Is Dora getting a makeover?

[ccharles000]

There are certain headlines that I really never want to see. This is one of them:

Dora to explore older, racier market
For those who don't know the fabulous Dora the Explorer, she's the character of a top-rated Nickelodeon television show about a little girl who goes, well, exploring while also teaching children Spanish. It's a great show. But apparently, it's not sexy enough.

Dora the Explorer, the wide-eyed cartoon character adored by young children around the world, is facing a makeover amid competition from older, racier rivals.
Nickelodeon, the children's television network owned by Viacom, has been discussing a redesign of some Dora-themed toys and other merchandise that would make the character appear more feminine, say people familiar with the talks. (Emphasis mine)


Oh dear. Dora wouldn't be the first beloved cartoon character to get a sexy new look, but for some reason I find this more depressing than past "makeovers."

http://www.feministing.com/archives/010617.html

[Alter Ego]

1. Oh god I just threw up in my mouth.

"Sexifying" Dora the fucking Explorer. What's next? Turning Diego of "Go, Diego, Go!" into a glistening Brazilian bodybuilder?

[helderheid]

2. Ditto. Good God. This is one of the reason I refuse to buy "bratz" for my daughter.

:puke:

[tannybogus]

4. No! They'll make it into "Where in the World is Carmen Electra!" nt

[lob1]

3. Hola, ninos. Como se dice, "boobs"?

[Kitty Herder]

5. Now that's just wrong.

Dora is cute and sweet. Perfect for kids. Why would they want to mess that up by making her "sexier"? Who are they trying to appeal to? The elusive teen who enjoys simple cartoons made for preschoolers?

[marshall]

7. it sounds homophobic to me

Like they're afraid she's going to give off the lesbian vibe that Peppermint Patty and Marcie did on Peanuts.
Will she be wearing a push up bra and high heels?

[ccharles000]

10. I agree.

[gatorboy]

6. Jessica Rabit the Explorer!

[SteelPenguin]

8. More Feminine? She's a f'ing child!

My daughter loves Dora (and Diego). Dora looks like a child. Children aren't supposed to be sexy for crying out fucking loud.

[TlalocW]

9. They did this with Bugs Bunny

Not the futuristic version they tried to foist off on us a few years ago or even the Tiny Toons but back in the 1940s when they started having Bugs dress up like a woman every other cartoon.

TlalocW - Sarcasm of course

[aikoaiko]

11. SNL spook of Dora as Maraka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1FfL9_P5LE

I like Dora the way she is. ;)

[Xithras]

12. There's amazingly little information here.

Feminine could mean "We're turning Dora into a triple D hottie with a tramp stamp and a thing for criminal foxes", or it might just mean that they're going to create a cartoon spinoff with a teenage Dora solving problems that would appeal to the "slightly older than 4" set. Remember, even Velma in Scooby Do had boobs, curves, and was distinctly feminine. She even wore a short skirt beneath that turtleneck sweater. Despite that, few would argue that she had any kind of sex appeal. There is a difference between making something feminine (i.e., distinctly female) and making something sexualized.