
i cant belive what i am seeing dora is now going to be my age that rock no more dora dora dora the explora now she is more fashinable yeah
I think that is the dumbest idea I have ever heard. My 2 yr old watches Dora and she certainly wouldnt be interested in a sexy Dora.Get real!!!
What do you think you are doing,changing Dora?My three yr old niece loves her and she wouldnt be watching if its a teenage Dora.Dora is an innocent little girl and the kids love her. We have enough Barbies and Bratz.Leave Dora the way she is.
LOL! I think this idea is hilarious! Dora the Explorer came out when my younger sister was a year old, and honestly I can not imagine her or her friends desiring a Dora all grown up fashion doll. There are worse things out there for kids, but I honestly wonder if they are going to get any money out of this idea. Hopefully they won’t lose their younger audience which should matter the most to them now.
Why change Dora? Why not have a Dora cousin and call her Doreen?
Don’t worry peeps That Tween Dora won’t replace Kid Dora
Well, my kids sure won’t be watching. Dora was great because she was a happy, adventurous little girl. I have zero interest in yet another “tweens” doll whose world is defined by hair, make-up, and shopping. Sorry, Mattel, my kids will be out playing outside, not rotting in front of the computer putting make-up on a doll.
WOW! Okay people stop over reacting!!! I’m glad tween Dora is getting a make over, people should care about their appearance..not for other people or boys but for themselves!! I’m 17 and I don’t “get pretty” for boys, but because I feel good! That’s why theres so many girls with low self esteem! You should be proud to look in the mirror! So just stop, this is a dumb argument!
THIS IS SO STUPID I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD THAT LOVES DORA AND BOOTS. COME ON BE REAL THAT’S CRAZY THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE SHOW THE WAY IT IS.
i grew up with dora but she finnally caught up with me….
i think dora is a wonderfull girl and they must not change the show…
its really good how it is…
I am a great grand mom to my wonderful Ruzena. She is 17mo & looks like Dora we love to watch the show together. she sits & says Dora. What a shame to change her into one of those bratty teenagers who wears those suggestive cloths & wonder why the dirty old men look at them. Keep her plain & simple so we all can enjoy the simple things.
Have her learn how to manage money & not spend more than she has.
This is America people. This is a toy. I understand the opposition a mother might have against the doll. but as a mother who lives in America where there are a scores of mothers who might not see harm and like the doll the bottomline is, if you don’t want your child to have it, don’t by it. It is a toy, it is not manditory. The question is whether or not the company will put it out. The question is will you be the parent and tell your child that they cannot have it if they do. (if opposed) This is a personal issue. You are the one who shapes your child, not the toy. Buy it or not. That’s up to you. Do you protest candy just because you don’t want your child to have it? Or do you tell your child no they can’t have the candy and don’t buy it? Or do you go against the candy company? Think about it.
i think dora is a wonderful girl but i didn,t know she grew up. but they must not change the show it was really good.
Leave Dora alone! She should stay a little girl, so that little girls can still watch her. My girls do not, because I do not allow them to play with or watch any of the idiot BRAT shows or dolls. Let little kids stay little kids for as long as possible! Being a grown up will come soon enough! Why steal their joy?
I say let Dora grow up. The little girls that have played with her since the start are at the age Dora should grow into. And as far as the little girls that are growing up, they will have their own younger version.
Come on People, get with the 21st Century.
Just remember, you let your children listen to the radio and watch TV. How many of the songs and shows you let them watch have Violence and Sexual content that you haven’t payed attention too because your too busy complaining about nonsense like this.
We’re not living in the dark ages anylonger!
You guys gripe about the Dora changes, but every other perversion in the media goes unnoticed. You spend so much time on this one change, that you are oblivious to the suggestive commercials everywhere. You can even look at a shampoo or mattress commercial and see a very suggestive idea being promoted. The rating PG has started it ascent into the realm of PG-13. The line has been blurred, and in the next 20 or so years we will all see more perversion, but society will eventually acclimate to it and accept it as the norm. In the grand scheme of the media, this fight should have been started long ago to have a chance do make a difference. The issue has been around since at least the 20’s, but we as a society have come to accept it because it was gradual and we chose to look the other way for the sake of money and what appeals to us.
plse i know that she can change but this is a way too much 4 our kids bcse dora is their role model now thatshe can wear makeup,hill,goes shopping this is a war in peoplehouses that u’restarring my girls does everrything dora does plse reconcider thosechanges u’reabout 2make plse 4 christ sake.
My little sister loves dora, she’s actually watching a diago episode with dora in it right now. When i showed her a picture of the new dora and explained to her about the new doll, she said what most 5 year olds would say “Can i have that?” So yes, i don’t really mind the new dora, i actually think that she’s going to be a lot less annoying then the dora they have now. And thats coming from a teen. I mean i have thought dora has been ready for a change since about a year after my sister started watching the show! I understand where the parents are coming from, but i mean just because one doll comes out doesn’t mean the world is ending! If you think this dora is bad than what do you think of barbies?! Do you not let your children play with them either? Because she’s is definitely far worse than this new dora.
And for the record, i don’t even think that they are changing the show to this new dora, i know that they are keeping the old one as well as having this new dora.
OKAY EW.
WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO TO DORA, SHE USED TO BE SO CUTE. LIKE FROM ALL THE THINGS SHE CUD HAVE BECOME, SHE TURNED INTO THIS THING!?
SHES JUST A MARKETING TOOL NOW, AND WHO IS SHE EVEN GOING TO APPEAL TO NOW?