The Secret Facts about Dora the Explorer

VIVA – Who remembers one of these adorable cartoons? The cartoon Dora the Explorer was once a spectacle for millennials or Gen Z. It turns out, that Dora the Explorer is more than two decades old.

This cartoon series produced by Nickelodeon first aired on August 14, 2000. In addition to the series, Dora also inspired a spin-off series and a live-action film titled Dora and The Lost City of Gold in 2019.

The characters of Dora, Boots the monkey, Backpack, Maps, Swiper the thief, and others have become icons among children. This cartoon series was the first to show a Latino in an animated role to inspire a generation to learn Spanish.

Everything about Dora from the bob haircut, the pink t-shirt, the theme song, to the characters makes this series loved by many people, especially children.

Although the Dora the Explorer cartoon officially stopped production in 2019, the character is still a favorite for some people. Here are secret facts about the cartoon Dora the Explorer. 

1. Debut Online Before Airing on Television

Before Dora aired on Nick Jr., the production house promoted Dora virtually allowing fans to get excited about the series and find out more before it started. The first character to air online was different from the one in the TV series.

The name Dora is taken from the Spanish explorer (explorer), namely Exploradora. Executives at Nickelodeon want Dora to be a Latin character who encourages Latino kids to see who they are. Dora's last name, Marquez, is taken from the name of the famous Latin writer Gabriel García Márquez.

Dora the Explorer is broadcast and translated into more than 31 languages. She’s well known for teaching Spanish in English-speaking countries (USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland). In some non-English speaking countries, Dora teaches English.

In the episode 'Dora's First Journey', Dora met Boots the monkey while she was playing outside. The episode is set in a flashback in which Swiper the mischievous fox tries to take Boots' red boots, but the two of them together try to stop Swiper.

At first, it turned out that Dora was a white girl. But after deliberating and learning about the lack of Latin representation in the media, Nickelodeon created the Dora that is known today. Until now, it could be said that Dora is one of the most popular Latin characters in the cartoon world.

Nickelodeon spared no expense for the quality of the show, and it turns out, the network was more than around hundred people working on a single episode. It also initially took over a year to create a single episode. With all of the expert opinions and screenings, it makes sense that the creators needed much time for make sure each episode was just right.