NEW YORK — When toymaker Mattel, working with Nickelodeon, announced this month that a “tween” version of Nick’s beloved “Dora the Explorer” cartoon character would be unveiled in the fall, the response was overwhelming — overwhelmingly negative.
Dora the streetwalker. A sexed-up version of a children’s icon. A poor example for kids.
Those were just some of the comments tossed around the blogosphere after Mattel released a silhouette of the “new” Dora, whose image was drastically changed from the endearing tomboy look Dora fans grew to love, with her bowl-cut hairdo, T-shirt and red shorts.
This new Dora appeared to have long flowing hair and was wearing what seemed a scanty skirt, emphasizing her long, shapely legs.
“Did Mattel turn Dora the Explorer into a Tramp?” read one headline from The Huffington Post.
But not so fast. Mattel and Nickelodeon both say there are major misconceptions about the new Dora, which is not replacing the “Dora the Explorer” cartoon, but will be an interactive doll aimed at 5- to 8-year-olds.
“People care so deeply about this brand and this character,” said Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products. “The Dora that we all know and love is not going away.”
Part of the confusion stemmed from the silhouette that was released. For the record, the doll does not wear a short dress, but a tunic and leggings. And while she looks older, with longer jewelry and longer hair, she doesn’t have makeup and seems pretty much like a 10-year-old girl.
Nickelodeon and Mattel say that they found parents wanted a way to keep Dora in their kids’ lives and have their daughters move on to a toy that was age appropriate.
