Dora the Explorer
American children's media franchise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dora the Explorer is an American media franchise centered on the title character from an animated children's television series that features interactive elements and frequently breaks the fourth wall. It was created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes, and Eric Weiner, and produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio. The series originally ran on Nickelodeon from August 14, 2000 to June 5, 2014, with the final six unaired episodes later airing from July 7, 2019 to August 9, 2019.[1] It has since spawned a spin-off television series (Go, Diego, Go!), a sequel television series (Dora and Friends: Into the City!), a live-action feature film and, a reboot.[2] As of 2014, retail sales for the franchise exceeded $15 billion,[a] making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
- Chris Gifford
- Valerie Walsh Valdes
- Eric Weiner
| Dora the Explorer | |
|---|---|
Franchise logo | |
| Created by |
|
| Original work | Dora the Explorer TV series |
| Owner | Nickelodeon |
| Years | 2000–present |
| Print publications | |
| Book(s) | 500+ (multiple publishers) |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | |
| Short film(s) | Dora and the Fantastical Creatures |
| Television series | Untitled Dora the Explorer live-action TV series (upcoming) |
| Animated series | |
| Direct-to-video | List of Dora the Explorer home media releases |
| Games | |
| Video game(s) | Dora the Explorer video games |
| Audio | |
| Soundtrack(s) | The Soundtrack |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Toy(s) | 2000+ (multiple producers; including Mattel and Lego) |
Television series
| Series | Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | ||||
| Dora the Explorer | 1 | 25 | August 14, 2000 | October 29, 2001 | |
| 2 | 26 | February 13, 2002 | July 14, 2003 | ||
| 3 | 21 | October 6, 2003 | June 14, 2004 | ||
| 4 | 27 | September 24, 2004 | August 5, 2008 | ||
| 5 | 21 | September 15, 2008 | October 1, 2010 | ||
| 6 | 18 | November 5, 2010 | February 3, 2012 | ||
| 7 | 19 | March 16, 2012 | January 16, 2013 | ||
| 8 | 20 | 14 | March 18, 2013 | June 5, 2014 | |
| 6 | July 7, 2019 | August 9, 2019[b] | |||
| Go, Diego, Go! | 1 | 20 | September 6, 2005 | May 18, 2008 | |
| 2 | 19 | October 2, 2006 | February 1, 2008 | ||
| 3 | 20 | February 5, 2008 | September 18, 2009 | ||
| 4 | 14 | September 28, 2009 | September 24, 2010 | ||
| 5 | 7 | November 5, 2010 | September 16, 2011 | ||
| Dora and Friends: Into the City! | 1 | 18 | August 18, 2014 | February 5, 2016 | |
| 2 | 20 | September 10, 2015 | February 5, 2017 | ||
| Dora | 1 | 26 | April 12, 2024 | ||
| 2 | 26 | September 13, 2024 | |||
| 3 | 26 | July 2, 2025 | |||
| 4 | 26 | December 19, 2025 | |||
Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer revolved around a young girl named Dora, who is of Latin American origin, and her best friend, Boots the Monkey. Each episode typically began with a problem or goal, prompting the characters to go on a mission to achieve it. The show also served as a Spanish-language teaching tool, helping children learn basic Spanish.
The series originally ran from 2000 to 2014, though a final batch of episodes was aired in 2019.
Go, Diego, Go!
The second series in the franchise was a spin-off series focused on Dora's cousin Diego and his side of the family, all of whom work as animal rescuers, helping any animal who needs it. The only animated series to focus on a male character, Go, Diego, Go! focused more on teaching animal facts, though other learning skills and the Spanish language are still taught throughout the series. Dora herself and, occasionally, other characters from the original show also appear infrequently throughout the series.
The series aired from 2005 to 2011, though an episode from the third season was not broadcast until 2013 on a different channel for reasons unknown.
Dora and Friends: Into the City!
The third series in the franchise now featured an older, pre-teen Dora as she navigates an urban environment alongside a new, larger cast of main characters. While the first season largely limited the show's connection to the first series, the second season would bring back numerous characters and locations.
This series aired from 2014 to 2017.
Dora
The fourth series in the franchise is a complete reboot of the first, featuring largely the same characters and locations. However, the entire voice cast was replaced, with only a few original voice actors making regular appearances. Unlike all preceding shows, Dora is fully computer-animated and uses 3D visuals instead of 2D traditional animation.
The series debuted in 2024, and is set to conclude in 2026.
Films
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter | Producers | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dora and the Lost City of Gold | August 9, 2019 | James Bobin | Nicholas Stoller and Matthew Robinson | Kristin Burr | Released |
| Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado | July 2, 2025 | Alberto Belli | JT Billings | Kristin Burr | Released |
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a 2019 American adventure comedy film directed by James Bobin, with a screenplay written by Nicholas Stoller and Matthew Robinson, based on a story by Tom Wheeler and Stoller.
Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado
Directed by Alberto Belli, the film was released in July 2025, and it serves as the reboot by redefining the characters. Samantha Lorraine played the titular role.[6]
Short film
Dora and the Fantastical Creatures
Dora and the Fantastical Creatures is a 2023 American animated short film directed by William Mata, with a screenplay by Alejandro Bien-Willner and a story by Bien-Willner and Sean Gill.
Stage adaptations
Two stage versions of the series toured North America, the first being "City of Lost Toys", and the second being "Dora's Pirate Adventure". Produced by Nickelodeon and LiveNation, these productions featured live actors portraying the roles of Dora and her friends, including Boots, Diego, Isa, and the Fiesta Trio. Many of the characters wore elaborate foam costumes designed to resemble the Dora characters. Each production featured a structure similar to an episode of the television series. City of Lost Toys featured Christina Bianco as Dora, while Dora's Pirate Adventure featured Danay Ferrer of the band Innosense in the role of Dora and Frankie Grande as Boots. Both productions featured a version of the popular Gloria Estefan song "Get on Your Feet" as the final number of the show. Both productions were conceived by Chris Gifford, creator of the television show, and directed by Gip Hoppe.
There have been three Dora touring companies. The "City of Lost Toys" company and the "Pirate Adventure" company featured actors and crew who were members of Actor's Equity and IATSE, the respective unions for professional actors and stagehands in the United States. The third company performs a shortened version of "Pirate Adventure" and does not employ union personnel. This production is currently touring North America and scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom and France.
Merchandise
Many action figures and playsets are available in many markets, along with cosmetics, hygiene products, ride-ons, coin-operated kiddie rides, books, board games, plush dolls, apparel, handbags, play tents, play kitchens, and more. Licensees include Mattel-owned Fisher-Price in the United States and Holland Publishing in the United Kingdom.
Toys
In 2004, Lego released four sets based on the characters of the TV series. These include 7330 Dora's Treasure Island, 7331 Diego's Rescue Truck, 7332 Dora and Boots at Play Park, and 7333 Dora and Diego's Animal Adventure.
In 2007, lead paint used by a contract toy manufacturer in China prompted Mattel to issue recalls for nearly a million toys, many of which featured Sesame Street and Nickelodeon characters - including Dora the Explorer. In response, Nickelodeon stated that they would introduce "third-party monitoring" of all manufacturers of products under its brands.[7][8][9]
Books
Dora the Explorer series
- Dora's Backpack (ISBN 978-0689847202)
- Little Star (ISBN 978-0689847219)
- Happy Mother's Day Mami! (ISBN 978-0689852336)
- Meet Diego! (ISBN 978-0689859939)
- Dora's Thanksgiving (ISBN 978-0689858420)
- Dora Loves Boots (ISBN 978-0689863738)
- Dora's Book of Manners (ISBN 978-0689865336)
- Dora Goes to School (ISBN 978-0689864940)
- Dora's Fairy-Tale Adventure (ISBN 978-0689870125)
- Dora's Chilly Day (ISBN 978-0689867958)
- Show Me Your Smile! (ISBN 978-0689871696)
- Dora's Pirate Adventure (ISBN 978-0689875830)
- Big Sister Dora! (ISBN 978-0689878466)
- At the Carnival (ISBN 978-0689858413)
- Dora's Costume Party! (ISBN 978-1416900108)
- Dance to the Rescue (ISBN 978-1416902164)
- Dora's Starry Christmas (ISBN 978-1416902492)
- Super babies (ISBN 978-1416914853)
- The Birthday Dance Party (ISBN 978-1416913030)
- Dora's World Adventure (ISBN 978-1416924470)
- Dora Climbs Star Mountain (ISBN 978-1416940593)
- It's Sharing Day! (ISBN 978-1416915751)
- Dora Had a Little Lamb (ISBN 978-1416933687)
- Dora Saves Mermaid Kingdom! (ISBN 978-1416938415)
- Dora and the Stuck Truck (ISBN 978-1416947998)
Ready To Read series – Level 1
- Dora's Picnic (ISBN 978-0689852381)
- Follow Those Feet! (ISBN 978-0689852398)
- Dora in the Deep Sea (ISBN 978-0689858451)
- I Love My Papi! (ISBN 978-0689864957)
- Say "Cheese!" (ISBN 978-0689864964)
- The Halloween Cat (ISBN 978-0689867996)
- Eggs for Everyone! (ISBN 978-0689871764)
- Just Like Dora! (ISBN 978-0689876752)
- I Love My Mami! (ISBN 978-1416906506)
- Puppy Takes a Bath (ISBN 978-1416914839)
- Around the World! (ISBN 978-1416924784)
- Dora's Sleepover (ISBN 978-1416915089)
- Dora Helps Diego! (ISBN 978-1416915096)
- Dora's Perfect Pumpkin (ISBN 978-1416934387)
- Dora's Mystery of the Missing Shoes (ISBN 978-1416938248)
A Lift-the-Flap Story
- Good Night, Dora!: A Lift-the-Flap Story (ISBN 978-0689847745)
- Where Is Boots?: A Lift-the-Flap Story (ISBN 978-0689847752)
- Let's Play Sports!: A Lift-the-Flap Story (ISBN 978-1416933502)
- All Dressed Up!: A Lift-the-Flap Book (ISBN 978-0689877186)
Treasury books and collection books
- Dora's Ready-to-Read Adventures (ISBN 978-0689878152) Contains: "Dora's Picnic", "Follow Those Feet", "Dora in the Deep Sea", "I love my Papi!", "Say 'Cheese'"
- Dora's Storytime Collection (ISBN 978-0689866234) Contains: "Dora's Backpack", "Little Star", "Happy Birthday", "Mami!", "Meet Diego!", "Dora Saves the Prince", "Dora's Treasure Hunt", "Good Night", "Dora!"
- Dora's Big Book of Stories (ISBN 978-1416907084) Contains: "Dora's Book of Manners", "Dora Goes to School", "Dora's Fairy-Tale Adventure", "Dora's Chilly Day", "Show Me Your Smile!", "Dora's Pirate Adventure", "Big Sister Dora!"
Sticker books
- Dora's Magic Watering Can (ISBN 978-1416947721)
Video games
Video games based on the show were released. In Canada, Cheerios offered free Dora the Explorer the Game CD-ROMs in specially marked packages; however, packages sold in Quebec had only the French version. Dora the Explorer: Barnyard Buddies is the first video game based on the show for the home consoles as it was released for the PlayStation in the U.S. in 2003. It was not released in Europe until 2005, when it became one of the last games released for that platform in the region. This coincided with the decline in PlayStation production and the end of development for other PS1 games the following year.
Soundtrack
| Dora The Explorer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Soundtrack album by Dora and Friends | |
| Released | September 28, 2004 |
| Genre | Soundtrack, Children's music |
| Length | 42:03 |
| Label | Nickelodeon Records |
| Producer | Jed Becker |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dora The Explorer Theme" | 0:43 |
| 2. | "Backpack, Backpack!" | 0:25 |
| 3. | "I'm The Map!" | 0:31 |
| 4. | "Travel Song Medley" | 1:35 |
| 5. | "Let's All Move Like The Animals Do!" | 0:53 |
| 6. | "I Love My Boots" | 0:39 |
| 7. | "Reach Up & Catch The Stars!" | 0:59 |
| 8. | "Fairytale Land" | 1:04 |
| 9. | "Popping Bubbles" | 0:28 |
| 10. | "When You Grow Up What Will You Be?" | 1:25 |
| 11. | "I'm The Grumpy Old Troll" | 0:54 |
| 12. | "Tenemos Amigos" | 0:58 |
| 13. | "Super Spies!" | 1:02 |
| 14. | "Hurry! Hurry!" | 1:16 |
| 15. | "Magic Music Box" | 1:33 |
| 16. | "The City of Lost Toys" | 2:07 |
| 17. | "Feliz Cumpleanos" | 1:04 |
| 18. | "Boots' Special Day" | 0:22 |
| 19. | "Un Dia Special" | 1:05 |
| 20. | "Bate Bate Chocolate" | 1:13 |
| 21. | "Do The Robot Walk" | 0:51 |
| 22. | "The Chicken Dance" | 0:55 |
| 23. | "Super Silly Fiesta" | 1:40 |
| 24. | "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" | 0:49 |
| 25. | "The Fix-It Machine" | 0:53 |
| 26. | "Boots The Monkey!" | 0:39 |
| 27. | "Mary Had A Little Lamb" | 0:31 |
| 28. | "Super Map!" | 0:33 |
| 29. | "Goin' On A Berry Hunt" | 0:56 |
| 30. | "Bouncy Ball" | 0:57 |
| 31. | "The Happy Song" | 1:42 |
| 32. | "Run, Dora, Run!" | 0:44 |
| 33. | "A Musician I Am" | 0:38 |
| 34. | "ABC (The Alphabet Song)" | 0:31 |
| 35. | "Baby Dino" | 0:58 |
| 36. | "Squeaky I Love You" | 0:30 |
| 37. | "Swiper No Swiping!" | 0:47 |
| 38. | "I'm Really Gonna Hit The Ball" | 0:49 |
| 39. | "Baseball, Baseball, Fun In The Sun" | 1:04 |
| 40. | "We Did It!" | 0:38 |
| 41. | "El Coqui" | 1:37 |
| 42. | "La Lechuza" | 1:09 |
| 43. | "Buenes Noches" | 0:35 |
| 44. | "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" | 0:29 |
| Total length: | 42:03 | |
Audiovisual viewing
Seasons of Dora the Explorer are available on a variety of streaming or direct-purchase video services.
Home videos/Home media
Streaming
| Streaming service | Country availability[10] | Content | Launch date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Play | Australia | Season 7, Episodes 9–18[11] | |
| Amazon Prime Video | Worldwide | Seasons 1–2[12] | |
| Paramount+ | United States | Seasons 1–8[13] | December 9, 2020[14] |
| Foxtel Now | Australia | Seasons 1–8[15] | |
| SkyShowtime | Norway | Seasons 7–8 | September 20, 2022 |
| Noggin (Paramount Streaming) | United States | Seasons 1–5[16] | September 1, 2017[17] |
| Paramount+ | Australia | Seasons 1–8 | August 11, 2021 |
| Vudu | United States | Seasons 1–8[18] |
Direct purchase
| Direct purchase service | Country availability | Content | Launch date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV+ | Worldwide |
|
|
| Google Play | Worldwide |
|
|
| Microsoft Store | Worldwide |
|
Notes
- The show's run ended on June 5, 2014, with six episodes,[1] however, those episodes did not air in the United States until August 9, 2019, with the premiere of Dora and the Lost City of Gold.[2]
