">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Tween "Dora" won't be a bad girl, say guardians
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Tween "Dora" won't be a bad girl, say guardians
Reuters - Tuesday, March 17
LOS ANGELES - Parents, no need to lock Dora the Explorer away from your daughters, say the guardians of the popular TV cartoon character and toy line.
ADVERTISEMENT
U.S. cable TV network Nickelodeon and toymaker Mattel vowed on Monday that plans to make a 'tween Dora doll would not undermine the wholesomeness of the educational bilingual star who has a sidekick monkey, map, compass and backpack.
Parents had voiced fears and complaints that introducing a 'tween Dora with long hair, long legs and a trendy make-over was not in keeping with the character's outdoor, adventurous spirit and would prove a poor role model.
"We don't need another Bratz phenomenon for pre-schoolers. I don't want my 2/5-year-old daughter asking for mini skirts and lip gloss to continue her Dora obsession," wrote Elizabeth Sloman, 30, to the Pensacola News Journal.
As an online petition against the new 'tween Dora began to build up speed, Nickelodeon and Mattel, the world's largest toymaker, addressed these concerns and assured parents that Dora was not changing -- and not going off the rails.
"The award-winning preschool Dora character that audiences know and love is not changing at all," the two companies said in a joint statement on Monday.
"In the nine years she has been on television, Dora has become an important role model to many. The Latina heroine has connected with a generation of young boys and girls all around the world through her courageousness and sense of adventure."
Dora and her friends Boots the Monkey, Isa the Iguana, Tico the Squirrel and the mischievous Swiper the Fox have won a huge international following since becoming regulars on Nickelodeon in 2000 with a Spanish version introduced later.
But an uproar ensued among some parents last month when Mattel and Viacom Inc. unit Nickelodeon unveiled plans for a "tweenage Dora" who moves to the big city, attends middle school, and has a new, fashionable look.
Initially, the companies said Dora's look would not be revealed until fall. They did release a silhouette showing she was trading in her tomboy shorts and bob haircut for longer hair and a short skirt, and that image caused a stir.
"What next? Dora the cheerleader? Dora the fashionista with stylist purse and stilettos?" wrote parents who started the online petition called "Let's Go: No Makeover for Dora."
"If the original Dora grew up, she wouldn't be a fashion icon or a shopaholic. She'd develop her map reading ... design new ways to bring fresh water to communities in need ... become a wildlife preservationist biologist."
In response, the companies on Monday unveiled Dora's total new look, showing a young girl in flowered tunic, purple leggings and sandals. They said Dora would be solving mysteries with four new girlfriends related to the environment, wildlife and school.
"This version of Dora -- which is approximately modeled after a nine- or 10-year-old -- is an age-appropriate doll that lets girls continue to learn and grow with the character," they said.
"The reason for creating this new Dora line is to offer an alternative to moms who want their daughters to stay little girls, a little longer. The sense of adventure that is such a core part of Dora the Explorer continues in this new line."
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
Rudd, Segel bring perfect chemistry to bromanceReuters - 2 hours 23 minutes ago
White House: Obama to appear on Leno's showAP - Tuesday, March 17
Steve-O skips `Dancing' because of back injuryAP - Tuesday, March 17
Tween "Dora" won't be a bad girl, say guardiansReuters - Tuesday, March 17
DJ AM seeks $20 million for plane crash damagesAP - Tuesday, March 17
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
Twin boys for Charlie Sheen and wife
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan
For sale: nagging wife, very high maintenance
Bailed-out AIG plans bonuses worth millions: report
World Bank warns of "very dangerous" year ahead
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 U.S. forces shot down Iranian drone over Iraq
| International
|
Differences remain in talks over Israeli soldier
| International
|
Merkel says EU must consolidate before growing
| International
|
Life in North Korea dire and desperate, U.N. forum told
| International
|
U.N. aid workers freed after kidnap in Somalia
| International
|
Kuwait ruler accepts cabinet resignation in new crisis
| International
|
Hearst prints final Seattle PI as newspapers dwindle
| Technology
|
E-prescribing to soar with new spending
| Technology
|
Phone firms seek low bar for broadband grants
| Technology
|
Cisco to sell servers aimed at data centers
| Technology
|
Obama to appear on the Tonight Show
| Entertainment
|
Elvis memorabilia offered in online auction
| Entertainment
|
Bands often scalp tickets: Nine Inch Nails' Reznor
| Entertainment
|
Egypt author wins Arab fiction prize for Beelzebub
| Entertainment
|
Madagascar's president isolated but defiant
| International
|
US military shoots down Iranian drone
No deal reached in Israel-Hamas prisoner talks
Reformist Khatami quits Iran presidential race
Britain's Brown says should have curbed markets
Israel says Hamas hardens stance in soldier release talks
Chrysler insists it will avoid bankruptcy
Khatami pulls out of Iran's presidential race
OPEC chief demands rich nations act on crisis
US military says Iraqi girl killed in US shooting
In power, El Salvador ex-rebels seek U.S. ties
| International
|
US intervenes to boost small business loans
Sudan wants foreign groups to stop distributing aid
Iran's Khatami says out of presidential race
| International
|
Turkey disregards minority rights in schools
Shooting inside Madagascar presidency: AFP
North Korean premier lauds China as regional anchor
| International
|
Iraqis most upbeat since 2003: poll
US industrial output falls to 2002 low
Best view in Rio? Pushing limits of slum tourism
| International
|
Iraqi fan kills soccer player in close game
Riot police quell protest as water forum opens
Modernization poses new challenges for Tibetans
| International
|
More flee as Sri Lanka rebels mount suicide attack
| International
|
INSIDE WASHINGTON: Rivalry stymies wind-power goal
8 Dems oppose quick debate on global warming bill
EU 'fact-finding' mission on Guantanamo inmates
U.S. raises new anti-terrorism approach with EU
Red Cross report renews call for probe of Bush era
Intel says AMD breached patent licensing pact
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,259
www@20: How the techies tamed the cyber zoo
Mexico retaliates with tariffs on 90 US products
Apple Mac U.S. units down 16 pct in February: NPD
Cisco to go head-to-head with HP, IBM
Peace Corps pulls out of Madagascar due to unrest
US says it shot down Iran drone north of Baghdad
Hearst prints final Seattle PI as newspapers dwindle
Thousands of Tamils decry Sri Lankan 'genocide'
Cisco to sell servers aimed at data centers
Baptized by Fire: Men of Killer Blue face future
Russian woman held for eating friend: report
Potty-mouthed video game grabs profanity record
Vatican website to be available in Chinese
Zombies, stories and wordplay win SXSW Web awards
Phone firms seek low bar for broadband grants
NGO expelled from Darfur considered ICC cooperation
| International
|
Malaysian lawmaker charged with sedition
Obama faces shoot-down dilemma with NKorea launch
NKorea premier visits China amid missile tensions
9th Australian soldier dies in Afghanistan
NATO soldier dies after attack in Afghan south
China labor activist free after 7 years jail
Hearst prints final Seattle PI
| Technology
|
Philippine unemployment rises: govt
"Traveler's Wife" to embark this summer
Elvis memorabilia offered in online auction
| Technology
|
Bomb lobbed at police station in China's west
Japanese fashion robot to hit Tokyo catwalks
| Technology
|
NKorean premier arrives in China amid tensions
Intel says AMD breached patent licensing pact
| Technology
|
No Japan-China summit this month: officials
Shanghai probes waterlogged beef food scare
Apple Mac U.S. units down 16 pct in February: NPD
| Technology
|
Disney cuts 30 jobs in HK as park expansion stalls
S.Korea says raised US swap extension during G20
Rudd, Segel bring perfect chemistry to bromance
Taiwan dollar scales 1-week high on econ optimism
White House: Obama to appear on Leno's show
South Korean bonds rise on extra budget plan
Steve-O skips `Dancing' because of back injury
Seoul shares up;stronger won lifts banks, airlines
Tween "Dora" won't be a bad girl, say guardians
S.Korean department stores enjoy brisk sales on won drop
DJ AM seeks $20 million for plane crash damages
Connick set to receive honorary Tulane degree
'Good Negro' examines '60s civil rights movement
"The Greatest" inks distribution deal with Senator
Indonesia wants solution for Myanmar boat people
Review: Rudd, Segel elevate `I Love You, Man'
'Witch Mountain' casts box office spell
Family Guy wins court battle over song
| Entertainment
|
Tween Dora won't be a bad girl, say guardians
| Entertainment
|
Heath Ledger's music videos come to light
| Entertainment
|
Rudd, Segel bring perfect chemistry to bromance
| Entertainment
|
Andy Samberg to host MTV movie awards
| Entertainment
|
Sopranos creator Chase reveals Dreams for HBO
| Entertainment
|
Traveler's Wife to embark this summer
| Entertainment
|
The Greatest inks distribution deal with Senator
| Entertainment
|
Pope begins Africa tour
| International
|
Hamas says hopes Israel will resume talks on soldier
Israel could use ballistic missiles against Iran: report
| International
|
Iran's Khatami says out of presidential race
American U.N. official kidnapped in Pakistan said sick
| International
|
Iraq urges execution of Saddam-era officials
| International
|
EU faces protests despite recovery signs
Hamas says hopes Israel will resume talks on soldier
| International
|
Curb climate change to save polar bear: Norway
Darfur peacekeeper killed in ambush: force spokesman
| International
|
Pope takes off on first trip to Africa
North Korea slows disablement pace further: report
| International
|
Isolated Madagascar president faces end of reign
More flee as Sri Lanka rebels mount suicide attack
| International
|
Miniature carnivore dinosaurs roamed North America
Pakistan to restore democracy in key province: PM
| International
|
UV light can zap TB in hospitals: study
Curb climate change to save polar bear: Norway
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop
| Technology
|
Nokia to cut 1,700 jobs in sinking phone market
| Technology
|
India leaders blog, text to plug in to young voters
| Technology
|
US-TECH Summary
Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008
Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008
| Technology
|
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop
India leaders blog, text to plug in to young voters
Money management sites promise financial salvation
Japanese fashion robot to hit Tokyo catwalks
US-TECH Summary
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop
Amy Winehouse denies assault charge
| Entertainment
|
Natasha Richardson critically injured
| Entertainment
|
India: Nehru relative to face hate crime charges
China voices concern as tensions flare in Koreas
12 SKoreans who survived Yemem bombing return home
Malaysia's leadership battle hit with corruption probe
China's milk victims complain of intimidation
Pakistan to restore democracy in key province
Bomb blast in Tibetan area: police
China concerned over situation on Korean peninsula
Yemen bomber posed for pics with SKoreans: report
China phone carrier expands data network to Europe
Imus in Mass. a day after his cancer announcement
Bank of Japan announces fresh crisis measures
Amy Winehouse pleads not guilty to assault
South Korea to propose $12 bln stimulus package
Natasha Richardson reportedly critically hurt in accident
Philippine unemployment rises 7.7 percent
Amy Winehouse denies assault charge
Tyra: `Top Model' auditions to resume after melee
Kyrgyz deficit to be covered by Russian aid
Screenwriter Millard Kaufman dies at 92
S.Korea to sell up to 19 trln won bonds for budget
The dark side of Cuban cigars
HK's jobless rate rises to 5 percent, 3-year high
Hong Kong moves to send plastic bags packing
Elbit's Elisra gets $25 mln South Korea contract
NKorea reopens border to SKoreans at showpiece zone
Indonesian plane badly damaged in runway mishap
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights