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Why Does Dora Have To Grow Up?
Filed under: Opinions
Nickelodeon and Mattel have released an image of their all-new older Dora. She won't be replacing the original "Dora the Explorer," but what will this new "tween" Dora be called? Dora the Mall Shopper? Dora the Texter?By releasing the image, the two companies seem to be trying to soothe the minds of troubled parents. It's as if they're saying, "We know you were upset by that weirdly inappropriate silhouette. But look! It's not like she's a Bratz doll or something. She's wearing leggings! And besides -- she's still Dora."
But she isn't, at least not exactly. She's older. And the one question that Mattel and Nickelodeon haven't answered is the one that we think is the most obvious.
Why?In general, cartoon characters don't age. Sure, Wendy (of "Bob the Builder") moved to Sunflower Valley, but she didn't retire. She just wanted to be closer to nature. (She was also probably sick of waiting for Bob to put the moves on her, but that's another topic.)
There are some exceptions to the no-aging rule. Trey Parker and Matt Stone decided a few years ago to have the boys of South Park advance to 4th grade, but they did so specifically because it was "a bad idea." (Several years later, Cartman and Co. still haven't made it out of elementary school.) A better example is Charles M. Schultz's "Peanuts" gang. They aged ever so slightly as time went on, but it was in the name of adding new characters in a more organic way. It was also funny -- Charlie Brown being forced to miss a baseball game because he needed to push his baby sister in the stroller was priceless, as was Sally's eventual crush on Linus when she got older. But once she was old enough to fall for the boy who only had eyes for the Great Pumpkin, Sally stopped growing.
But back to Dora. Does Nickelodeon really think that by introducing a new "tweenier" Dora that they are going to be able to compete with the entertainment juggernaut that is Hannah Montana? Perhaps they are planning to have Dora try out for a musical, you know, at her high school? Why bother? The reason it works to keep kids' characters forever young is that there will always be a new crop of little girls to be fascinated by Dora, Backpack and Boots.
Bottom line: Sometimes change just isn't good. Mattel and Nickelodeon claim that they made this decision based partly on market research and focus groups. That's the same way the Coca-Cola Company decided to ditch their classic cola formula in favor of New Coke, which was one of the greatest marketing disasters of the 20th century. Doesn't corporate America learn from their past mistakes? (Actually, don't answer that question.)
As Dora herself might say, let's stop and think about this for a minute.
If Nickelodeon is really so desperate to break into a new demographic, they could introduce a new character. Perhaps Dora's older cousin. Let's call her Francine. Free advice, guys. Feel free to take it. Future generations will thank you.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
3-18-2009 @ 1:30PM
misfit said...Children grow up. Shes not sexy, or curvy or anything crazy. You guys complaining are the same people letting your girls play with trashy bratz dolls and watch hanna montana. The girls who have been watching this show since it started are probably starting to look a lot like the new dora and nick is trying to hang on to their viewers in these hard times...some kids feel as if they've out grown dora and her to old for the kindergartener. This way they can continue to learn with their favorite character. If you are soooo bothered by the new dora there is a very simple solution don't let your kid watch it. Simple enough right. Stop sweating the small stuff its not as serious as you're all making it.
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3-19-2009 @ 10:54AM
Kristi said...My sentiments exactly! I love the fact that my daughters (as well as my son - although he'd not admit to watching it) will be able to watch a smart, compassionate and confident thinker who enjoys learning (not just reading and writing I might add, she also likes math and science which we are supposed to be encouraging in our young girls.) Heaven forbid she is smart and pretty as well! Note - I did not say sexy. It is okay to be pretty and smart. That is the message that my children will get.
Tween Dora is not trashy, her entire body is covered up which is more than I can say for Preschool Dora who has had her little tummy hang out for years. Am I the only one who has always wondered why Dora's parents did not buy her a t-shirt that actually fit? Little girls grow up and their choices in clothing change. I have only seen one picture of the Tween Dora and I find nothing offensive about her attire.
3-18-2009 @ 1:57PM
Karen said...They already have enough episodes in the can to get your kids through preschool and while the new crop of babies will watch as preschoolers, they can hold on to the kids longer by having an older Dora.
I have no problem with this. Is the original Dora not going to be available? I think they'll show those to the preschool set and catch the grade school set with the new Dora. I think she is inbetween Preschool and Hannah Montana (who should really be for a bit older kids - she dates, etc.)
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3-22-2009 @ 11:09PM
Greg Laden said...We're thinking that Dora is a little over the top.
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3-27-2009 @ 6:52PM
Disgusted Teen said...I don't think this new Dora is trashy, but I don't get why she has to grow up in the first place. Dora is fantastic just the way she is. I'm 17 years old and my friends & I love Dora just the way she is. (and we'll admit to that in public). I think anyone saying Hannah Montana is trashy is stupid, because that show is sooo not trashy (goofy & a little immature, yes, but trashy - no). This Dora only bothers me because she doesn't look the same. This new picture of Dora makes me think of a Latina Polly Pocket (if you go on pollypocket.com they look kinda like that) & I've heard she's getting 3 or 4 new friends that will be based on the environment, wildlife & something else. Does that mean they're getting rid of boots????? If they are Dora just won't be Dora anymore. I don't think she should have aged so much, so quickly. She looks more like a computer image than a cartoon now, like if you compare the two, this new one looks wayyyy older.
&& I always wondered about her shirt too, but that was part of the younger, less caring about fashion Dora. Her stomach showed the slightest bit, but the artist didn't add a belly button or anything, I thought it was just because Dora was always a little fluffy. Now she's skinny & taller, and it really makes it seem like to be older Dora HAD to get skinnier. They should have kept Dora fluffy because fluffy people need recognition in cartoons too (other than Patrick Star on Spongebob & Bob the Builder; who are both boys.) It makes it seem, at least to me, that girls have to get skinny and have great fashion sense to get anywhere in life (even though I personally hate the leggings look).
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4-28-2009 @ 11:13AM
Jamie said...I think the new Dora is adorable! My 6 year old daughter has always loved Dora. But, for the past year or so, I've tried to deter her from watching it because I thought she was a little too old for it. So, I'm kinda glad Dora's "grown up" a bit. Now I won't have any problem with my little girl watching her any more. I won't have to worry about friends making fun of her for watching a "baby" show. And besides our kids do learn from Dora. I only hope that the story line and songs are a little more mature and not so repetitious. ie, "I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map" etc. Sorry, but geez that was annoying!!!!
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9-15-2010 @ 10:43PM
Art said...My daughter is heart broken, I was not aware that Dora had grown up until my daughter logged on to the Nickolodeon web site. She started crying and was confused why Dora grew up and also was wondering where all of her old friends were. I honestly never really put in mind how much my daughter enjoyed watching Dora and now that she has grown up; my daughter not want her Dora gear (book bag, pj's etc...). My daughter thinks Dora does not want to be her friend any more, that now Dora is to old for her and she cannnot relate to the new characters
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