Last month at the NYC Toy Fair we got a glimpse of the new grown-up version of Dora the Explorer, who moves to the big city, attends middle school, and has a new, fashionable look.
She now had long hair, and long legs, and was given a trendy make-over. We received many e-mails from parents worried that the new tween Dora was not in keeping with the character’s outdoor, adventurous spirit and would prove to be poor.
As an online petition against the new ‘tween Dora began to build up speed, Nickelodeon and Mattel, the world’s largest toymaker, addressed these concerns and assured parents that Dora was not changing — and not going off the rails.
“The award-winning preschool Dora character that audiences know and love is not changing at all,” Nickelodeon and toymaker Mattel said in a joint statement on Monday.
“In the nine years she has been on television, Dora has become an important role model to many. The Latina heroine has connected with a generation of young boys and girls all around the world through her courageousness and sense of adventure.”
Initially, Tweenage Dora was not to be revealed until the fall. But in response to all of the controversy, a photo was released yesterday showing a young girl in a flowered tunic, purple leggings, and sandals. They said Dora would be solving mysteries with four new girlfriends related to the environment, wildlife, and school.
“This version of Dora — which is approximately modeled after a nine- or 10-year-old — is an age-appropriate doll that lets girls continue to learn and grow with the character,” they said.
“The reason for creating this new Dora line is to offer an alternative to moms who want their daughters to stay little girls, a little longer. The sense of adventure that is such a core part of Dora the Explorer continues in this new line.”
I like the whole Nancy Drew concept but am not sure why a new character couldn’t be created.
My son is probably going to want to know where Boots is…
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