TV's most adventurous explorer is back, and better than ever with a brand new look in an all-new series! And in Nickelodeon's Dora on Paramount+, the iconic character is headed to the rainforest for a series of pre-school adventures. In advance of the new series, The Parent Watch spoke with the voice stars of the show -- see if you can identify two actors who are different from the original series, and one that's the same!
The original series, Dora the Explorer premiered on Nickelodeon on Aug. 14, 2000. It has since garnered international attention and critical acclaim, receiving awards from esteemed organizations such as the Television Academy, the NAACP, Alma, Latino Spirit, Common Sense Medi, and the Television Critics Association. Now, the series has returned to inspire a new generation of Dora fans!
The Parent Watch sat down with Diana Zermeño, Kathleen Herles (who voiced the original Dora from Dora the Explorer), and Asher Colton Spence, who voices Dora, Mami, and Boots respectively to learn more about the series and what to expect when you tune in on Apr. 12! What are you waiting for? Vámonos! Let's go!
The Parent Watch: What has been the most fun part about voicing Dora?
Diana Zermeño: Oh, wow! Well, I think the most fun part is really getting into the character and being able to bring back to life a show that's so well known. I love Dora so much, and it's such an honor to be able to play her.
Kathleen, you were the original voice of Dora, so it's like you're passing the torch off to the next generation. Have you imparted any knowledge, any advice for this special moment in TV history?
Kathleen Herles: I actually recently just met Asher and Diana. We're all in different locations, but I have been listening to them when I go and record in the studio, and they don't need my advice. They have fully dove into the show and into their characters, and It's amazing.
When I first heard Diana and when I first heard Asher, I immediately got emotional because I could hear the original cast. I could hear myself. I could hear all of the things that the show had. It made me so happy to be a part of it as Dora's mom, but to also know that the show is still going to have elements from the original, and it's going to serve the nostalgia. It's going to be something new for the next generation. I'm just so excited. It's going to be awesome.
Boots is the OG sidekick for Dora. As you voiced this character, did you find that you had any similarities to Boots?
Asher Colton Spence: Yeah! I have a few similarities. Me and Boots, this is an odd one, me and Boots both love bananas, which is weird. We both have pretty good energy. We're both really kind-hearted and we're both really sweet.
All of these characters are iconic, and so many people know them and grew up with them. What can you say to people who are interested in this new iteration of Dora? What's something new?
Zermeño: The animation is different. It's not as 2D as it used to be. Overall, I feel like the show has been the same. The same amazing writing for the episodes. The songs are really great. I do feel like people who watch it will feel the same as they did all those years ago.
Herles: Yeah! I think another big difference is on the original show, Dora was more Pan Latina. She didn't really have a specific culture. Now Dora is multicultural. Her parents, Mami, is from Peru, which I am as well, so that's cool! Her dad is now Mexican and Cuban. I think it's really cool for this new generation because it speaks to that multicultural background that a lot of US Latinos have. It's really important because Dora is all about representation, too so to see that continue is really exciting!
All twenty-six 11-minute episodes of DORA will premiere and be available to watch on Friday, April 12, exclusively on Paramount+