Since its debut in 2000, the Dora the Explorer show has won the hearts of young children around the world. Dora and her entire eccentric cast of friends have a kind of charm that you don’t find in many places these days. In fact, the Dora the Explorer show has the perfect mix of music, adventure, and education to always keep kids interested and waiting to see what happens next. Dora’s popularity comes down to a combination of various elements that appeal to children.
The first thing that attracts the audience (consisting almost entirely of preschoolers and their parents) to the Dora the Explorer show is the cast of characters. First, of course, is Dora herself. Dora is basically the essence of what every kid wants in a hero. She is brave, loyal, and kind to those around her. Even at such a young age, she enthusiastically embraces any adventure that comes her way and follows her curiosity to explore the world around her. She is somewhat unique in American children’s television, in that she is bilingual.
His traveling companion and best friend is a purple, blue, and yellow monkey named Boots (so named, unsurprisingly, for the large red boots he wears). He is just as adventurous as his human friend and follows Dora on all of her trips, entertaining Dora (and the audience) with her mischievous streak.
Two of the most unique cast members of the Dora the Explorer show are Backpack and Map. As their names indicate, they are, in fact, a living backpack and map that help Dora on her expeditions into the unknown. The backpack is as enthusiastic about a bag as one could hope to find. Inside his purple body, he stores an endless supply of useful items for Dora’s quests, which he gleefully distributes, along with a chorus of Backpack Song. He, like Dora, is bilingual.
The map is equally helpful in Dora’s adventures, guiding her wherever she needs to go. He also has his own song, which he recites when he appears. While these two characters’ songs are likely to be annoying for adults, they’re pretty perfect for most young children, making these two crowd favorites. The latest member of the Dora cast is Swiper the thieving fox. He can usually be found making trouble until Dora shows up to save the day.
The second secret to the success of the Dora the Explorer show is the interactive element. At various times during each episode, Dora will ask the children in the audience for help with a task. For example, to defeat Swiper, she has the audience repeat the phrase “Swiper, don’t swipe!” repeatedly. Other times, she asks the audience for help answering a question or solving any number of other problems. While there’s no natural interaction here (since whether or not someone actually responds to you makes no difference to the cartoon), it does make kids feel like they really are a part of the Dora the Explorer show, which is a big part of what keeps them coming back for more.
Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All rights reserved.
