Dora's Grown Up!?

[citiesxlfan42 27]

Hey there! I saw on TV that Dora's growing up. This can't be good, can it? Tell me you're opinions...

[your_adress_here 11]

The people behind Dora realized that their customers were growing up so they changed the product accordingly.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: your_adress_here

The people behind Dora realized that their customers were growing up so they changed the product accordingly.quote>

Why would they do that?

Sesame Street , Barney and Disney have all  proven theres  is no reason too.Threres always a new crop of new kids to indoctrinate.

[Duke87 1,070]

Old Dora:

New Dora:

Dora's next activity...

[Easy Bakes 253]

funny ^^^^

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Meg 368]

Funny picture, Duke.   and probably quite accurate.

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Is this one of those things I would only know about if I had children or I was a child? I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

Barbarossaquote>

Yes, it's after your time.  Unless you watch Nickelodeon a lot.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: Meg  Yes, it's after your time.quote>

I guess I need to start getting used to that phrase. 

Barbarossa

quote>

It took me a while to accept it too.   But, increasingly, that could be the case.  Sorry if it sounded a bit harsh.

 

Reminds me of a day last week when multiple children, at different times, said to me "Aren't you too old to be texting?"

Well, kids, my thumbs work just fine and I still know the alphabet.  

In some cases, you can choose to not let something be after your time.   But you will need to pick and chose.

[Duke87 1,070]

I dunno. Characters gradually aging season by season happens all the time with live action shows out of practical necessity (the actors get older). Cartoon shows usually don't do it and it does get to be rather plot problematic if the show runs for more than a few seasons because the chronology stops being believable. On the other hand, with kids' shows like Dora the Explorer, plot has nothing to do with it so it doesn't really matter. As the character gradually got older, the show would have to get more mature. I mean, Dora was supposed to be what, 4? The show first aired in 2000. By normal chronology, she should be 13 now. The problem is a 13 year old isn't likely to be running around an imaginary land with a pet monkey and a backpack continually imploring the audience to "Say 'map'!" And what about ten years from now when she'd be 23? You destroy the show by permitting the characters to age in cases like this.

Besideds which, she's not gradually aging like normal. She didn't age at all and then one day, poof! She's several years older. That makes no sense and experience has shown us it doesn't lead to pleasant places (see: All Growed Up).

Even worse here, they couldn't keep the art style the same. She was a tradional, normal old cartoon character. Now she looks like a Bratz reject.

What I really wonder is what the hell made them think that by making the character suddenly older, the kids who stopped watching the show because they outgrew it are going to start watching again. They're not. And now that the character's older the original target audience won't be interested.

So congratulations, Nickelodeon, you've signed another show's death order by making stupid changes to it!

[Tonywolf7 0]

Dora is being replaced by Chinese Dora, so they need to think up something different to keep it alive, lol

[Larks2242 251]

Originally posted by: Tonywolf7

Dora is being replaced by Chinese Dora, so they need to think up something different to keep it alive, lolquote>

A chinese dora does she still teach spanish?

[Z77 3]

No, the chinese dora is Ni-hao Kai-lan. its on Nickelodeon and Noggin in the morning (cant remember what time...but who does it matter? i dont have kids..yet ) 

yes....there you go...chinese dora....at least you can spell dora without looking it up  

[hamsterTK 93]

What I really wonder is what the hell made them think that by making the character suddenly older, the kids who stopped watching the show because they outgrew it are going to start watching again. They're not. And now that the character's older the original target audience won't be interested.quote>

Maybe they are targeting the young elementary school demographic using the old "grown up" tactic. Think high school musical and how it appealed to the "tween" crowd, or how many toy commercials you've seen featuring older children too old for the actual toy. Or how anything with the word "teen" in it is never going to appeal to actual teenagers. This is just an observation though.

[citiesxlfan42 27]

I watch Nick a lot I'm thriteen. I think The N, now TeenNick is too, um, mature in certain ways..., so I see commercials about the website and stuff. It's got a similar plot. Sad. She's older with a still very childish attitude. The doll for it is really dumb. Changes here and changes there? You change it's eyes and hair. Really. Another show stomped on (I think Disney did that with the Suite Life and Hannah Montana.) 

[N106 10]

Here is a general table for TV shows and what their target audience is depending on the age of the cast... on things that are targeted towards children, that is. There are some exceptions to the rule.

4 year old character- 2 year old viewer

8 year old character- 5 year old viewer

12 year old character- 8 year old viewer

16 year old character- 11 year old viewer

19 year old character- what, you don't think that it would be a 14 year old viewer, do you?! The rule stops at age 12. At age 13 and older, different ideas of target demographics apply. Beyond 13 years of age, it is about more than the age of the characters. Beyond 13, it is about the entertainment value of the show. Is a show well written? Funny? Thoughtful? Is the cast good? Does the show have originality?

So, Nickelodean is trying to appeal to a bunch of 5 year olds by making Dora older.

And, quite frankly, I liked how old Dora looked.

[citiesxlfan42 27]

N106, how the heck did you get that?! 11 year old= 16 year old character!? You are asking a tween to watch Degrassi?! It makes sense up to the 8 year old= 12 year old character. But after that, I think then the rule stops. That's my personal opinion.

[masochist 111]

Tweens DO watch Degrassi. Trust me, I know...>_>

So...what's the purpose of new, older Dora? Is she still going to be exploring? With a pretty blouse and fashionable capris on? And personally, the fact that she's not slightly chubby anymore really takes away from her charm.

Duke has it--this show is jump-the-shark bait.