Dora the Explorer

When a little girl named Dora Marquez wandered on television screens in August, 2000, few could have predicted how influential she would be on children’s television and on popular culture. Debuting at number one, Dora the Explorer featured the first animated Latina character in a leading role as well as a whole cast of animated characters — a monkey, a fox and others who would soon become cemented in children’s minds and hearts.

• On August 14, 2000, Dora the Explorer premiered on Nickelodeon and instantly ranked as the number-one rated preschool show on commercial television.

• Dora was the first Nickelodeon preschool character to appear online prior to making her on-air debut, on August 14, 2000. Dora the Explorer was broadcast all over the world, syndicated to TV broadcasters in 151 markets and translated into 30 languages.

• Dora teaches Spanish in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, but teaches English in every other market around the world. The first Spanish word taught on Dora the Explorer was azul (blue).

• The inspiration for the name Dora Marquez was exploradora, the Spanish feminine word for explorer, and the acclaimed writer Gabriel García Márquez. Swiper and Map are voiced by the same actor, Marc Weiner.

• Every episode of Dora the Explorer is screened by at least 75 preschoolers before it airs on TV. More than 20 educational and cultural consultants have worked on Dora the Explorer since the series premiered.

• Dora the Explorer has been honoured with awards including the Peabody, NAACP, Alma, Imagen, Latino Spirit, Gracie Allen, Parents’ Choice Award, the Television Critics Association Award and 16 Daytime Emmy nominations.

• In 2005, the Dora the Explorer balloon made its debut in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Dora was the first-ever Latina character to appear in the parade.

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 25th, 2018