¡Vámonos! 'Dora' is Back for All-New Adventures Starting This Friday

The groundbreaking series returns bringing the beloved character to a new generation of kids.

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

Put on your backpack and grab your map—Dora is back! Your favorite bilingual explorer is set to debut all-new adventures on Paramount+ starting April 12.

The new series Dora includes 26 episodes, each running about 11 minutes long. It will also air on Nick Jr. internationally. And yes, all of your favorite characters are back including Dora's best friend, Boots. The duo will be guided as always by their trusty friend Map while trying to overcome any obstacles Swiper, that sneaky fox, throws their way.

In the action-packed trailer, we see Dora swinging from vines in a colorful jungle, sliding on a rainbow, riding in a hot air balloon and a boat, and swimming underwater. All along, she's taking kids on her journeys.

"This Spring, swing into action with a girl who put adventure on the map," the voiceover announces in the trailer.

Meet the Cast—New Voices and A Familiar One

Dora is voiced by young actress Diana Zermeño, who also voiced the title character in the short, Dora and the Fantastical Creatures. Zermeño tells Parents stepping into this iconic role "feels amazing."

"I've been recording for Dora for the series for almost two years and it's been really great," says Zermeño. "It's really such an honor to be able to play Dora and to even be part of the show."

A fun fact about this new series—the original voice of Dora the Explorer, Kathleen Herles, returns to this series as Mami. It's a full-circle moment for her.

"I remember when I first heard Diana's voice and I started to cry because I just like hearing her voice," Herles says. "It kind of brought me back to when I started when I was younger and I felt like I heard a little bit of me in her voice and it just goes to show the magic behind the voices on this show."

Herles says she's so happy to be part of the show again, but she's also excited to bring this character to a different generation of children.

"I couldn't be happier ... to see Diana and Asher take on these iconic roles and do a great job," Herles says. "I know that the Dora legacy is in great hands and this new generation is going to fall in love with her all over again. It's really exciting to be a part of it and to see it come to life."

Herles is referring to Asher Colton Spence who voices Boots in the new series. Spence says his favorite thing about playing Boots is the songs part.

"That's the only part where I get to show my true voice," Spence explains. "I get to sing my heart out and it's so funny because I do love singing. Singing is one of my favorite things to do."

From the trailer, we can see several new, colorful characters in the series as well.

A Groundbreaking Series

Dora has been a staple in the lives of kids since Dora the Explorer first debuted on Nickelodeon on August 14, 2000. The original series aired for eight seasons and is currently seen in more than 25 countries and territories and has been translated into 32 languages.

But perhaps Dora's lasting impact is most felt in the Latinx community. According to the press release from Paramount+, "Dora has crossed social, racial, and language boundaries," which couldn't be more true. Dora is known for switching between English and Spanish during the episodes therefore teaching English-speaking children about Spanish and Spanish-speaking children English.

"Latino representation is really important," says Zermeño. "You can really see that in the show with the music and the food and [Dora] talks about it a lot with the audience and educates them on different cultures that they might not be so familiar with."

Zermeño's parents are from Mexico and she says she sees a little bit of herself in Dora.

"Dora kind of takes turns explaining different cultures because she is multicultural. She is Mexican, Peruvian, and Cuban," Zermeño adds. "So, when she talks more about Mexican traditions and Mexican foods and the music, I really love seeing that because it's what I've always known and what I always experienced, and it really feels so great to be able to share that with other people."

But Dora also opened doors to diversity in children's television, not only with language but stories rooted in Latin culture. In a 2019 Variety article, the author credits Dora the Explorer with ushering in a wave of inclusive animation. Those creators who watched the show as kids (aka the "Dora" generation) are now putting Latinx characters at the forefront of television.

When Herles took on the role of Dora 24 years ago, she had no idea the character would become a cultural icon.

"The show was groundbreaking for children's programming for animation to have a Latina heroine as a main character," she explains. "It resonated with a lot of people in the Latino community and they lifted her up, and they embraced Dora. So many people connected with her. So, I think it's really important what Dora started and she's going to continue to do because it's still important today."

In addition to the new series, Nickelodeon is launching Dora's Recipe for Adventure, a new podcast for preschoolers centering on food, family, and culture.

There are 10 episodes with more adventures for Dora and Boots as they explore the rainforest to look for missing ingredients for her family's favorite meals: caldo de piedra (stone soup), arroz con huevos (rice with eggs), and maduros (fried sweet plantains). You can find Dora's Recipe for Adventure wherever you download podcasts.

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Read the original article on Parents.